Charlie Bone and the Time Twister Part 23

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 gareg umma 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, p.r.o.nouncing them exactly as his uncle had told him. The rock didn't move. A cold, panicky feeling clutched his stomach. Perhaps Skarpo Skarpo had tricked him. He shouldn't have chosen the wand. It was useless. 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. A bit false. And too bossy I bet a real wizard treats his wand like a friend. Try and sound And too bossy I bet a real wizard treats his wand like a friend. Try and sound more friendly more friendly and more polite." 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 gareg ummal ummal 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 crus.h.i.+ng 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!"

They were shocked by his appearance. Never had they seen a boy so drained of life. His face was white and pinched and the circles around his eyes made him look like an exhausted owl.

Fidelio and Charlie took an arm each and helped Henry to climb the rest of the way out of the pit. He was a bit unsteady but so happy to be alive and free, he couldn't stop himself from doing a skip and a jump as soon as he was out.

Charlie looked down into the pit. It was hard to imagine how it must have felt to be trapped in that awful place for two whole weeks.

The wand had lost its strange glow and was once again a pale stick with a silver tip. Henry gazed at it in awe, as Charlie slipped it under his jacket.

"I'll tell you how I got it," Charlie said, "but not here. Let's go before someone comes snooping around."

They hurried across the glade and through the woods, but when they reached the ivy-clad wall, the round window seemed to have disappeared. Fidelio eventually found it by clambering up the thick vines and pulling aside a long curtain of leaves.

One by one, they wriggled through the window; and then dropped into the domed room. Henry gazed at at the painted walls in amazement, "It's like the world in the Time Twister," he murmured, "the world of the Red King." He would have liked to stay longer but the others hurried him across the room. They squeezed past the pillar and entered the tunnel. The cats had followed them every step of the way and now lit the darkness with their bright coats. the painted walls in amazement, "It's like the world in the Time Twister," he murmured, "the world of the Red King." He would have liked to stay longer but the others hurried him across the room. They squeezed past the pillar and entered the tunnel. The cats had followed them every step of the way and now lit the darkness with their bright coats.

As they made their way along the tunnel, Charlie told Henry about Skarpo Skarpo , the sorcerer, and the stolen Welsh wand. Henry found all this rather hard to take in, so soon after his escape. It was easier for him to understand Fidelio's description of the Pets' Cafe and, after two weeks on little more than bread and water, he began to look forward to the delicious cakes that he would find there. , the sorcerer, and the stolen Welsh wand. Henry found all this rather hard to take in, so soon after his escape. It was easier for him to understand Fidelio's description of the Pets' Cafe and, after two weeks on little more than bread and water, he began to look forward to the delicious cakes that he would find there.

They had almost reached the end of the tunnel, when the small door into the cafe was flung open and a tall figure appeared. The boys stopped. It was difficult to see the stranger's face. And then Mrs. Onimous Onimous ran toward them, frantically waving her hands. ran toward them, frantically waving her hands.

"Oh, boys," she cried. "It's no use. A dreadful thing has occurred. It's an ambus.h.!.+"

"What?" said Charlie. Charlie. What's happened?" What's happened?"

"Dr. Bloor and one of your aunts are in the cafe. They're watching every move we make."

This was very bad news.

"Maybe we could sneak Henry out while they're eating," Charlie suggested.

"Not a chance, dear." She peered down at Henry "So you're the young traveler. What a thrill to meet you, dear. I'm Mrs. Onimous Onimous ." ."

"How do you do?" Henry shook her hand. "I've been looking forward to one of your cakes," he said. Henry shook her hand. "I've been looking forward to one of your cakes," he said.

Mrs. Onimous Onimous beamed. "Then you shall have one very soon, dear. But you'll have to stay here for a bit, nice and quiet, while your friends come back with me." beamed. "Then you shall have one very soon, dear. But you'll have to stay here for a bit, nice and quiet, while your friends come back with me."

