Ходячий замок
Chapter 8
IthadsomeofthestrongestmagicI’vemet.Whateverwasit—allthatwasleftofthelastpersonyoucleanedfor?”
Sophiegaveaweaklittlecackleoflaughter.Herheartwasbehavingbadlyagain.
Howlrealizedsomethingwaswrongwithher.Hejumpedindoorsacrosshisguitar,tookholdofherelbow,andsatherinthechair.“Takeiteasynow!”SomethinghappenedbetweenHowlandCalciferthen.Sophiefeltit,becauseshewasbeingheldbyHowl,andCalciferwasstillleaningoutofthegrate.Whateveritwas,herheartbegantobehaveproperlyagainalmostatonce.HowllookedatCalcifer,shrugged,andturnedawaytogiveMichaelawholelotofinstructionsaboutmakingSophiekeepquietfortherestoftheday.Thenhepickeduptheguitarandleftatlast.
Sophielayinthechairandpretendedtofeeltwiceasillasshedid.shehadtoletHowlgetoutofsight.ItwasanuisancehewasgoingtoUpperFoldingaswell,butshewouldwalksomuchmoreslowlythatshewouldarrivearoundthetimehestartedback.Theimportantthingwasnottomeethimontheway.ShewatchedMichaelslylywhilehespreadouthisspellandscratchedhisheadoverit.Shewaiteduntilhedraggedbigleatherbooksofftheshelvesandbeganmakingnotesinafrantic,depressedsortofway.Whenheseemedproperlyabsorbed,Sophiemutteredseveraltimes,“Stuffyinhere!”
Michaeltooknonotice.“Terriblystuffy,”Sophiesaid,gettingupandshamblingtothedoor.“Freshair.”Sheopenedthedoorandclimbedout.Calciferobliginglystoppedthecastledeadwhileshedid.
