The Temporal Labyrinth

Mel was out of breath by the time he finally found Wren in the kitchen. On his way he had gone to the clock and tied his signal around the neck of the dragon for the Rainbow Rebels. He told Wren about his interview with the mistress.

‘So? Will you come?’

‘Of course.’

‘I was hoping you’d say that. Without the master there’ll be no household and without a household there’ll be no job. I know how much you need it.’

‘There’s a more important reason than that.’

‘There is? What?’

‘Friendship, you dummy.’ Wren shook her head. ‘Let’s go and get Ludo.’

‘You think he’ll come?’

As they approached Ludo’s bed, he saw them coming. He turned away and pulled his blanket over his head. ‘Go away. I’m not well.’

‘What’s wrong, Ludo?’ asked Wren as she sat on the edge of his bed. ‘This isn’t like you. Shall we ask to send for a doctor?’

‘Don’t need a doctor. Just go away.’

‘While you’ve been in bed, the whole place has gone to pot,’ said Mel. ‘Dirk Tot’s been arrested. They found his secret laboratory and masses of pigment that he’s been making. All the stuff I told you about.’

‘You know, I think it’s why he didn’t want you to see his secret garden,’ said Wren. ‘He was probably testing his own colours there.’

‘Yeah, and come to think of it, he must have been using it to top up the pigment Groot was stealing.’ Mel looked down at Ludo. ‘And the master’s vanished as well. He’s gone inside the Mirrorscape and he hasn’t come out.’

Ludo groaned and pulled the blanket further over his head.

‘The mistress has asked Mel to find him and bring him back. I’m going too. If you were feeling better then we’d ask you to come with us,’ said Wren.

‘Leave me alone. Can’t you see I’m not well? I don’t want anything to do with the Mirrorscape any more. Or with you.’

‘But, Ludo ….’ pleaded Mel.

Wren put her hand on Mel’s arm and shook her head. ‘We’re sorry to see you like this, Ludo, but we understand. We’ll see you when we get back.’

‘If we get back.’ Mel bit his lip. Stupid! Why did I say that?

Wren shot him a withering look. ‘Goodbye, Ludo.’

‘Yeah, hope you’re feeling better soon.’ Mel rose and followed Wren towards the door. ‘You go and get any stuff you might need and I’ll meet you in the master’s studio.’

After she had left, Mel opened his cupboard and removed the loose board to his cache. He thrust his arm into the space, searching for his sketch of the mirrormark, but it was not there. Has someone taken it? He thought about this for a moment. No one knew it was there. The chimes of the great clock echoed through the dormitory. He mentally shrugged. If it’s gone, it’s gone. I can’t worry about that now. He worked his arm deeper inside the narrow space and his hand closed on the tiny box. He drew it out and looked at it. Maybe I’m not coming back. I should take this with me. He tucked it inside his doublet next to his bodkin and hurried off to meet Wren.

As soon as Mel had left, the door to the service passage opened with a creak and Groot stepped into the silent dormitory. He carried two bottles of the finest Vlamian wine. Having discovered the passages, it had not taken him long to find his way into the master’s wine cellar and he had since become a regular visitor. He had returned to the dormitory to hide his loot and had overheard the conversation. ‘What a touching little scene, Ludo. You know, it almost brought a tear to my eye.’

‘Go away, Groot. They were my best friends and now I can’t even look them in the eye. Leave me alone.’

‘Oh, I will. Very soon now. I’ve an appointment with my new friends here.’ He clinked the bottles together. ‘But there’s one more thing you’re going to do for me.’ He sat on the edge of Ludo’s bed, leant down and whispered into his ear.

Mel was not the first to arrive in the master’s studio.

‘Green! How did you get here so quickly?’

‘The Mirrorscape might be dangerous but it’s quick. What’s up?’

‘Dirk Tot’s just been arrested. And no one’s seen the master since the day before yesterday. The mistress thinks he’s being held against his will inside the Mirrorscape.’

