Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (Children of the Red King, Book 2) (13 page)

"I don't know The dog had it."

"Did he now? He's a good doggie — bringing his old master another present. He was very scared of that Twister, you know" Ezekiel's smile was worse than his scowl. He had very few teeth and those that remained were chipped and black.

Henry figured that Blessed had just wanted a game but he decided to let Ezekiel think what he wanted.

"So, where's my doggie, now?" asked the old man.

"Had a bit of trouble there," said Manfred. "Billy Raven kicked the dog and he dropped the marble."

"Kicked?" shouted Ezekiel. "Kicked my dog? The wretch. So why didn't you get the Twister, you nincompoop?"

Manfred sucked his teeth and answered curtly.

"You wanted the boy so we brought the boy Billy will find the marble."

"Bah!" the old man spat into the grate. "He'd better bring it soon."

"So, is it to be the attic for this one, sir?" asked Zelda. "Until you can send him off again."

"No! There's too much going on up there. Take him to the dungeons." Ezekiel swung his chair away turning his back on Henry.

Henry shuddered. "Couldn't I stay here? I wouldn't be any trouble. 1 could live with Charlie Bone. He . . ."

"Stay?" screeched Ezekiel. "Never in a thousand years. Get him away from me. Now! I can't stand the sight of him, all young and hopeful. Get him OUT!"

Henry was tugged away "Please!" he cried. "Don't do this."

Manfred and Zelda pulled him out into the passage and slammed the door. While Zelda held him still, Manfred covered his mouth with a thick piece of sticky tape, and then Henry was dragged and bundled down to the hall and out into the freezing night. The cold hit him with such force he gave up struggling and allowed his two captors to lead him across the frozen ground.

The icy stars above them gave the world a strange, pale glow but the moon had disappeared. Zelda’s flashlight threw a narrow path of light across the patches of snow and although Henry could hardly see a thing in front of him, he knew where they must be heading. It was still a shock, though, when the great walls of the ruined castle loomed before him.

He was pushed through the archway and then into one of the passages leading out of the courtyard. Unlike the passage he had entered yesterday this one seemed to be leading downward. The ground was wet with mildew; and every now and again Henry found himself skidding into Zelda, who led the way.

"Stop that," she snarled, "or I'll drag you there on your bottom."

Where was there?
Henry wondered.

Deeper they went. Deeper and deeper. The air was so thick and musty Henry began to choke. The tape over his mouth made it difficult to breathe. Just when he thought he might die of suffocation they emerged onto a grassy bank. Tall trees reached into the night sky rustling softly.

"Go on!" said Manfred, giving Henry a shove.

Henry tumbled down the bank while the others ran after him, giggling spitefully.

They hauled him upright and marched him over to a black rock, half-hidden in the undergrowth.

"OK, Zelda. Get to work," said Manfred.

Zelda gave a crooked smile. She stared at the rock. In the dim light, Henry saw her smile become a terrible grimace as, very slowly the rock began to move. Zelda was obviously one of the endowed. No ordinary person could have done that. With a rough, grating sound the rock slid back, revealing a round black pit.

Before Henry knew what had happened, Manfred had pushed him to the edge.

"Go on," said Manfred. "Down!"

"Mm mm!" Henry shook his head.

"Oh, yes you will." Manfred gave him a thump on the back, and Henry tottered forward onto a narrow stone step.

"DOWN!" ordered Manfred, this time pushing Henry's head.

Henry bumped and slithered down a flight of steps, desperately trying to free his hands. Painfully he ripped one free of the tape and groped for something to stop his fall. At last he touched an iron ring driven into the side of the pit, and clung to it. But even as he started to climb back up the steps, the huge rock crunched across the top of the pit. Henry was plunged into a darkness so deep and dreadful he fell he must be dead.

Roused from sleep by a noise from the next room, Cook had found the empty mug and the upturned chair. She guessed what had happened. The flame cats were already scratching at her skylight. As soon as she let them in, they sped across the room and up the hidden staircase. They knew when a child was in trouble. But by the time the cats reached the landing, Henry Yewbeam had gone and they found Billy Raven peering over the railings. As soon as he saw them he ran back to bed.

The cats found Blessed, lying on his side and breathing heavily. Gently they nudged the old dog to his feet, and then, with soft, encouraging voices they eased his pain and kept up his spirits until he reached the place he called home. Now he lay at Cook's feet, wrapped in a blanket and half-asleep.

"Poor dog, you paid dearly for keeping my secret, didn't you," Cook murmured. "Thanks to you, he'll live," she told the cats. "But somewhere in this godforsaken place, there's a poor boy who may not last the night." She buried her face in her hands. "Oh, Henry you foolish boy where are you?"

