Ходячий замок
Chapter 9
IsCalcifer’s?Wherearethepastyearsanyway?Doesitmeanoneofthosedryrootsmustbearfruit?Plantit?Nexttodockleaf?Inaseashell?Clovenhoof,mostthingsbuthorses.Shoeahorsewithacloveofgarlic?Wind?Smell?Windofseven-leagueboots?IsHowldevil?Cloventoesinseven-leagueboots?Mermaidsinboots?
AsSophiewrotethis,Michaelaskedequallydesperately,“Couldthe‘wind’besomesortofpulley?Anhonestmanbeinghanged?That’sblackmagic,though.”
“Let’shavesupper,”saidSophie.
Theyatebreadandcheese,stillstaringintothedistance.AtlastSophiesaid,“Michael,forgoodness’sake,let’sgiveupguessingandtryjustdoingwhatitsays.Where’sthebestplacetocatchafallingstar?Outonthehills?”
“PorthavenMarshesareflatter,”Michaelsaid.“Canwe?Shootingstarsgoawfullyfast.”
“Socanwe,inseven-leagueboots,”Sophiepointedout.
Michaelsprangup,fullofreliefanddelight.“Ithinkyou’vegotit!”hesaid,scramblingfortheboots.“Let’sgoandtry.”
TheywentoutintothestreetinPorthaven.Itwasabright,balmynight.Assoonastheyhadreachedtheendofthestreet,however,MichaelrememberedthatSophiehadbeenillthatmorningandbeganworryingabouttheeffectofnightaironherhealth.Sophietoldhimnottobesilly.Shestumpedgamelyalongwithherstickuntiltheyleftthelightedwindowsbehindandthenightbecamewideanddampandchilly.Themarshessmelledofsaltandearth.Theseaglitteredandsoftlyswishedtotherear.
