Ходячий замок
Chapter 4
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“Areyouindeed?”Howlsaid,crackingtheeggsone-handedandtossingtheshellsamongthelogs,whereCalciferseemedtobeeatingthemwithalotofsnarlingandgobbling.“Whosaysyouare?”
“Ido,”saidSophie,andsheaddedpiously,“IcancleanthedirtfromthisplaceevenifIcan’tcleanyoufromyourwickedness,youngman.”
“Howl’snotwicked,”Michaelsaid.
“YesIam,”Howlcontradictedhim.“YouforgetjusthowwickedI’mbeingatthemoment,Michael.”HejerkedhischinatSophie.“Ifyou‘resoanxioustobeofuse,mygoodwoman,findsomeknivesandforksandclearthebench.”
Thereweretallstoolsundertheworkbench.Michaelwaspullingthemouttositonandpushingasideallthethingsontopofittomakeroomforsomeknivesandforkshehadtakenfromthedrawerinthesideofit.Sophiewenttohelphim.ShehadnotexpectedHowltowelcomeher,ofcourse,buthehadnotevensofaragreedtoletherstaybeyondbreakfast.SinceMichaeldidnotseemtoneedhelp,Sophieshuffledovertoherstickandputitslowlyandshowilyinthebroomcupboard.WhenthatdidnotseemtoattractHowl’sattention,shesaid,“Youcantakemeonforamonth’strial,ifyoulike.”
WizardHowlsaidnothingbut“Plates,please,Michael,”andstoodupholdingthesmokingpan.Calcifersprangupwitharoarofreliefandblazedhighinthechimney.
SophiemadeanotherattempttopintheWizarddown.“IfI’mgoingtobecleaninghereforthenextmonth,”shesaid,“I’dliketoknowwheretherestofthecastleis.