Aries couldn't bear the sound of weeping. With a gentle meow he stood up and patted Cook's knee.

Cook wiped her eyes. "You're right. This won't help will it? You'd better go and look for him, my dears."

She opened the skylight and the three flames leaped out into the dark. It did her heart good to see their bright forms streak into the night.

"What's become of the Twister, I'd like to know," Cook said to herself. "Has that wretched Billy Raven found it?" As she closed the skylight she heard the distant chimes of the cathedral clock strike midnight.

Billy Raven was fast asleep in bed. Down in the hall, the Time Twister still glimmered in a corner. The door to the west wing stood slightly open, and now a figure emerged. Keeping to the shadows, the dark form slowly circled the hall until it reached the marble. The glowing glass sphere was lifted out of its corner and slipped into a deep pocket.

CHAPTER 12
EZEKIEL’S VISITORS

On Monday morning Olivia Vertigo's famous film star mother had to be at work very early; so Olivia was dropped off at the academy long before her friends. She was surprised to find the hall full of people. Cleaners with mops and brooms were sweeping in corners; Dr. Saltweather and some of the stronger teachers were moving furniture away from the walls; others were peering under the long tapestries and heavy curtains.

"Don't just stand there, girl, do something!" Dr. Bloor shouted from his seat in the middle of the hall.

Olivia wasn't sure what she should do. “Are you looking for something, sir?" she asked.

"Of course we are. A marble. A most particular marble. Get on with it."

"Yes, sir." Olivia dumped her bag by the door and wandered around the hall. She kept her eyes trained on the ground but there was hardly a speck of dust to be seen.

After an hour of fruitless searching, Dr. Bloor ordered the furniture moved back and the hall cleared "It's not here," he muttered. "So who's got it?"

Olivia heard voices in the courtyard behind her and, picking up her bag, ran out to see if she could catch Charlie before he went into assembly. She found him coming up the steps with Fidelio. They were talking about a pets' café.

"Hi, you two!" said Olivia. "I've got news."

"Look out, vegetable," said Damian Smerk, almost knocking her off the steps. Damian was a bit of a bully particularly where girls were concerned.

Olivia wasn't afraid of him. "I'd rather have green hair than a face like yours," she retorted, patting her freshly dyed spinach-colored hair.

"Weirdo!" grunted Damian, marching off.

Fidelio made a face at Damian's back. "What's the news, then?" he asked.

Olivia told them about the search for the marble. “It must be that thing that brought your cousin here," she said to Charlie. "You know, the Time Twister."

While the boys stared at her, she took a breath and went on, "I met him by the way"

"You met Henry?" said Charlie.

"Yes, in the ruin. Manfred and Asa were looking for him. He said he'd been hiding in the kitchen, so Bindi and I took him back there before those two could catch him."

"Well done," said Charlie.

At that moment, Emma Tolly came up the steps and Olivia turned to follow her.

"Emma, stop," called Olivia. "I want to . . ."

But Emma had already gone into the hall where talking was forbidden.

"I don't know what's the matter with her," sighed Olivia. "She doesn't seem to want to be friends any more."

"Maybe you're too weird for her," joked Charlie. "Look who's talking!" Olivia grinned and bounced up the steps into the hall.

Charlie and Fidelio made their way to the blue coatroom where they found Gabriel sitting on a bench. He was holding the bag of Asa's old clothes and he looked worried.

"What's up?" asked Fidelio. "Has Asa been after you?"

"I reckon he has," muttered Gabriel. "Something attacked our goats last night."

Charlie sat beside Gabriel. "None of them were killed, were they?" he asked gently.

"No, they were just scared, and they wouldn't be milked this morning." Gabriel sighed. "1 think I ought to give this stuff back, but I don't know how to. Asa might get nasty"

"Give it to Olivia," Fidelio suggested. "She can slip it into the drama coatroom during break."

"OK." Gabriel pushed the bag under the bench and followed the other two into assembly.

After assembly Charlie dragged himself off to his music lesson with Mr. Paltry—Winds. The old music teacher had decided to let him try the trumpet instead of the recorder, and Charlie liked this much better. His lesson was almost enjoyable.

At break he found Gabriel and Fidelio wandering around the field. Gabriel still looked worried. He told Charlie he'd given Asa's clothes to Olivia and, as far as he knew, she had managed to hang the bag on Asa's peg.

"So, everything's OK," said Charlie.

"Not exactly. When I went for my piano lesson, Mr. Pilgrim wasn't there."

