In Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, Jim and Will have angered the people of the carnival. So, the carnies make plans to come after them, sending the Dust Witch to find where they live. She does find them; she descends upon Jim's house and marks the roof with silver paint. The boys wash it off, then go back in their rooms and wait. She senses that they have removed the mark, and comes back; this time Will is waiting for her. He entices her back, then leads her to an abandoned house in town to fight her off. During this event, Will does not wake up Jim. He does not alert him like usual, for the two always go out at night together, but Will fights the Witch on his own.


Why does he do this? Why does Will refrain from waking Jim that night for the battle?