Midnight for Charlie Bone (Children Of The Red King, Book 1) (17 page)

            In the cold light of Tuesday morning, Runner Bean looked very ill. Benjamin wouldn't go to school. "He might die while I'm away,” he cried.

            "Nonsense." Miss Yewbeam tried to drag Benjamin up to his room.

            "No! No! No!" he shouted.

            She brought his clothes downstairs and tried to make him get dressed. He struggled and fought. She slapped and pushed and pulled.

            "Help!" cried Benjamin, though he didn't know who he was calling to. And then he remembered what Charlie had said, and he dashed to the front door, bounced down the (Steps and, still in pajamas, rushed across the road to number nine, where he pounded on the door.

            The door flew open and Benjamin fell into the hall. He found himself looking up into the grim face of Grandma Bone.

            "And what do you think you're doing, Benjamin Brown?" asked Grandma Bone.

            "I want to see Mr. Paton," said Benjamin, struggling to his feet. "Mr. Paton Yewbeam."

            "He's not available," said Grandma Bone.

            "He's got to be," Benjamin shouted. "Mr. Paton! Mr. Paton!"

            "Shhh!" ordered Grandma Bone.

            Several doors opened upstairs, and Maisie and Charlie's mother looked down from the landing.

            "Benjamin, what's happened?" asked Amy Bone.

            "My dog's been attacked and I want Charlie's uncle Paton," cried Benjamin. As the two women began to run down to Benjamin, Paton appeared at the top of the stairs in a red velvet bathrobe. "Who wants me?" he asked.

            "Me! Me, Mr. Yewbeam!" said Benjamin. "My dog's hurt. He won't wake up. Please, can you help me?"

            Paton descended and strode to the front door.

            "Paton, you're not dressed," said Grandma Bone.

            "Nonsense!" said Paton.

            "Sun's up," murmured Maisie.

            "Don't worry about the sun," said Paton. "Come on, Benjamin." He opened the front door and marched down the steps with Benjamin beside him.

            Traffic had begun its usual rush up Filbert Street toward the center of the city but Paton took no notice. Looking neither to the left nor to the right, he walked straight across to number twelve. Cars screeched to a halt, and drivers hooted and swore at the tall man in his bright red bathrobe, and the small boy in blue-striped pajamas.

            When Paton entered number twelve, he came face-to-face with his sister.

            “Ah, it's you, Eustacia," said Paton. "I might have known."

            “And what do you mean by that?" Eustacia asked coldly ^

            "Benjamin, where are your parents?" asked Paton.

            "I think they're in Scotland, looking for a missing window cleaner," said Benjamin.

            "We'll soon see about that," said Paton. "Now, where's the dog?" Benjamin led Paton down the hallway to Runner Bean's basket. The big dog lay in an awkward huddle, his torn nose resting on his paws. His eyes were closed and he was hardly breathing.

            "Good heavens," Paton exclaimed, bending over the dog. "A wild beast has attacked your dog, Benjamin. Something with exceptional teeth and claws."

            "It's my fault," sobbed Benjamin. "I told him to guard the cellar. But it was silly really because there's nothing in..." He stopped, remembering, too late, that Eustacia Yewbeam was hovering by the front door. "How could a wild beast get in?" he asked Paton. “All the doors are locked at night."

            "Someone let it in," said Paton, glancing at his sister. "We'll have to get Runner Bean to a vet," he told Benjamin. “And very soon. It looks to me as if time's running out for this poor dog."

            Benjamin had an idea. He remembered how Mr. Onimous said he had a special way with animals. "I know someone who'll come here," he said.

            "Mr. Onimous, the mouse man. I've got his card. He's got these amazing cats, like flames." Benjamin jumped up and ran into the kitchen.

            "I'm off," said Eustacia, and she slid out the front door so fast, they hardly saw her go.

            "What's going on, Mr. Yewbeam?" asked Benjamin. "Why did someone let this happen to Runner? And why are your sisters so mean and angry?"

            "It's war, Benjamin," said Paton. "Something that's been waiting to happen for a long time. Until now; they've had it all their own way but they've gone too far, and some of us are just not going to stand for it!"

