Ходячий замок
Chapter 6
AtthebenchHowlworkedagooddealharderandfasterthanMichael,puttingspellstogetherinanexpertbutslapdashway.FromthelookonMichael’sface,mostofthespellswerebothunusualandhardtodo.ButHowlwouldleaveaspellmidwayanddashuptohisbedroomtolookaftersomethinghidden—andnodoubtsinister—goingonupthere,andthenshortlyraceoutintotheyardtotinkerwithalargespelloutthere.Sophieopenedthedooracrackandwasratheramazedtoseetheelegantwizardkneelinginthemudwithhislongsleevestiedbehindhisnecktokeepthemoutofthewaywhilehecarefullyheavedatangleofgreasymetalintoaspecialframeworkofsomekind.
ThatspellwasfortheKing.Anotheroverdressedandscentedmessengerarrivedwithaletterandalong,longspeechinwhichhewonderedifHowlcouldpossiblysparetime,nodoubtinvaluablyemployedinotherways,tobendhispowerfulandingeniousmindtoasmallproblemexperiencedbyHisRoyalMajesty—towhit,howanarmymightgetitsheavywagonsthroughamarshandroughground.Howlwaswonderfullypoliteandlong-windedinreply.Hesaidno.Butthemessengerspokeforafurtherhalf-hour,atthenendofwhichheandHowlbowedtooneanotherandHowlagreedtodothespell.
“Thisisabitominous,”HowlsaidtoMichaelwhenthemessengerhadgone.“WhatdidSulimanhavetogethimselflostintheWastefor?TheKingseemstothinkI’lldoinstead.”
“Hewasn’tasinventiveasyou,byallaccounts,”Michaelsaid.
“I’mtoopatientandpolite,”Howlsaidgloomily.“Ishouldhaveoverchargedhimevenmore.
