Ходячий замок
Chapter 19
“AnythinglikethisisalwaysSophie!Butyouknew,didn’tyouCalcifer?”hesaidasthetwoofthemdraggedthedoginfrontofthehearth.
Calciferretreateduntilhewasbentbackwardagainstthechimney.“Youneverasked,”hesaid.
“DoIhavetoaskyou?”Howlsaid.“Allright,Ishouldhavenoticedmyself!Butyoudisgustme,Calcifer!ComparedwiththewaytheWitchtreatsherdemon,youlivearevoltinglyeasylife,andallIaskinreturnisthatyoutellmethingsIneedtoknow.Thisistwiceyou’veletmedown!Nowhelpmegetthiscreaturetoitsownshapethisminute!”
Calciferwasanunusuallysicklyshadeofblue.“Allright,”hesaidsulkily.
Thedog-mantriedtogetaway,butHowlgothisshoulderunderitschestandshoved,sothatitwentupontoitshindlegs,willy-nilly.ThenheandMichaelhelditthere.“What’sthesillycreatureholdingoutfor?”Howlpanted.“ThisfeelslikeoneoftheWitchoftheWaste’sagain,doesn’tit?”
“Yes.Thereareseverallayersofit,”saidCalcifer.
“Let’sgetthedogpartoffanyway,”saidHowl.
Calcifersurgedtoadeep,roaringblue.Sophie,watchingprudentlyfromthedoorofthebroomcupboard,sawtheshaggydogshapefadeawayinsidethemanshape.Itfadedtodogagain,thenbacktoman,blurred,thenhardened.Finally,HowlandMichaelwereeachholdingthearmofaginger-hairedmaninacrumpledbrownsuit.Sophiewasnotsurprisedshehadnotrecognizedhim.Apartfromhisanxiouslook,hisfacewasalmosttotallylackinginpersonality.
“Now,whoareyou,myfriend?”Howlaskedhim.
