The Day the World Went Loki by Robert J. Harris Read Free Book Online Page B

reflection, the glass was filled with a swirling mist. He cleared his throat and spoke in a commanding voice. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”
    The twisting clouds rapidly formed an exotic face. It wore a red turban and had a long, aristocratic nose. Its large green eyes gazed out of the glass in a bored fashion and its forked beard twitched as it spoke.
    “What sort of a question is that? You boys aren’t much of a beauty contest.”
    Greg took an involuntary step backwards then steadied himself. “Forget about the beauty stuff,” he said. “That was just to get your attention.”
    The Face yawned. “So?”
    Greg paused and thought for a moment. “It probably only answers to rhymes.”
    “Why would you think that?” Lewis objected, but Greg waved him to silence.
    “Mirror, mirror on the wall, open up and tell us all,” Greg intoned.
    The Face gazed back scornfully. “You didn’t say the magic word.”
    “Tell us all,
please,
” Greg said in a long-suffering tone.
    The Face looked away and its eyebrows did a fair imitation of a pair of arms being crossed.
    “What’s the problem?” Greg demanded. “I said what he wanted.”
    “That’s not what he wants,” said Lewis. “Remember he’s kind of like a computer. He wants the password.”
    The Face quirked an eyebrow. “Yes, the password,” it agreed superciliously.
    “Go ahead and give it to him then,” Greg said.
    Lewis cast an embarrassed sidelong glance at his brother. “Could you maybe step outside for a second?”
    “Get on with it,” said Greg. “Give him the password.”
    Lewis leaned as close to the mirror as he could and whispered, “Lindsay.”
    “Lindsay?” Greg repeated in a voice dripping with scorn. “That is
tragic
!”
    “Don’t…” Lewis began, then groped helplessly for the next word. “Just don’t.”
    “If you’re quite finished,” the Face piped up.
    “Sorry about that,” Lewis told it sheepishly.
    “Don’t apologise to me,” the Face said. “I’m your servant, remember.”
    “So serve us then,” Greg demanded, placing his fists on his hips.
    “Who asked you to stick your nose in?” said the Face. “The little fellow’s the boss. He’s the one who said the magic word.”
    Lewis bristled. “What do you mean ‘little’?”
    “Forgive me, mountainous one,” the Face said in an off-handed manner. “What is your request?”
    “Well, tell us what’s going on.”
    The Face grimaced. “I hate to carp, but do you think you could be a shade more specific?”
    “Well, yesterday, there were cars, TVs and computers. Today there are monsters, fairies and magic mirrors.”
    “And Mum is an ogre,” Greg added.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said the Face. “We said a rhyme and everything changed,” Lewis explained.
    The Face made a quizzical expression. “I’m not aware of any change, O baffling one.”
    “No, that’s because you’re part of it,” said Lewis. “The whole of reality has been altered.”
    The Face let out a low whistle. “That’s too heavy for me. You need to consult the Fount of All Knowledge.”
    “What is that?” Greg demanded.
    The Face contorted in thought. “I don’t know. It just sort of popped into my…” its eyes rolled around searchingly, “head.”
    “You mean you’re giving us advice that you don’t understand yourself,” Greg said irritably.
    “You have a gift for the obvious,” said the Face. “Why should I need to understand it? I’m not the one with the problem.”
    Greg turned assertively on his brother. “Okay, what’s this Fount of All Wisdom?”
    Lewis lowered his eyes. “I don’t know.”
    Greg chewed his lower lip then stabbed a finger decisively in the air. “The drinking fountain in Kinburn Park!”
    “I don’t think it’s that kind of fount.”
    “Well, at least I have a suggestion.”
    “Such as it is,” the Face put in.
    “It’s not like you’ve been a big help,