Chapter Four: In Which Sophie Changes And A Bookshop Never Ends
'Darling Sophie, where did you get such antiquated garments? It is so terribly eighties-ish.' trilled the horrid Louisa lady.
Howl was going to answer but his new apprentice cut in smoothly, 'Well Louisa, Howl and I had just come from a costume ball. He was quite excited to see Marina again that I thought we needn't change. I hope I didn't embarrass you with our apparent lack of style.'
When Howl had finally realized what it really meant, he threw Sophie a look. He was not the only one; Louisa was shooting daggers at her, pardon the cliché. Sophie herself just smiled sweetly and went back to her breakfast. Howl's sister Marina had successfully stuffed them with bangers and mash, which though a trifle burnt were delicious, when the wizard rose from his chair in the sunny kitchen and told whoever was left that he and Sophie needed to be going. Chatting amiably with Marina, Sophie disappointed that they had to go so soon. She got up though rather reluctantly. Marina escorted them to the door but stopped near the stairway. She began to look quite agitated.
'Oh damnation, I seem to have forgotten to give you something the old man had brought! Hold on a tick, Howell.' She said.
She twisted around and somehow bumped into Louisa who chose that moment to come rushing past. With a cup of brewed coffee in her hand, I might add. As the two women collided, the drink went sailing into the air. Sophie thought it was just her luck as it spilled all over her shirt and parts of her hair. Well, at least I can get out of these ridiculous clothes, she reflected.
'Oh no! I am so sorry!' cried Louisa in a high-pitched shriek.
'I am quite sure you are.' Sophie said dryly, trying to find some way to cast a cleaning spell without anyone noticing. If she had glanced up then, she would have seen Louisa quail at the fierceness of Howl's glare. Though he did not say a word, Louisa knew that she had crossed the border and was being subjected to a series of silent but furious curses, threatening along the lines of prepare to be tossed into a pile of fresh constipated dragon fewmets, or I shall hang you from the roof by your nails and have rabid squirrels nibble on your feet. When Sophie finally gave up, she noticed that the woman had disappeared as quickly as she came. 'Where did she go?'
'Back to the hole where she belongs, I suppose.' His sister promptly whacked Howl on the head. 'Hey! We aren't children anymore, Marina! I am a mature adult now!' he exclaimed, only to hear her mutter, 'Yes, and I am a filthy compulsive pig who loves wearing polka-dotted leg warmers in orange, pink, and silver swirls.'
Sophie laughed then peered sadly at the coffee stains. She hadn't liked the blouse but she could not very well go waltzing around with a horrendous splotch down her front, could she? All her problems ended when Marina offered a change of garments. It seemed that Marina was about to give away some of her old ones to make space for the upcoming wedding presents. When Howl huffily protested that Sophie did not need charity thank you very much before she herself could decline, Marina just scoffed and dragged them to her bedroom on the fourth floor. The carpet was green-and-purple, Sophie noted vaguely.
'Now Sophie dear, get into the bath and wash out the espresso. I've fixed it to what you must be used too in Howell's dreary castle. The fluffy towels are near the marble sink, not under the tile one.' As Sophie was about to enter she got what Marina was saying. She turned and looked closer at her. Yes, there seemed to be that purplish aura around Marina.
'Why you're a witch!' she exclaimed. Howl who was reading a book on the canopy bed grumbled when his sister told him he had not taught his students well enough. 'She's only been one for a week and a day! You cannot expect me to have taught her the entire theory of magical identity detection! Sod it all. Hurry up, Sophie, we haven't got all day.'
Sophie liked the bathroom, it was very pretty and she was curious about the little bottles labelled, 'Aloe Vera' and 'conditioner' She quickly tried a bit a bit of both and rinsed of her hair. Marina handed some clothes through the door and Sophie slipped into them. Surveying herself in the mirror, she decided she liked Marina's sense of style too. As soon as she came out, Marina hauled her towards the dresser where the witch-sister combed through her hair. Sophie yelped and screeched several times but Howl never looked up from his thick novel.
'Ouch! Do you this a lot? Eek! Be careful, it hurts, Marina. You're mauling me!' The only reply was, 'Beauty needs a bit of pain, dear.'
