"Diana Wynne Jones - Mixed Magics" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jones Diana Wynne)

wanted to talk. She grabbed one of the Willing Warlock's ears in a sticky
chocolate hand for balance and breathed gateau fumes and questions into
his other ear.
"Why did you take our car for? What are all those prickles on your chin for?
Why don't you like me holding your nose for? Why don't you smell nice?
Where are we going to? Shall we drive in the car all night?" and many more
such questions.

The Willing Warlock was forced to answer all these questions in the right
way. If he did not answer, Jemima Jane dragged at his hair, or twisted his
ear, or took hold of his nose. If the answer he gave did not please Jemima
Jane, Towser rose up growling, and the Willing Warlock had quickly to think
of a better answer. It was not long before he was as plastered with
chocolate as Jemima Jane was. He thought that it was not possible for a
person to be more unhappy.

He was wrong. Towser suddenly stood up and staggered about the
backseat, making odd noises.

"Towser's going to go sick," Jemima Jane said.

The Willing Warlock squealed to a halt on the hard shoulder and threw all
four doors open wide. Towser would have to get out, he thought. Then he
could drive straight off again and leave Towser by the roadside.
As he thought that, Towser landed heavily on top of him. Sitting on the
Willing Warlock, he got rid of the gateau onto the edge of the motorway. It
took him some time. Meanwhile the Willing Warlock wondered if Towser
was actually as heavy as a cow, or whether he only felt that way.

"Now go on, go on driving," Jemima Jane said when Towser at last had
finished.

The Willing Warlock obeyed. He drove on. Then it was the car's turn. It
flashed a red light at him. "You are running out of petrol," it remarked.

"Good," said the Willing Warlock feelingly.

"Go on driving," said Jemima Jane, and Towser, as usual, backed her up.

The Willing Warlock drove on through the night. A new and unpleasant
smell now filled the car. It did not mix well with choco-late. The Willing
Warlock supposed it must be Towser. He drove and the car boringly
repeated its remark about petrol until, as they passed a sign saying
bentwell services, the car suddenly changed its tune and said, "You have
started on the reserve tank." Then it became quite talkative and added,
"You have petrol for ten more miles only. You are running out of petrolтАФ"

"I heard you," said the Willing Warlock. "I shall have to stop," he told
Jemima Jane and Towser, with great relief. Then, to stop Jemima Jane
telling him to drive on, and because the new smell was mixing with the