Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (Children of the Red King, Book 2) (6 page)

"I came for a piece of bread," lied Olivia.

"Didn't you have enough to eat?" asked Cook.

"I was late," said Olivia, glancing at her watch.

"Tch! Tch! I'll see what I can do." Cook was about to turn away when the door behind Olivia was suddenly flung open.

Manfred stood glaring at Olivia. "Where's the mop, you idiot? We can't get out until that mess is cleared up."

"I er . . .," Olivia began.

"Hold your horses, Manfred Bloor," said Cook sharply "Everything comes to those who wait." "Ha!" grunted Manfred.

Cook ambled across the kitchen and took a mop, a bucket, and a pair of rubber gloves from under the sink. Manfred shouted, "For goodness' sake, hurry up, woman."

Cook froze. She dropped the bucket and stared at Manfred with her hands on her hips. "Don't you speak to me like that. Don't you dare. Don't you ever, ever use that tone with me again."

"Yeah, yeah!" said Manfred nervously.

“Apologize," said Cook.

"Sorry" mumbled Manfred, pretending to examine his fingernails.

Olivia could hardly believe it. In a few words Cook had reduced the head boy to a jittering junior.

Cook picked up the bucket and handed it to Manfred. "If you want a mess cleared up, do it yourself."

"But I didn't make the mess!" cried Manfred, turning scarlet.

Cook shrugged and walked away.

Manfred gave Olivia a vicious shove through the door and, as soon as they were on the other side, handed her the bucket.

At that very moment, Charlie and Fidelio were crossing the hall. Now that the children from drama were all trapped in their cafeteria, there were fewer people about, and Charlie managed to sneak through the door into the west wing without being seen. Fidelio stood guard. When Charlie had completed his mission, he would give two taps on the door, and if the coast was clear, Fidelio would tap back.

Charlie raced up the deep spiraling steps that led to the top of the tower. By the time he reached the music room he was out of breath and had a stitch in his side.

Henry had gone. A large blue cape lay over the back of a chair, and there was an empty tin on a stool. Some of the books were covered in crumbs and two candy wrappers had been dropped by the window.

Mr. Pilgrim was playing very softly today He kept repeating the same notes over and over again, as if he couldn't remember where the music was going.

Without knocking, Charlie opened the door and looked in. Mr. Pilgrim was alone. He wasn't wearing his cape, and Charlie remembered that he'd been without it at assembly; but then, Mr. Pilgrim often forgot things.

The music teacher looked over the piano and frowned at Charlie.

"Excuse me, sir," said Charlie. "Have you seen a boy? A boy a bit like me?"

Very much to his surprise, Mr. Pilgrim answered quite clearly "Yes. There was a boy"

“And do you know where he is now sir?"

"He shouldn't have been up here alone," said Mr. Pilgrim. "Not at night. It's too cold."

"Yes but — where did he go?"

"He was hungry" Mr. Pilgrim must have suddenly recalled the notes he'd been searching for, because he played two loud chords and then launched himself into a very complicated piece of music.

Charlie realized that it would be useless to ask the teacher any more questions. Besides, if he didn't get back soon, Manfred and Asa would be prowling around the hall.

"Thank you, sir." Charlie left the room and, closing the door behind him, ran all the way clown to the bottom of the tower. He descended the winding stairs so quickly by the time he reached the ground floor he felt very wobbly on his feet.

Before he went into the dark passage that led to the hall, he stopped to listen. He could hear nothing. It was safe to enter the passage. All the same he tiptoed over the stone floor. He had only gone a few meters when he walked straight into something; a small, thin figure that was hardly a person at all. It whimpered slightly and scurried away but when Charlie turned to look back at it, the person or thing turned back, too. Its eyes glittered behind a thin black veil, and it whispered, "Boy" then it was gone.

CHAPTER 5
INTO THE FREEZER

Charlie tore to the end of the passage and whizzed through the door at the end, almost knocking Fidelio off his feet.

"You forgot to tap," said Fidelio fiercely "Someone's watching."

"Who?" Charlie saw Billy Raven disappear into the coatroom. "Oh no," he groaned. "Not him."