'But I didn't want to be beautiful, just a bath and non-hideous clothes!'
Howl sounded very cheerful when he replied, 'Accept it, Sophie. She has already got you in her grasp. Deal as I did.'
'Which explains you current inability to be normal then.' Sophie retorted feeling very disgruntled. He snorted as delicately as one snorting can.
A few minutes later, Marina let go of her victim and proclaimed her perfect. Finally Howl looked up to say it was damn well time but no sounds issued forth. The reason was Sophie- Sophie being smartly dressed in very preppy but chic clothes. A white collar peeped out of her red wool sweater and the elegant trousers ended where chunky boots began. The red-gold waves were let loose except for the fringes which were swept up in beaded barrettes. She looked really, really- oh glory, never mind. He cleared his strangely parched throat and said huskily, 'Gracious Gilgamesh, Marina, you've preformed a miracle. I suppose I have lost that bet with Calcifer.' He jumped off the bed and strode out.
His sister faced Sophie who for a moment seemed very crestfallen but immediately grinned following. She remarked to Marina what fun she had even though she felt as if her head was on fire and her hair would never heal but she really must be going for Howl left already. She rushed out to follow him while waving rather sadly at Marina. When she disappeared, Marina plopped onto the bed and peered at the lacy ceiling. Bloody hell, her brother was an idiot.
Howl was staring blankly at the funny carriage-thing from Before when Sophie bounced out of the house. He started and told her to get in. She paled; there was no way in the world, or rather worlds that she was going to ride it again. The last time had almost frightened her out of her wits though perhaps that was the side effect of being old.
'Hop in, Sophie. It isn't going to come alive and eat you up in one big bite, you know.' said Howl nastily. Sophie shook her head.
'No, I most absolutely will not enter that- that thing. It is unnatural, moving using invisible whatnot!' He lost his temper at that.
'Heavens! It is a CAR, dear heart, a flaming CAR! If technology and science are unnatural then magic is even more so! Come on!'
Sophie was shocked with his burst of anger. Never had she seen him this enraged before, he had not even tried to slither his way out of the argument! In her surprise and admitted fear, she opened the front seat door and slid in. Opposite her, Howl wrenched the door open, and started the engine. He told her to buckle up as he strapped himself in. Sophie followed and sank as low and as much into the seat as possible while he began to accelerate. Damnation, what a nightmare!
Yet after awhile, the turbulence and shaking of the car grew on Sophie and soon she found that it hardly bothered her anymore. What bothered her was that Howl was silent and remained focused on the grey road that stretched in front of them. So instead she watched the scenery outside as it sped by fast. There were rolling hills and wide moors, as they left the edges of the town and travelled southeast. Sophie wondered where they were going but then again she was always wondering.
A fog encircled the vehicle and wafts of mist and sparkling dust made it almost impossible to see out the window. When it cleared Sophie saw that the countryside had disappeared and they were somewhere else altogether. How different it certainly was! Tall building towered many metres above the ground and there were more people she had ever seen in her life. Her face was practically plastered to the glass when she saw the most amazing bridge and a grand palace with guards in fancy dress. Of course the questions could not come any faster.
'Where are we? What is that? How do you suppose people get to the top floors, by staircases? I thought you said they didn't use magic. Then how in Mordent do they construct these things? Were you lying to me, Howl?'
He did not answer but Sophie detected a ghost of smile on his face. The car turned into a quieter street and neighbourhood. The houses as they were became smaller and more like the ones in Sophie's own world. Her excitement dropped bit by bit when it seemed that she was not going to be able to enter the other interesting buildings. The car slowed ito a stop in front of an obscure brick edifice with a dull red entrance. A swinging wooden sign said in elaborate lettering, 'Brenham & Blaine Bookshop'
'Well here we are then, good old London. When we are in there, try to be quiet and search for these books.' Howl said coldly, handing her a list. Before Sophie could even ask, he answered her question. 'When you're done, you can go look around, maybe a good novel will stop you from bustling to and fro in the castle like a rabid mother hen.'
