Ходячий замок

           Sophieonlyknewthebusheswerequitenearbecauseshecouldheartherushandrattleofthegrittywindintheleaves.Theyplungedinamongthemwithacrash,stillgoingsofastthatHowlhadtoswerveanddragSophieinalong,skimmingrunacrossalake.“Andyou’retoonice,”headded,abovethelap-lapofthewaterandthepatterofsandonthewater-lilyleaves.“Iwasrelyingonyoubeingtoojealoustoletthatdemonneartheplace.”

           Theyhitthesteamyshoreataslowrun.Thebushesoneithersideofthegreenlanethrashedandheavedastheypassed,throwingbirdsandpetalsintoawhirlwindbehindthem.Thecastlewasdriftingslowlydownthelanetowardthem,withitssmokestreamingbackinthewind.Howlsloweddownenoughtocrashthedooropen,andshotSophieandhimselfinside.

           “Michael!”heshouted.

           “Itwasn’tmewholetthescarecrowin!”Michaelsaidguiltily.

           Everythingseemedtobenormal.Sophiewassurprisedtodiscoverwhatashorttimeshehadreallybeenaway.SomeonehadpulledherbedoutfromunderthestairsandPercivalwaslyinginit,stillunconscious.LettieandMarthaandMichaelweregatheredroundit.

           Overhead,SophiecouldhearMrs.Fairfax’svoiceandFanny’s,combinedwithominousswishingsandthumpsthatsuggestedHowl’sspiderswerehavingahardtime.

           HowlletgoofSophieanddivedtowardtheguitar.Beforehecouldtouchit,itburstwithalong,melodiousboom.Stringsflailed.SplintersofwoodshoweredHowl.Hewasforcedtobackawaywithonetatteredsleeveoverhisface.

           AndMissAngorianwassuddenlystandingbesidethehearth,smiling.