Ходячий замок
Chapter 9
Sophieread:
“Goandcatchafallingstar,
Getwithchildamandrakeroot,
Tellmewhereallthepastyear’sare,
OrwhoclefttheDevil’sfoot.
Teachmetohearthemermaidssinging,
Ortokeepoffenvy’sstinging,
Andfind
Whatwind
Servestoadvanceanhonestmind.
Decidewhatthisisabout
Writeasecondverseyourself”
ItpuzzledSophieexceedingly.Itwasnotquitelikeanyofthespellsshehadsnoopedatbefore.Sheplowedthroughittwice,notreallyhelpedbyMichaeleagerlyexplainingasshetriedtoread.“YouknowHowltoldmethatadvancedspellshaveapuzzleinthem?Well,Idecidedatfirstthateverylinewasmeanttobeapuzzle.Iusedsootwithsparksinitforthefallingstar,andaseashellforthemermaidssinging.AndIthoughtImightcountasachild,soIgotamandrakerootdown,andIwroteoutalistofpastyearsfromthealmanacs,butIwasn’tsureaboutthat—maybethat’swhereIwentwrong—andcouldthethingthatstopsstingingbedockleaf?Ihadn’tthoughtofthatbefore—anyway,noneofitworks!”
“I’mnotsurprised,”saidSophie.“Itlookstomelikeasetofimpossiblethingstodo.”
ButMichaelwasnothavingthat.Ifthethingswereimpossible,hepointedoutreasonably,noonewouldeverbeabletodothespell.“And,”headded,“I’msoashamedofspyingonHowlthatIwanttomakeupforitbygettingthisspellright.”
“Verywell,”saidSophie.“Let’sstartwith‘Decidewhatthisisallabout.’Thatoughttostartthingsmoving,ifdecidingispartofthespellanyway.”
ButMichaelwasnothavingthateither.