CHAPTER 17

THE INVENTOR'S DAUGHTER

            Olivia's really working on Emilia," Fidelio told Charlie. It was Friday and they were walking together around the frosty garden. Just ahead they could see Olivia and Emilia, deep in conversation, or rather, Olivia was talking and Emilia appeared to be listening. In a few hours they would all be in their own homes. Even Olivia had managed to stay out of trouble for a whole week. At that moment she darted back to the boys, or rather, she stomped in her huge boots.

            "It's worked," she said in an undertone. "I'm going to visit Emilia tomorrow afternoon. So expect us around teatime."

            "How're you going to get her away from the Moons?" asked Charlie.

            "I'll think of something." Olivia strode away The bell went off and they began to wander back toward the academy Billy Raven brushed past them as they reached the door.

            "See you later, Billy,” said Charlie. "Remember, you're coming home with me."

            "Just for one night," said Billy. “I've got to come back on Saturday,” Charlie was puzzled. "I thought you wanted to stay the whole weekend," he said.

            "I have to get back. Matron said." Billy gave him a strange awkward glance and rushed off.

            "He's been behaving very oddly this week," Fidelio remarked. "Last night he left the dormitory for hours. The smell of that awful dog, Blessed, or whatever it's called, woke me up. I couldn't get to sleep afterward."

            "Perhaps he's sleepwalking," Charlie said. "He looks pretty tired." Neither of them thought about Billy again. At half past three they packed their cases and at four o'clock they were on their way home on one of the academy buses: blue for music, purple for drama, and green for art. Charlie noticed that Olivia had managed to get into a green bus with Emilia. Olivia wore a big green hat and had turned her purple cape inside out; the lining was a dirty green color.

            "Trust Olivia!" Charlie grinned to himself.

            "What's she done?" asked Billy who was sitting beside him.

            "Oh, nothing. She's just funny that's all."

            "Oh," said Billy.

            Maisie made a great fuss over Billy She'd baked a chocolate cake, especially for him, and made up a comfortable bed in Charlie's room.

            "Poor little thing," she kept muttering, as she hovered around the table, pouring orange juice, slicing cake, and trying to tempt Billy with iced biscuits and jam tarts. Billy enjoyed the fuss. He had never seen so many good things to eat all on one table.

            "We had a bit of excitement here this week," Charlie's mother said, as she poured the tea. "Benjamin's dog was attacked and your uncle Paton took charge. I've never seen him so active. He went out in broad daylight."

            "In his bathrobe," Maisie added.

            "Runner Bean was attacked?" Charlie said anxiously. “Where's Uncle Paton now? And where's Grandma Bone?"

            "Locked in their rooms," said Maisie. "There have been terrible fights, every night. Shouting and stamping and slamming doors. I don't know how many lightbulbs we've lost."

            As soon as tea was over, Charlie took Billy across the road to meet Benjamin. The door was opened by a woman with short blonde hair and glasses. She was wearing a gray suit and, although she looked very businesslike, she had a warm and welcoming smile.

            "Hello, Charlie," she said. "You don't recognize me, do you? I'm Mrs. Brown, Benjamin's mom."

            Charlie was amazed. He hadn't seen Mrs. Brown for ages. He was sure she'd once had long dark hair. "This is Billy,” he said.

            "Come in! Come in!" said Mrs. Brown. "Runner Bean's having his treatment."

            "His treatment?" said Charlie, stepping into the hall. There were suitcases on the stairs, rubber boots on the floor, and coats and raincoats draped over chairs and banisters. What on earth had been going on?

            "Benjamin's in the living room, Charlie," said Mrs. Brown. "He'll be pleased to see you."

            Charlie led Billy to a room at the back of the house. He hadn't been in it very often. Benjamin usually preferred the kitchen.

            When he opened the door he was met by a loud hiss and a long, warning meow He could hardly believe his eyes. Aries, the copper-colored cat, stood on the back of an armchair; Sagittarius stood on the back of another; and Leo was perched on the arm of the sofa. They stared fiercely at Charlie, and then relaxed. Aries even gave a soft purr. Benjamin was sitting on the sofa beside Leo. "Come in, Charlie," he whispered. "Mr. Onimous is treating Runner."

