Ходячий замок

           Howlhadbeenright.Shemusthavebeenintheguitarallthistime,waitingforhermoment.

           “YourWitchisdead,”Howlsaidtoher.

           “Isn’tthattoobad!”MissAngoriansaid,quiteunconcerned.“NowIcanmakemyselfanewhumanwhowillbemuchbetter.Thecurseisfulfilled.Icanlayhandsonyourheartnow.”AndshereacheddownintothegrateandpluckedCalciferoutofit.Calciferwobbledontopofherclenchedfist,lookingterrified.“Nobodymove,”MissAngoriansaidwarningly.

           Nobodydaredstir.Howlstoodstillestofall.“Help!”Calcifersaidweakly.

           “Nobodycanhelpyou,”saidMissAngorian.“Youaregoingtohelpmecontrolmynewhuman.Letmeshowyou.Ihaveonlytotightenmygrip.”HerhandthatwasholdingCalcifersqueezeduntilitsknucklesshowedpaleyellow.

           HowlandCalciferbothscreamed.Calciferbeatthiswayandthatinagony.Howl’sfaceturnedbluishandhecrashedtothefloorlikeatreefalling,wherehelayasunconsciousasPercival.Sophiedidnotthinkhewasbreathing.

           MissAngorianwasastonished.ShestaredatHowl.“He’sfaking,”shesaid.

           “No,he’snot!”Calciferscreamed,twistedintoawrithingspiralshape.“Hisheart’sreallyquitesoft!Letgo!”

           Sophieraisedherstick,slowlyandgently.Thistimeshethoughtforaninstantbeforesheacted.“Stick,”shemuttered.“BeatMissAngorian,butdon’thurtanyoneelse.”ThensheswungthestickandhitMissAngorian’stightknucklesthebiggestcrackshecould.

           MissAngorianletoutasquealinghisslikeawetlogburninganddroppedCalcifer.