Midnight for Charlie Bone (Children Of The Red King, Book 1) (8 page)

            Manfred Bloor had known who he was. But how? Charlie remembered the photograph. When he had looked at it and heard those voices, Aries the cat had peeked out and seen him. Somehow a connection had been made, even though eight years had passed. Could it be that when he saw Manfred in the newspaper, Manfred had seen him, too, and known who he was? Charlie decided to try an experiment. Somewhere he had a photograph of Benjamin; it had been taken on the same day as the photo of smiling Runner Bean. Chafie rummaged in a drawer and pulled out Benjamin's startled face. The camera flash had taken him by surprise. Charlie stared at his friend's face. For a moment Benjamin just stared back, and then a voice said, Charlie, I don't like having my photo taken.

            In the background a dog barked and then Charlie's own voice could be heard, saying, Smile, Benjamin. Go on. You look great. Really!

            That was it. No more voices. Just the sound of a dog panting heavily and then a long, doggish yawn.

            At number twelve, Benjamin had just opened a large container of strawberry yogurt. He was about to plunge his spoon in when Charlie's face appeared floating among the strawberries. It turned Benjamin's stomach over. He put the container back in the fridge.

            "It's gone bad," he told Runner Bean. "We'll have cheese instead" Runner Bean was glad to hear this. He wagged his tail happily Charlie's mom woke him up for his lunch, but after that he fell asleep again. At teatime Maisie asked him if he felt ill, because he looked very peculiar and he hadn't touched his sandwich.

            "Not ill," said Charlie. "I think I've been hypnotized." Maisie and his mother laughed.

            "Grandma Bone's on the warpath," said Maisie. "She wanted to see you about some questions, but then she got a phone call and took off to visit theYewbeams."

            After tea, Charlie fell asleep again. He didn't wake up until he heard his uncle creaking downstairs at midnight.

            Charlie tiptoed down to the kitchen. His head felt much clearer and he was really hungry He found his uncle sitting at the kitchen table eating cold chicken, green beans, and salad. There was a basket of rolls on the table and a bottle of wine. Paton's large wineglass was half full. The only light in the room came from a single candle sitting on an ornate silver candlestick in the center of the table.

            Uncle Paton squinted past the candle flame. Eventually he saw Charlie hovering in the shadow by the door.

            "Come in, dear boy,” said Uncle Paton. "Do you like chicken?"

            "Do I?" Charlie pulled up a chair. "Right now I'd eat almost anything." His uncle passed him a chicken leg on a plate and asked, "How was your day?"

            "Horrible." Charlie told Paton about Miss Ingledew's keys, Manfred Bloor, and the nasty experience of being hypnotized.

            Uncle Paton dropped his fork. "Do you mean to tell me that those boys were trying to prevent you from reaching the bookshop?"

            "That's exactly what I mean," said Charlie. "Manfred's going to get the key from Miss Ingledew before I can, and then he's going to come looking for the case. Everyone seems to be looking for it."

            "That sweet lady needs protection," Paton murmured. "Tell me, Charlie, why are you so determined to keep this troublesome case?"

            "Whatever is in it was swapped for a baby I want to swap it back again so Miss Ingledew can see her niece. It doesn't seem fair, does it, that the baby's only relative can't find her?"

            "I wonder why it never occurred to that charming lady that she could have exchanged the case for the child?" Paton mused.

            "She just got it," Charlie said. "Before that she was tricked, put off, and lied to. By the time she got the case, she'd given up searching."

            "You do seem to know a lot," said Paton. He took his empty plate to the sink. "Charlie, you're going to be out of action next week, so I shall return the keys to Miss Ingledew for you. If she finds the right one, I shall give it to you when you come home for the weekend. But I think you should show me the case. I want to be there when you open it. As a precaution."

            “A precaution?" asked Charlie.

            "Who knows what that thing contains?" said Paton. An adult should be on hand. Don't you agree?"

            "I suppose." Charlie was beginning to get a gnawing pain in his stomach again. This time it was because Paton had mentioned his being away for a week - imprisoned at Bloor's Academy.

            "Uncle Paton, why do I have to go to Bloor's just because I'm endowed?" asked Charlie.

            "So they can keep an eye on you. They wouldn't dare let you go anywhere else, in case you start using your talents without their knowing it. They like to be in control."

            "I suppose you went to Bloor's?"

            "Of course," said Paton.

