Free The Boggart and the Monster by Susan Cooper Page B

western sea!
”
    But this news not only failed to fill Nessie with delight, it enveloped him in such fear that the water all around him chilled almost to freezing. He looked at the Boggart in terror, and he changed instantly back into monster form and sank down, down toward the mud.
    The Boggart groaned, and dived after him.
    *  *  *
    A S THEY PILED out of Mr. Maconochie’s car, Harold Pindle waved merrily at them, and made extravagant beckoning gestures. He still wore his battered sweatshirt and faded jeans, but Emily thought he had probably changed his shirt; the collar jutting out of the sweatshirt looked cleaner than before. And his long grey hair showed signs of having been combed.
    He beamed at them as they crossed the parking lot.
“Allow me to present Axel Kalling, our wonderful sponsor,”
he said.
“Axel, these are my co-witnesses — Emily,Jessup, Tommy, and Mr. Maconochie of Castle Keep.”
    The small, neat man at Harold’s side gave them a small, neat bow, so formally that he almost seemed to click his heels. He wore an old-fashioned dark grey suit with wide flat lapels, and his thick white hair was cut to a carefully elegant shape. Two strongly-marked clefts ran down past his mouth, but the eyes above them were bright and alert, and fanned with little laughter-lines.
    â€œEmily is the name of my sister,”
he said, crinkling the laughter-lines at Emily.
“She grows sweet peas, they smell most delicious, but her llamas eat them if she is not careful.”
    Emily blinked at him.
“Her llamas? ”
she said.
    â€œI look forward so great to the Worm!”
said Mr. Kalling warmly. He had a surprisingly deep voice, with the lilting Swedish accent that takes the end of every sentence up and then down.
“And tomorrow night the moon is full! Is that not right, Mr. Maconnie?”
    â€œEr,”
said Mr. Maconochie, taken by surprise.
“Uh. Yes, I expect so, yes.”
He looked down at Mr. Kalling in wonder and bafflement.
    â€œWorm will like that,”
Mr. Kalling said, nodding his head firmly.
    â€œThis way, folks. This way to the great Monster show, in the screening room! Axel’s flown in to see the tape from yesterday.”
Harold was shepherding them across the parking lot, toward a trailer less boxlike than the first. It had windows, and a bright red door, which he flung open.
    â€œGood!”
said Mr. Kalling. He trotted briskly inside,and Harold paused just long enough to flash a quick grin over his shoulder.
    â€œNot crazy, not really,”
he whispered.
“He’s a great guy, just — different.”
He disappeared after Mr. Kalling.
    â€œAnd
very
rich,”
said Mr. Maconochie. He took a matchbox out of his pocket and held it up, and under the familiar label that they had never really examined before they saw the words: KALLING MATCH.
    Chuck the technician was crunching toward them across the parking lot, with a backpack over his shoulder. He no longer wore his MEAN MAN T-shirt, but his expression was no more cordial than before.
“You on your way in, or out?”
he said, unsmiling.
    Emily flashed him a beautiful smile.
“We’re following you in.”
    Chuck grunted unappreciatively, and marched past her.
    Inside, the second trailer was quite different from the first. After a small office, with desks and telephones and a fax machine, they found themselves in a thick-carpeted space filled with comfortable armchairs and an enormous television set. Chuck opened his backpack and began fitting what looked like a miniature video-tape into a machine beside the television. He crouched beside it, twiddling dials. From one of the chairs Harold waved an expansive welcoming arm. Then he bounced to his feet, as they all settled themselves around the largest armchair, which Mr. Kalling was occupying as if it were a throne.
    â€œAxel Kalling, my friend,”
Harold said, in clearcareful tones as if he were