Ходячий замок

           WhenHowlwassatisfiedthatMichaelhadforgottenallabouthowmuchorhowlittlehechargedpeopleinPorthaven,hetookhimoutintotheyardtohelpwiththeKing’sspell.Sophiecreakedtoherfeetandhobbledtothebench.Thespellwasclearenough,butHowl’sscrawledremarksdefeatedher.“I’veneverseensuchwriting!”shegrumbledtothehumanskull.“Doesheuseapenorapoker?”Shesortedeagerlythrougheveryscrapofpaperonthebenchandexaminedthepowdersandliquidsinthecrookedjars.“Yes,let’sadmitit,”shetoldtheskull.“Isnoop.AndIhavemyproperreward.Icanfindouthowtocurefowlpestandabatewhoopingcough,raiseawindandremovehairsfromtheface.IfMarthahadfoundthislot,she’dstillbeatMrs.Fairfax’s.”

           Howl,itseemedtoSophie,wentandexaminedallthethingsshehadmovedwhenhecameinfromtheyard.Butthatseemedtobeonlyrestlessness.Heseemednottoknowwhattodowithhimselfafterthat.Sophieheardhimrovingupanddownduringthenight.Hewasonlyanhourinthebathroomthenextmorning.HeseemednottobeabletocontainhimselfwhileMichaelputonhisbestplumvelvetsuit,readytogotothePalaceinKingsbury,andthetwoofthemwrappedthebulkyspellupingoldenpaper.Thespellmusthavebeensurprisinglylightforitssize.Michaelcouldcarryitonhisowneasily,withbothhisarmswrappedroundit.Howlturnedtheknoboverthedoorred-downforhimandsenthimoutintothestreetamongthepaintedhouses.

           “They’reexpectingit,”Howlsaid.“Youshouldonlyhavetowaitmostofthemorning.