            “And did you enjoy it?"

            "?Enjoy' is not the word I'd use. I got by I kept my head down and they left me alone, more or less." Paton sighed. "I suppose that's always been my trouble. I've kept my head down when, occasionally I should have put it up. Oh, well. Perhaps it's not too late."

            There was a creak outside -the door flew open with a bang and the light came on. Grandma Bone stood on the threshold. She glared at Charlie, saying, "What's this? A midnight feast? Bed, Charles Bone! You'll finish those questions in the morning.

            School on Monday How are you going to cope without sleep?"

            "Good night, Grandma! Good night, Uncle Paton!" Charlie scurried past his grandmother. As he climbed the stairs he could hear her shouting at Uncle Paton.

            "What's going on here, Paton? I can't trust you anymore. Whose side are you on? Answer me!"

CHAPTER 8

BREAKING THE RULES

            Benjamin and Fidelio arrived on Charlie's doorstep at the same time. Benjamin knew immediately that the cheerful-looking boy was Charlie's music teacher. For one thing, he was carrying a music case in one hand and a violin case in the other. And, he just looked musical. They introduced themselves and Fidelio rang the bell.

            Grandma Bone opened the door. "Go away,” she said to Benjamin. "Charlie's going to have a music lesson. You'll be in the way."

            "No, he won't," said Fidelio. "We're going to play a trio. Benjamin is essential."

            “A trio?" Grandma Bone raised a thick gray eyebrow. “I don't believe it." Benjamin began to turn away but Fidelio grabbed his arm. "We need him, Mrs. Bone," Fidelio insisted. "Dr. Saltweather, who is head of music, said we were to have some group playing so Charlie can get used to joining in with the class."

            "Hmph.The lies you children tell. It's beyond belief." But she couldn't have been quite sure it was a lie, because she let Benjamin come in. Charlie was already practicing his scales when Fidelio and Benjamin arrived.

            "You've improved," said Fidelio. "We're going to make a lot of noise today because all three of us are going to be playing." He opened his music case, pulled out a flute, and handed it to Benjamin.

            "I don't know how to,.." Benjamin began.

            "You soon will," said Fidelio.

            Sure enough, in less than ten minutes, Benjamin was playing the flute. The three boys made a great deal of noise. Charlie expected Grandma Bone to come storming in at any minute, but she never did. It was a wonderful feeling to bang away and sing your head off all in the cause of learning. He waited until Fidelio took a break before he broached the subject of the case.

            When Fidelio put his bow down at last, Charlie said quickly. “We have a problem, Fidelio. And we wondered if you could help us."

            "Probably,” said Fidelio eagerly. “Go ahead." Charlie told him about the locked case and the keys. He omitted the part about the baby He didn't know Fidelio well enough for that, yet.

            "So you want me to hide this case for you," said Fidelio. "That's easy Our house is full of instrument cases. I can hide it under the others."

            "The thing is, we're being watched," said Charlie. "My aunts already know it's in Benjamin's house. So we've got to find something big to carry it in."

            "I'll bring my dad's xylophone case," said Fidelio. "It's gigantic. Funny you should say you're being watched. I could swear I saw Asa Pike on the other side of the road today He was in disguise, as usual. He's in drama, but he can't act. Anyway he was dressed in this long coat and funny hat, and he was wearing a false mustache. But I always know Asa when I see him -he's got those yellowy wolfish eyes."

            “And red hair?" asked Charlie. Manfred's friend had yellow eyes.

            "That's him. He's Manfred Bloor's slave. He'd do anything for him. Sell his own mother, probably."

            Charlie told Fidelio about the hypnotizing episode.

            "I've heard rumors about Manfred," Fidelio said gravely. “They say if you get on the wrong side of him you can be... damaged forever. I'd advise you to keep out of his way."

            The door opened and Grandma Bone poked her head in. "I presume you've finished," she said.

            "You presume right, Mrs. Bone," said Fidelio. He began to gather up his instruments and sheets of music. Charlie and Benjamin saw him to the door, but before Fidelio walked away he said. "See you tomorrow, Charlie. And you very soon, Benjamin!"

            Charlie looked up and down the street before closing the door. There was no sign of Asa Pike, or anyone in a long coat and a false mustache. Turning to Ben, he whispered, "Did you see my face yesterday at about teatime?"

            Benjamin, very surprised, said, "I saw you in my yogurt. It made me feel sick."

