Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (Children of the Red King, Book 2) (12 page)

"No, I haven't got a . . . no, that's not my father," said Charlie. “And we've got to go somewhere else, thanks all the same."

"OK, then. ' Bye, boys. Come along, Gabriel." Mrs. Silk made for the door.

Gabriel reached over and rescued his gerbil from Paton's pocket, who didn't seem to notice. He pulled his other gerbil out of Charlie's pocket. Luckily it had gone to sleep and had only eaten a peppermint stuck to the bottom of the pocket. "See you tomorrow;" said Gabriel. "It should be interesting. I wonder if Asa's been bitten."

He staggered after his mother with the bag of old clothes under one arm, and his box of gerbils hugged to his chest with the other.

Charlie tapped his uncle's shoulder and said, "We can go now Uncle Paton."

Paton stood up, his eyes still glued to the page he was reading. Charlie steered him outside where they found Benjamin clipping a leash to Runner Bean's collar. "Just in case he gets the urge to chase something,” Benjamin explained.

Their walk to Ingledew's bookshop was relatively easy. No traffic lights had to be navigated, no roads crossed. As they walked around the huge cathedral they could hear the deep toned notes of the organ and Charlie thought of his father. Lyell Bone had been one of the cathedral organists until one foggy night eight years ago, he had gotten into his car and driven over the edge of a quarry He had never been seen again.

"I know what you're thinking, dear boy" Paton murmured. Lyell was his nephew and had been one of his best friends.

There was a
CLOSED
sign on Ingledew's door, but a soft light in the window illuminated the piles of ancient-looking books.

Charlie rang the doorbell. There was no answer. He pressed the bell again. They could hear it ringing in the back of the shop, but no one came to the door.

"Didn't you say they went out at weekends?" said Benjamin. "They could be at a museum, or the movies, or something."

"Of course," said Charlie. "I forgot."

Paton snapped his book shut and stared despondently at the window.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Uncle P —" Charlie began.

But Paton's distress was too great. With a small pop the light in the window went out, and a shower of glass settled on the antique books.

"Darn!" muttered Paton. "She'll know it was me."

"No, she won't," said Charlie. "Miss Ingledew probably often has lights failing."

"Failing, yes," moaned Paton, "but not bursting. She knows it's what I do."

"Come on, Uncle."

"Oh dear. Oh, darn. I'll never be able to face her again," sighed Paton.

"Of course you will. Let's go home. You won't have to read anymore because it's dark."

"That's true!" Paton turned away from the shop and strode toward the nearest alley.

Charlie and Benjamin had to run to keep up with him, while Runner Bean dashed ahead, hoping for a game.

They were moving rapidly down Filbert Street when Paton said, "I don't want my sisters to hear about this little setback."

"Why are your sisters so mean?" asked Benjamin.

"It goes back a long way" said Paton.

"They always do whatever Ezekiel Bloor wants," said Charlie. "It's like they're afraid of him."

"They are," said Paton. "He's a cousin and at the moment he holds the power. They admire that."

"I'm glad I haven't got any aunts," Benjamin muttered. "I'm off now Mom and Dad are home. Bye!"

Charlie and Paton climbed the steps to number nine, but once inside, Paton marched grimly up to his room. Charlie went into the kitchen to give Maisie and his mother a progress report.

"How did it go?" asked Mrs. Bone. “Any mishaps?"

"It went perfectly" lied Charlie.

"I'll go with him next time," said Maisie happily "It'll make such a difference to poor Paton if he can go out in the daytime."

Charlie noticed that Skarpo the sorcerer had disappeared. "Where's the painting?" he asked.

"Search me," said his mother. "Grandma Bone must have taken it to her room."

Grandma Bone had done no such thing. When Charlie went to bed he found Skarpo on his pillow.

"OK," he said grimly "If they want me to go in, I will, but not until I'm ready and not until I've decided how you can help me."

Before he shut the painting in a drawer with his socks, he took a quick look at the sorcerer. The man in black tilted his head toward Charlie and said, "Welcome, child of the Red King!"

Charlie closed the drawer quickly He wondered how dangerous it would be to "go in" as his uncle put it, and ask for Skarpo's help. If Henry Yewbeam was to be rescued before old Ezekiel found him, then a bit of sorcery could come in handy.

