Ходячий замок
Chapter 17
AndwhywasthemovingcastlenowontheedgeoftheWaste?WasitthecursepullingHowltowardtheWitch?OrhadHowlslitheredoutsohardthathehadcomeoutrightbehindhimselfandturnedoutwhatmostpeoplewouldcallhonest?
SophielookedatMichaeltoseewhathethought.Michaelwasasleep,andsowasthedog-man.SophielookedatCalciferinstead,sleepilyflickeringamongrosylogswithhisorangeeyesalmostshut.ShethoughtofCalciferpulsingalmostwhite,withwhiteeyes,andthenofCalciferstaringanxiouslyashewobbledontheshovel.Heremindedherofsomething.Thewholeshapeofhimdid.
“Calcifer,”shesaid,“wereyoueverafallingstar?”
Calciferopenedoneorangeeyeather.“Ofcourse,”hesaid.“Icantalkaboutthatifyouknow.Thecontractallowsmeto.”
“AndHowlcaughtyou?”saidSophie.
“Fiveyearsago,”saidCalcifer,“outonPorthavenMarshes,justafterhesetupasJenkintheSorcerer.Hechasedmeinseven-leagueboots.Iwasterrifiedofhim.Iwasterrifiedanyway,becausewhenyoufallyouknowyou’regoingtodie.I’dhavedoneanythingratherthandie.WhenHowlofferedtokeepmealivethewayhumansstayalive,Isuggestedacontractonthespot.Neitherofusknewwhatweweregettinginto.Iwasgrateful,andHowlonlyofferedbecausehewassorryforme.”
“JustlikeMichael,”saidSophie.
“What’sthat?”Michaelsaid,wakingup.“Sophie,Iwishweweren’trightontheedgeoftheWaste.Ididn’tknowwewouldbe.Idon’tfeelsafe.”
“Nobody’ssafeinawizard’shouse,”Calcifersaidfeelingly.
