Things to do Before the End of the World by Emily Barr

Author:Emily Barr [Barr, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780241345283
Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
Published: 2020-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

19. Make money from magic

We walked back to the hotel, down the hot roads, past a few parties and some more end-time gatherings, and several drunk people passed out on pavements.

The term ‘end times’ seemed to have been adopted by everyone, whatever language they spoke. Every party, every religious ceremony, every gathering, was called ‘end times’ now. The whole world was gearing up for an enormous scream for its last month.

‘I’m never going to have to tell anyone I’m in touch with their dead relative,’ I said. ‘Am I?’

‘Libby! You never say things like that. You say: I’m afraid that I don’t have a strong connection to the spirit realm.’ Her eyes were laughing.

‘I don’t have a strong connection to the spirit realm,’ I said. ‘And can you tell Carmen that I don’t plan to either?’

‘Fine! You do have this gift, you know. I knew you would. But you don’t want to use it, and that’s up to you. Leave anything like that to me because those spirit bastards are having a mad end-time fiesta of their own in my head right now. Even though it’s not their end time. Any excuse. I can teach you palm reading, but anything that involves the future just makes people ask about the Creep. And all you can say to that is, we’ll all be OK. If we’re wrong, they’ll hardly be able to find us to complain. How about if I teach you to do tarot?’

I winced. ‘Natasha. I really, really couldn’t read tarot cards. I have no affinity with that stuff. I’d be useless at it.’

She stopped and pointed at me.

‘Your sixth task! Learn to read tarot cards and give someone a reading. Here’s a secret: it’s the easiest thing in the world because, the way I do it, the only rule is that there are no rules. I’m sure some people do it properly, but not me. Life’s too short.’

The hotel room had been made up, and I was astonished all over again at how luxurious it was. I threw myself back on the bed, excited about the fact that I was going to sleep here again tonight.

‘This bed is gorgeous,’ I said.

‘Have a little sleep! I’m going to lounge in the tub, I think,’ said Natasha. ‘So wasteful. But you know. Life is short. And the AC is amazing.’

I liked that. I took some deep breaths and closed my eyes.

She was shaking my shoulder.

‘Hey! Sleepyhead!’

It took me ages to remember where I was and why. I sat up. Natasha had wet hair and was wearing a fluffy bathrobe. She looked lovely.

‘I’ve run you a bath of your own,’ she said. ‘Tons of bubbles. Not too hot but not at all cold. Very perfect. And then I think we should get a couple of new tricks up and running, as well as the ones you already know, and get out there and see how many banknotes we can magic directly into our pockets.’

I was lying in the bath, my head underwater, when Natasha came into the bathroom and sat on the lid of the loo.

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