The door opened with a tinkle of bells and an old man suddenly appeared by their side. Sophie was wary of him, he was wearing clothes that were strange for this time and place though very appropriate in Market Chipping. Howl who began to inquire about exotic materials for conflict charms waved her away. She moved in and around the mouldy bookshelves, finding here and there the certain titles on Howl's list. When she picked the last one, "Warmongering Rampage Spells VII" she sat on one of the comfortable though dusty armchairs in the area. Trying to resist the urge to clean it, she closed her eyes. Sophie felt tired; the shop seemed to be much larger than she had thought.
Soon however, she began walking once more. Climbing the seventh staircase, she noticed the newest chamber was bright, airy and very well, new. Sophie glimpsed at the bright covers lined neatly on the steel shelf. Several times she put Howl's books down in order to skim through copies like, , "How to Stalk Your Love Interest Edition Two" "303 Ways to Driving Your Family Mad" and "The Umbrella Man and other stories" All the books looked so interesting and she could not wait to read all of them. In Ingary, most people hadn't the time to read. But her arms were already filled with the heavy volumes of Howl, what was she to do?
Suddenly, a smiling saleslady tapped her on the shoulder and held out a wire basket. 'Here, miss, use this one.'
Sophie gratefully thanked her and dumped the tomes in, including the paperbacks she had chosen for herself. I shall have to pay Howl back later, she thought. She went down the stairs but upon reaching the last step, she realized she was in another room. Sophie paced around some more, each time becoming more convinced that she was getting lost.
This is ridiculous! If I am still in the bookshop, then I would have found Howl by now! she thought frantically. She was becoming more restless; she was in a very seedy looking room now. The shelves were piled with dubious magazines and the customers were goon-like. She felt horribly uncomfortable as she turned to try and use another hallway. A guttural and leering voice stopped her.
'What're ye doing 'ere, little missy? Oughtn't ye been in school t'day? Shouldn't ye be needin' some assistance?'
'Er, no thank you. I shall be going now then.' she said quickly, her voice piping and high. She was about to dash off when a strong hand clamped her shoulder. Sophie became terrified as the tattered man told her he did not think so. 'Maybe, ye ought to be stayin' wit' me.' He brought his awful bearded face towards her but before anything else happened, a large box hurtled towards his head. The man let go, covering his eyes. Sophie took the chance and ran but not before motioning for other things to plague the goon.
'Darling Sophie, where did you get such antiquated garments? It is so terribly eighties-ish.' trilled the horrid Louisa lady.
Howl was going to answer but his new apprentice cut in smoothly, 'Well Louisa, Howl and I had just come from a costume ball. He was quite excited to see Marina again that I thought we needn't change. I hope I didn't embarrass you with our apparent lack of style.'
When Howl had finally realized what it really meant, he threw Sophie a look. He was not the only one; Louisa was shooting daggers at her, pardon the cliché. Sophie herself just smiled sweetly and went back to her breakfast. Howl's sister Marina had successfully stuffed them with bangers and mash, which though a trifle burnt were delicious, when the wizard rose from his chair in the sunny kitchen and told whoever was left that he and Sophie needed to be going. Chatting amiably with Marina, Sophie disappointed that they had to go so soon. She got up though rather reluctantly. Marina escorted them to the door but stopped near the stairway. She began to look quite agitated.
'Oh damnation, I seem to have forgotten to give you something the old man had brought! Hold on a tick, Howell.' She said.
She twisted around and somehow bumped into Louisa who chose that moment to come rushing past. With a cup of brewed coffee in her hand, I might add. As the two women collided, the drink went sailing into the air. Sophie thought it was just her luck as it spilled all over her shirt and parts of her hair. Well, at least I can get out of these ridiculous clothes, she reflected.
'Oh no! I am so sorry!' cried Louisa in a high-pitched shriek.
'I am quite sure you are.' Sophie said dryly, trying to find some way to cast a cleaning spell without anyone noticing. If she had glanced up then, she would have seen Louisa quail at the fierceness of Howl's glare. Though he did not say a word, Louisa knew that she had crossed the border and was being subjected to a series of silent but furious curses, threatening along the lines of prepare to be tossed into a pile of fresh constipated dragon fewmets, or I shall hang you from the roof by your nails and have rabid squirrels nibble on your feet. When Sophie finally gave up, she noticed that the woman had disappeared as quickly as she came. 'Where did she go?'
