Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors (17 page)

"Maybe," said Albert evasively

"I would like to go up there," said Billy

But when they had finished their meal, the boys' eyes began to close and soon they were fast asleep.

When Charlie woke up, the mirrored room sparkled with reflected candlelight. He was lying under a blanket with Billy beside him, still sleeping.

"You were tired," said Albert, looking down at Charlie. "You have had a long journey."

"Very long," said Charlie. "I'll tell you about it if you like."

"I would like it very much. To hear a voice is so good." Albert came and sat at the edge of the mat.

Before Charlie described his journey with Queen Berenice, he felt that Albert should know something about the children of the Red King and Bloor's Academy Albert turned his head a little when Charlie mentioned Bloor's, as if the name struck a chord somewhere. But after this, Charlie's listener sat very still, regarding Charlie with a look of thoughtful concentration.

“I suppose it all sounds a bit difficult to believe," said Charlie when he reached the part where the white moth had discovered the boat.

"Nothing is improbable to one who cannot remember his own life," said Albert with a rueful smile. "And see, there is your moth."

Charlie saw the moth sitting close to Billy's white head.

"It was there all the while you slept," Albert told Charlie, "as though on guard."

Billy woke up and automatically felt for his glasses. He could see very little without them and he always felt lost until they were perched firmly on his nose.

"I thought I'd been dreaming," said Billy sitting up. "But it's all true, isn't it?"

"It's true. We're in the Castle of Mirrors," said Charlie.

Billy immediately looked for the stairway beside the door. “And I was going to go up there, wasn't I? Really it's more like I feel that I've
got
to go up there." He threw off his blanket and stood up, still gazing at the stairway It seemed to draw him like a magnet.

"I'll come with you," said Charlie.

Albert handed Billy one of the many candles that stood in empty cans all around the room. "You will need this," he said. "It's dark up there."

"My ancestors lived here," said Billy proudly, "and Charlie thinks I might be able to see them. I was frightened yesterday, but not anymore." He marched over to the stairway and began to climb. Charlie followed more slowly.

The steps were unevenly spaced and rough underfoot. Charlie found them hard to climb. The stairway wound upward, becoming steeper and narrower all the time. Charlie lost sight of Billy but he could hear his light footsteps hastening up the tower. The candlelight grew fainter as Billy drew ahead; soon Charlie only heard the tap of Billy's feet to guide him. "Billy I can't see!" he shouted.

Billy had reached the walls of history. He was hardly aware of the shout from below, and Charlie had to grope his way up the steps and into the extraordinary room at the top. Here, the mirrored panes of glass that formed the wall reflected Billy's white hair, his gleaming glasses, and the flickering candle in a hundred different places. When Charlie stood beside the smaller boy, his reflection looked faint and shadowy.

They're coming," Billy whispered. He stood entranced, staring at the glass wall.

Charlie began to make out indistinct forms drifting behind Billy's reflection. "What can you see?" he asked softly

"People," said Billy in a hushed voice. "A whole family. A man in — sort of armor — but his helmet's off. And a blond lady, laughing. They're sitting at a table and — eating, yes, it's a feast. They're hungry and happy. One of them is like me — just like me. Can you hear them, Charlie?"

"No. Nothing."

"I can hear names. And someone singing."

"What names?" asked Charlie.

"The blond lady called the man Amadis — and she called the boy like me Owain. And then Amadis said, “gain, Amoret. I love that song.'"

“Amoret!" cried Charlie.

"Shhh! You'll frighten them away"

“Amoret?" said Charlie, lowering his voice. “Are you sure he said Amoret?"

"Yes," Billy whispered. "The lady singing is Amoret. She has black hair and she's very beautiful."

Charlie stared at the walls of history stared and stared, willing himself to sec someone, anyone who could draw him in. At last, he began to hear distant singing and he found himself floating toward a pale face framed by dark curls.

"Charlie!" cried Billy "You're not going in, are you? Don't! Don't! You'll never get out!"

THE BLACK YEW

Charlie struggled like a swimmer underwater. Traveling toward a reflection was very different from entering a painting or a photograph. Amoret's face kept disappearing. It was almost as if she were trying to send him back.

But Charlie wouldn't let go. He fought his way forward, pushing the heavy air aside, kicking at the bonds that held him back. At last, he broke into a room where a woman stood clutching two children. Prince Amadis had gone and Amoret was looking straight at Charlie.

"Go," cried Amoret. "Whoever you are, you must go!"

And now Charlie became aware of the terrible sounds outside the room. The boom of rocks on a heavy door, the hiss of arrows, the screams and moans of battle. He floated out into the courtyard, and in the midst of a panic-stricken crowd, he saw a small white-haired boy with a raven on his shoulder. The boy darted toward a well and climbed inside. The next moment the castle walls burst into flames and Charlie was surrounded by a wall of fire.

"Help! Help!" Charlie screamed.

Something held him down. He couldn't escape, couldn't breathe.

There was an earsplitting crack, followed by the sound of splintering glass. It reminded Charlie of Uncle Paton's accidents, and he immediately felt reassured. Was he safe at home?

