Ходячий замок

           Shewasmaneuveringtogetthehoveringstickintothedoorway.Asusual,Sophiethought,Ididn’tthinkitthrough!

           Howlonlyneededtotakeonelook.Hestoodupinahurry.Heheldoutonehandandspokeasentenceofwordsthatlostthemselvesinclapsofthunder.Plasterfellfromtheceiling.Everythingtrembled.ButthestickvanishedandHowlsteppedbackwithasmall,hard,blackthinginhishand.Itcouldhavebeenalumpofcinder,exceptthatitwassameshapeasthethingSophiehadjustpushedintoHowl’schest.MissAngorianwhinedlikeawetfireandheldoutherarmsimploringly.

           “I’mafraidnot,”Howlsaid.“You’vehadyourtime.Bythelookofthis,youweretryingtogetanewhearttoo.YouweregoingtotakemyheartandletCalciferdie,weren’tyou?”Heheldtheblackthingbetweenbothpalmsandpushedhishandstogether.TheWitch’soldheartcrumbledintoblacksand,andsoot,andnothing.MissAngorianfadedawayasitcrumbled.AsHowlopenedhishandsempty,thedoorwaywasemptyofMissAngoriantoo.

           Anotherthinghappenedaswell.ThemomentMissAngorianwasgone,thescarecrowwasnolongerthereeither.IfSophiehadcaredtolook,shewouldhaveseentwotallmenstandinginthedoorway,smilingatoneanother.Theonewiththecraggyfacehadgingerhair.Theonewithagreenuniformhadvaguerfeaturesandalaceshawldrapedroundtheshouldersofhisuniform.ButHowlturnedtoSophiejustthen.“Graydoesn’treallysuityou,”hesaid.“IthoughtthatwhenIfirstsawyou.”

           “Calcifer’sgone,”Sophiesaid.“Ihadtobreakyourcontract.