“My reforms!” he hisses. Then his head drops forward, like he’s tired. “I thought it would be enough to throw them out of power. To change the rules. But they’re like cockroaches, these people—they creep up on you as soon as you turn off the lights.
“I can’t focus on my enemies because of the Humdrum”—he tilts his head to the right—“and I can’t focus on the Humdrum because of all thissquabbling.” He tilts it to the left. “It was never supposed to be like this.” He looks back up at me. “You were supposed to be the answer.”
“I’m not the Greatest Mage,” I say.
“You’re just a child,” he says, disappointed.
I close my eyes.
The Mage pinches my neck. “Give it to me.”
“It could hurt you, sir.”
He takes my hands roughly. “Now,Simon.”
I open my eyes and look down at our hands. Icouldgive it to him. All of it. I could give it to him, and then it would behim. It would be the Mage draining the world of magic or finding a way not to…
I squeeze one hand and give him a bit of magic. A fistful.
The Mage clenches my fingers, and his body seizes, but he doesn’t let go. “Simon!” His eyes light up. Literally. “I think this will work!”
“Itwillwork,” my voice says. But I’m not the one speaking—the Humdrum is standing beside us. Over Ebb’s body.
The Mage goes still, his mouth dropping open. I forgot; he’s never seen the Humdrum. “Simon,” the Mage says. “It’s you.”
“It’s the Humdrum,” I say.
“It’s you on the day I found you.” His eyes are wide and soft. “My boy—”
“I’m not him,” the Humdrum says. “I’m not anybody’s boy.”
“You’re my shadow,” I say to the Humdrum. I’m not afraid of him now.
“More like an exit wound,” he says. “Or an exhaust trail—I’ve had loads of time to think about it.”
“The Insidious Humdrum,” the Mage whispers.
“It’s a crap name,” the Humdrum says, bouncing his ball. “Did you come up with it?”
The Mage turns to me and grabs both my wrists. “Now, Simon, give it to me. He’s right here.”
“When did you get wings?” the Humdrum asks. “I’ll never have wings. Or a sword. I’ll never even have a proper ball—I’d like a football.”
The Mage jerks on my wrists, still staring at the Humdrum. “Now, Simon!We’ll end this once and for all!”
“Do it,” the Humdrum says. “He’s right. End everything. All of the magic.All of it.”
The Humdrum tosses the ball to me, and I push the Mage off me to catch it.
“Simon!” the Mage says.
I tuck the red rubber ball in my suit jacket—I’m not sure when I thought up this grey suit—and I look down at the Humdrum. It’s the only way.
I take the boy by his shoulders.
He laughs. “What’re you gonna do—hit me? Go off on me? I’m pretty sure that won’t work.”
“No,” I say. “I’m going to end this. I’m sorry.”