‘That’s really serious news. I’d best get back at once and warn my men. Bad luck always comes in threes.’

‘I’m going to look for him and bring him back.’

‘What, in there?’ Green looked at the master’s canvas. ‘All on your own?’

‘Not quite on his own.’ Wren entered the room.

‘The Mirrorscape’s no place for either of you,’ said Green. ‘But Mel will need all the help he can get.’

‘I can look after myself,’ said Wren. ‘I’ve scrounged us some food. I didn’t know how long we’ll be gone.’ She held up a small sack bulging with provisions.

‘Wren, this is Green.’

‘Nice to meet you, Wren. But it’s hello and goodbye, I’m afraid. I must hurry. We’ll meet again.’ He left by the door.

‘Mel!’ Wren gazed aghast at the canvas. ‘What’s happened?’

Before, where the picture had been full of sunlight and bright, luminous colours, it now looked totally different. The blue sky had vanished, to be replaced by a leaden, overcast sky. Swirling shapes within them suggested screaming heads. The delicate trees had been either felled or blackened where they had been burnt. The corpses of many of the fabulous creatures lay about, dismembered, and more rotting bodies floated in the now filthy lake. Vultures with blood-matted feathers picked at the bloated carcasses. The island in the lake was empty. There was no sign of the half-human house that had formerly stood there, just an enormous crater. It was an awful transformation. The scene looked like the last place they would ever want to go, but it was their doorway into the Mirrorscape. They must follow the master.

‘How could that have happened?’ asked Wren. ‘Who’d do such a thing?’

‘I don’t know. Perhaps the person who stole my sketch of the mirrormark.’

‘It’s gone?’ Wren looked alarmed. ‘But how are we going to follow the master?’

‘Don’t worry, I’ve got it memorised. Now, I wonder if there’s anything here that might help us find him?’ Mel began searching the studio. He found a large leather satchel and placed some pencils into it. He added a small telescope with curious dials and knobs along its length, which he thought might come in useful. He picked up a leather-bound book.

‘What’s that?’

‘It’s the master’s sketchbook,’ said Mel, opening it.

‘Really? Let me see.’

‘It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen drawings as fine as these.’ Mel traced the exquisite lines with his finger, imagining he was drawing them himself.

‘They’re drawings from his paintings – preparatory sketches.’

‘Are you sure? That means they’re drawings of the Mirrorscape. We should take this too.’

‘Well, there’s no putting it off any longer,’ said Wren. ‘We should get going.’

‘I’m coming too,’ said a voice.

‘Ludo!’ they both exclaimed.

‘What made you change your mind?’ asked Mel.

‘Oh, it was the thought of you two recounting your adventures after you get back and forever saying “You should have been there, Ludo”. Besides, with you two gone, there’s nothing left for me here. I’m sorry if I offended you.’ Ludo sounded cheerful enough, but he was avoiding eye contact.

‘Are you sure you’re feeling better?’ asked Wren.

‘Look, are we going or not?’

‘What’s got into you?’ said Mel. ‘First we couldn’t drag you into the Mirrorscape, then you can’t wait to go.’

‘We’re all going now. That’s what matters,’ said Wren.

‘All right, let’s do it. You OK, Wren?’

‘Not really. I’m scared.’

‘Me too,’ said Mel.

‘When you two are quite ready,’ complained Ludo.

The three friends looked at the painting for a moment and linked arms. Mel took a deep breath and traced the mirrormark in the air. The surface of the painting shimmered and they vanished.

‘Come on, it’s gaining on us,’ shouted Adolfus Spute. ‘Surprising turn of speed for a building, don’t you think?’

Mumchance blew an extended trill on his whistle.

‘I’ll thank you not to rub it in, you rancid manikin. My plan was perfect – perfect. We had Blenk nicely trapped inside that peculiar house of his while we arrested Half-Face. The last thing anyone could have expected was for that jumped-up bungalow to get up off his foundations and come after us like that.’

Another blast.

‘Now what?’

And another.