CHAPTER 11
“TAKE HIM TO THE DUNGEONS!”

Henry Yewbeam spent the rest of the weekend in Cook's secret rooms.

"If you leave here you'll get snatched," she warned Henry “And then where will we be? Someone in this place wants you gotten rid of you know!"

"I bet it's Zeke," murmured Henry "He's never forgiven me for finishing his puzzle."

"It's Ezekiel, all right," said Cook. "There he is, a feeble old man at the end of his life, while the cousin he thought he'd banished forever has come back as a boy with his whole life in front of him."

Henry couldn't help grinning. "He must be in a rage," he said.

"Yes. And we don't want him to put a stop to the nice long life that lies ahead of you, do we?"

"No." And yet Henry found it hard to imagine what kind of life it might be.

Cook set about preparing a meal. Mrs. Bloor would be joining them later and Henry helped to lay three places on a small round table in the corner.

As Cook worked she began to tell Henry her story. And Henry found himself curling up in the armchair by the stove, and listening to one of the strangest tales he'd ever heard.

Cook and her younger sister, Pearl, had once lived with their parents on an island in the north. Their father, Gregor, was a fisherman. When the girls were five and six it became apparent that they were like lucky charms. Whenever they watched their father set off in his little boat, he always caught more fish than he could carry Soon people Rocked to the island to buy Gregor's fish. He became very rich and was able to purchase the whole island. He built a grand house with breathtaking views of the ocean, and the sea around his island was always calm. This was because his daughters were endowed with luck and tranquility so it was said.

One day a young man came to the island. "He was handsome enough," said Cook, "but there was something about him that gave Pearl and me the creeps. It turned out that he'd come to marry one of us. It didn't matter which. We were fifteen and sixteen at the time, and my father said, 'Be off with you, Grimwald ' — that was his name — 'Be off with you. My daughters are too young to marry. They want to see the world before they settle down.' Grimwald was persistent. 'I need one of your daughters now,” he said, 'while she's still young. I want her for her pure fresh beauty for her sweetness and tranquility and for the luck she will bring me.' The young man's attitude annoyed my father. Again he refused him. And then Grimwald began to threaten us." Cook tasted the stew she'd been cooking. "More salt," she murmured.

"Go on," said Henry eagerly.

Cook continued, "My father ordered Grimwald to leave the island, and eventually he went, but not before he'd turned his fury on us. “You think you control the oceans, don't you, you little minxes,' he said. 'Well, you don't. Very soon you'll find out that my power is far greater than yours. And then you'll come running to me, both of you, mark my words.' If only we had believed him," Cook said sadly.

“A year later, Pearl and I left our island. We traveled all over the world. We dined and danced and met our sweethearts — both sailors as it happened. We came home to tell our parents and found . . ."At this point Cook gave a terrible sigh and several tears dropped into the sauce she was stirring.

"Found what?" asked Henry.

"Found nothing," said Cook. All gone: island, house, parents — all perished. Drowned by the biggest tidal wave in history We suspected, but we couldn't be sure, and then when our sweethearts were drowned at sea we knew It was Grimwald!"

Henry gasped. "You mean he could . . .?"

"Oh, yes. He could do anything with water. My sister and I parted. It was safer to travel alone. We were less recognizable. We went underground, took work in secret, shadowy places where he couldn't find us. Wherever we went we tried to improve things, keep children safe. One day I learned that Bloor's Academy needed a cook. I'd heard it was where the Red King once held court, and I thought I could help some of the children who came here. I guessed that, just like Pearl and me, if they were endowed they wouldn't have an easy time of it." Cook licked the spoon she'd used for stirring, grunted approvingly and put a lid on the saucepan.

Henry would have liked her to continue but, at that moment, Mrs. Bloor came through the little door in the corner, and Cook declared their supper was ready.

Alter supper Mrs. Bloor helped Cook to wash the dishes and then crept away to her lonely room in the west wing.

"Mrs. Bloor is a very sad lady" Henry remarked as he carefully placed Cook's china plates on the dresser.

"Sad indeed," sighed Cook. "If only she could go back to the way she was before her hand was crushed."

"Perhaps the Time Twister could help?" Henry suggested.

