"You hire one then," said Aster. He was smiling though, just the barest hint of one. "Come on, we're going home. Next time we come back, we'll bring Grunty in and let him have at this thing." He patted the porch rail, which immediately fell off. It was as if the house knew that its days were numbered and was getting in its last little petty revenge.
It would be reduced to scrap and rubble soon enough. Aster wasn't going to begrudge it its ineffectual last hurrah or anything.