Chapter 8

           ToSophie’srelief,Calciferblazedupbrightandcheerfulnextmorning.IfshehadnothadenoughofHowl,shewouldhavebeenalmosttouchedbyhowgladHowlwastoseeCalcifer.

           “Ithoughtshe’ddoneforyou,youoldballofgas,”Howlsaid,kneelingatthehearthwithhissleevestrailingintheash.

           “Iwasonlytired,”Calcifersaid.“Therewassomekindofdragonthecastle.I’dnevertakenitthatfastbefore.”

           “Well,don’tlethermakeyoudoitagain,”saidHowl.Hestoodup,gracefullybrushingashoffhisgray-and-scarletsuit.“Makeastartonthatspelltoday,Michael.AndifanyonecomesfromtheKing,I’mawayonurgentprivatebusinessuntiltomorrow.I’mgoingtoseeLettie,butyouneedn’ttellhimthat.”Hepickeduphisguitarandopenedthedoorwiththeknobgreen-down,ontothewide,cloudyhills.

           Thescarecrowwasthereagain.WhenHowlopenedthedoor,itpitchedsidewaysacrosshimwithitsturnipfaceinhischest.Theguitarutteredanawfultwang-oing.Sophiegaveafaintsquawkofterrorandhungontothechair.Oneofthescarecrow’sstickarmswasscrapingstifflyaroundtogetapurchaseonthedoor.FromthewayHowl’sfeetwerebraced,itwasclearhewasbeingshovedquitehard.Therewasnodoubtthethingwasdeterminedtogetintothecastle.

           Calcifer’sbluefaceleanedoutofthegrate.Michaelstoodstockstillbeyond.“Therereallyisascarecrow!”theybothsaid.

           “Oh,isthere?Dotell!”Howlpanted.Hegotonefootupagainstthedoorframeandheaved.