Ходячий замок

           Sophierealizedthattherewasnownosignatallthatthecastlewasmovingacrossthehillside:noteventheghostofarumbleorthetiniestshaking.Howodd!“TellWizardHowl,”shesaidtotheboy,“thatthiscastle’sgoingtocomeapartroundhisearsifittravelsmuchfurther.”

           “Thecastle’sbespelledtoholdtogether,”theboysaid.“ButI’mafraidHowl’snotherejustatthemoment.”

           ThiswasgoodnewstoSophie.“Whenwillhebeback?”sheaskedalittlenervously.

           “Probablynottilltomorrownow,”theboysaid.“Whatdoyouwant?CanIhelpyouinstead?I’mHowl’sapprentice,Michael.”

           Thiswasbetternewsthanever.“I’mafraidonlytheWizardcanpossiblyhelpme,”Sophiesaidquicklyandfirmly.Itwasprobablytruetoo.“I’llwait,ifyoudon’tmind.”ItwasclearMichaeldidmind.Hehoveredoverheralittlehelplessly.Tomakeitplaintohimthatshehadnointentionofbeingturnedoutbyamereboyapprentice,Sophieclosedhereyesandpretendedtogotosleep.“Tellhimthename’sSophie,”shemurmured.“OldSophie,”sheadded,tobeonthesafeside.

           “Thatwillprobablymeanwaitingallnight,”Michaelsaid.SincethiswasexactlywhatSophiewanted,shepretendednottohear.Infact,shealmostcertainlyfellintoaswiftdoze.Shewassotiredfromallthatwalking.AfteramomentMichaelgaveherupandwentbacktotheworkhewasdoingattheworkbenchwherethelampstood.

           Soshewouldhaveawholenight’sshelter,evenifitwasonslightlyfalsepretenses,Sophiethoughtdrowsily.