Ходячий замок
Chapter 19
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Sophieswunground,weed-killerandall.Percivalhadtoleapintothegrassandrunforhislifebehindthenearesttree.Thegrassdiedinalongbrownswathebehindhimasheran.“Curseeveryone!”Sophiecriedout.“I’vedonewiththelotofyou!”Shedumpedthesmokingwateringcaninthemiddleofthedriveandmarchedoffthroughtheweedstowardthestonegateway.“Toolate!”shemutteredasshemarched.“Whatnonsense!Howl’snotonlyheartless,he’simpossible!Besides,”sheadded,“Iamanoldwoman.”
Butshecouldnotdenythatsomethinghadbeenwrongeversincethemovingcastlemoved,orevenbeforethat.AnditseemedtotieupwiththewaySophieseemedtomysteriouslyunabletofaceeitherofhersisters.
“AndallthethingsItoldtheKingaretrue!”shewenton.Shewasgoingtomarchsevenleaguesonherowntwofeetandnotcomeback.Showeveryone!WhocaredthatpoorMrs.PentstemmonhadreliedonSophietostopHowlfromgoingtothebad!Sophiewasafailureanyway.Itcameofbeingtheeldest.AndMrs.PentstemmonhadthoughtSophiewasHowl’slovingoldmotheranyway.Hadn’tshe?Orhadshe?Uneasily,SophierealizedthataladywhosetrainedeyecoulddetectacharmsewnintoasuitcouldsurelyevenmoreeasilydetectthestrongermagicoftheWitch’sspell.
“Oh,confoundthatgray-and-scarletsuit!”Sophiesaid.“IrefusetobelievethatIwastheonethatgotcaughtwithit!”Thetroublewastheblue-and-silversuitseemedtohaveworkedjustthesame.Shestumpedafewstepsfurther.
