Ходячий замок
Chapter 7
“Issomethingthematter?”Calciferasked.
“Yes.Myheart.Therewasascarecrowatthedoor!”Sophiegasped.
“Whathasascarecrowtodowithyourheart?”Calciferasked.
“Itwastryingtogetinhere.Itgavemeaterriblefright.Andmyheart-butyouwouldn’tunderstand,yousillyyoungdemon!”Sophiepanted.“Youhaven’tgotaheart.”
“YesIhave,”Calcifersaid,asproudlyashehadrevealedhisarm.“Downintheglowingpartunderthelog.Anddon’tcallmeyoung.I’magoodmillionyearsolderthanyouare!CanIreducethespeedofthecastlenow?”
“Onlyifthescarecrow’sgone,”saidSophie.“Hasit?”
“Ican’ttell,”saidCalcifer.“It’snotfleshandblood,yousee.ItoldyouIcouldn’treallyseeoutside.”
Sophiegotupanddraggedherselftothedooragain,feelingill.Sheopeneditslowlyandcautiously.Greensteepness,rocks,andpurpleslopeswhirledpast,makingherfeeldizzy,butshetookagriponthedoorframeandleanedouttolookalongthewalltothemoorlandtheywereleavingbehind.Thescarecrowwasaboutfiftyyardstotherear.Itwashoppingfromclumptoheatherclumpwithasinistersortofvaliance,holdingitsflutteringstickarmsatanangletobalanceitonthehillside.AsSophiewatched,thecastleleftitfurtherbehind.Itwasslow,butitwasstillfollowing.Sheshutthedoor.
“It’sstillthere,”shesaid.“Hoppingafterus.Gofaster.”
“Butthatupsetsallmycalculations,”Calciferexplained.“IwasaimingtocirclethehillsandgetbacktowhereMichaelleftusintimetopickhimupthisevening.
