Ходячий замок
Chapter 3
“I’llbreakyourspelltheveryinstantyoubreakmycontract!”
“ThentellmehowIbreakyourcontract,”Sophiesaid.
Theorangeeyesglintedatherandlookedaway.“Ican’t.PartofthecontractisthatneithertheWizardnorIcansaywhatthemainclauseis.”
Sophiesawthatshehadbeentricked.SheopenedhermouthtotellthedemonthatitcouldsitinthefireplaceuntilDoomsdayinthatcase.
Thedemonrealizedshewasgoingto.“Don’tbehasty!”itcrackled.“Youcanfindoutwhatitisifyouwatchandlistencarefully.Iimploreyoutotry.Thecontractisn’tdoingeitherofusanygoodinthelongrun.AndIdokeepmyword.ThefactthatI’mstuckhereshowsthatIkeepit!”
Itwasinearnest,leapingaboutonitslogsinanagitatedway.Sophieagainfeltagreatdealofsympathy.“ButifI’mtowatchandlisten,thatmeansIhavetostayhereinHowl’scastle,”sheobjected.
“Onlyaboutamonth.Remember,Ihavetostudyyourspelltoo,”thedemonpleaded.
“ButwhatpossibleexcusecanIgivefordoingthat?”Sophieasked.
“We’llthinkofone.Howl’sprettyuselessatmostthings.Infact,”thedemonsaid,venomouslyhissing,“he’stoowrappedupinhimselftoseebeyondhisnosehalfthetime.Wecandeceivehim—aslongasyou’llagreetostay.”
“Verywell,”Sophiesaid.“I’llstay.Nowfindanexcuse.”
Shesettledherselfcomfortablyinthechairwhilethedemonthought.Itthoughtaloud,inalittlecrackling,flickeringmurmur,whichremindedSophieratherofthewayshehadtalkedtoherstickwhenshewalkedhere
