Ходячий замок
Chapter 21
Hisfacewaswhiteandhiseyeswereshut,butheranevenfasterthanMichael.Hegottherefirst,andheopenedthedoor.
WithCalcifersohelpless,thecastlehadstoppedmoving.MissAngoriansawthebushesstandingstillinthehazeoutsideandracedforthedoorwithinhumanspeed.Beforeshereachedit,itwasblockedbythescarecrow,loomingupwithPrinceJustinhungacrossitsshoulders,stilldrapedinSophie’slaceshawl.Itspreaditsstickarmsacrossthedoor,barringtheway.MissAngorianbackedawayfromit.
Thestickbeatingatherwasonfirenow.Itsmetalendwasglowing.Sophierealizeditcouldnotlastmuchlonger.Luckily,MissAngorianhateditsomuchthatsheseizedholdofMichaelanddraggedhiminitsway.ThestickhadbeentoldnotohurtMichael.Ithovered,flaming.MarthadashedupandtriedtopullMichaelaway.Thestickhadtoavoidhertoo.Sophiehadgotitwrongasusual.
Therewasnotimetowaste.
“Calcifer,”Sophiesaid,“Ishallhavetobreakyourcontract.Willitkillyou?”
“Itwouldifanyoneelsebrokeit,”Calcifersaidhoarsely.“That’swhyIaskedyoutodoit.Icouldtellyoucouldtalklifeintothings.Lookwhatyoudidforthescarecrowandtheskull.”
“Thenhaveanotherthousandyears!”Sophiesaid,andwilleditveryhardasshesaidit,incasejusttalkingwasnotenough.Thishadbeenworryingherverymuch.ShetookholdofCalciferandcarefullynippedhimofftheblacklump,justasshewouldnipadeadbudoffastalk.Calciferwhirledlooseandhoveredbyhershoulderasablueteardrop.
“Ifeelsolight!”hesaid.
