Ходячий замок
Chapter 8
Sophielandedintheheatherandtookalookroundtogetherbearings.TheroadoverthehillstoUpperFoldingwasasandylinethroughtheheatherjustdownhillfromthecastle.Naturally.CalciferwouldnotmakethingsinconvenientforHowl.Sophiesetofftowardit.Shefeltalittlesad.ShewasgoingtomissMichaelandCalcifer.
Shewasalmostattheroadwhentherewasshoutingbehindher.Michaelcameboundingdownthehillsideafterher,andthetallblackcastlecamebobblingalongbehindhim,sheddinganxiouspuffsofsmokefromallfourturrets.
“Whatareyoudoing?”Michaelsaidwhenhecaughtup.Fromthewayhelookedather,Sophiecouldseehethoughtthescarecrowhadsentherwronginthehead.
“I’mperfectlyallright,”Sophiesaidindignantly.“I’msimplygoingtoseemyothersis-ter’sgranddaughter.She’scalledLettietoo.Nowdoyouunderstand?”
“Wheredoesshelive?”Michaeldemanded,asifhethoughtSophiemightnotknow.
“UpperFolding,”saidSophie.
“Butthat’sovertenmilesaway!”Michaelsaid.“IpromisedHowlI’dmakeyourest.Ican’tletyougo.ItoldhimIwouldn’tletyououtofmysight.”
Sophiedidnotlookverykindlyonthis.HowlthoughtshewasusefulnowbecausehewantedhertoseetheKing.Ofcoursehedidnotwanthertoleavethecastle.“Huh!”shesaid.
“Besides,”saidMichael,slowlygraspingthesituation,“HowlmusthavegonetoUpperFoldingtoo.”
“I’mquitesurehehad,”saidSophie.
“Thenyou’reanxiousaboutthisgirl,ifshe’syourgreat-niece,”Michaelsaid,arrivingatthepointatlast.
