‘So you just unwished it all?’

‘That’s right.’

‘You’re not – I mean, there’s no danger you’ll unwish about my dad being well again? ’Cause I couldn’t bear it, really . . .’

‘No, no, don’t worry, I’ve got no reason to do that. What I need to do is get rid of the rest of the wishes without messing anything up too much. But nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand eight hundred and thirty-five . . .’

‘That’s a lot to get through,’ Evan agreed. ‘Can’t you just think of some sort of pointless wish and keep making it, and run them down like that? Like, wish you were wearing a hat and then wish you weren’t wearing it and then wish you were, and so on, till they run out?’

‘Well, I could . . .’ I was a bit doubtful if this was going to use them up fast enough. ‘Lemme give it a try . . . I wish I was wearing a hat, I wish I wasn’t wearing a hat, I wish I was wearing a hat, I wish I wasn’t wearing a hat, I wish I was wearing a hat, I wish I wasn’t wearing a hat, I wish I was wearing a hat, I wish I wasn’t wearing a hat . . .’ I stopped. It felt weird, this hat settling on my head and then vanishing over and over again. I could just see the brim of it. It was blue.

Evan was looking at me and laughing. ‘It looked like it was sort of flashing on and off – like the light on top of a police car.’

‘Well, that’s eight wishes down. Nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven to go. But how long did it take?’ I wished I knew. ‘Ten seconds. So it takes about a second to make a wish. To get rid of them all, that would take . . .’ Again, I wished I knew the answer straight off. ‘That’s over two hundred and seventy-seven hours. Or about eleven and a half days, non-stop, without eating or sleeping!’

‘At least you just used up another couple of wishes working it out.’

‘Yeah, great, only nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand eight hundred and twenty-five to go. There’s gotta be an easier way.’

‘Can’t you just use them up a bit more slowly? It might take a few weeks, but . . .’

I shook my head. ‘As long as I’ve got them I know I’m gonna use them. And every wish I make makes the world seem a bit more unreal and pointless. I’ll go crazy, Evan. Truly.’

I picked up a stick and threw it for Billiam. He went capering off after it, stirring up piles of fallen leaves.

Fallen leaves.

‘Why don’t you—’ Evan began.

‘Shush!’ I said, waving my hand at him.

Fallen leaves.

My mind went into overdrive!

‘Evan,’ I said slowly. ‘I think I’ve got it.’