"Charlie! Charlie, come back!" called a distant voice.

Charlie blinked and found himself looking at a cracked mirror with lights dancing on every tiny pane. Broken glass lay all around him, glittering like tinsel.

"Charlie?" Billy stood before him, holding a candle. “re you back?"

Charlie blinked again and shook himself. "Yes, I'm back."

"Mr. Tuccini had to break the glass. We thought you were trapped in the wall of history."

"It seemed the only way to get you out." Albert Tuccini peered down at Charlie. "It is a strange thing you do, this traveling. Not always good, I fear."

"No, not always," Charlie admitted. "But I just had to go in this time, because my ancestor Amoret is in there, too. She must have been in the castle when it was set on fire, before it turned to glass. But where were her children?"

"It is not possible always to find an answer," said Albert a little sadly. "Come. You have experienced some bad things. You must rest."

"The wall of history is broken, and it's all my fault," said Charlie ruefully

"Only the surface," said Albert. "The walls are thick. They can withstand a lot more than my old shoe." He held up a black shoe, which he proceeded to put on his left foot, lacing it tightly before approaching the perilous staircase.

When Charlie descended into Albert Tuccini's room, dawn light was beginning to steal through the glass walls. The storm had gone and Albert announced that it would be a fine day. If they left soon, the tide would take them safely into the bay

"You will come with us, won't you?" begged Charlie.

Albert spread his hands. "I dare not."

"But why? We'll keep you safe," Charlie declared. "You must come back, because of Mom — and everything."

"I have a wife?" Albert looked stunned.

"Of course. How do you think I got here?" said Charlie indignantly. He began to feel a rising panic. He'd found his father only to leave him in a place where he might never see him again. If Grandma Bone got to know about Charlie's visit to the island, the Yewbeams were sure to move his father somewhere even more inaccessible.

It was Billy who convinced Albert that he must come with them. "We can't row the boat on our own," he said, his eyes huge with anxiety. "We need you, Mr. Tuccini. Charlie's not strong enough to row all the way back again."

Albert scratched his curly hair. "Very well. Maybe it is the right thing for me to do." He led the boys out of the tower and across the courtyard to a door set in the glass walls. One push and a panel of glass swung open. When they had all stepped out, Albert closed the panel. Now it was completely indistinguishable from the rest of the wall. "It can only be opened from the inside," Albert told the boys. "To enter one must use the chute."

A vision of Aunt Eustacia sliding down the chute popped into Charlie's head, and he grinned to himself

As they walked back to the shore, Charlie told Billy about the white-haired boy he'd seen climbing into the well. "That's how he survived," he told Billy "He climbed out after the fire, and somehow he got to the mainland and traveled all the way to the middle of Europe with his raven. That's where your name comes from. And your guardian, Christopher Crowquill — his ancestor was your ancestor's brother."

"Maybe I can live with Christopher Crowquill," said Billy hopefully

Charlie was silent. Poor Christopher was in as much danger as Billy. He couldn't possibly look after him. "Uncle Paton will know what to do," Charlie mumbled.

Albert Tuccini strode ahead of the boys. He told them that he walked to the shore every day. "For exercise, you know," he shouted back to them. "To fill my lungs and keep my limbs in shape."

Luckily the storm had blown the boat farther inland rather than out to sea. Albert and the boys rolled up their trousers and took off their socks and shoes. They pulled the boat into the water, and while Charlie and Billy perched on one seat, Albert sat opposite and took up the oars. His back was toward the tall cliffs on the mainland, so he didn't see the two figures standing on the distant beach.

Charlie saw them first. His heart gave a lurch. Was it the Yewbeams? Billy saw the figures too and he clutched Charlie's sleeve. "They've come to get me," he whimpered. "I should have stayed on the island."

“You wouldn't have been any safer," Charlie told him. "Calm down, it might not be them."

Albert looked over his shoulder. "People. Can you see who they are, Charlie? Do you want to return to the castle?"

Charlie screwed up his eyes and stared at the beach. "No," he said slowly. "I think — yes, yes, I'm sure I know who it is." For one of the figures was beginning to come into focus. A tall man with black hair and a black coat. "Yes!" cried Charlie. "It's my uncle Paton. I don't know who the other person is, but he's very small and kind of hunched. I don't think he can be dangerous."

Charlie's excitement got the better of him, and he bounced up in his seat, tipping the boat sideways.

"Whoa!" cried Albert. "You almost had us in the water, Charlie Bone!"

Helped by the incoming tide, they were now fast approaching the beach. Charlie couldn't wait to see his uncle's face when Albert stepped ashore, for Lyell Bone had been Uncle Paton's best friend, and surely Paton could help him remember who he really was.

"Uncle Paton!" Charlie called. "Guess who I've found!"

Paton waved and shouted. "I see you have Billy Raven with you. And here is Mr. Crowquill."

"No, no! You don't understand." Charlie couldn't stand the suspense.