At that moment, Manfred and Asa appeared at the far end of the hall. Manfred looked furious. As soon as he saw the two boys, he shouted, "Out! Out! Why aren't you two outside?"

"It's — er — wet," said Charlie.

"Wet? Of course it's wet, you idiot. Not afraid of a bit of snow are you?"

"We couldn't find our boots," said Fidelio quickly.

"Then, go out in your shoes!" barked Manfred.

" But . . .," began Charlie.

"So you'll have wet shoes. So what? That'll teach you to lose your boots. "Manfred had worked himself into a line temper. His normally pale face was quite pink.

Charlie and Fidelio scuttled out into the garden without another word.

"Phew I bet that was all due to Olivia," said Fidelio.

"I hope she hasn't got detention," said Charlie. Henry wasn't there, by the way. Now I don't know what to do."

"We'll find him," said Fidelio confidently "But we'd better get to him before Manfred. What scared you in the tower? You looked as if you'd seen a ghost."

"I think I did," said Charlie. "It was horrible. All black and wispy"

"The dark lady" said Fidelio. "Gabriel told me about her. She hangs around the music tower. I think she likes Mr. Pilgrim's piano playing."

A few minutes later, Olivia joined them in the garden. "Hi, folks, did it work?" she asked.

"It was brilliant," said Charlie. "You must have held them up for at least ten minutes."

"How did you do it?" asked Fidelio.

Olivia told them about her accident with the tray "But now I've got detention," she said, "so I won't be going home till Saturday night."

Charlie's face fell. "I'm sorry I should have known that would happen."

"Oh, I don't mind," said Olivia. "I can do a bit of exploring. As long as someone else gets detention with me. I don't like being on my own."

"Oh." Charlie felt even worse. "Well, if you don't mind, I think I'm going to be busy"

"Of course. Cousin Henry" Olivia said cheerfully "I understand. And I know Fido will be doing some musical thing or other."

"Well, now that you mention it . . .," said Fidelio.

"It's OK. Don't look so guilty both of you. I'll try Emma Tolly." Olivia bounced off in her pink boots, and headed toward Emma, who was walking around with her nose in a book.

The two boys spent the rest of break walking up and down on the stones outside the garden door. It was several degrees warmer and the snow was turning into a watery slush. Charlie's left shoe was leaking.

Just before the horn went for the end of break, Olivia came up to them looking very fed up. "Guess what?" she said. "Emma Tolly doesn't like to leave her aunt alone at weekends. I ask you! I helped to rescue her from those awful foster parents and now she won't even spend a few hours with me."

"In that case I'll try and get detention," said Charlie. "Henry can wait a bit longer."

"No, he can't," said Olivia. "You get him out of here as soon as you can. It's OK. Bindi's going to stay with me." She shook her head. "I don't know what's gotten into Emma. She's so prissy these days."

"She's never had a real home before," said Charlie. “I suppose she just wants to be in it as much as she can."

" Hm." Olivia sauntered off.

As the two boys walked to their history lesson, Fidelio said quietly "Charlie, I think you're going to have to carry out your rescue mission tonight. You won't get another chance today"

Charlie agreed. But he had no idea where to start looking for Henry.

"Try the kitchens," Fidelio suggested. "He must be starving by now"

That night, as Charlie lay in bed, he tried to remember all the stairs and passages that eventually led to the kitchens. He knew there were three kitchens, one behind each of the three cafeterias. They were connected by swinging doors, so he would be able to creep through all three, once he had found his way to the first one.

" D'you think Cook will still be in the kitchen?" Charlie whispered to Fidelio.

"Not after midnight," Fidelio said softly.

"Shut up, all of you!" said Damian cheek.

"Shut up, yourself." Fidelio threw a damp shoe in Damian's direction. It was a good shot and grazed Damian's cheek.

"I'll get you, Fidelio Gunn, you wait!" screeched Damian.

"You're on," said Fidelio. "See you by the garden door, straight after breakfast."

Damian sniveled and pulled the covers over his head. He was terrified of violence, but he often made silly remarks about getting people, and then pretended he had hurt his arm or his leg, so he could excuse himself from a fight.

