Ходячий замок
Chapter 5
Thefourthside,whichshehadnotseenusedyet,hadablobofblackpaintonit.Wonderingwherethatledto,Sophiebeganbrisklysweepingthecobwebsoffthebeams.MichaelmoanedandCalcifersneezedagain.
Howlcameoutofthebathroomjusttheninawaftofsteamyperfume.Helookedmarvelouslyspruce.Eventhesilverinletsandembroideryonhissuitseemedtohavebecomebrighter.Hetookonelookandbackedintothebathroomagainwithablue-and-silversleeveprotectinghishead.
“Stopit,woman!”hesaid.“Leavethosepoorspidersalone!”
“Thesecobwebsareadisgrace!”Sophiedeclared,fetchingthemdowninbundles.
“Thengetthemdownandleavethespiders,”saidHowl.
Probablyhehadawickedaffinitywithspiders,Sophiethought.“They’llonlymakemorewebs,”shesaid.
“Andkillflies,whichisveryuseful,”saidHowl.“KeepthatbroomstillwhileIcrossmyownroom,please.”
SophieleanedonthebroomandwatchedHowlcrosstheroomandpickuphisguitar.Asheputhishandonthedoorlatch,shesaid,“IftheredblobleadstoKingsburyandtheblueblobgoestoPorthaven,wheredoestheblackblobtakeyou?”
“Whatanosyoldwomanyouare!”saidHowl.“Thatleadstomyprivateboltholeandyouarenotbeingtoldwhereitis.”Heopenedthedoorontothewide,movingmoorlandandthehills.
“Whenwillyoubeback,Howl?”Michaelaskedalittledespairingly.
Howlpretendednottohear.HesaidtoSophie,“You’renottokillasinglespiderwhileI’maway.”Andthedoorslammedbehindhim.MichaellookedmeaninglyatCalcifer,andsighed.