Cook darted a wary look at him. "People can't go back, you know that, Henry."

"Yes, but in her case it would only be five years. And she hasn't had a real life here. Who would notice?"

" Hm!" was all Cook said.

Later, as Henry lay in bed his thoughts kept returning to the Time Twister. Cook had no right to hide it from him. The glowing glass fixed itself in his mind so firmly Henry couldn't sleep. He got up, threw his blue cape over his pajamas, and tiptoed out of the tiny room where he slept.

Moonlight, striking through the skylight, lent a pearly glow to the objects in the room beneath. The china on the dresser glimmered softly and Henry looking up to the top shelf saw a row of china mugs They were decorated with hands of gold and silver leaves; two of them were placed closer together than the others, as though someone had moved one of them in haste.

Henry pulled a chair close to the dresser and climbed onto it. He still couldn't reach the top shelf so he stepped onto the dresser itself. Now he could touch the row of mugs. The first one he picked up was empty. He replaced it and drew the second mug toward him. As he lifted it off the shelf something rolled out and dropped to the floor.

Henry looked down to see the Time Twister glowing beneath him. He smiled with satisfaction but before he could climb off the dresser a shadowy form ran toward the glass ball.

"No, Blessed," said Henry recognizing the dog's dumpy shape.

Blessed took no notice. He scooped up the Time Twister in his mouth and trotted to the door in the corner.

"NO!" Henry said. "This isn't the time for a game, Blessed."

Blessed nosed open the door and disappeared. Henry leaped from the dresser, knocking over the chair, but by the time he had reached the staircase behind the door, all that could be seen of the dog was his wagging bald tail. Henry tried to grab it and slipped off the first step. Getting to his feet, he leaped up the steps again.

At the top of the staircase Henry found himself in a dark passage. He could hear the tap of Blessed’s claws echoing somewhere beyond him and ran toward the sound.

The passage curved in seemingly endless circles until it eventually led to a low door. The door was locked. Blessed had vanished. How could he have walked through a locked door? Henry stared at the empty passage behind him. He noticed a thin beam of light coming from a wooden panel at the bottom of the wall. Gently he pushed the panel with his foot. It opened like a cat flap. Or a dog flap? If fat Blessed could get through it, so could Henry.

He knelt down and crawled through the flap. On the other side was a corridor with highly polished floorboards. Gold-framed paintings hung on the walls and a lamp with a colored glass shade stood on a small round table.

A little further on Henry could see a dark closet. He guessed that it hid the door Mrs. Bloor used to visit Cook. As Henry tiptoed down the corridor he could hear a voice. "Tell me!" it said. "Speak to me, dog!"

Henry sidled to the end of the corridor and found that it led to the landing above the hall. On the other side of the landing, a small boy in a blue bathrobe was talking to Blessed. He stopped talking and began to grunt and whine like a dog. The boy had white hair and the glasses he wore made his eyes look like round red lamps.

Henry pressed himself against the wall and watched. The boy was having no success with his grunting dog language, so he began to use words again.

"Tell me, you stupid dog! Speak! Why won't you tell me where he is? Where's the boy from nowhere?"

Blessed gazed mournfully up at the boy but he refused to speak.

"What have you got in your mouth?" asked the boy "It's that thing, isn't it? The magic marble. Give it to me and I'll take it to Mr. Ezekiel."

At these words Henry froze. So the boy was working for Ezekiel. He was about to creep away down the corridor when something happened.

"Give it to me, dog!" The white-haired boy suddenly lifted his foot and kicked the old dog in the ribs. Again and again. Blessed groaned and sank to his knees.

As the boy lifted his foot again, Henry cried, "Don't!"

The boy looked up and smiled.

"You're him, aren't you? The one from nowhere."

"Leave the dog alone," said Henry "He's old. You're hurting him.

"He's got the time thing, hasn't he?"

"Maybe," said Henry "Who are you?"

"I'm Billy Raven," said the boy "1 talk to dogs. They usually answer me. I don't know what's wrong with silly old Blessed today."

At that moment Blessed dropped the Time Twister. It lay between the boys, glowing softly.

"Don't look at it!" Henry warned. He didn't like Billy, but the white-haired boy was very small, and Henry didn't want him to be twisted into another century.

