Ходячий замок
Chapter 9
“No,”hesaid.“It’sthesortofspellthatrevealsitselfasyoudoit.That’swhatthelastlinemeans.Whenyouwritethesecondhalf,sayingwhatthespellmeans,thatmakesitwork.Thosekindareveryadvanced.Wehavetocrackthefirstbitfirst.”
Sophiecollectedherbluetrianglesintoapileagain.“Let’saskCalcifer,”shesuggested.“Calcifer,who—”
ButthiswasyetanotherthingMichaeldidnotletherdo.“No,bequiet.IthinkCalcifer’spartofthespell.Lookatthewayitsays‘Tellme’and‘Teachme.’Ithoughtatfirstitmeantteachtheskull,butthatdidn’twork,soitmustbeCalcifer.”
“Youcandoitbyyourself,ifyousitoneverythingIhavetosay!”Sophiesaid.“Anyway,surelyCalcifermustknowwhoclefthisownfoot!”
Calciferflaredupalittleatthis.“Ihaven’tgotanyfeet.I’mademon,notadevil.”Sayingwhich,heretreatedrightunderhislogs,wherehecouldbeheardchinkingabout,muttering,“Lotofnonsense!”alltherestofthetimeSophieandMichaelwerediscussingthespell.BythistimethepuzzlehadgotagriponSophie.Shepackedawayherbluetriangles,fetchedpenandpaper,andstartedmakingnotesinthesamesortofquantitiesthatMichaelhad.FortherestofthedaysheandMichaelsatstaringintothedistance,nibblingquillsandthrowingoutsuggestionsatoneanother.
AnaveragepageofSophie’snotesread:
Doesgarlickeepoffenvy?Icouldcutastaroutofpaperanddropit.CouldwetellittoHowl?HowlwouldlikemermaidsbetterthanCalcifer.DonotthinkHowl’smindishonest.