Charlie was just about to speak, when the door opened and the light came on.

"Who was talking?" Matron stood on the threshold.

No one answered.

"Own up!" she said.

"We were," said Charlie.

His great aunt swung her long nose in his direction. "Oh? Is that a confession?"

"We all confess," said Fidelio.

Matron stared around the room unpleasantly "If I have to come in again, you'll all be put on detention," she said.

"Except me," said Billy.

Ignoring Billy Lucretia Yewbeam walked out and slammed the door.

"That was close," Fidelio whispered so softly no one but Charlie could hear him. "Do you want me to come with you tonight?"

"No," Charlie whispered back. "It's better if just one of us goes. Thanks anyway"

"Good luck!" Fidelio turned over and was soon asleep.

For a few moments Charlie lay with eyes wide open, fighting sleep. In desperation, he threw off the covers. Now he was so cold, sleep was impossible.

He waited until he heard the cathedral clock strike twelve, and then, with a mixture of fear and excitement, he quickly pulled on his bathrobe and slippers and crept out of the dormitory.

"Right, then left, then down the stairs," Charlie murmured to himself. The beam of light from his flashlight was so feeble he couldn't see much beyond his feet. By the time he'd managed to find his way down two staircases, he realized he was lost, or certainly in a place he didn't recognize. Everything looked so different in the dark.

Taking a chance, Charlie continued for several meters until he came to another set of steps. He descended two when something bumped into his knees and sent him crashing to the floor.

"Ow! Ooo! Ouch!" Charlie muttered under his breath. No bones were broken but he felt bruised and shaken. "Can't go back now;" he muttered.

Picking himself up he turned a corner and found himself on the landing above the hall. The lights here were left burning all night and, with a soft whoop of relief, Charlie ran down the stairs and on into the long passage that led to the cafeterias.

Stumbling against chairs and tables, Charlie made his way through the blue cafeteria and into the kitchen. Here, counters covered in saucepans blocked his way. Machines jutted out at odd angles, mops and buckets were hidden beside cupboards. A heavy pan crashed to the floor as Charlie felt his way along a shelf. He froze for a second, and then became aware of a low light coming from the frosted glass at the top of a door beside him. Very slowly Charlie opened the door.

He looked into a small room with walls of tall white fridges and freezers. Henry Yewbeam stood in front of the tallest.

"Henry" breathed Charlie. "What are you doing?"

"Hello, Charlie," said Henry. "It's good to see you."

"It's freezing in here," said Charlie whose teeth had begun to chatter.

"I know" Henry smiled mysteriously "It's just what I want."

"What are you talking about? Please come out of there. I think we could die of cold."

"I don't want to die," said Henry "But I think I will if I don't get home." He stepped out of the freezing room and closed the door.

Charlie relaxed. It was warm in the kitchen and he found it easier to think. He perched himself on a counter and Henry jumped up beside him.

"I looked for you at lunch break," Charlie said. "I sneaked some food up to the music room, where were you?"

"There was a lady very small, all in black. She took me to her room. I was a bit frightened of her, but she gave me a cup of tea and some sweets." Henry held out a candy wrapped in silver paper. "Have one! She gave me a handful."

Charlie took the sweet. It was chocolate with a strawberry center. One of his favorites. "Yummy" he said. "I bumped into that woman. 1 thought she was a ghost."

Henry shook his head. "Not quite a ghost. She used to play the violin, but now her left hand doesn't work and that makes her very very sad. You could say she was in mourning for her fingers."

Henry had an odd way of putting things. Charlie was intrigued. "Who is she?"

"I didn't like to ask. Mama said it was rude to pry. The lady told me to go to the kitchens at night. So here I am. But, Charlie," Henry's face lit up. "I have found a wonderful thing."

"What?"

"In there," Henry pointed to the cold room, "a closet that's full of ice."

“A freezer," said Charlie.

“A freezer?" Henry repeated. "Well, I never. It hums in a very comforting way Charlie, I think it will take me home."

"What d'you mean?" said Charlie anxiously.