‘You mean that crag over yonder? For once in your miserable little life that’s not a bad idea. I doubt if that hooligan of a hovel can climb. Or maybe there’ll be some cosy cave where we can hole up until it gets tired of chasing us through the Mirrorscape. Come on, Mumchance; whistle up the rest of the men. Let’s go mountaineering.’

The first thing the friends found inside the Mirrorscape was Munchie’s leash attached to the stump of a tree. It was bloody and had been cut or gnawed through. There was no trace of the vermiraptor – not that Mel was anxious to meet her again. He scanned the ground and saw a trail of footprints. She’s got away.

‘This is amazing,’ said Ludo, gazing around. He knelt and touched the grass. ‘Feel this. It’s all so real, not like the world we made.’

‘Amazing? It’s appalling,’ said Wren. ‘Being real’s what makes it even more horrible. Even down to the cries of those vultures. How can the master paint sound?’

‘This isn’t the master’s work,’ said Mel, ‘not any more. It started out as his. It was just as real but smelt a whole lot better.’

‘Death stinks wherever it is,’ observed Ludo.

‘When we first saw the painting it was so beautiful,’ said Wren. ‘How can it have changed so much?’

‘I don’t know. But I’ve a feeling that we’re going to find out soon enough. Come on, you two,’ said Mel. ‘The master’s not going to find himself.’

The friends hurried away, circling the lake where the house had been. On the far side they came upon a huge, almost human footprint in the mud. It had left a deep impression.

Mel jumped down inside and examined it. ‘I bet the house left this. It must be able to walk.’

‘There’s another one over there,’ said Wren. ‘And there’re more leading off into the distance.’

Mel climbed out of the footprint. ‘Look, we saw the master going into the house when we first saw the painting. Remember? Maybe he’s in there again.’

‘And maybe he’s not,’ said Wren. ‘Maybe we chase it and just find the house.’

‘At least that’ll get us somewhere. When I was here before, the house helped me. Maybe it will again. Let’s go.’

‘You two go on, I need to pee. I’ll catch you up,’ said Ludo.

‘I’m not sure you should be peeing on the master’s painting,’ said Mel.

‘Sorry, I’ve got to.’ Ludo emphasised the point by crossing his legs. ‘Besides, it’s already been ruined.’ Ludo went behind the remains of a tree.

When he was sure that his friends were walking away, he crouched down and took a small paper parcel from his doublet. He opened a corner and, on the blackened grass, drizzled a trail of orpiment. When he had finished, the yellow pigment traced a vivid arrow pointing in the direction they were headed. He refolded the parcel and tucked it away before running to catch up with his friends.

When they reached the fourth footprint from the lake, they found out who had been responsible for the desecration.

‘Yuck, that’s gross. What was it?’ Wren shuddered.

‘Not what, who,’ said Mel. ‘Judging by the red robes, I’d say it was a Mystery man. It looks like the house has deliberately squashed him.’

‘Best make sure we don’t annoy it if we catch up with it,’ said Ludo.

‘How do you suppose the Fifth Mystery managed to get into the Mirrorscape?’ asked Wren. ‘Could they have taken your drawing when they raided the mansion?’

Mel shook his head. ‘I shouldn’t think so. Even if they did they wouldn’t know what it was.’

Ludo looked away.

As they trekked towards the background of the master’s picture the grass underfoot became progressively smoother until it was like walking on an undulating billiard table. The vegetation also became cruder and more stylised, and the trees like spheres perched on poles. They reached the top of a hill and stopped to survey the way ahead.

‘It’s different,’ said Mel.

‘Of course it’s different,’ said Ludo, ‘unless we’ve been walking round in circles.’

‘No, I mean it’s been created by another artist.’

‘It’s a very subtle difference,’ said Wren. ‘What makes you so sure?’

‘Texture. Brushwork. Technique. Whatever you like to call it, it’s different.’

‘You’ve missed the most important thing,’ said Ludo.

‘What’s that?’