            "Sorry it was just an experiment."

            Benjamin tried to guess what sort of an experiment it was, and then decided he didn't really want to know.

            Grandma Bone allowed Benjamin to stay for tea, but he was sent home early so that Charlie could pack his bag and prepare himself for his first day at Bloor's Academy.

            "You won't have to take much," said Charlie's mother as she laid out the new pajamas. "You'll be home again on Friday." Charlie wished he hadn't been given pajamas with teddy bears on them, but he didn't like to seem ungrateful so he kept quiet about it. He packed a clean shirt, his toiletries, spare socks and underwear, and the blue cape.

            "I think you're supposed to wear this, Charlie," said his mother, pulling out the cape. "I've sewn your initials at the back in green thread, see. I'm afraid it's the only color I had."

            Charlie pushed the cape back again. "I'll take it out when I get there," he said.

            Tomorrow; as it would be his first day his mother was going to take him to the academy entrance. The paperwork for registration had all been completed by Grandma Bone. On Friday he would come home on the school bus and get off at the bus stop at the end of Filbert Street.

            "There's something else you might want to take," his mother murmured. She left the room and when she came back, a few moments later, she was holding something wrapped in white tissue paper. "They said you were to wear a blue tie," she said, "and Grandma Bone has provided one, but..." She folded back the tissue paper and held up a bright blue tie. At one end of the tie, a small gold "Y" had been stitched in silk thread. "It was your father's," she told Charlie. "The Y is forYewbeam. Although your father's name was Bone, he had Yewbeam blood and that, it seems, carries a great deal of weight at Bloor's. The Yewbeams are related to the Bloors, apparently."

            "Related? Do you mean like cousins?" Charlie wondered why his mother hadn't mentioned such an important fact before.

            "Distant cousins."

            “Anything to do with a red king?" asked Charlie.

            "Your father did mention him."

            "So why did Grandma give me a tie without a “Y'?"

            "Perhaps you have to prove yourself first, Charlie. Perhaps they think you'll go astray-like Lyell did." She tucked the tie into Charlie's bag. Anyway you never know; you might need it."

            When she had gone, Charlie took out the tie and examined it. The material was soft and shiny silk or satin perhaps. He pressed it to his face and sniffed it. The tie smelled of the way his mother used to smell, when she still had nice things to wear. All her best clothes had worn out, and now, Charlie realized, his mother looked just a bit shabby The next morning, Maisie cooked Charlie such a big breakfast it overflowed his plate. He managed to chew a bit of bacon, but that was all. His stomach was churning.

            The kitchen seemed to be full of nervous people. Even Uncle Paton had turned up. "I'd drive you to the place, dear boy,” he told Charlie. "But there's no parking to be had within a mile of the place. The staff are very possessive about their parking lot."

            Everyone looked uncomfortable, knowing that Paton couldn't go out in daylight anyway and then Grandma Bone said, “A taxi's been ordered. It's just turned up."

            "I don't want to go in a taxi," cried Charlie. "I'll look like a nerd."

            "You'll do as you're told," said Grandma Bone. "Now fetch your things." With tears and kisses from Maisie, a wave from Paton, and a grim smile from Grandma Bone, Charlie and his mother were bundled into the taxi. They were dropped off on a side road leading to the academy and walked through a medieval square where cobblestones surrounded a fountain of stone swans. Ahead was a tall gray building, ancient and imposing. The walls that flanked the square were five stories high, their windows dark rectangles of reflecting glass.

            On either side of the huge arched entrance, there was a tall tower with a pointed roof and when they reached the wide flight of steps up to the entrance, Charlie's mother suddenly stopped and stared up at a window in one of the towers. Her face was drained of color and, for a moment, Charlie thought she was going to faint.

            "What is it, Mom?" he asked.

            "I thought someone was watching me," she murmured. "Charlie, I must go now" She kissed him quickly and hurried away across the square. Charlie became aware of other children arriving in buses at the end of the square. Before long he was surrounded by leaping, running, walking, and shouting children, all in capes of blue or green or purple.

            "Charlie, put your cape on!" called a voice. "Or you'll be in trouble." Fidelio emerged through the bustling crowd. "You have a cape, haven't you? I forgot to mention it."

            "Yes." Charlie pulled the cape out of his bag and put it on.

            "Good, now come with me," said Fidelio. "Keep close. There's a bit of a mob on Monday mornings."