"We can't leave Henry here!" said Charlie.

"You'll have to, dear. They saw you both come into the cafe. Your aunt has been asking where you were. I told her you were helping in the kitchen, but who knows if she believed me. She'll be behind the counter and nosing in the kitchen before we know where we are."

Mrs. Onimous Onimous took Charlie and Fidelio by the arm and drew them up the tunnel and into the store room. The last thing Charlie saw before she closed the door was Henry's pale, stricken face. took Charlie and Fidelio by the arm and drew them up the tunnel and into the store room. The last thing Charlie saw before she closed the door was Henry's pale, stricken face.

"I'm sorry Henry" Charlie whispered. "You won't have to stay there for long. There'll be a storm, but you mustn't worry. It's to protect you. Wait for Mr. Onimous Onimous . He'll tell you when it's safe to come out." . He'll tell you when it's safe to come out."

"Good-bye, Charlie," said Henry Charlie s.h.i.+vered when Mrs. Onimous Onimous locked the door. Henry's words had sounded so sad and final. locked the door. Henry's words had sounded so sad and final.

"I didn't think I'd have to leave him in the dark again," he muttered, as Mrs. Onimous Onimous led the way back to the kitchen. led the way back to the kitchen.

"It won't be for long," said Fidelio.

Charlie wasn't sure. How long would his aunts be watching the cafe? Who knew what could happen in the next few hours. When darkness fell, the beast would be about.

When the two boys walked back into the cafe they found Lucretia Lucretia Yewbeam Yewbeam staring at them from a table in the center of the room. Dr. Bloor sat opposite her. staring at them from a table in the center of the room. Dr. Bloor sat opposite her. Lucretia Lucretia gave a nod and the headmaster turned his head in their direction. As the boys made their way over to their friends, they could feel two pairs of eyes watching them. gave a nod and the headmaster turned his head in their direction. As the boys made their way over to their friends, they could feel two pairs of eyes watching them.

"We were getting worried," said Olivia. "Did ....

"Yes," said Charlie.

" Shhh Shhh !" said Gabriel. "Let's get out of here. I've got a feeling there are spies everywhere." !" said Gabriel. "Let's get out of here. I've got a feeling there are spies everywhere."

The eight children filed past Dr. Bloor's table. Dr. Bloor gave them a curt nod and Lysander said, "Afternoon, Dr. Bloor!"

Lucretia Yewbeam Yewbeam glared at Charlie and said, "Earning pocket money Charlie? 1 glared at Charlie and said, "Earning pocket money Charlie? 1 hope hope you'll be putting it toward your school fees." you'll be putting it toward your school fees."

"What?" Charlie's jaw dropped. He couldn't think what his aunt was talking about.

Fidelio came to the rescue. "They pay us very well, Matron," he said. "We do the was.h.i.+ng up and sometimes they let us make the sandwiches."

"Do they now?" said the Matron. "Pity you don't do more of that at home, Charlie. It seems that children won't do anything these days unless they're paid for it."

Dr. Bloor was about to agree when there was a loud yelp from the floor. Charlie had stepped on a hairless tail beside Dr. Bloor's foot.

"Look where you're going, boy!" barked the headmaster.

"Sorry Sir!" Charlie realized that Blessed Blessed must have been dragged along to the cafe as Dr. Bloor's pet companion. must have been dragged along to the cafe as Dr. Bloor's pet companion.

Aunt Lucretia Lucretia had brought something in a cage, though it was impossible to guess what it was. The cage was made of thick wire mesh and all that could be seen was a large blue blob. had brought something in a cage, though it was impossible to guess what it was. The cage was made of thick wire mesh and all that could be seen was a large blue blob.

"Snake!" whispered Fidelio.

Charlie hurried on.

As they stepped out onto Frog Street Frog Street , someone in red boots leaped out of sight around the corner. , someone in red boots leaped out of sight around the corner.

