Ходячий замок
Chapter 5
Whatarethey?Allthegirlswhoseheartsyouate?”
Howllaughed.“No.Justsimplespiders,”hesaidandwentdreamilyawayupstairs.
Michaelsighed.Hewentintothebroomcupboardandhunteduntilhefoundanoldfoldingbed,astrawmattress,andsomerugs,whichheputintothearchedspaceunderthestairs.“You’dbettersleepheretonight,”hetoldSophie.
“DoesthatmeanHowl’sgoingtoletmestay?”Sophieasked.
“Idon’tknow!”Michaelsaidirritably.“Howlnevercommitshimselftoanything.IwasheresixmonthsbeforeheseemedtonoticeIwaslivinghereandmademehisapprentice.Ijustthoughtabedwouldbebetterthanthechair.”
“Thenthankyouverymuch,”Sophiesaidgratefully.ThebedwasindeedmorecomfortablethanachairandwhenCalcifercomplainedhewashungryinthenight,itwasaneasymatterforSophietocreakherwayoutandgivehimanotherlog.
Inthedaysthatfollowed,Sophiecleanedherwayremorselesslythroughthecastle.Shereallyenjoyedherself.Tellingherselfshewaslookingforclues,shewashedthewindow,shecleanedouttheoozingsink,andshemadeMichaelcleareverythingofftheworkbenchandtheshelvessothatshecouldscrubthem.Shehadeverythingoutofthecupboardsanddownfromthebeamsandcleanedthosetoo.Thehumanskull,shefancied,begantolookaslongsufferingasMichael.Ithadbeenmovedsooften.ThenshetackedanoldsheettothebeamsnearestthefireplaceandforcedCalcifertobendhisheaddownwhileshesweptthechimney.Calciferhatedthat.
