Ходячий замок
Chapter 10
Shehobbledovertotheshelvesandscannedthejars.TheredonelabeledCAYENNElookedthemostlikely.Sophiepouredagenerousheapofitonasquareofpaper.Shestoodthehumanskullbesideit.“BecauseyoumustknowmoreaboutthisthanIdo,”shemutteredatit.Theyoungmanwasleaninganxiouslyroundthedoortowatch.Sophietookupaknifeandmadewhatshehopedwouldlooklikemysticpassesovertheheapofpepper.“Youaretomakeafairfight,”shemumbled.“Afairfight!Understand?”Shescrewedthepaperupandhobbledtothedoorwithit.“Throwthisintheairwhentheduelstarts,”shetoldtheundersizedyoungman,“anditwillgiveyouthesamechanceastheotherman.Afterthat,whetheryouwinornotdependsonyou.”
Theundersizedyoungmanwassogratefulthathetriedtogiveheragoldpiece.Sophierefusedtotakeit,sohegaveheratwo-pennybitinsteadandwentaway,whistlinghappily.“Ifeelafraud,”Sophiesaidasshestowedthemoneyunderthehearthstone.“ButIwouldliketobethereatthatfight!”
“SowouldI!”crackledCalcifer.“WhenareyougoingtoreleasemesothatIcangoandseethingslikethat?”
“WhenI’vegotevenahintaboutthiscontract,”Sophiesaid.
“Youmaygetonelatertoday,”saidCalcifer.
Michaelbreezedintowardtheendoftheafternoon.HetookananxiouslookroundtomakesureHowlhadnotcomehomefirstandwenttothebench,wherehegotthingsouttomakeitlookasifhehadbeenbusy,singingcheerfullywhilehedid.
