Chapter 16

           Severalhourspassed.Thedog-manwashungryagain.MichaelandSophiedecidedtohavelunchtoo.SophieapproachedCalciferwiththefryingpan.

           “Whycan’tyouhavebreadandcheeseforonce?”Calcifergrumbled.

           Allthesame,hebenthishead.SophiewasjustputtingthepanontopofthecurlygreenflameswhenHowl’svoicerangouthoarselyfromnowhere.

           “Braceyourself,Calcifer!She’sfoundme!”

           Calcifersprangupright.ThefryingpanfellacrossSophie’sknees.“You’llhavetowait!”Calciferroared,flamingblindinglyupthechimney.Almostatonceheblurredintoadozenorsoburningbluefaces,asifhewasbeingshakenviolentlyabout,andburnedwithaloud,throatywhirring.

           “Thatmustmeanthey’refighting,”Michaelwhispered.

           Sophiesuckedaslightlyburnedfingerandpickedslicesofbaconoffherskirtwiththeotherhand,staringatCalcifer.Hewaswhippingfromsidetosideofthefireplace.Hisblurredfacespulsedfromdeepbluetoskyblueandthenalmosttowhite.Onemomenthehadmultipleorangeeyes,andthenext,rowsofstarrysilverones.Shehadneverimaginedanythinglikeit.

           Somethingsweptoverheadwithablastandaboomwhichshookeverythingintheroom.Asecondsomethingfollowed,withalong,shrillroar.Calciferpulsednearlyblue-black,andSophie’sskinfizzedwiththebackblastfromthemagic.

           Michaelscrambledforthewindow.“They’requitenear!”

           Sophiehobbledtothewindowto.Thestormofmagicseemedtohaveaffectedhalfthethingsintheroom.Theskullwasyatteringitsjawsohardthatitwastravelingroundincircles.