Vincent van Gogh View of Arles with Irises

know what the greatest tragedy is in the whole world?’ said Ginger, not paying him the least attention. ‘It’s all the peoplewent on. ‘It’s a chance for all of us. The people who aren’t wizards and kings and heroes. Holy Wood’s like a big bubbling stew but this time different ingredients float to the top. Suddenly there’s all these new things for people to do. Do you know the who never find out what it is they really want to do or what it is they’re really good at. It’s all the sons who become blacksmiths because their fathers were blacksmiths. It’s all the people who could be really fantastic flute players who grow old and die without ever seeing a musical instrument, so they become bad ploughmen instead. It’s all the people with talents who never even find out. Maybe they are never even born in a time when it’s even possible to find out.’ She took a deep breath. ‘It’s all the people who never get to know what it is they can really be. It’s all the wasted chances. Well, Holy Wood is my chance, do you understand? This is my time for getting!’ Victor nodded. ‘Yes,’ he said. Magic for ordinary people, Silverfish had called it. A man turned a handle, and your life got changed. ‘And not just for me,’ Ginger