            They were now in a paved courtyard and, as Charlie followed Fidelio, his eye was caught by one of the windows overlooking it. There was a long black stain on the gray wall beneath it.

            "That's where Manfred nearly burned to death," Fidelio said in a harsh whisper.

            "The fire?" asked Charlie.

            They had reached a doorway where two huge doors, studded with bronze figures, stood wide open. Charlie stared at them in awe as he passed through. He found himself in a long stone hallway and suddenly all the laughter and shouting died away Only the sound of feet tapping on stone could be heard.

            Keeping Fidelio in sight, Charlie made his way through the throng of children crisscrossing the hall and disappearing into doors on either side. Fidelio seemed to be making for the door with two long crossed trumpets hanging above it.

            They were nearly there when there was a shriek and someone grabbed hold of Charlie's cape. He looked behind him to see a girl with purple hair sprawled on the stones. She was a very odd sight; apart from her purple hair and cape, she had a purple pattern on her forehead and she was wearing purple shoes with high stiletto heels and very pointed toes. Her backpack had fallen open, scattering books and pens in all directions.

            "Sorry,” said the girl. She began to giggle. "Shoes'll be my downfall, or falldown." She giggled even more.

            Charlie was about to help her up, when a voice ordered, "Leave it, Bone!" Asa Pike, also in purple, stood glaring down at the girl. "Olivia Vertigo, what are the rules? Recite!"

            Scrambling to her feet, the girl chanted, Silence in the hall, Talking not at all, Silence if you fall, Never cry or call, Blah! Blah! Blah!

            Asa grabbed her arm. "Insolence isn't amusing," he barked. "Come with me." He began to drag her away.

            "My books," wailed Olivia.

            Charlie scooped up the scattered books and pens while Fidelio, putting a finger to his lips, found Olivia's purple backpack and helped Charlie fill it. As soon as they were through the door beneath the crossed trumpets, Fidelio said, "We can talk now"

            They were in a large, tiled coatroom, with lockers covering two walls and coat hooks on the other two. A row of basins ran down the center of the room.

            "What's going to happen to that girl?" asked Charlie.

            "She'll probably get detention, a horrible lecture from Manfred, and then not be allowed to go home till Sunday She's only been here a short while, but she's already had detention twice. She'd probably have been expelled if she weren't so brilliant at acting. I was sent into her class, once, to fetch Mr. Irving, and she was doing this solo piece -it was amazing."

            Fidelio showed Charlie his locker and then took him to the oak-paneled Assembly Hall. A group of musicians stood on the stage, tuning their instruments.

            "First we have the school hymn and then registration," said Fidelio. Charlie followed him to the benches in the front row: Gradually the hall filled up with girls and boys all wearing blue capes. There must have been about a hundred children between eleven and eighteen. Charlie thought he must have been the youngest, until a very small boy slipped in beside him.

            "Hello," said the small boy. “I'm Billy Raven."

            "I'm Charlie Bone," said Charlie.

            The small boy smiled. He had almost-white hair and his eyes were a strange, dark red. "I'm an albino," he explained. "I don't see too well. But I hear very well."

            “Aren't you a bit young for Bloor's?" said Charlie.

            "I'm seven," Billy replied. "But I'm an orphan, so they took me in. Besides, I'm endowed."

            "So am I," Charlie whispered.

            Billy beamed at Charlie. "I'm glad," he said softly. "Now there are three of us."

            Charlie didn't have time to ask who the third endowed musician was, because a tall man with white hair had walked onto the stage.

            "Dr. Saltweather," whispered Fidelio, on Charlie's other side. There were five other music teachers on the stage: two youngish women, an old man with glasses, a cheerful-looking man with lots of wiry hair, and someone whom Charlie found himself staring at -he had never seen such a blank sort of face. The man was tall and lean with black hair that he had apparently forgotten to comb. His expression didn't change once, even when the orchestra struck up and everyone else began to sing. When assembly was over, Fidelio took Charlie to a door beside the stage. A notice on the door said MR. PALTRY -WINDS.

            "I'll see you at break," said Fidelio. "I'm off to strings now, and Miss Chrystal."

            "Who were the other teachers on the stage?" asked Charlie.

            "Well, you've got old Mr. Paltry -don't envy you there -then there's Mr. O'Connor, he does guitar and stuff like that. The two ladies teach strings, and Dr. Saltweather does brass and choir."