Ходячий замок
Chapter 9
Sophiecouldfeel,morethansee,themilesandmilesofflatnessstretchingawayinfrontofthem.Whatshecouldseewerebandsoflowbluishmistandpaleglimmersofmarshypools,overandoveragain,untiltheybuiltintoapalelinewheretheskystarted.Theskywaseverywhereelse,hugerstill.TheMilkyWaylookedlikeabandofmistrisenfromthemarshes,andthekeenstarstwinkledthroughit.
MichaelandSophiestood,eachwithabootreadyonthegroundinfrontofthem,waitingforoneofthestarstomove.
AfteraboutanhourSophiehadtopretendshewasnotshivering,forfearofworryingMichael.
HalfanhourlaterMichaelsaid,“Mayisnottherighttimeoftheyear.AugustorNovemberisbest.”
Halfanhourafterthat,hesaidinaworriedway,“Whatdowedoaboutthemandrakeroot?”
“Let’sseetothispartbeforeweworryaboutthat,”Sophiesaid,bitingherteethtogetherwhileshespoke,forfeartheywouldchatter.
SometimelaterMichaelsaid,“Yougohome,Sophie.It’smyspell,afterall.”
Sophiehadhermouthopentosaythatthiswasaverygoodidea,whenoneofthestarscameunstuckfromthefirmamentanddartedinawhitestreakdownthesky.“There’sone!”Sophieshriekedinstead.
Michaelthumpedhisfootintohisbootandwasoff.Sophiebracedherselfwithherstickandwasoffasecondlater.Zip!Squash.Downfaroutinthemarsheswithmistandemptinessanddull-glimmeringpoolsinalldirections.Sophiestabbedherstickintothegroundandjustmanagedtostandstill.Michael’sbootwasadarkblotstandingjustbesideher.