'Back to the hole where she belongs, I suppose.' His sister promptly whacked Howl on the head. 'Hey! We aren't children anymore, Marina! I am a mature adult now!' he exclaimed, only to hear her mutter, 'Yes, and I am a filthy compulsive pig who loves wearing polka-dotted leg warmers in orange, pink, and silver swirls.'
Sophie laughed then peered sadly at the coffee stains. She hadn't liked the blouse but she could not very well go waltzing around with a horrendous splotch down her front, could she? All her problems ended when Marina offered a change of garments. It seemed that Marina was about to give away some of her old ones to make space for the upcoming wedding presents. When Howl huffily protested that Sophie did not need charity thank you very much before she herself could decline, Marina just scoffed and dragged them to her bedroom on the fourth floor. The carpet was green-and-purple, Sophie noted vaguely.
'Now Sophie dear, get into the bath and wash out the espresso. I've fixed it to what you must be used too in Howell's dreary castle. The fluffy towels are near the marble sink, not under the tile one.' As Sophie was about to enter she got what Marina was saying. She turned and looked closer at her. Yes, there seemed to be that purplish aura around Marina.
'Why you're a witch!' she exclaimed. Howl who was reading a book on the canopy bed grumbled when his sister told him he had not taught his students well enough. 'She's only been one for a week and a day! You cannot expect me to have taught her the entire theory of magical identity detection! Sod it all. Hurry up, Sophie, we haven't got all day.'
Sophie liked the bathroom, it was very pretty and she was curious about the little bottles labelled, 'Aloe Vera' and 'conditioner' She quickly tried a bit a bit of both and rinsed of her hair. Marina handed some clothes through the door and Sophie slipped into them. Surveying herself in the mirror, she decided she liked Marina's sense of style too. As soon as she came out, Marina hauled her towards the dresser where the witch-sister combed through her hair. Sophie yelped and screeched several times but Howl never looked up from his thick novel.
'Ouch! Do you this a lot? Eek! Be careful, it hurts, Marina. You're mauling me!' The only reply was, 'Beauty needs a bit of pain, dear.'
'But I didn't want to be beautiful, just a bath and non-hideous clothes!'
Howl sounded very cheerful when he replied, 'Accept it, Sophie. She has already got you in her grasp. Deal as I did.'
'Which explains you current inability to be normal then.' Sophie retorted feeling very disgruntled. He snorted as delicately as one snorting can.
A few minutes later, Marina let go of her victim and proclaimed her perfect. Finally Howl looked up to say it was damn well time but no sounds issued forth. The reason was Sophie- Sophie being smartly dressed in very preppy but chic clothes. A white collar peeped out of her red wool sweater and the elegant trousers ended where chunky boots began. The red-gold waves were let loose except for the fringes which were swept up in beaded barrettes. She looked really, really- oh glory, never mind. He cleared his strangely parched throat and said huskily, 'Gracious Gilgamesh, Marina, you've preformed a miracle. I suppose I have lost that bet with Calcifer.' He jumped off the bed and strode out.
His sister faced Sophie who for a moment seemed very crestfallen but immediately grinned following. She remarked to Marina what fun she had even though she felt as if her head was on fire and her hair would never heal but she really must be going for Howl left already. She rushed out to follow him while waving rather sadly at Marina. When she disappeared, Marina plopped onto the bed and peered at the lacy ceiling. Bloody hell, her brother was an idiot.
Howl was staring blankly at the funny carriage-thing from Before when Sophie bounced out of the house. He started and told her to get in. She paled; there was no way in the world, or rather worlds that she was going to ride it again. The last time had almost frightened her out of her wits though perhaps that was the side effect of being old.
'Hop in, Sophie. It isn't going to come alive and eat you up in one big bite, you know.' said Howl nastily. Sophie shook her head.
'No, I most absolutely will not enter that- that thing. It is unnatural, moving using invisible whatnot!' He lost his temper at that.
'Heavens! It is a CAR, dear heart, a flaming CAR! If technology and science are unnatural then magic is even more so! Come on!'
Sophie was shocked with his burst of anger. Never had she seen him this enraged before, he had not even tried to slither his way out of the argument! In her surprise and admitted fear, she opened the front seat door and slid in. Opposite her, Howl wrenched the door open, and started the engine. He told her to buckle up as he strapped himself in. Sophie followed and sank as low and as much into the seat as possible while he began to accelerate. Damnation, what a nightmare!
