Getting Carried Away Ten minutes later the children were skipping up the stairs towards the very top of the Shard. Professor Cortex was puffing behind. If they’d had time to look at the view, they’d have noticed the whole of the capital city spread out below, a giant Google map that was about to go offline. Sophie was first to the top. She caught her breath and waited for her brothers. The professor’s footsteps were at least two floors away and she didn’t have time to wait. ‘Shakespeare is in here,’ she said, turning the handle, and burst into the top-floor apartment. Dozens of old people’s eyes looked their way, many over the top of their spectacles. Already furrowed brows became even more creased. Jigsaws and crosswords ceased. The grandfather clock ticked towards midday and the kettle boiled in an otherwise silent stand-off. The children stared at the small army of pensioners and the pensioners blinked back until the kettle boiled violently and clicked itself off. ‘Young people,’ said a voice, breaking the silence.