Aunt Venetia again," Charlie muttered grimly Lysander and Tancred sprinted up to High Street, but the red boots had vanished in a crowd of busy shoppers. However, when Charlie caught up with his friends he saw someone else. There, sitting on a bench, was Grandma Bone.

Charlie marched up to his grandmother. "What are you doing here, Grandma?" he asked.

"Why does one usually sit beside a bus stop?" she said coolly "One is waiting for a bus, of course. You're very popular today Charlie. Lots of friends, I see."

"Yes," said Charlie. He walked on.

When they were some distance from Grandma Bone, Olivia's curiosity couldn't be contained any longer. "How did you get Henry out?" she begged. "Did the wand work?"

Charlie told them everything that happened in the castle.

"So he's stuck in the tunnel," groaned Olivia. "Now what?" "Now what?"

"The rest is up to my Uncle Paton," said Charlie.

They had reached the traffic lights and Gabriel spotted his mother, waiting in her Land Rover on the other side of the road. She had promised to give Lysander and Tancred a lift back to the Heights.

Before he crossed the road, Tancred turned to Charlie and said, "I think we're due for a storm. It'll get a few of these busybodies off the streets."

Charlie had just caught sight of Aunt Eustacia Eustacia , watching them from the doorway of the pharmacy "A storm would be great," he said. , watching them from the doorway of the pharmacy "A storm would be great," he said.

"You're on," said Tancred.

As the three older boys crossed the road, Tancred's hair stood up in stiff tufts and a cold breeze blew into Charlie's face.

Raindrops began to spatter the pavement.

"Good old Tancred," said Fidelio. "Let's get home before the storm gets going."

Charlie agreed to let everyone know when Henry was safe and then, as thunder rumbled in the distance, Emma and Olivia headed off to Ingledew's Ingledew's Books. Fidelio hurried away through a sea of umbrellas, and Charlie, Benjamin, and his dog rushed back to Books. Fidelio hurried away through a sea of umbrellas, and Charlie, Benjamin, and his dog rushed back to Filbert Street Filbert Street . .

"I'll come over after tea," Benjamin called as Charlie leaped up the steps to number nine.

"See you!" Charlie let himself in and ran straight up to his uncle's room.

Paton was waiting for him. "Did it all go according to plan?" he asked.

"Almost," said Charlie. "But I had to leave Henry in the tunnel. Dr. Bloor was in the cafe, and the aunts were everywhere. Even Grandma Bone was watching us."

"Calm down, Charlie," said his uncle. "They'll have to give up soon. There's a a old storm brewing out there, and my sisters hate getting wet. Mr. old storm brewing out there, and my sisters hate getting wet. Mr. Onimous Onimous will take care of Henry. will take care of Henry. All All we've got to do is wait." we've got to do is wait."

"But for how long?"

"We should be safe by ten o'clock," said Paton. "I'll phone the Pets' Cafe to make sure all is well, and then we'll pop along and collect our Henry It's going to be quite a night, Charlie."

Uncle Paton's dark eyes shone with confidence, so why did Charlie feel so uneasy?

"We shouldn't have left him in the tunnel," he murmured.

THE TIME TWISTER.

Henry had fallen asleep. A crack of thunder woke him up and he scrambled to his feet. Charlie had warned him that there would be a storm, but he didn't expect it to sound like this. Another boom echoed down the tunnel, and something scurried through the dark behind him. One of the cats pounced. There was a squeal and the crunch of bones.

This was worse than being in the pit. Henry thought of the room where a red sun sent bright rays across the floor. It was a cheerful place and he longed to be there again.

"Why shouldn't I?" he said to himself. "They'll come and find me when it's time."

He set off toward the comfort of the bright room. Immediately as he moved away from the cafe door, the cats leaped around him meowing loudly. They seemed disturbed to find him walking in the wrong direction.

