Ходячий замок
Chapter 3
SinceHowlwassuchawickedman,itprobablyservedhimrighttobeimposedupon.ButsheintendedtobewellawayfromherebythetimeHowlcamebackandraisedobjections.Shelookedsleepilyandslylyacrossattheapprentice.Itrathersurprisedhertofindhimsuchanice,politeboy.Afterall,shehadforcedherwayinquiterudelyandMichaelhadnotcomplainedatall.PerhapsHowlkepthiminabjectservility.ButMichaeldidnotlookservile.Hewasatall,darkboywithapleasant,opensortofface,andhewasmostrespectablydressed.Infact,ifSophiehadnotseenhimatthatmomentcarefullypouringgreenfluidoutofacrookedflaskontoblackpowderinabentglassjar,shewouldhavetakenhimforthesonofaprosperousfarmer.Howodd!
Still,thingswereboundtobeoddwherewizardswereconcerned,Sophiethought.Andthiskitchen,orworkshop,wasbeautifullycozyandverypeaceful.Sophiewentproperlytosleepandsnored.Shedidnotwakeupwhentherecameaflashandamutedbangformtheworkbench,followedbyahurriedlybitten-offswearwordfromMichael.ShedidnotwakewhenMichael,suckinghisburnedfingers,putthespellasideforthenightandfetchedbreadandcheeseoutofthecloset.ShedidnotstirwhenMichaelknockedherstickdownwithaclatter,reachingoverherforalogtoputonthefire,orwhenMichael,lookingdownintoSophie’sopenmouth,remarkedtothefireplace,“She’sgotallherteeth.She’snottheWitchoftheWaste,isshe?”
“Iwouldn’thavelethercomeinifshewas,”thefireplaceretorted.
