CHAPTER SUMMARY AND NOTES

CHAPTER 29

Summary

Will sleeps for exactly an hour before he wakes up with the sudden realization that the lightning rod is missing from JimÂ’s roof. Jim, Will speculates, must have taken it down waiting for the power of electricity to strike his home. Will is angry because the carnival will eventually come looking for them, and JimÂ’s roof seems ominously empty. Will suddenly stops, wondering what sort of sound a balloon makes, and how one is waned of a balloonÂ’s arrival. Will suddenly senses JimÂ’s consciousness too. Both boys sense a bulky shadow pass between their houses, so they lean their heads out the window. Both boys know the balloon is the best search tool the carnival has, as it is noiseless. They stay motionless as the temperature drops forty degrees, and they see the Dust WitchÂ’s figure in the balloon. Suddenly, the boys know why this old, blind woman was sent. She has physic powers. She leaves a small snail-like track of glue on JimÂ’s roof so sheÂ’ll remember where they live, and then flies to the edge of town. Will swings over, using a clothesline, and the boys rinse the track off with the garden hose.

Notes

The removal of the lightning rod is only further evidence of JimÂ’s immaturity and curiosity. Will, though, is immediately angry, because he believes the lightning rod might have saved them from the carnival. The arrival of the balloon shows that the carnival is indeed angrily looking for them. The fact that it is the Dust Witch in the balloon is important, as she will function as a key character in the rest of the story. It is only WillÂ’s ingenuity in washing the glue off of JimÂ’s roof that seems to save both of the boys, signaling WillÂ’s infinite wisdom.

CHAPTER 30

Summary

The boys finish washing the roof and go to bed in their separate houses. The balloon seems to be paused at the edge of town. Will grabs his Boy Scout archery set, knowing they must be the first to act, and head out of the house. He knows the witch canÂ’t read minds; she can only sense heat and excitement. Will uses this to his advantage and internally makes fun of her. He can feel her move, so he runs toward a home that has been abandoned for some time. He climbs to the roof, hoping she wonÂ’t sense his plan. As she tries to get close to the roof, she seems to know something is wrong, but she is unable to pin it down. Will, in desperation, stands with his back to her, knowing she will be unable to resist the temptation. She comes closer, and Will prepares to take his shot, however, his bow breaks in two. Will clutches the balloon basket rim a foot away from him, and throws the arrow at the balloon. It hits its target, and Will falls to the roof, then to a tree. The witch seems to mourn, and the soon-to-be airless balloon wanders off. Will climbs down from the tree.

Notes

The fact that Will grabs his Boy Scout archery set is significant because it symbolizes his youth. The WitchÂ’s inability to read minds will continually be at her disadvantage. WillÂ’s knowledge of this will be her downfall. WillÂ’s wisdom and goodness are displayed when Will chooses to use a home that has been vacant for sometime as the place to destroy the Witch. His cunning displays itself when, after his plan fails, he is able to recover and deal with another plan. Will seems to have won this round without JimÂ’s help, which will be important when Will finally tries to defeat the carnival, as Jim is not completely on WillÂ’s side.

CHAPTER 31

Summary

For the rest of the night, nothing happens.

Notes

This ten word chapter is ingenious in its simplicity, as it further demonstrates the fact that Will has indeed, for the moment, won a single battle against the carnival. They do not strike back during the night. This fact alone means that it might be possible to defeat their evil.

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