Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (Children of the Red King, Book 2) (17 page)

Charlie ran down Filbert Street dreading more sad news.

When his mother opened the door of number nine, Charlie's worst fears were confirmed.

"What's happened?" breathed Charlie.

"Nothing, love." His mother kissed his cheek. "I just took the day off. Had some shopping to do."

Charlie stepped into the hall. "Is Uncle Paton . . .?"

"He's up in his room. A bit sore, but nothing serious."

"Wow!" Charlie dropped his bag and rushed upstairs.

For the first time in his life, he burst into his uncle's room without knocking. Paton was sitting at his desk.

"Hello, Charlie!" said Paton.

For a moment Charlie didn't know what to say He was so relieved, so overjoyed, in fact, to see his uncle. A hug would have been appropriate, he thought, but Uncle Paton might be embarrassed.

"I'm so, so glad you're better," said Charlie at last.

"Me, too. You should see my bruises. They're very impressive."

Charlie could see a cut and a large bruise on his uncle's forehead where the bandage had been. "Your head looks very er, colorful."

Paton laughed. "That's nothing. The others are works of art!" He patted the arm of his rather shabby velvet jacket. Lowering his voice, he added, "They didn't finish me off, though."

"Do you think they really meant to?" asked Charlie.

Paton shrugged. "Who knows? With sisters like mine, anything is possible."

"Uncle Paton, I've got a lot to tell you," Charlie said gravely.

"I'll bet you have. Run along and have your tea and then we'll discuss!"

Charlie went down to the huge Friday spread Maisie provided to make up for the academy's meager rations.

"Doesn't your uncle look grand? Considering," said Maisie.

"Did they find out who did it?" Charlie asked tentatively "I mean, will they be sent to prison?"

"It was a hired car," Amy Bone told him. "And the driver was a blonde in dark glasses. That's all they know."

A wig, thought Charlie. Uncle Paton knows, but he can't prove a thing.

He bolted his tea as fast as he could and ran up to see his uncle again. Paton had actually cleared a space on his bed for Charlie to sit down. He had never been invited to sit in his uncle's room before. The candles had been lit and the oil lamp gave the room a cozy glow.

Charlie told his uncle everything from the moment he’d discovered Henry's capture, to his escape from the sorcerer. Paton did not interrupt, though he gave a low whistle when Charlie described Olivia's night with the giant tollroc.

“And a friend of yours now keeps the wand you found?"

"Lysander," said Charlie. "I trust him. He saved me from Skarpo."

"But you have the book? You'll have to use Welsh to command that wand, you know It's the only language it will understand."

Charlie nodded. He'd already learned some words, and repeated them to his uncle.
"Symuda'r
gareg
yma!"

"Move that rock." Uncle Paton nodded approvingly "But it's pronounced like this, Charlie.
"Sumidar
gareg
umma!"

"I'll practice," said Charlie. "It's lucky that Miss Ingledew found the Welsh dictionary. It was lying in the gutter after your accident."

"It was very lucky. She's a remarkable woman, Miss Ingledew."

"Are you . . . friends again?" Charlie asked tentatively.

Paton went slightly pink. "I believe so." Then he gave a light cough and asked, "So what's your next plan?"

"Tomorrow me and my friends are meeting at the Pets' Café. Mr. Onimous sent a message. He says he has the answer. But I don't know what that means. How can he rescue Henry?"

"The Pets' Café," Paton murmured. "The Pets' Café." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully "Aha! I should have remembered." He gave a delighted chuckle. "There's an old passage, long forgotten. It's mentioned in one of these." He tapped a pile of books on his desk. "It leads underground, from somewhere in the old city walls, right into the center of the ruined castle. No one knows where it starts, but I'll bet you anything Mr. Onimous knows. He has a wonderful, underground, burrowing look about him."

"It's in the Pets' Café!" Charlie exclaimed.

"Without a doubt," said Paton. "Charlie, get a bag packed. Tell your mother you're coming to the coast with me on Saturday night."

"I don't understand," said Charlie.

"Tomorrow you're going to get Henry out of that pit. You'll bring him back to the Pets' Café, and there he'll have to stay until nightfall. You'll come back here and tell me that all is well, and together we'll drive to the café and collect our poor lost relation."