‘Subject matter. The master’s never painted anything like that.’

Before them towered an enormous green pyramid. It was so high that wispy clouds clung to the side here and there and the top seemed to be dusted with snow. All around it the Mirrorscape was as flat and plush as a well-tended lawn and dotted with weirdly shaped trees or large bushes. Mel fished out the telescope and studied the pyramid before he handed it to Wren. ‘What do you make of that?’

‘Those steps are like terraces. They go all the way up,’ observed Wren. ‘Here, what can you make out, Ludo?’

‘All that vegetation around it is formed from clipped bushes and trees. Topiary. They’ve been shaped like monsters or huge, deformed heads.’

The telescope was returned to Mel and he raised it to his eye again and idly twiddled one of the knobs. The image in the device grew dramatically. ‘That’s a good trick. This thing’s got a knob that makes things appear closer. Hey, that’s no ordinary pyramid.’

‘So what’s an ordinary pyramid?’ said Ludo.

‘You know what I mean. This one’s a skegging great maze! A three-dimensional maze. The sides are made from some kind of clipped, evergreen plant. And the giant footprints lead right up to it.’

They set off across the Mirrorscape but stopped after only a short way.

‘Where’s Ludo got to now?’ asked Mel.

‘Perhaps it was something he ate?’ said Wren. ‘Ludo!’

‘I’m coming. I just had to look at those topiary heads again.’

‘Gardening a new hobby of yours, is it?’ she asked.

‘Just interested.’

They arrived at the great arch that formed the entrance to the pyramid-maze. It was guarded by two giant topiary monsters that towered above them.

‘It looks like the house stopped here,’ observed Mel.

‘Do you think it went inside?’ asked Wren.

‘There’s no sign,’ said Ludo. ‘Something as big as a house couldn’t get under that arch. And it couldn’t have leapt over. Maybe it went around the outside.’

‘You two wait here. I’ll go and see if I can find any tracks.’ Mel placed his satchel on the ground and followed the wall of the maze.

‘See any, Mel?’ called Ludo.

‘That’s odd!’ said Mel.

They turned around at the sound of his voice and saw him coming towards them from the other direction.

‘Mel?’ Wren quickly turned and saw him walking away from them. He slowly became indistinct until he vanished. She turned back and looked at him again. ‘Did you see that?’

‘I saw it but I still don’t believe it,’ said Ludo. ‘How’d you do that, Mel?’

‘I didn’t do anything. I was going that way and then you two appeared in front of me and I found myself back here.’ He scratched his head.

‘I don’t like this place,’ said Ludo.

‘Let me have a go in the other direction.’ Wren walked off and slowly disappeared, reappearing from the other side. ‘It’s just like you said, Mel.’

Ludo had to try it before they became convinced. ‘Well, if we’re not able to go around, then neither was the house. It must have gone inside.’

They stepped through the arch into the labyrinth and looked to the right and the left. Both directions looked identical and the dead-straight path seemed to stretch away to infinity. It must have been miles long either way. They turned left and began walking. At regular intervals they passed tall lamp posts, but otherwise there was nothing to indicate how far they had gone.

‘Listen. Did you hear that?’ asked Wren.

‘Hear what?’ said Mel.

‘Are you sure you didn’t? Like a faint, low boom.’

‘You’re cracking up,’ said Ludo.

After they had walked for about a mile he stopped. ‘Look, this is hopeless. It just goes on forever. All we seem to be doing is walking around the base of the pyramid. We can’t even see the end.’

Mel got the telescope out and looked down the path. ‘Hang on, there’s something up ahead. Let’s take a look.’

It turned out to be a broad ladder. They climbed it and found themselves on another path identical to the first.

‘See if you can find another ladder,’ said Wren. ‘At least that would take us further through the maze.’

‘Let’s see.’ Mel raised the telescope to his eye. ‘What the …!’

‘What is it, Mel? Is it another ladder?’ asked Wren.

‘Yes. But not only that. It’s us! See for yourselves.’

