Mirrorscape Read Online Free Page A

after but it did not dent Mel’s joy.
    By the fourth day following Dirk Tot’s visit, Mel sensed things were beginning to return to normal and he and his father managed to exchange a few words. He took this as a sure sign that his mother had won the argument.
    One week later, with normality more or less restored, as they sat around the table after supper, there came a knock at the door. Mel rushed up and opened it.
    â€˜Fa!’ he exclaimed to the visitor.
    â€˜Good evening, Fa,’ said Mabin, as she gestured for the old man to enter. ‘Please join us. Will you have something to eat? To drink, maybe?’
    â€˜Thank you, but no.’ The old priest sat down. ‘It’s been over a week now and Dirk Tot will be returning this way soon. I realise that there has been much for you to think about. We really must have an answer for him.’
    Willem looked at his wife and then back at their visitor. ‘Fa, this apprenticeship is wonderful, there’s no denying it. I know opportunities like this rarely come along – and never to the likes of us. This has made our decision so very difficult. At first, I was confused and angry that you had done this thing. That you had approached someone else about Mel’s future. A future that would mean us living apart. You should have discussed this with us first.’
    â€˜I know, Willem, I apologise. But there was no certainty in this matter. I took it upon myself just to find out if Mel’s work was as good as we all think it is. That Mel should be asked to join Ambrosius Blenk’s studio was as much a surprise to me as it must have been to you both. And what a delightful surprise!’ The old priest smiled.
    Willem paused and lowered his eyes. Then, turning to Mel, he said, ‘I’m sorry, son. We’re simple folk; artisans. This thing isn’t for the likes of us. Surely you can see that? You can continue to draw in your spare time but this apprenticeship is out of the question.’
    Mabin sighed and leant over to hug her son.There was a tear in her eye. ‘Your father’s right, Mel. I know it seems hard now but it’s for the best. This apprenticeship was a dream – for both of us – but now we must wake up. You’ll stay here with us, just like it’s always been.’
    â€˜But, Mum, Dad ….’ The words died on Mel’s lips. He wanted to argue but the tone of his father’s voice told him it would be futile. Willem’s mind was made up. Mel fought an overwhelming desire to break into tears as the disappointment settled on him with an almost physical presence.
    â€˜Is there nothing I can say to make you change your mind, Willem?’ said Fa Theum. His face betrayed a regret almost as bitter as Mel’s.
    â€˜Nothing. This is how it must be.’ Willem turned again to his son. ‘Mel, I know how hard this must be for you but you’ll get over it. Weaving is a fine trade. Why, it’s almost an art in its own right. In a few months none of this will matter. It will all be forgotten. What do you say?’
    Mel could say nothing.
    That night, the tears did come. Rivers and silent sobs racked his small body as he cried himself to sleep. That night he did not dream in colour. He did not dream at all.

The Pleasure and the Pain
    The world did not end. As one week stretched into two, Mel gradually became more resigned to his future. His desire to create slowly returned and he eventually found the time to draw the view of Kop that he had planned when the hare turned up. In fact, the landscape turned out so well that he took it at once to show to Fa Theum.
    When the fane came in sight, he saw that there was a magnificent carriage waiting on the sward outside. Unlike Dirk Tot’s, this one was a vivid scarlet, ornamented with fine carving and gold leaf. It positively throbbed with colour. It occurred to Mel that he had seen more colour in the last few weeks than in his