“And where will we take him?"

"Ah — you'll have to wait and see."

CHAPTER 17
AMBUSHED!

On Saturday morning, Benjamin Brown crossed Filbert Street to number nine. He had done this every Saturday for as long as he could remember. Runner Bean, as usual, raced across the road in front of him.

When Benjamin rang the bell he had to wait at least a minute before Charlie opened the door.

"Oh!" said Charlie, when he saw Benjamin. "It's you!"

"Of course, it's me," said Benjamin. "Why are you so surprised?"

Charlie felt guilty He had completely forgotten about Benjamin.

"Come upstairs," he whispered. "I've got a lot to tell you."

Benjamin stepped inside. "Where's your grandma? She'll be cross about Runner."

"It's OK. She's gone out. She had a plotting look on her face. I dread to think what she's up to."

It took Charlie a long time to tell Benjamin everything that had happened. Benjamin sat motionless on the bed with his mouth open and his eyes getting wider and wider.

"Phew!" he said, when Charlie had finished. "You are going to let me come to the Pets' Café, aren't you?"

Charlie didn't see how he could leave Benjamin out. "Of course. And Runner Bean might be useful."

"Mom wants you to come to our place for lunch. We can sneak out the back afterward. And then your grandma won't know where you are."

Charlie thought this an excellent idea. His mother was at work so he ran down to tell Maisie where he was going, and then the two boys walked over to number twelve.

That afternoon, everything went according to plan until they reached Frog Street. Runner Bean gave a low growl and Benjamin saw a woman in red boots disappear around a corner. High Street was full of shoppers, so he didn't get a clear view, but the figure looked very familiar.

"I reckon your auntie's been following us," said Benjamin, "the one with the red boots."

" Venetia!" said Charlie.

Before walking down Frog Street he scanned the crowds for a glimpse of the Yewbeam aunts. There was a chilly wind and a lot of people were wearing hats and head scarves. He couldn't see any of his aunts or his grandmother.

"We'll have to risk it," he told Benjamin.

They dashed down Frog Street with Runner Bean bounding ahead of them.

"Welcome, Charlie Bone," said Norton, the bouncer, as the two boys entered the café. "It's all right, your friend over there is looking after your pet for you."

Charlie had forgotten about bringing a pet. He was glad to see Gabriel waving at him from a dark corner.

As he made his way toward Gabriel he saw that all the others had reached the café before him. They were sitting around one of the largest tables. Olivia had a white rabbit on her lap, and its mate was sitting on Tancred. Gabriel had his usual assortment of gerbils, one of which was sitting on Emma's shoulder. Lysander had brought a parrot in a cage and Fidelio was holding a startled-looking cat.

"She's deaf," Fidelio explained. "On account of the noise in our house, but her eyesight's terrific."

The cat bristled when it saw Runner Bean, but the big dog ignored her and ran over to a group of dogs by the window.

Tancred's yellow hair began to crackle. "Who's this?" he asked, frowning at Benjamin.

"Benjamin," said Charlie. "He lives on my road and I've known him forever."

"OK." Tancred's hair subsided. "Sorry I'm just a bit edgy"

"Who isn't?" said Gabriel.

"We're not, are we?" Olivia grinned at Emma.

"Not a bit," said Emma, pulling a gerbil from under her collar.

"Hi there, Benjamin," said Lysander with a huge smile. "Don't you take any notice of us. We're Charlie's school friends. I'm Lysander. He's Tancred. You just sit down and have a bite to eat."

"Thanks." Benjamin eyed the plates of food on the table and sat down beside Charlie. They both helped themselves to a large portion of chocolate cake.

"We didn't have to pay for anything today," Gabriel told them. "Mr. Onimous said it was a special occasion and to take as much as we wanted."

"I suppose it will be special — if everything works out," said Charlie, remembering why he was here.

"It will!" Mr. Onimous had suddenly appeared at Charlie's side. "We'd better make a start, Charlie my lad," he said. “Are you coming alone, or do you want to bring a friend?"

Charlie looked around the group of expectant faces. He didn't want to disappoint anyone.

"I don't want it to be me, if you don't mind," Benjamin said helpfully.

"Is he going into the ruin?" asked Gabriel, lowering his voice.

"He is," said Mr. Onimous.

