Ходячий замок
Chapter 9
Michaelhimselfwasasploshysoundofmadlyrunningfeetsomewhereahead.
Andtherewasthefallingstar.Sophiecouldseeit,alittlewhitedescendingflameshapeafewyardsbeyondthedarkmovementsthatwereMichael.Thebrightshapewascomingdownslowlynow,anditlookedasifMichaelmightcatchit.
Sophiedraggedhershoeoutoftheboot.“Comeon,stick!”shecrowed.“Getmethere!”Andshesetoffattophobble,leapingacrosstussocksandstaggeringthroughpools,withhereyesonthatlittlewhitelight.
Bythetimeshecaughtup,Michaelwasstalkingthestarwithsoftsteps,botharmsouttocatchit.Sophiecouldseehimoutlinedagainstthestar’slight.ThestarwasdriftinglevelwithMichael’shandsandonlyasteporsobeyond.Itwaslookingbackathimnervously.Howodd!Sophiethought.Itwasmadeoflight,itlitupawhiteringofgrassandreedsandblackpoolsroundMichael,andyetithadbig,anxiouseyespeeringbackwardatMichael,andasmall,pointedface.
Sophie’sarrivalfrightenedit.Itgaveanerraticswoopandcriedoutinashrill,cracklingvoice,“Whatisit?Whatdoyouwant?”
SophietriedtosaytoMichael,Dostop—it’sterrified!Butshehadnobreathlefttospeakwith.
“Ionlywanttocatchyou,”Michaelexplained.“Iwon’thurtyou.”
“No!No!”thestarcrackleddesperately.“That’swrong!I’msupposedtodie!”
“ButIcouldsaveyouifyou’dletmecatchyou,”Michaeltolditgently.
“No!”criedthestar.“I’dratherdie!”ItdivedawayfromMichael’sfingers