"I have come to the conclusion that I arrived in this new century because the weather was right. When I left 1916, it was the coldest day for many many years. And when I got here, it was exactly the same. But now it's getting warmer and if I use the Time Twister, I could end up anywhere."

"You'd be crazy to use it," Charlie agreed.

"Not if I go into the freezer," said Henry earnestly.

"What? You'd freeze to death."

"You could help me, Charlie. Just open the freezer door, now and again, to make sure I'm breathing. Once I hit the right temperature, I'll be gone." Henry leaned forward. "Please help me. I want to go home so much. I want to get back to 1916 and see my family I'll never survive in this new world. I don't belong."

Charlie had only known his new relation for a day but already he had begun to like him a lot. He would miss him, he realized. "It's a bit chancy" he said evasively "I mean you could end up back in the Ice Age, with mammoths and things."

"I've considered that, but I want to take a chance. If I think hard about Mama and Papa, and my brother and sister, I'm sure I'll get back." He grinned encouragingly at Charlie, "What do you say?"

"OK," said Charlie reluctantly "Let's give it a go. But if you turn blue, I'm pulling you out of there." "Thank you, Charlie."

The two boys swung themselves off the counter and went into the cold room. For a moment Henry stood looking at the tall, white freezer and then he took the Time Twister out of his pocket. Charlie caught a glimpse of sparkling light in Henry's hand and he looked away quickly But the light was reflected on the low ceiling, and through a mist of swirling colors Charlie could make out a city of dazzling golden domes, and then a range of snow-clad mountains. The snow became a forest, and the trees turned into the crashing green waves of a mighty sea. And then a river of glass swept beneath the bluest sky Charlie had ever seen.

Mesmerized by the amazing world above him, Charlie felt himself being drawn toward it. When his feet began to slide out from under him, he tore his gaze away from the ceiling, but he was too late to see his cousin step into the freezer. Henry had already disappeared.

Charlie stared at the tall white door. How long should he wait? He didn't want to ruin Henry's chances, but what if he should freeze to death before the Time Twister did its work. He closed his eyes and slowly counted to ten. Then, seizing the freezer door, he pulled.

The door wouldn't open. Charlie pulled again. He put both hands on the handle, braced himself, and tugged with all his might. The freezer door was stuck fast. Either it was ice, or some tremendous force inside the freezer was holding the door shut.

Charlie tried again. He banged on the freezer, he twisted,, pulled, had a short rest, and then tried again. “Henry! Henry!" he called, pummeling the door.

“And what d'you think you're doing, Charlie Bone?"

Charlie whirled around to see Cook standing in the doorway.

"I . . . I . . ., " Charlie began. "Cook, there's a boy in the freezer. I don't know if he's dead or . . . or gone. You see he might've, but I've got to know . . ."

"Lord save us," cried Cook, almost knocking Charlie off his feet as she charged at the freezer.

With one mighty heave, she pulled open the door.

Henry was crouched at the bottom, under a huge frozen carcass. His face was blue and his hair and cape were covered in frost.

"Heaven's above!" exclaimed Cook as she pulled Henry out of the freezer.

He was cold and stiff but Charlie was relieved to hear him give a small groan as Cook gathered him into her arms.

"Follow me, Charlie Bone," she commanded. "You'd better tell me what all this is about."

Cook crashed her way through the door, across the kitchen, and into what started out as a broom closet, but ended up being a long, softly lit corridor. Even though she was carrying Henry Cook walked so fast, Charlie found it hard to keep up with her.

At the end of the corridor, several steps led down to another small closet and this opened into one of the coziest places Charlie had ever seen. Bright pictures hung all around the room, from just beneath the very low ceiling, almost to the floor. The chairs looked old and soft, and a gleaming ancient dresser had been filled with gold patterned cups and plates. In a deep alcove there was a large black stove; a kettle boiled on the top, while bright coals flickered in a window at the bottom. They filled the room with a warm, glowing light.

Cook laid Henry in a large armchair beside the stove and began to rub his hands. As she did this, Henry's stiff fingers relaxed and the Time Twister dropped to the floor.