            Runner Bean was lying on the floor with Mr. Onimous kneeling beside him. He had a bottle of green liquid in one hand and a cotton ball in the other. Runner Bean had a bandage on his nose and a stitched-up ear. Nasty scars could be seen on his body where the fur had either been torn or fallen out.

            "He's getting better," Benjamin whispered.

            Charlie slipped into the room and sat beside Benjamin, but as soon as Billy came in the three cats set up a low; warning growl. Mr. Onimous looked up. "What's going on?" he asked. "I gotta have quiet." Billy stood with his back against the wall. He looked terrified.

            "Who's that?" asked Benjamin.

            "It's Billy Raven," Charlie whispered. "He's from the academy He hasn't got a home so he's staying with me for the weekend."

            "Hello, Billy,” said Benjamin in a hushed voice. "Have a seat!" Mr. Onimous was now changing the bandage on Runner Bean's nose. The dog gave a little whimper. At that moment Billy took a step forward and all three cats leaped to the floor, grumbling and yowling.

            "They don't like me," squeaked Billy.

            Mr. Onimous frowned at him. "Why ever not?" he asked. "I think you boys had better leave the room. Old Runner here is getting a little bit excited." Charlie, Benjamin, and Billy went into the kitchen, which was wonderfully tidy for a change.

            "So what's been happening?" asked Charlie.

            “A lot," said Benjamin. He began with the terrible discovery of Aunt Eustacia in his house, and then went on to describe the mysterious attack on Runner Bean; how he'd run across to ask Charlie's uncle for help; and how; since that moment, his life had changed, because Paton had somehow located his parents and insisted they come home.

            "I think he got the police to find them," said Benjamin. "Mom wears this yellow raincoat sometimes, so she's easy to spot. Anyway Mom and Dad came home, just like that. Your uncle said they'd been tricked and sent on a wild goose chase. I think your grandma had something to do with it. Anyway when they came home, your Uncle Paton had this big long private talk with them, and since then, Mom says she's only going to work while I'm at school, never at night, and never on the weekends." Charlie could hardly believe it. Uncle Paton had put his head up at last. He could obviously make things happen when he wanted to. Mr. Onimous popped his head into the kitchen. "We'll be off now, boys," he said. "Runner Bean's doing very well, considering. I'll be back on Monday." He was off in a flash, as usual, with the three cats whizzing after him like fiery-colored rockets.

            "What a funny man," Billy murmured. "He's a bit like a mouse." The others agreed, although Benjamin pointed out that Mr. Onimous had extraordinary powers. "I thought Runner Bean was dead," he said, "but Mr. Onimous just put his funny hands on him and he began to get better. And the cats kept him warm by walking around and around him, even though they don't like dogs."

            "They didn't like me either," Billy said quietly. “Animals always like me, but they didn't."

            Charlie had an idea. "Billy can understand animals," he told Benjamin. "Do you want him to talk to Runner? He could tell us what really happened."

            Benjamin wasn't sure. He gave Billy a funny look. "Is he one of those kids like you?" he asked Charlie.

            "Yes," said Charlie. "You could do it, couldn't you, Billy?" Billy nodded.

            “All right." Benjamin led them back to the living room where Runner Bean was licking one of his wounded paws. He seemed a bit afraid of Billy but when the albino boy started making his funny little grunts and hums, the dog relaxed. He pricked up his ears and listened.

            When Billy had finished, Runner Bean began to talk, or rather to grunt, and then he gave a tired sort of groan and lay down.

            "Well?" said Charlie. "What did he say?"

            "He says he was attacked by a wolf," said Billy.

            "What?" cried Benjamin.

            "It wasn't an ordinary wolf" Billy went on. "It was a boy as well as a wolf I think he meant that the boy turned into a wolf."

            "Whew!" Benjamin collapsed into a chair. “A wolf!"

            "It was one of us," Charlie murmured. "It had to be. One of those boys at the academy can turn into a wolf-a kind of werewolf-and Aunt Eustacia let him in, so that he could get Runner Bean away from the cellar door. Because she thought Dr. Tolly's case was still there."