"Then we'll be more use here." Gabriel looked at Lysander and Tancred.

"Fidelio, will you come?" asked Charlie.

Fidelio jumped to his feet. "You bet!"

Olivia gave a huge sigh. "I suppose I've done my bit."

"It's not over yet," Emma reminded her.

With a furtive look around the café, Lysander slid the wand out of his sleeve and handed it to Charlie. "Good luck," he murmured.

"Thanks." Charlie tucked the wand under his jacket.

Fidelio passed his cat to Gabriel and then he and Charlie followed Mr. Onimous to the back of the counter. They walked through a tinkling bead screen and into the kitchen.

Mr. Onimous showed them to a small door at the back of the kitchen, and then they were in a long passage lined with shelves of disgusting-looking pet food.

"Come along," urged Mr. Onimous as the boys gazed around them.

The shelves came to an end and the passage narrowed. They were now walking on a rough stone floor and this very soon became a path of hard earth. As Mr. Onimous scurried along he seemed more and more to take on the appearance of a mole or some other burrowing creature.

Charlie realized that the ceiling was now so low he could rest the flat of his hand on its damp surface. It was getting darker. When the light had almost petered out they stepped into a small round cavern. It was lit by a single lantern hanging from the ceiling, and all around the walls huge tea chests stood shoulder to shoulder with plastic sacks and wooden crates. There seemed to be no way out except the way they had come.

"Now what?" Fidelio whispered to Charlie.

Mr. Onimous had ears as sharp as a rabbit's. ”Aha!" he said, making both boys jump nervously. "You're wondering where it is, aren't you? You think Mr. Onimous has led you into a nasty trap, don't you?"

Charlie gulped. "Of course not."

Fidelio asked, "Where what is?"

Mr. Onimous beamed, and then, with amazing speed, he spun a crate away from the wall. And there it was. A very very small and ancient door. The little man's smile disappeared. His next words were spoken in such a solemn tone Charlie would never forget them. "Before you go in I want you boys to swear never to tell a soul about this door."

"I swear," said Charlie.

"I swear," Fidelio repeated gravely.

Mr. Onimous nodded. "Good." He reached inside his woolly shirt and pulled out a small key on a gold chain. Putting a pawlike hand on the door, he fit the key into the lock and gently turned it. With a light creak the door swung open.

"The cats are there," said Mr. Onimous. "They'll take you. Off you go now I'm going to lock the door behind you. We can't take any chances."

Charlie peered into the gloom behind the door. He could just make out the huge stones that formed the walls of a tunnel. A distant glowing light began to draw nearer and Charlie breathed, "I see them."

He stepped into the tunnel. Fidelio was right behind him. They walked in single file, treading softly on a smooth cobbled floor. Charlie had expected a rough, earthy burrow but the tunnel had been carefully built. The large red stones fitted neatly together, even in the low ceiling.

"It's very old." Fidelio's hushed voice echoed down the tunnel. "I wonder who used it."

"Soldiers perhaps," said Charlie. "It would have been a secret way out, if the castle was under siege."

“And children," said Fidelio. "Now it's Henry's way out."

They could see the cats clearly now but before the boys could reach them the three animals turned and began to hurry along the tunnel ahead of them.

Charlie and Fidelio began to run. The tunnel was far from straight and they had to make several turns before they could see a welcome speck of daylight in the distance. Instead of making for the light, however, the cats swerved away from the main passage and disappeared into a long fissure. The boys hesitated and then squeezed themselves into a tunnel that was so narrow they had to walk sideways. At the end of a very nasty journey they inched themselves past a pillar and stepped into an astonishing room.

The ground was paved with tiny squares of color. On a white background, lines of red, orange, and yellow radiated from a huge red circle. The walls were covered in frescoes; golden domes blazed beneath blue skies and tall robed figures paced through leafy arbors. The vaulted roof echoed the pattern on the floor, only here the central circle was open to the sky.

"It's the sun," murmured Charlie. "See, the pattern is like the rays of the sun."

"There's so much light." Fidelio gazed up at the tiny circle in the roof. "It must be a trick — or magic."

"It was on his shield," said Charlie. "The Red King's shield was like a burning sun. It's his room. His own special place. I don't think anyone's been here since he left."

"Not ever?" asked Fidelio.