‘Us? What do you mean us?’ Wren took the telescope and saw the three of them in the distance. ‘You’re right. Here, Ludo, you take a look.’

‘This gives me the creeps,’ said Ludo, handing back the telescope.

‘Me too. But at least we know there’s another ladder down there. Come on.’

Mel led them towards the distant ladder. It took a while, but when they got there he had an idea. ‘I wonder ….’ He raised the telescope to his eye and looked back the way they’d come. ‘It’s us all right. Just as we were a little while ago when we saw … us.’

When they reached the next level, Mel surveyed the maze in both directions. He saw himself, still a great way off, waving.

When they finally reached that spot they found another ladder. Before they climbed it, he said, ‘Just a minute, there’s something I need to do.’ He waved back down the pathway.

‘Now he’s going off his rocker, too,’ said Ludo.

At the top of that ladder, Mel said, ‘If my theory’s right, then we should see ourselves at the next ladder.’ He looked in both directions with the telescope but the path was deserted.

‘So much for your great theory,’ said Ludo.

‘I’ve been thinking about this,’ said Wren. ‘Time seems to be trapped in here somehow. It’s as if …. There! Did you hear that deep boom? I’m sure it’s coming from inside the pyramid.’

‘There’s no sound,’ said Mel. ‘At least, none that I heard.’

‘If you didn’t hear that, then your ears need washing. Both of you. Now, time ….’

‘… Is something we don’t have much of,’ said Mel. ‘We’ve been in here a while now. Before too long we’re going to start to feel sick, remember. We’ll need to find a way out soon. And we still haven’t found any trace of the master. Come on.’

After they had walked down the path for a while, they came to the mouth of a tunnel, lit by more lamp posts, that seemed to lead into the heart of the pyramid.

‘Do you suppose they … we went down here?’ asked Wren.

‘Must have done. But there’s only one way we’re going to find out for sure,’ said Mel.

‘I’ll catch you up,’ said Ludo. ‘I just want to see ourselves when we come into view. I’ll give us a wave so we can find this place.’

They entered the tunnel and presently Ludo ran up to join them.

‘Did you signal us?’ asked Wren.

‘What? Oh, yeah. All done.’

‘That’s funny, I didn’t see you waving at us,’ said Mel. He stopped and looked back down the tunnel. ‘What’s that?’ He took the telescope from his satchel. Behind them, running in and out of the pools of light cast by the lamp posts, was a band of scarlet-clad men-at-arms, each with a drawn sword in his right hand. ‘It’s Mystery men! Let’s get out of here.’

The friends took to their heels and sprinted down the long tunnel.

Suddenly it ended. The heart of the pyramid was one humungous, hollow space. It was lit by hundreds of spherical lamps that hung from the inward sloping ceiling high above. The walls looked, and certainly smelt, like earth, and the huge, hairy roots of the maze protruded through into the interior, creating a sinuous jumble of twisted tendrils on an immense scale. Many more formed springs, wheels and ratchets that interlocked and moved with one another like a great machine. At the very heart of the pyramid swung an immense pendulum. It was so huge it moved slowly and took a long time to complete each swing. As it reached the limit of its arc, they heard the deep boom that had so puzzled Wren.

Mel’s eyes soon adjusted to the gloom. Above and below him he took in many more doorways similar to theirs that opened on to the interior. They were all joined together by a confusing tangle of slender walkways like rope bridges, formed from the same root material. They overlay, underlay and joined on to others like another vast labyrinth. Yet more, like rope ladders, joined them vertically. On this impossibly complicated cat’s cradle they could make out dozens more of the men from the Fifth Mystery running to and fro. Each carried a sword in his right hand.

‘They’re all coming towards us,’ said Mel.

There was an anguished shout.

‘Where’s Ludo?’ said Wren.

Their tunnel was joined to its own swaying walkway. Mel and Wren ran out on to the flimsy structure and looked over. Below them, screaming and falling into the fathomless void, was Ludo.