            "Isn't it?" asked Billy.

            The other two boys looked at him. Could they trust Billy? They would have to, Charlie realized, because tomorrow they would all be going to Gunn House together. They couldn't leave Billy behind.

            "Dr. Tolly's case is somewhere else," said Charlie. "I'll tell you about it when we get home."

            Benjamin looked very cheerful as he waved goodbye from the steps of his house. His mom came out and waved too, and then she put her arm around Benjamin's shoulders and they went inside together.

            "My Uncle Paton's a genius," Charlie said proudly. “Before this week Benjamin hardly ever saw his parents. I'd even forgotten what his mom looked like."

            "I'm going to have new parents," said Billy.

            "Really? That's fantastic! When did you find out?" asked Charlie.

            "Oh, just the other day,” said Billy. “Only I have to be... good."

            "I'll help you to stay out of trouble," Charlie promised. That night, before they went to sleep, Charlie told Billy everything that he hoped would happen the next day.

            "But what will Emilia do, when she wakes up?" asked Billy.

            "We don't know,” Charlie admitted. "We don't even know if she really is Emma Tolly or if she'll come to Gunn House. It's all up to Olivia now" Olivia had very obliging parents. When she told them she had to see a girl called Emilia Moon, who lived miles away on Washford Road, her mom drove her to Emilia's home and agreed to collect her and Emilia from a Gunn House at five o'clock.

            “Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?" Mrs. Vertigo called from her car.

            Olivia stood at the gate of a house called Moonshine. "No, Mom." She gave a wave. "I'll be OK."

            Nevertheless, Mrs. Vertigo waited until she saw Olivia press the bell. A gray-haired woman opened the door, and Mrs. Vertigo called, "Bye-eee!" and drove off.

            "What do you want?" the gray-haired woman asked Olivia.

            "I've come to see Emilia," said Olivia. "She invited me."

            "Emilia; never said. The thin, angry-looking woman made no attempt to invite Olivia in.

            "Well, then she forgot," said Olivia. "You can't send me away now, because my mom's gone and I live miles away."

            "The woman clicked her teeth. "Emilia!" she shouted. "Come here!" Emilia appeared. She looked rather gloomy.

            "Did you invite this girl here?" demanded the woman. Olivia waved and smiled at Emilia, until Emilia said, "Yes."

            "You'd no right," said the woman. "I suppose you'd better come in," she said grudgingly.

            Olivia stepped into a cold, exceptionally tidy house. Emilia gave her a weak smile and led the way upstairs to her room. It was a rather sad room. There were no pictures on the walls, and everything that Emilia owned must have been packed away in the numerous drawers and closets that lined the room. The bed was covered with a spotless white blanket, and on the pillow sat a very neat-looking stuffed duck.

            "That's nice," said Olivia, for want of anything better to say Emilia smiled.

            "Shall we go out?" asked Olivia. "There might be more to do in the garden." Emilia agreed.

            The garden consisted of a neat lawn surrounded by large, bushy shrubs. Beyond a swing at the far end, Olivia spotted a promising-looking wall.

            "What's on the other side of that wall?" she asked Emilia.

            "Just an alley,” said Emilia. "It leads to the main road."

            "Let's climb over it."

            "Why?"

            "Because I want to show you something," said Olivia. "It's very special. I can't tell you what it is, but it's in Fidelio Gunn's house."

            "Is this a trick?" Emilia looked anxious.

            "Emilia, trust me," said Olivia. "I'm your friend." Olivia's gentle tone was so persuasive, Emilia was soon climbing over the wall behind her.

            "We'll be back before your mom has noticed we're gone," Olivia promised. Meanwhile in the attic at Gunn House, Fidelio, Charlie, Benjamin, and Billy were munching their way through a second plate of sandwiches. They were sitting on various piles of boxes and music cases, while blasts of music reverberated beneath them.

            Charlie decided he was just eating to forget his anxiety Was he doing the right thing? Would Olivia find the house? Would Emilia wake up? And if she did would she scream and freak out, or faint... or turn into something else? A bird maybe? He took another sandwich. For a singer, your mom makes amazing sandwiches," he told Fidelio, as he munched into banana and peanut butter.