Charlie shook his head. "I don't think so."

At that moment neither boy could have explained his feelings. The place affected them in very different ways. While Fidelio was uneasy and eager to move on, Charlie felt at home and deeply comforted.

"The cats have gone," Fidelio observed. "Now what?"

Charlie noticed a red-gold leaf beside his foot. How did it get there? Through the roof? He studied the ten pillars surrounding the courtyard. They were made of the same deep red rock as the rest of the castle, and there was only the space the width of a finger between the pillars and the wall. Except for two standing opposite to each other. They had entered the courtyard by a narrow opening behind one of the pillars. Charlie walked over to investigate the other.

Screened by the pillar, a small round window gave onto a dark wood. Squinting through the window Charlie could see a green glade beyond the trees. In the center of the glade there was a black rock. The three cats were sitting on top of it.

"It's here," cried Charlie. "Fidelio, it's here."

Fidelio ran over to Charlie. "What is?"

"The dungeon. There's a rock, just like Olivia said. See? Where the cats are sitting."

Fidelio gave a low whistle. "You first, Charlie. I'll be right behind you."

They scrambled through the round hole and dropped to the ground. When they looked back all they could see was a wall of ivy No one would have guessed what lay behind it.

Charlie led the way The cats yowled encouragement as he knelt in the grass and called, "Henry? Henry are you there? It's me, Charlie!"

"Charlie?" From a narrow gap beside the rock there came a sound of shuffling footsteps. And then Charlie was looking into a pair of large gray eyes. "Good to see you, Charlie," said Henry.

"Great to see you, Henry. Sorry it's taken so long. But we're going to get you out of there, right now"

"How?" The gray eyes looked anxious.

"Well, I've got something powerful here." Charlie drew the wand out of his jacket and held it above the eyes. "Can you see it?"

"But it's just a stick." Henry sounded disappointed. "That won't do it, Charlie."

Fidelio peered over Charlie's shoulder. “Actually Henry it's a wand," he said, "and wands can do anything."

"Oh! Who's this?" Henry asked.

"My friend Fidelio," said Charlie. "He's great in a crisis. Never panics. I think you'd better get away from there now Henry Just in case the rock moves the wrong way."

"I won't be able to breathe if it does that," Henry said in a scared voice.

"Don't worry It'll work," Fidelio said confidently.

"If you say so."

The eyes disappeared and they heard Henry shuffle down into his dungeon.

Charlie stepped away from the rock. He held out the wand. "Suppose it doesn't work," he muttered.

"Of course it'll work," said Fidelio. "Think where it came from, Charlie. Believe in yourself"

Encouraged, Charlie flourished the wand in the air, and then, pointing it at the rock, he chanted,

Sumidar gareg umma!

The three cats leaped off the rock, but nothing else happened.

"Things like this never work the first time," said Fidelio. "Like our car. It always needs two goes."

Charlie repeated the Welsh words, pronouncing them exactly as his uncle had told him. The rock didn't move. A cold, panicky feeling clutched his stomach. Perhaps Skarpo had tricked him. He shouldn't have chosen the wand. It was useless.

"Useless, useless," Charlie muttered. "What are we going to do, Fido?"

"Try again," said Fidelio. "Only this time use a different kind of voice. You sound like someone pretending to be a wizard. A bit false. And too bossy I bet a real wizard treats his wand like a friend. Try and sound more friendly and more polite."

"OK." Charlie cleared his throat. Once again he pointed the wand at the black rock, and when he spoke the words, he tried to imagine that he was speaking to his uncle Paton; polite but friendly.

Sumidar gareg umma!

This time, as soon as Charlie had spoken, the wand became warm in his hand. It felt as if it were turning through his fingers. A red glow spread through the wood and its silver tip sparkled like a firework. With a sudden explosion of light the wand flew out of Charlie's hand and landed on the rock.

All around the glade, birds fluttered into the sky calling anxiously Fidelio and the cats rushed to Charlie's side as the rock gave a thunderous groan. There was a deep underground boom, a crushing rumble, and the rock slowly rolled backward.

The boys were so amazed they stood rooted to the spot, and then Henry's head emerged from a dark hole beside the rock.

"Hurrah!" he said. "I'm out. Well done, Charlie!"