Ходячий замок
Chapter 13
Itwastheslightlyuncertainsmilethatwentwiththepersonhewas,ratherthanthekingheoughttobe.“Thankyou,Mrs.Pendragon,”hesaid.“Youroutspokennesshastakenagreatweightoffmymind.TheWizardagreedtolookformybrothersoreadilythatIthoughtIhadpickedthewrongmanafterall.Ifearedhewassomeonewhowaseitherunabletoresistshowingofforwoulddoanythingformoney.ButyouhaveshownmeheisjustthemanIneed.”
“Oh,confoundit!”Sophiecriedout.“Hesentmetotellyouhewasn’t!”
“Andsoyoudid.”TheKinghitchedhischairaninchtowardSophie’s.“Letmebeequallyoutspokennow,”hesaid.“Mrs.Pendragon,Ineedmybrotherbackbadly.ItisnotjustthatIamfondofhimandregretthequarrelwehad.ItisnoteventhatcertainpeoplearewhisperingthatIdidawaywithhimmyself—whichanyonewhoknowsusbothknowstobeperfectnonsense.No,Mrs.Pendragon.Thefactis,mybrotherJustinisabrilliantgeneraland,withHighNorlandandStrangiaabouttodeclarewaronus,Ican’tdowithouthim.TheWitchhasthreatenedmetoo,youknow.NowthatallreportsagreethatJustindidindeedgointotheWaste,IamcertainthattheWitchmeantmetobewithouthimwhenIneededhimmost.IthinkshetookWizardSulimanasbaittofetchJustin.AnditfollowsthatIneedafairlycleverandunscrupulouswizardtogethimback.”
“Howlwilljustrunaway,”SophiewarnedtheKing.
“No,”saidtheKing.“Idon’tthinkhewill.Thefactthathesentyoutellsmethat.