Fidelio reminded Gabriel that Mr. Pilgrim had a terrible memory. He was always forgetting things.

"Not lessons," murmured Gabriel.

Olivia strode up, wearing a big smile. "Done," she declared. "I put the bag on Asa's peg, but guess what?"

"What?" asked the boys.

“ Asa came in just a second after I'd done it and he looked a real mess. He's got bandages on his hands and he was limping."

This didn't surprise the boys. Charlie told Olivia about the Pets' Café, and Asa being chased by a pack of dogs. Olivia found this so funny she had a fit of giggles that turned into hiccups.

When Fidelio and Charlie went to English, Olivia, still hiccupping, went to recitation. Gabriel was supposed to have mathematics but he was feeling rather odd. He wasn't wearing any secondhand clothes so he didn't understand why he had butterflies in his stomach and a tingle creeping up the back of his head. Before he knew it he was in the west wing and climbing the stairs to the top of the tower. The sound of a piano began to echo down the stairwell. Mr. Pilgrim was evidently back in his room. When Gabriel reached the top of the tower he knocked on Mr. Pilgrim's door. There was no answer. The piano music swelled and bass chords thundered out a finale. In the silence that followed, Gabriel opened the door. Mr. Pilgrim stared at him over the gleaming black piano.

"Excuse me, sir," said Gabriel. "But you weren't here before, so I . . . um . . . I missed my lesson, and I wondered if I could have it now?"

"Now?" said Mr. Pilgrim, looking puzzled.

"Yes. Please, sir."

"Now. Yes." Mr. Pilgrim moved up the piano stool to make way for Gabriel.

"Thank you, sir." Gabriel sat next to the piano teacher and, without waiting for instructions, launched himself into his scales.

When the scales were finished, Mr. Pilgrim made no comment. He sat patiently listening to Gabriel as he played two complicated Bach figures.

Toward the end of the second piece Gabriel felt a strange tension in the room. He came to the end of the piece and rested his hands on his knees, waiting for Mr. Pilgrim's remarks. Sometimes, the teacher said nothing at all.

From outside came the chimes of the cathedral clock as it began to strike twelve.

"I'd better go, sir," said Gabriel.

"You played very well today" said Mr. Pilgrim.

"Thank you, sir."

Gabriel was about to get up when Mr. Pilgrim said "Gabriel, they have the boy!" "What boy sir?" "The one that was here."

Gabriel suddenly realized who Mr. Pilgrim was talking about. "Do you mean Henry sir? Charlie Bone’s cousin?"

Mr. Pilgrim frowned. "Henry? They took him, Gabriel. He needs help."

"Yes, sir." Gabriel stood up. As he turned away Mr. Pilgrim caught his arm.

"Wait." The music teacher took something out of his pocket and pressed it into Gabriel's hand.

Gabriel could feel it was a large glass marble. It held a strange glow that cast reflections through his closed fingers.

"Take it," said Mr. Pilgrim. "You can go now."

"Yes, sir." Gabriel left the room. When he was halfway down the stairs, he sat on a step. He wasn't sure what to do. If Mr. Pilgrim was right, then Henry had been caught. The Bloors were searching for this marble — the Time Twister. Did they mean to send Henry back to a time where he couldn't survive?

Gabriel slowly opened his fist. He glanced at the swirling shapes and colors, and then closed his fingers over the glimmering ball. "Better not look," he murmured, remembering what had happened to Henry.

A movement caught his eye and he looked down into the shadowy stairwell. Mrs. Bloor's pale face came into view. She smiled up at him. "You played beautifully today." she said.

"Thanks." Gabriel stood clutching the Time Twister behind his back.

Mrs. Bloor walked toward him, a curious look on her face. "What do you have there, Gabriel?"

Gabriel slowly held out his hand, revealing the dazzling colors of the Time Twister.

"You're not supposed to look at it," warned Gabriel.

"Quite right," said Mrs. Bloor as she reached for the marble. "You shouldn't have this. It's too dangerous."

Her fingers wrapped around the marble and it disappeared into her pocket.

"It's a Time Twister," Gabriel said quietly "It can take you back to how you were before."

"I know" She lowered her voice. "Cook told me. I thank you, Gabriel, from the bottom of my heart."

Her slight black figure whisked away so quickly Gabriel hardly saw where she went. He felt a lot better and ran lightly down to the bottom of the tower.

"You're late," said Fidelio, as Gabriel put his plate of chips on the cafeteria table.

Gabriel looked over his shoulder. The noise in the cafeteria was loud enough to drown his voice, but he had to be sure no one was listening. He sat between Charlie and Fidelio and, leaning forward, said, "They've got Henry!"

