Any Way the Wind Blows – Chapter 74 Summary & Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
At the Weeping Tower, Simon lies to Baz, Penny, and Shepard about his true destination. He tells them he is stopping Smith, then flies to the White Chapel. Agatha stays behind with Niamh to help a dying goat in Ebb’s cemetery. The dryad taunts Agatha, insisting that Watford won’t protect her and that the goat came there to die. Agatha tries to reason with the dryad about Ebb’s love for the goats, but the dryad scoffs.
Inside the White Chapel, Simon finds the meeting already underway. Smith is onstage with Daphne, addressing a larger crowd than before. Simon tries to talk to Smith privately, but Smith turns the crowd against him, calling Simon a liar and a danger. Spells are cast at Simon—he feels none of them. A skylight breaks, glass cuts his wing. Smith accuses Simon of being the Insidious Humdrum. Simon’s immunity to magic stuns the audience.
Headmistress Mitali Bunce, alone in her office, reflects on her overwhelming responsibilities at Watford and the strain on her family. Her husband Martin confesses on the phone that he has been attending Smith’s meetings and wants more power. He arrives in her office, hoping for her blessing. Before they finish, Penelope, Baz, and Shepard burst in and demand to know where Smith is. Mitali jumps from her tower window using a floating spell; the others take the lift.
Simon struggles to restrain Smith. Pippa Stainton appears in the aisle, holding Baz’s wand, and casts a webbing spell on Smith. She shouts that Smith is a fraud and that his spell destroys magic. Jamie Salisbury steps up to the microphone and confirms his magic is gone. Smith tries to cast at Jamie, so Simon grabs him and flies out through the broken skylight.
Agatha and Niamh continue tending the dying doe. They hear explosions from Watford but cannot see what is happening.
Baz arrives at the Chapel with Penelope and Shepard to find Headmistress Bunce at the door, threatening to nullify anyone who casts magic. Daphne, Pippa, and Jamie are at the altar. Simon and Smith are gone.
Key Events
| # | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | Simon lies to his friends about his plan and flies to the White Chapel alone. |
| 2 | Agatha argues with the dryad over the dying goat; the dryad claims the goat came there to die. |
| 3 | Smith publicly denounces Simon, rallying the crowd against him. |
| 4 | Multiple spells are cast at Simon, but none affect him; Smith calls him the Humdrum. |
| 5 | Pippa enters the Chapel, webs Smith, and exposes him as a fraud. |
| 6 | Jamie confirms that Smith’s spell permanently removed his magic. |
| 7 | Simon flies away with Smith through the broken skylight to prevent further harm. |
| 8 | Headmistress Bunce learns of Martin’s involvement with Smith and leaps from her tower. |
| 9 | Baz and the others arrive to find Simon and Smith gone. |
Character Development
Simon Snow – Simon acts decisively, choosing to intervene without a full plan. He physically restrains Smith, showing a new willingness to use his brute strength and flight as a shield. His immunity to magic raises questions about his true nature.
Agatha Wellbelove – Agatha shows compassion for the dying goat and stands up to the dryad, insisting that Ebb would want the goats protected. She refuses to accept the dryad’s fatalism.
Headmistress Mitali Bunce – Mitali’s inner monologue reveals her exhaustion and guilt as a mother and headmistress. Her husband’s betrayal deepens her isolation, yet she acts immediately when her daughter needs her.
Pippa Stainton – Pippa reclaims her voice—literally and figuratively—by casting a spell in front of the congregation. She risks everything to expose Smith’s lies.
Smith Smith-Richards – Smith’s charisma cracks under pressure; he desperately accuses Simon of being the Humdrum and tries to discredit Pippa. His mask of control slips.
Martin Bunce – Martin’s quiet vulnerability shows how even rational people can be drawn to promises of power. His conflict with Mitali deepens the family drama.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
- Faith vs. Truth – The crowd believes in Smith despite mounting evidence. Simon’s immunity and Pippa’s confession challenge blind faith.
- Sacred Spaces – The White Chapel, once a place of worship, is defiled by violence and deception. The goat’s death in the cemetery echoes Ebb’s grave as a site of mourning rather than solace.
- The Cost of Power – Smith’s spell gives temporary power but permanently drains magic. Martin’s desire for more power drives a wedge in his marriage.
- Maternal Burden – Mitali’s monologue links her worry for each of her children to her professional failures. The chapter frames motherhood as an unending, invisible labor.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 74 is the climax of Smith’s public career. Pippa’s exposure and Jamie’s confession shatter the illusion Smith has built. Simon’s immunity—and his choice to physically remove Smith—forces the narrative toward a direct confrontation. The Bunce family drama adds emotional stakes that go beyond the magical battle. The chapter also contrasts Agatha’s small, kind act of tending a goat with the large-scale chaos at the Chapel, emphasizing that healing matters even when the world is falling apart.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Simon lie to Baz and Penny about his destination?
Simon wants to protect them from the danger he expects at the White Chapel. He also doubts that anyone can help him stop Smith, so he decides to face the confrontation alone, relying on his physical strength and immunity to magic.
2. What does the dryad’s line “the goat came here to die” reveal about the nature of the Weeping Tower cemetery?
The dryad implies that the cemetery is not a place of salvation or healing but a place where creatures go when they have given up. This echoes the theme that Watford itself has become hollow and indifferent to those who once loved it.
3. How does Headmistress Bunce’s perspective on her children parallel her view of Watford?
She sees herself as failing on all fronts—worried about Premal’s grief, Priya’s mothering, Pip’s neglect, and Penelope’s dangerous adventures. Similarly, she struggles to keep Watford’s walls standing with dwindling resources. Both lists of problems are “dynamic,” shifting but never resolved.