Ходячий замок
Chapter 4
“Oh,yesIcan!”Sophiecrackledback,withtheferocitythathadoftenstoppedbothhersistersinmid-fight.“Ifyoudon’t,Ishallpourwateronyou.OrIshallpickupthetongsandtakeawaybothyourlogs,”sheadded,asshegotherselfcreakingontoherkneesbythehearth.Thereshewhispered,“OrIcangobackonourbargain,ortellHowlaboutit,can’tI?”
“Oh,curses!”Calciferspat.“Whydidyouletherinhere,Michael?”Sulkilyhebenthisbluefaceforwarduntilallthatcouldbeseenofhimwasaringofcurlygreenflamesdancingonthelogs.
“Thankyou,”Sophiesaid,andslappedtheheavypanontothegreenringtomakesureCalciferdidnotsuddenlyriseupagain.
“Ihopeyourbaconburns,”Calcifersaid,muffledunderthepan.
Sophieslappedslicesofbaconintothepan.Itwasgoodandhot.Thebaconsizzled,andshehadtowrapherskirtroundherhandtoholdthehandle.Thedooropened,butshedidnotnoticebecauseofthesizzling.“Don’tbesilly,”shetoldCalcifer.“AndholdstillbecauseIwanttobreakintheeggs.”
“Oh,hello,Howl,”Michaelsaidhelplessly.
Sophieturnedroundatthat,ratherhurriedly.Shestared.Thetallyoungfellowinaflamboyantblue-and-silversuitwhohadjustcomeinstoppedintheactofleaningaguitarinthecorner.Hebrushedthefairhairfromhisrathercuriousglass-greeneyesandstaredback.Hislong,angularfacewasperplexed.
“Whoonearthareyou?”saidHowl.“WherehaveIseenyoubefore?”
“Iamatotalstranger,”Sophieliedfirmly.