"It's beautiful" said Billy He bent to pick it up but Henry kicked the marble away It rolled across the landing and dropped through the bannisters. There was a light ping as it hit the stones below:

Billy Raven glared at Henry "You shouldn't have done that," he said.

Henry was tempted to run down and find the marble, but the other boy was giving him such an odd sly look, he hesitated.

All at once Blessed gave a low rumbling howl.

The warning came too late.

A hand came down on Henry's shoulder and a husky voice said, "Well, look what the dog dragged in!"

Henry tried to twist away but the hand was strong and held him like a vice. He turned his head and looked into the long mean face of Manfred Bloor.

"Let me go," said Henry.

"You're joking," said Manfred. "Someone wants to see you very much." He pushed Henry along the landing. "Well done, Billy A Little present will be coming your way very soon."

"Thanks, Manfred!" called Billy.

Manfred shoved Henry into a passage leading off the landing, but Henry continued to struggle. They reached a staircase and, at this point, Henry almost got away but Manfred shrieked, "Zelda, where are you?" and a thin, long-nosed girl leaped toward them. She grabbed Henry's arm, almost wrenching it out of its socket.

Henry let out a blood-curdling yell.

"Shut up!" said Manfred. "Zelda, hold him still."

Zelda twisted Henry's arms behind his back, and Manfred tied his wrists together with a length of sticky tape.

"We'll need the flashlight," said Manfred. "Where is it?"

"It's all right," said Zelda. "I haven't forgotten it."

Grunting and struggling, Henry was led up the stairs, along dark passages, down ancient spiraling steps and then up again and into a part of the building he almost recognized; the place where he and James had spent their last miserable Christmas together.

"We're not there yet!" hissed Manfred.

Up they went again. Up and up, into a shadowy world lit by a jet of gas, whispering from the wall in their rusty iron brackets. Henry remembered the gaslights, but the walls that had once been covered in richly patterned paper were now stained with damp and hung with gray cobwebs.

They reached a door, its black paint scratched and peeling. Manfred knocked.

Henry's mouth felt dry with fear and he could hear his own heart, thumping in his chest.

"Who's there?"The voice was old and slightly hoarse.

"It's Manfred, Grandpa. And guess who else? I've got a lovely surprise for you!" Manfred grinned at Henry.

"What?" There was a delighted shriek from within the room. "Bring it in! Bring in my lovely surprise!"

Manfred opened the door and shoved Henry into the room.

Henry found himself looking at the oldest man he had ever seen. It was difficult to believe that the wizened creature in a wheelchair had once been his cousin Zeke. And yet there was something familiar about the spiteful, hooded eyes and thin cruel mouth/

The air in the room was stifling. Behind the old man, logs burned in a huge fireplace. The floor was padded with many worn carpets and the windows covered by thick velvet curtains.

"Well," said the old man. "Well, I never. If it isn't cousin Henry?"

Henry tried to swallow but there was a lump in his throat. He couldn't think of anything to say.

"Come closer," said Ezekiel.

Manfred and Zelda gave Henry another push. He staggered forward feeling faint. The old man was draped in blankets. How could he stand the heat?

"My my! You are young, aren't you?" Ezekiel said resentfully.

Henry tried to clear his throat. "I'm eleven," he croaked. "At least I was last week."

Ezekiel scowled. "Last week. You mean ninety years ago, don't you?"

"Not quite," said Henry feeling bolder. "Not by my reckoning."

" Ooo! ' Not by my reckoning,'" the old man mimicked. "Always were the clever one, weren't you? Well you're not so clever now. Got yourself caught, haven't you?"

Henry nodded.

"So where have you been hiding?"

Desperately Henry tried to think of an answer. He knew he mustn't give Cook away "In a closet."

"In a closet? Where?"

"In the kitchen," said Henry "No one saw me. I came out at night for food."

The old man sniggered. "This time you came out too far, didn't you?"

"Yes," said Henry meekly.

"What are you going to do with him, Grandpa?" asked Manfred.

"Put him in the attic," Zelda suggested. "With the rats and bats." She cackled gleefully.

The old man stroked his stubbly white chin. " Hm. Where's the Time Twister?" he demanded.