The Last Mirror on the Left by Lamar Giles

Author:Lamar Giles
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780358130437
Publisher: HMH Books
Published: 2020-10-20T00:00:00+00:00

Especially when there were more vials of the glowing miracle medicine Fixityall in a cabinet that was uncomfortably close to the green wolverine.

Dr. Medina emerged moments later, finding Otto, his notepad closed and put away, in the same spot he’d occupied when she’d entered her supply closet. Bundles of bandages and ointments were cradled in her arms. She tossed a tube of something to him. He caught it, read the label: FLUX-SPORIN. Half of that name made him shiver with bad memories of his and Sheed’s summer foe, Mr. Flux.

“Rub some on your stone bits. It’ll help with the physical fluctuation.”

Otto said, “This will give me my skin back?”

“No. That’s ridiculous. It will help make sure the rock doesn’t chip off and leave pebbles everywhere. No messes.”

You are a terrible doctor, Otto thought. He said, “Are you sure there’s nothing we can do about my arms?”

“I swear, I don’t know what sort of backwards, primitive medical science they have in your world, but I will explain this condition as best I can. Physical fluctuations happen when there’s a shift in your body, physical or mental. You have to think thoughts that aren’t rocky and hard.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

She got frustrated. “It’s like we’re speaking different languages.”

“Yes. It is!”

A shrill ringing tore the air, drawing Dr. Medina to a telephone mounted on the wall. Otto’s relief over a device that seemed to work the same way here as at home was overwhelming.

Then Dr. Medina ripped the entire phone from the wall and tossed it aside. The plastic box clattered end over end across the animal hospital floor, the bell inside clanging sporadically from the impact, startling Otto while the animals remained calm and on the mend.

“Hello? How can I help you?” Dr. Medina yelled at the frayed wires protruding from the wall.

From the bare wires, another yelling voice: “Minerva, this is Remica at the Big Apple Bakery! Are you alone?”

The doctor eyed Otto, pressed a finger to her lips. “Just me and my patients.”

“Well, lock up and stay inside. There’s trouble at Town Square. That strange woman from the mirror emporium is there with that ghastly brute of a man.”

The Judge! Otto thought.

Dr. Medina’s fur bristled. “No. Not again.”

“Lenny from Lopsided Furniture Company said the sheriff wouldn’t stand by anymore. He confronted him, and”—Miss Remica sniffled—“you know.”

Otto was pretty sure the town’s sheriff was cooling his heels in a mirror cell. Along with anyone else who dared challenge the Judge.

“Well,” Dr. Medina said, “it’s about time someone stood up for Fry. I refuse to cower in my own town anymore. I’m going to Town Square to stand with anyone else brave enough to resist this nonsense.”

“You’re insane, Minerva.”

“It’s more insane to do nothing. If no one opposes them, they’ll never stop.”

“I’ll be in my store baking. If you survive, you’re welcome to some fresh apple fritters.”

“Your support is ever so comforting. Goodbye.”

There was an audible CLICK as the line went dead.

Otto began to speak, but Dr. Medina held up a finger again and whispered, “Let me hang up the phone first.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.