The Homunculus

An excerpt from The Hastings Deck

The next morning I woke up and realised I was not alone in the house. I felt a shiver up my spine, the beginning of a rising panic. I dressed quickly and went out. In a clear space there was a man standing there looking at me. He looked about 49-50 years old and wore a slightly shabby suit. He was balding and had dark circles under his eyes. But my panic abated. I felt only peace and goodwill toward him.

“Can I help you?” I asked. He just kept looking at me but said nothing.

“You’re very welcome,” I said. “Can I get you a glass of water or something?”

He said nothing but just stood there looking.

“I’m going to make myself breakfast. If you need anything, shout out.”

I made myself some breakfast and came back.

“You are very welcome,” I said. “But I’d be really interested to know who you are and what you’re doing here.”

At this the man made a barely perceptible shrug. Then he held up a hand and brought it down again so that both hands were down by his side. He closed his eyes and rose a few inches in the air then floated gently down again.

“That’s amazing!” I said, “Do you mind if I take a picture. He made no kind of reply to this but didn’t seem put out when I started taking photos. I took the photos to let him see. He smiled slightly at them. 

“Can you do the rising in the air thing again?” I asked and he again out his hands by his side’s and closed his eyes. I took a video of him riding into the air and going down again. I showed him the video and he smiled again.

I suddenly realised that the spot this man stayed at was exactly the same spot that Mallory used to cast the spell. I quickly texted her:

“Mallory, I think your spell worked after all.”

Mallory responded, “Tell me what happened!”

I described the whole thing and sent her the photos and the video.

She responded, “I shrieked like a schoolgirl when I saw the video, that’s wonderful. But now Mum wants to see the texts and I had to say it’s a private thing between you and me. Now she’s asking what is between you and me. If she contacts you, tell her we’re just good friends and don’t say we spent the night together.”

“I won’t,” I responded, “but tell me how our new friend is going to help.”

She responded, ”I don’t know. Just wait and see. Keep him company and tell him about the problem. Madam Mim’s calming down a bit. I said gay guys often have very close friendships with women. Don’t tell her I called her Madam Mim.”