A Hero at the End of the World by Erin Claiborne

Author:Erin Claiborne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Ewan was taking too long, Oliver decided, lingering in the kitchen. The tea he had made right before his guest had arrived had grown cold; Oliver had finished his own cup and all of the toast ages ago.

He drummed his fingers on the table. On the wall across from him, one of Ewan’s old school photos smiled at him, his teeth lined with shiny braces. By the oversized school blazer and the terrible haircut, he might have been in Year Five. He looked so innocent.

Now that Oliver knew what Ewan was capable of, his trust in him had been shattered. The only reason he hadn’t dragged him off to the nick was because he knew that Ewan had—misguidedly—thought he had been saving the world. But that still didn’t stop him from wondering who was in the front room with him; it could have been Louise Gardener Hobbes herself, for all he knew.

Three more minutes, he told himself. Then he would go in there himself and put an end to whatever was going on.

“Ewan,” he called one last time—

And, out of nowhere, Archibald Gardener Hobbes appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.

For a moment, all Oliver could do was stare. Archibald looked slightly different in person than he had on the CCH; he was about Oliver’s height, with the blond hair and chiseled jaw of an American film star. His entire outfit, from the tips of his leather shoes to the stitching of his blue shirt, looked as though it had been tailored specifically for him. Bloody English, Oliver thought.

Then he thought: Wait a minute.

“You,” he cried.

“Hello,” said Archibald. He had a terribly posh accent, the kind that Oliver and Ewan had used to take the piss out of. “I don’t think we’ve officially met. I’m Archibald Gardener Hobbes, from the Society for the Advancement of Zaubernegativum. Son of Lady Louise Gardener Hobbes, whom I believe you’ve met.”

“You don’t say?” Oliver replied sarcastically. He stood, the feet of his chair scraping loudly on the kitchen tile floor. “I thought you might be the son of another, different evil mastermind.”

“Well, it’s obvious now that you and Ewan grew up together,” Archie muttered. “Listen here, I’m not here to antagonize you. Ewan needs your help.”

“Jog on,” Oliver said, making a rude gesture. “Where’s your mummy? Can’t she help you?”

Archibald’s face contorted with anger.

Ewan appeared behind him in the doorway. “Oliver,” he barked, “just shut up and listen for a moment.”

Oliver pointed at Archibald. “Do you believe me now?” he demanded. “I told you what Louise Gardener Hobbes was up to, and she sent her son to change your mind?”

Archibald sighed. “I’m afraid that’s not at all what’s happening. Ewan?”

“I—you—” Ewan stopped. He grimaced, looking like he was in very real pain. “You were right.”

At first, Oliver thought he had misheard. “Sorry, I’m what?” he asked.

“Right,” Ewan yelled, his voice echoing through the small kitchen. He waved his arms. “You were right. Louise is up to something terrible, and she’s evil, and I’m a moron.

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