"What!" cried Charlie.

"Shhh!" Gabriel looked around the room. No one was paying them any attention. "Mr. Pilgrim told me. I don't know how he knew"

"He's so peculiar he could say anything," said Fidelio.

"He seemed very sure," said Gabriel.

"Cook will know" Charlie stood up. "I'll take my plate into the kitchen and see if I can find her."

"Better go now," advised Fidelio. "There's a crowd around the counter, so no one will notice you."

Charlie walked toward the counter, and then quickly sneaked through the kitchen door.

It was very steamy in the kitchen and he kept walking into busy lunch ladies carrying pans of hot food and piles of plates. "You shouldn't be in here," one of them said sharply.

Charlie scurried to the back of the room where he found Cook. She was sitting with a bowl on her lap, peeling carrots. Her eyes were red and she looked very unhappy When she saw Charlie she shook her head.

"Is it true?" Charlie whispered. "Have they caught Henry?"

"It's true, Charlie," said Cook. "They've got him. How did you find out?"

"Mr. Pilgrim told Gabriel."

"Mr. Pilgrim?" Cook looked puzzled. "That's strange. But who knows these days."

"Do you know where they took him?" asked Charlie.

"I can't be sure. But sometime after midnight I saw Zelda and Manfred come through the garden door."

"That means he's in the castle."

"I wouldn't be surprised." Cook shook her head again. " There's some nasty dungeons in that place, but the ruin is so big 1 wouldn't know where to start looking. Mind you, the cats probably know where he is. They'll take care of him."

"What can they do if Henry's locked up?" said Charlie. "I've got to get him out, Cook."

"Someone must, that's for sure. You'd better get back now; Charlie. We'll think of something. We mustn't give up hope."

Charlie had no intention of giving up hope. He sneaked back into the cafeteria, took a cookie from the counter, and joined his friends at their table.

"It's true," Charlie told them. "Cook thinks he's in the dungeons."

"Then we'll get him out," said Fidelio confidently.

"We've got to find him first," Gabriel reminded them.

"Come on, let's start now," said Fidelio. "We've got half an hour before the next lesson."

They stacked their plates and went out into the garden. The snow had melted and the sun shone down from a bright blue sky It all looked very promising — until they reached the ruin.

When they went through the great arch, they found Mr. Weedon in the courtyard. He was nailing several thick planks across the entrance to one of the five passages.

"Buzz off Charlie Bone," said the gardener. "I'm busy."

"We won't get in your way" said Charlie.

"I said buzz off," shouted Mr. Weedon. "The place is getting dangerous. Why do you think I'm doing this?"

They had a very good idea why Mr. Weedon was blocking an entrance into the ruin. They left the courtyard quickly.

"That's obviously the way to the dungeons," said Gabriel. "Now what are we going to do?"

The three friends walked around the field in gloomy silence. Olivia came running up and asked why they looked so miserable. When she heard about Henry she was stunned.

"That's awful. How are we going to rescue him?"

"We don't know yet," said Gabriel.

Charlie found it difficult to concentrate on any of his lessons. Teachers shouted at him and badgered him. Twice he went to the wrong classroom. If Fidelio hadn't kept an eye on him, he would have been sent to the head boy and that was something he definitely wanted to avoid.

There was a very bad atmosphere in the King's room that night. Lysander stared gloomily at his books, Bindi had a terrible cold, Emma worked away, silent and studious, and Asa grunted and fussed whenever he had to turn a page with his bandaged hand.

Tancred's empty chair seemed to hold a huge emptiness that kept drawing attention to itself, almost as if a ghost were sitting there.

The only happy person in the room was Zelda, who kept whisking everyone's books across the table. When she stared at Tancred's chair it whizzed around in circles, until even Manfred lost his temper.

"Stop doing that," he snarled at Zelda. "It's not clever. It's just stupid."

"It's called telekinesis!" Zelda retorted. "If you don't mind, darling!"

"I don't care what it is," barked Manfred. "It's getting on my nerves. So shove it."

Zelda made a face and went back to her homework.

Charlie would have found this funny if he hadn't been so worried. The minutes ticked by so slowly he was sure someone had tampered with the clocks. He looked at the painting of the Red King, hanging above Tancred's chair.
What would you have done?
Thought Charlie.

The mysterious dark eyes gazed out at him. The circlet on the king's head glittered as if it were real gold. Shadows moved in the folds of the deep red cloak. Then unbelievably the tall figure began to change shape and color, until Charlie became convinced he was looking at a red and gold tree.
Why can't I hear him?
he wondered. He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the tree had gone.
My mind's playing tricks
, he thought.