The Spell

An excerpt from The Hastings Deck

“And people are killed because they possess the Hastings Deck,” I said, “Why?”

“It’s like asking why someone is killed for possessing a lighted stick of dynamite,” she said.

“I don’t have it. I have no idea where it is,” I said.

“It seems likely you do. You just don’t know it.”

She gave me a slip of paper. My email address,’ she said. “It might make things easier.”

We went back out to the shop and Mallory was selling a lottery ticket. She turned to me and said, “I’m pleased to meet you Merle.”

Then she turned to her mother and said, ”Can I cast a spell for him?”

“Knock yourself out, Mal” said Glenda.

Mallory went to a counter and took out a geode.  “First you have to buy this,” she said.

“How much?” I asked.

“Three hundred dollars,” she said.

“That’s absurd,” I said.

“Yes,” she said. “We normally sell them for thirty dollars and even that’s outrageous. But that’s part of the magic.”

“Crossing your palm with silver?” I asked.

“If you like. But we also take EFTPOS.”

“Don’t you have a cheaper spell?” I asked.

“Do you want to see a spell or not, Merle?” she asked with a smile.

I paid the money. “Now what happens?”

“I’m not sure,” said Mallory.

“Do I have to do anything?” I asked.

“You have to throw it away,” she said.

“Now?” I asked.

“No,” she said. “You have to wait for the right time and, this is the most important thing, you have to throw it away with something else. And it has to be the right thing. You’ll know when and what at the right time.”

When I came out Eric was waiting for me in the street. “Well?” he said.

“Her daughter conned me out of three hundred dollars.”