Ходячий замок
Chapter 7
”
Atthis,Howllookedthoroughlyalarmed.“What’swrongwithhim?I’veneverknownhimlikethisbefore!”
“Ithinkitwasthescarecrow,”Sophiesaid.
Howlswiveledaroundonhiskneesandleveledhisglass-marbleeyesather.“Whathaveyoudonenow?”HewentonstaringwhileSophieexplained.“Ascarecrow?”hesaid.“Calciferagreedtospeedupthecastlebecauseofascarecrow?DearSophie,dopleasetellmehowyoubullyafiredemonintobeingthatobliging.I’ddearlylovetoknow!”
“Ididn’tbullyhim,”saidSophie.“Itgavemeaturnandhewassorryforme.”
“ItgaveheraturnandCalciferwassorryforher,”Howlrepeated.“MygoodSophie,Calciferisneversorryforanyone.Anyway,Ihopeyouenjoyrawonionsandcoldpieforyoursupper,becauseyou’vealmostputCalciferout.”
“There’sthecake,”Michaelsaid,tryingtomakepeace.
ThefooddidseemtoimproveHowl’stemper,althoughhekeptcastinganxiouslooksattheunburninglogsinthehearthallthetimetheywereeating.Thepiewasgoodcold,andtheonionswerequitetastywhenSophiehadsoakedtheminvinegar.Thecakewassuperb.Whiletheywereeatingit,MichaelriskedaskingHowlwhattheKinghadwanted.
“Nothingdefiniteyet,”Howlsaidgloomily.“Buthewassoundingmeoutabouthisbrother,quietominously.ApparentlytheyhadagoodoldargumentbeforePrinceJustinstormedoff,andpeoplearetalking.TheKingobviouslywantedmetovolunteertolookforhisbrother.AndlikeafoolIwentandsaidIdidn’tthinkWizardSulimanwasdead,andthatmademattersworse.