Yet after awhile, the turbulence and shaking of the car grew on Sophie and soon she found that it hardly bothered her anymore. What bothered her was that Howl was silent and remained focused on the grey road that stretched in front of them. So instead she watched the scenery outside as it sped by fast. There were rolling hills and wide moors, as they left the edges of the town and travelled southeast. Sophie wondered where they were going but then again she was always wondering.
A fog encircled the vehicle and wafts of mist and sparkling dust made it almost impossible to see out the window. When it cleared Sophie saw that the countryside had disappeared and they were somewhere else altogether. How different it certainly was! Tall building towered many metres above the ground and there were more people she had ever seen in her life. Her face was practically plastered to the glass when she saw the most amazing bridge and a grand palace with guards in fancy dress. Of course the questions could not come any faster.
'Where are we? What is that? How do you suppose people get to the top floors, by staircases? I thought you said they didn't use magic. Then how in Mordent do they construct these things? Were you lying to me, Howl?'
He did not answer but Sophie detected a ghost of smile on his face. The car turned into a quieter street and neighbourhood. The houses as they were became smaller and more like the ones in Sophie's own world. Her excitement dropped bit by bit when it seemed that she was not going to be able to enter the other interesting buildings. The car slowed ito a stop in front of an obscure brick edifice with a dull red entrance. A swinging wooden sign said in elaborate lettering, 'Brenham & Blaine Bookshop'
'Well here we are then, good old London. When we are in there, try to be quiet and search for these books.' Howl said coldly, handing her a list. Before Sophie could even ask, he answered her question. 'When you're done, you can go look around, maybe a good novel will stop you from bustling to and fro in the castle like a rabid mother hen.'
The door opened with a tinkle of bells and an old man suddenly appeared by their side. Sophie was wary of him, he was wearing clothes that were strange for this time and place though very appropriate in Market Chipping. Howl who began to inquire about exotic materials for conflict charms waved her away. She moved in and around the mouldy bookshelves, finding here and there the certain titles on Howl's list. When she picked the last one, "Warmongering Rampage Spells VII" she sat on one of the comfortable though dusty armchairs in the area. Trying to resist the urge to clean it, she closed her eyes. Sophie felt tired; the shop seemed to be much larger than she had thought.
Soon however, she began walking once more. Climbing the seventh staircase, she noticed the newest chamber was bright, airy and very well, new. Sophie glimpsed at the bright covers lined neatly on the steel shelf. Several times she put Howl's books down in order to skim through copies like, , "How to Stalk Your Love Interest Edition Two" "303 Ways to Driving Your Family Mad" and "The Umbrella Man and other stories" All the books looked so interesting and she could not wait to read all of them. In Ingary, most people hadn't the time to read. But her arms were already filled with the heavy volumes of Howl, what was she to do?
Suddenly, a smiling saleslady tapped her on the shoulder and held out a wire basket. 'Here, miss, use this one.'
Sophie gratefully thanked her and dumped the tomes in, including the paperbacks she had chosen for herself. I shall have to pay Howl back later, she thought. She went down the stairs but upon reaching the last step, she realized she was in another room. Sophie paced around some more, each time becoming more convinced that she was getting lost.
This is ridiculous! If I am still in the bookshop, then I would have found Howl by now! she thought frantically. She was becoming more restless; she was in a very seedy looking room now. The shelves were piled with dubious magazines and the customers were goon-like. She felt horribly uncomfortable as she turned to try and use another hallway. A guttural and leering voice stopped her.
'What're ye doing 'ere, little missy? Oughtn't ye been in school t'day? Shouldn't ye be needin' some assistance?'
'Er, no thank you. I shall be going now then.' she said quickly, her voice piping and high. She was about to dash off when a strong hand clamped her shoulder. Sophie became terrified as the tattered man told her he did not think so. 'Maybe, ye ought to be stayin' wit' me.' He brought his awful bearded face towards her but before anything else happened, a large box hurtled towards his head. The man let go, covering his eyes. Sophie took the chance and ran but not before motioning for other things to plague the goon.