"I'm not going far," Henry told the cats. "Just to the sun room." "Just to the sun room."

They followed him down the dark tunnels and into the room. When he spread his cape on the red sun and lay down, they relaxed and sat close to him, was.h.i.+ng themselves vigorously Light from the hole in the domed roof began to fade. Soon the sky was inky black. The storm raged on, and lightning lit the patterned walls with sudden fierce flashes.

Undisturbed by thunder or lightning, the three cats curled up and went to sleep.

Who knows what made Henry do what he did next? Perhaps it was the sound that came from the round window? Some might have thought it was the wind, or raindrops falling through the branches. Henry thought he heard someone sobbing. It reminded him of James. He could never hear that sound without wanting to do something about it.

The cats slept on as Henry tiptoed to the round window and climbed out. He had only taken a few steps through the woods when there was a deep snarl behind him.

Henry ran. He tore around the glade where the dark pit gaped beside the rock. He mounted the wooded bank beyond the rock, while the beast stalked him through the trees, grunting hungrily Henry searched desperately for a way out of the glade. His fingers tore at dry rock, walls of ivy and branches of thorn. All at once, a flash of lightning showed him a stone archway and he leaped through it. He found himself in a dark, damp pa.s.sage where the ground was covered in thick, slippery moss. Stumbling blindly up a steep incline, Henry made his way toward the streaks of lightning that lit the far end of the pa.s.sage.

The grunts and snarls of the beast echoed behind him as he crawled through a network of planks and then fell onto the stones of a large courtyard. Without looking back, Henry got to his feet and rushed through the huge arch that led into the garden.

As he tore across the wet gra.s.s the noise of the storm intensified. A howling wind swept rain across the garden in torrents and, by the time Henry reached the academy he was soaked to the skin. A howling wind swept rain across the garden in torrents and, by the time Henry reached the academy he was soaked to the skin.

The garden door was unlocked and Henry thankfully leaped inside, slamming the door behind him. At the top of the stairs, on the other side of the hall, Billy Raven stood staring at him. The white-haired boy didn't say a word, he just watched impa.s.sively as Henry rushed for the nearest door: the door into the west wing. He didn't have long to hide. Billy wouldn't waste any time. In a few minutes the Bloors Bloors would know their prisoner had escaped and they would be searching the building. would know their prisoner had escaped and they would be searching the building.

Henry began to climb the stairs up to the music room. He had been safe there before. The music teacher was a strange man, but Henry knew he could trust him. The storm was now at its height. The whole tower rocked under deafening thunder, and lightning flashed continuously through every window Henry had almost reached the top of the spiraling stairs when there was a shout from below "He came in here!"

Two pairs of footsteps could be heard running up the tower steps. Henry leaped forward, missed a step, and tumbled back onto the floor.

"Hear that? He's up there!" shouted Manfred.

Henry picked himself up. He began to wonder if there was any point in trying to escape. They would find him in the end. He gazed hopelessly up the narrow stairs, and gave a sigh of despair. The next moment, his arm was touched by a slim, gloved hand.

Mrs. Bloor was standing beside him. An utterly changed Mrs. Bloor. An utterly changed Mrs. Bloor. Gone were her dark clothes. Now she wore a red coat and a brightly patterned scarf. She had a violin case tucked under her arm and in her free hand she carried a small leather bag. Her hair shone and her eyes were sparkling. Gone were her dark clothes. Now she wore a red coat and a brightly patterned scarf. She had a violin case tucked under her arm and in her free hand she carried a small leather bag. Her hair shone and her eyes were sparkling.

"It's time to go, Henry" she said, uncurling her crippled hand. "Look!"

Henry saw the Time Twister glowing against her dark glove. He looked away quickly "We'll go together," said Mrs. Bloor. "Take my arm and come this way."

Without thinking, Henry grasped Mrs. Bloor's left arm as she hurried through the door behind her. It led into one of the long, dark corridors in the west wing.