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.
