MirrorMask Page #5

"but are stickier than toffee

and very hard to chew."

What an appalling book.

That's the most useless thing

it's told us so far.

It's not. It's a brave thing to say.

This nonsense has gone on

quite long enough.

She needs to grow up and come home.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Go and get her!

If I tell you something weird,

will you think I'm crazy?

Yes. I expect so.

Because when I look through windows,

not all of them...

I see someone who isn't me.

How odd. I do the same thing.

Me. Window. Look through it.

Not me. The ones I see

myself in are called...

"mirrors."

But she looks like me.

But she isn't me.

She's arguing with my dad.

- "Get higher."

- What?

The giant statue said, "Get higher."

Do you see anything higher than that place?

Long way up.

Look.

There's nothing here, you know.

This place is waiting to collapse

into a heap of rubble.

It can't be safe.

You're such a coward. It's perfectly...

Coward?

I prefer to think of myself

as prudent, cautious.

And unlike some people I could name,

still up here.

Hello!

I'm not coming down there after you.

It's not safe.

No, I'm not hurt, thanks for asking.

Hello.

Hi!

My name's Helena.

Malcolm.

Bob.

Bob.

Bob.

Hi, Bob. All the Bobs.

Malcolm.

Bobs.

I'm looking for something. The charm.

It's like a mask.

Face? Yes.

A face.

You're having a party down there

or something?

Valentine, you should come down,

I've made some friends.

Nicely.

Are you okay?

See, look, I'm looking for a MirrorMask.

Look.

See, I already have the key.

- Mask?

- Yes.

Is it here?

How regrettable.

Help!

I can go. I'm not supposed to be here at all.

Get higher!

Did you see that?

I want to go over there, towards the border.

Thank you, Bobs, Malcolm.

Nicely.

So what are we doing here?

We're going to get the MirrorMask.

I know where it is.

It's halfway between the night lands

and the day lands. It's on the border.

I knew I could help.

I hate being so helpless.

Valentine, look.

We call them windows. They aren't unusual.

Stop that! He's horrible.

- You're horrible!

- Hey, calm down.

There's nothing there.

So what are we meant to be seeing?

Is this like the windows thingy again?

I know it's here.

It was so obvious when I saw it.

We often confuse what we wish for

with what is.

These are the dreamlands on the borders.

It's all wishes, hopes...

and memories.

It's all so familiar.

I know all this.

Helena?

Mum?

Honestly.

- Mum?

- What have you lost now?

I'm looking for a MirrorMask...

but I don't know what it is...

or how big it is...

or why it's missing, or anything, really.

Well, where did you last see it?

I don't think I ever have.

- Who had it last?

- I suppose you did.

No, she did.

Or maybe it was that princess

they were talking about.

I don't know.

I was sure it was here.

You give up so easily.

I'm never going to find it.

Never put off till tomorrow

what you can put off until the day after.

I want to come home now.

I want you to be okay, Mum.

- I'm scared, Mum.

- I'm scared, too, love.

That's why I'm having this dream.

Do you think they've started to operate yet?

Maybe everybody gets dreams like this...

when they start poking around in your head.

It's not your dream, Mum. It's mine.

That's the kind of thing

people say in dreams.

Hello.

Did I dream you a boyfriend?

No, you did not! He's not... He's just a...

I'm sorry I brought it up.

Now, you're looking for something,

you know it's here...

you can't find it, so look again.

I'll bet it's just like your aunt Nan's teeth.

It's probably staring you right in the face.

Mum.

I'm sure it's here.

I'm just not looking hard enough.

It's not her dream. It's my dream.

And if it were me...

I'd put a little building

out there in the middle.

A small building...

but just the right size. It's obvious.

And there'd be a small bridge

going across to it.

Just like that one.

I don't know why I didn't see it before.

You aren't my boyfriend, you know,

even if this is my mum's dream.

Well, one of them must fit.

My arm!

- You're hurt. Stay here. Don't move.

- What about you?

I'm a panther.

I shall slip unnoticed

through the darkness...

like a dark, unnoticeable, slippy thing.

Valentine.

I know we haven't always got on, but...

I'm really grateful for all your help. I

couldn't have done any of this without you.

I do my best.

Come back soon.

Dad?

Dad. That's not me.

Dad. I'm here. Dad!

Help!

Help me!

I don't know what time you call this.

I've been worried sick about you.

I just want to hear a little...

"Sorry for putting you to all this trouble."

Would it be too much to ask for an apology?

Me?

You're the one causing all the damage.

Don't be ridiculous.

- Who do you think is destroying this world?

- You are.

I've seen the black shadows.

What would any worried mother do?

I was just trying to bring us back together.

That's why you put up

the "wanted" posters?

People do it for lost pets...

and a daughter

is a lot more important than a pet.

I'm not your daughter.

You'll do.

We can fix your hair.

Those clothes will have to go.

I'll get the servants to burn them.

I don't know what you're trying to pull,

but there are people who know where I am.

- Valentine will rescue me.

- Valentine.

I'd nearly forgotten about him.

Valentine?

Well, we were already here,

and she'd put up the posters.

Reward paid. Nothing personal.

It's just supply and demand.

You pathetic creep.

Rocks and logs can bite like dogs,

but words will never hurt me.

You useless cake-hogging coward!

I did not hog that cake!

I'm sorry, Mr. Valentine...

but I shall have to hurry you along.

I need to spend some serious...

"quality" time with my little girl.

Right.

Thank you for popping by.

I believe somebody said something

about jewels.

- As many as I can carry?

- Lf you must.

Right, so, no hard feelings then, yeah?

Just go.

I'm on my way out. Off to get the...

Nothing more to say.

- Throw him out.

- Yeah, right.

The princess will be going to her chambers.

Please. Just let me go.

Darling. You know what you need?

I need to find the charm.

I need to wake the White Queen. I need...

You need a pretty frock.

- And a happy smile.

- A smile?

With a smile on your face,

everything will seem brighter, because...

from now on we are...

What?

- I don't know.

- Tell her!

Not at home to Mr. Grumpy, Your Majesty.

Exactly.

Presenting the MirrorMask.

"Dearest Mama...

"as by now you may have realized,

I have found the MirrorMask.

"I will use it to go away.

There are other places.

"I'll find one with

another girl in it like me.

"A life I can take."

Stupid.

"Of course...

"if I use the MirrorMask,

it may upset things a bit.

"But you can't run away from home

without destroying somebody's world. "

Have some more ice cream, Princess.

No, thank you, dearest Mama.

I believe I have had sufficient.

Well, your manners are much improved,

anyway.

- What's that?

- I have no idea.

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