Free Mirrorscape by Mike Wilks Page A

‘Withthis technique you can enlarge a drawing to any size you like.’
    â€˜Or reduce it,’ said Mel, instantly seeing the possibilities.
    â€˜Turn the squares into oblongs and you can even distort things.’
    â€˜That’s amazing .’
    Mel wondered what task he might be given. Probably something simple like mixing paints . He could see another apprentice near the door shaking some coarse green powder into a mortar and begin to grind it with a pestle.
    â€˜What’s this?’ Mel examined a glass jar containing the bright pigment.
    â€˜It’s malachite. It must be ground really fine before – ’
    Just then the door burst open, sending Mel flying, and spilling the colour in a great, long slash across the floor.
    â€˜ The smell! I might have known it. You clumsy little scrot!’ snapped Groot. ‘Do you realise how much that pigment’s worth? You won’t last long around here. Not if I have my way.’ He looked pale and sickly.
    â€˜Clean it up, Smell. I can see that you’re going to be a great help in the studio,’ said Jurgis, as he and Bunt followed Groot into the studio. ‘Jump to it!’ He aimed an unsteady kick at Mel, but missed and almost lost his balance. He looked no better than Groot.
    â€˜It wasn’t his fault,’ said the apprentice with the pestle.
    â€˜Oh? If it wasn’t his fault then it must have been yours, Teck. It certainly wasn’t mine. Perhaps you should clean it up, eh?’ said Groot, grabbing the boy’s ear and twisting it cruelly. ‘So, whose fault was it?’
    â€˜It was Mel’s fault,’ said Teck, grimacing with pain.
    â€˜ Whose fault?’ Groot twisted his ear harder.
    â€˜Smell’s fault.’
    â€˜That’s better,’ said Groot, releasing him. ‘Now, clean it up, Smell.’
    â€˜That’s servant’s work. Let the cleaners do it,’ said Teck as he nursed his sore ear.
    â€˜Thanks for reminding me, Teck. That kind of work’s only for household scum. I expect you’d much rather be using a brush, wouldn’t you, Smell?’ asked Groot.
    â€˜Yes,’ answered Mel. ‘I thought that’s why I’m here.’He set the empty jar back on the workbench.
    â€˜I’m so sorry, Smell. Do forgive me.’ Groot half bowed to Mel. ‘Bunt.’ He snapped his fingers. ‘Fetch the new apprentice a brush, if you’d be so kind.’ He winked at his crony.
    â€˜Here you are, Smell,’ said Bunt, returning with a domestic brush and pan. ‘You fit the bill of household scum, all right. Now get on with it. Do as you’re told, unless you want to feel my boot.’
    Mel sighed and knelt and began sweeping the spilled pigment into the little pan.
    â€˜Hung-over. Again ,’ explained Teck in a low voice as Groot and his cronies sauntered down the studio and took up their positions in front of the big easels.
    â€˜The master’s coming,’ said Henk.
    The master! At last, I’m going to meet him . Mel hurried to finish collecting the valuable pigment. He decanted it back into the jar, then noticed some he had missed. He disappeared under the workbench on his hands and knees and came face to face with a tiny pink face surrounded by a shock of pure white hair. The creature stared at him with wild eyes, bared its pointed teeth andhissed loudly. Startled, Mel jumped up and banged his head hard against the underside of the workbench. The glass jar tottered and then fell, covering one side of the snowy white monkey, for that is what it was, in bright green pigment. Mel saw a pair of stubby hands with thick fingers and jewelled rings appear and gently lift the animal.
    â€˜Albinus, my lovely, what has he done to you?’ said an agitated woman’s voice.
    Mel crawled out from under the table. The apprentices were staring at him, horror-struck. The agitated woman was stout and richly dressed. An