Читать книгу Skulduggery Pleasant - Derek Landy - Страница 23

Valkyrie frowned. “I don’t get it.”

“We invited Skulduggery,” Melissa said.

“You did?”

Skulduggery tilted his head. “You didn’t know?”

Valkyrie held up a hand to him. “Hold on, you.” Then, to her parents, “How did you invite him?”

“We called him last night,” said her mum.

“How do you have his number?”

“You gave it to us, remember? In case you … weren’t in contact with us for any length of time.”

Valkyrie narrowed her eyes. “You were only supposed to use it in case of emergencies.”

“This is an emergency,” Desmond said. “A social emergency. We thought it was important that we all sit down and … chat. About things.”

“Do you mind?” Melissa asked. “Skulduggery is such a big part of your life. We want to get to know him – and we want to get to know you. Does that make sense? Is that weird?”

“It’s not weird, no, but it’s …” Valkyrie shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Skulduggery, take a seat.”

“Thank you,” Skulduggery said. “I thought you knew.”

“It’s cool.”

“I haven’t been invited to dinner in about three hundred years, so I said yes without even bothering to check.”

“People don’t invite you to dinner?” Desmond asked, putting a plate of food in front of him.

“I don’t eat,” Skulduggery said, and Desmond nodded, and took the food away. Alice came down the stairs and Skulduggery activated his façade, turning to her when she ran in. “Hello.”

“Hello,” she said.

Skulduggery tilted his head. “Why are you so short?”

“I’m only seven,” Alice said.

“That’s no excuse. When I was your age, I was twice as tall as you. You should grow taller.”

“I will, when I’m older.”

“You’re not just being lazy, are you?”

“No.”

“Do you promise?”

“I promise.”

“Come over here.”

Without hesitation, Alice crossed the room.

“My name is Skulduggery,” Skulduggery said. “It’s a big word. Can you say it?”

“Skuduggery.”

“Skulduggery.”

“Skulduggery.”

“Very good. And you are Alice. We’ve met before, when you were even smaller than you are now. You were a baby the last time I saw you.”

“Now I’m seven.”

“That’s right. You’re a little girl now. It’s very good to meet you again, Alice.”

“It’s very good to meet you.”

“Are you joining us for dinner?”

“Yes.” She turned to Valkyrie. “I can’t find Sparkles.”

Valkyrie looked thoughtful. “Well, she does come to life when we’re not there, so she’s probably playing hide-and-seek with you. If you were a fairy, where would you hide?”

“In the clouds.”

“OK, but I don’t think the window’s open, so she’s probably still in your bedroom. Maybe in your bed? Under the blankets or—”

“Or under the pillow!”

Valkyrie clicked her fingers. “I bet that’s where she is!”

Alice ran upstairs again.

“I have questions,” Desmond said, as he and Melissa sat down.