Ходячий замок
Chapter 5
BynowitwasclearthatCalciferdidallthestrongmagicinthecastleandMichaeldidallthehackwork,whileHowlgaddedoffcatchinggirlsandexploitingtheothertwojustasFannyhadexploitedher.SophiehadneverfoundHowlparticularlyfrightening.Nowshefeltnothingbutcontempt.
ShearrivedonthelandingandfoundHowlstandinginthedoorwayofhisbedroom.Hewasleaninglazilyononehand,completelyblockingherway.
“Noyoudon’t,”hesaidquitepleasantly.“Iwantitdirty,thankyou.”
Sophiegapedathim.“Wheredidyoucomefrom?Isawyougoout.”
“Imeantyouto,”saidHowl.“You’ddoneyourworstwithCalciferandpoorMichael.Itstoodtoreasonyou’ddescendonmetoday.AndwhateverCalcifertoldyou,Iamawizard,youknow.Didn’tyouthinkIcoulddomagic?”
ThisunderminedallSophie’sassumptions.Shewouldhavediedratherthanadmitit.“Everyoneknowsyou’reawizard,youngman,”shesaidseverely.“Butthatdoesn’talterthefactthatyourcastleisthedirtiestplaceI’veeverbeenin.”shelookedintotheroompastHowl’sdanglingblue-and-silversleeve.Thecarpetonthefloorwaslitteredlikeabird’snest.Sheglimpsedpeelingwallsandashelffullofbooks,someofthemveryqueer-looking.Therewasnosignofapileofgnawedhearts,butthosewereprobablybehindorunderthehugefourposterbed.Itshangingsweregray-whitewithdustandtheypreventedherfromseeingwhatthewindowlookedoutonto.
Howlswunghissleeveinfrontofherface.“Uh-uh.Don’tbenosy.”
“I’mnotbeingnosy!”Sophieprotested.