Albert looked back at the beach, but Uncle Paton gave no sign that he had recognized him. The boat bumped onto a sandbank and Albert and the boys climbed out, splashing through the shallow water as they pulled the boat onto the beach.

Charlie couldn't wait any longer. "Look, Uncle Paton, I've found my father."

Uncle Paton regarded Albert with a puzzled frown. Eventually he said, "Charlie, this is not your father."

Charlie was so shocked he couldn't speak.

"They call me Albert Tuccini," said Albert, extending his hand. "I am very pleased to meet you."

Uncle Paton introduced himself and Christopher and they all shook hands.

Charlie felt as though there were a lead weight on his chest. It caused him so much pain he couldn't think, couldn't move. The immense cloud of disappointment muffled the voices around him. He was vaguely aware that Christopher Crowquill was hugging Billy And he saw Uncle Paton listening to Albert and gazing over the sea to the Castle of Mirrors. His uncle must have persuaded Albert not to return to the island, because the next moment the happy group was moving up the beach.

"Charlie, are you all right?" Uncle Paton looked back and waited for him.

"I . . . I . . . yes," said Charlie miserably. He walked up to his uncle.

"You've had a terrible disappointment. I'm so sorry, Charlie." Uncle Paton squeezed his shoulder.

"It's OK. I was being silly. I knew it couldn't really be him."

"One day it will be," said Uncle Paton.

Charlie watched his uncle and Albert push the boat into the cave. And then they were all climbing the wall of rocks into another bay where a narrow path wound up to the top of the cliffs.

Christopher Crowquill led the way with Billy behind him. Next came Uncle Paton, followed by Charlie. Albert Tuccini brought up the rear. It was a perilous climb, and when they were halfway up, Uncle Paton said, "You should have seen us coming down, Charlie. We were on our bottoms most of the time."

Charlie managed a halfhearted smile. He looked back at the Castle of Mirrors. It was shrouded in mist. Soon it would be invisible. But its precious secrets would still be there, hidden in the wall of history and one day Charlie would return to find them.

By the time they had reached the top of the cliff, the tide was high, and looking down, Charlie saw foaming waves crashing against a barrier of jagged black rocks.

Albert Tuccini had been watching Charlie anxiously. He put a hand on Charlie's arm and said, "I am sorry that I am not your father."

"That's all right," said Charlie lamely

They were walking along the cliff top to the road where Uncle Paton had parked his car. As they turned away from the sea, a bird gave a sudden shriek and flew into the sky. Peering ahead to see what had frightened the bird, Charlie saw a dark shape standing directly in their path.

Uncle Paton slowed down. "What the . . ." He shook his head. "A tree." He strode out again ahead of the others.

When they drew near the tree, they saw that it was squat and curiously misshapen. Its crooked branches bore clusters of thin, blackened needles, and the bark of its gnarled trunk was riven with scars.

"A black yew." Paton's voice was choked with dawning horror.

Before their eyes, a gnomelike face twisted out of the rough bark. The branches shriveled, scattering their needles like dark rain, and the writhing trunk slowly assumed the form of a tall man. It was Tantalus Ebony He stared at the motionless group, his thin lips curled into a malicious smile.

Charlie couldn't believe his eyes. Was Tantalus Ebony a shape-shifter?

The man spoke. "We meet again, Paton Yewbeam."

"What . . . ?" Paton began.

"Come, come, Paton. Don't tell me you haven't been expecting this moment. I warned you, didn't I, that if you harmed my Yolanda you would pay for it with your life?" The voice was familiar, and yet it seemed to come from deep underground. "You KILLED MY DARLING!" the shape-shifter suddenly roared.

"Yorath," Paton said fearlessly, "your daughter was a monster."

The shape-shifter gave a scream of fury and came running full tilt at Uncle Paton. Charlie could see what was going to happen. Careless of his own life, Tantalus would take his uncle over the cliff. Charlie clung fiercely to Paton, but his uncle pried away his clinging hands and stepped forward.

In a sudden instant, a small gray body flew at Tantalus. For a moment, they wrestled together, and then amazingly, Christopher Crowquill was forcing the shape-shifter toward the cliff. It happened so fast that no shouts, no movements were quick enough to stop their headlong rush toward the cliff s edge — and over it!

There was a shout, a scream, and then silence.

Paton ran to the place where the two figures had disappeared. He spread his arms as Charlie and Billy leaped forward. "NO!" he commanded, forcing them back. But Charlie had already seen the boiling sea and the dark rocks. There was nothing else, except for a black bird bobbing on the waves. A crow? A raven? Or a shape-shifter?

"The dear man gave his life for me," Paton said huskily.

"Why?" cried Billy "Why did he do it? He was my only relative. My guardian. Now there's no one again."

"There's us," said Charlie.

"Why? Why?" Paton shook his head. "It makes no sense." He squared his shoulders and seemed to pull himself together. "We must leave here. I'll alert the coast guards when we've put some distance between us and this awful place. Nothing more can be done."

In stunned silence, they walked on until they came to Paton's car. Charlie and Billy scrambled into the back, while Albert took the passenger seat.

While he drove, Uncle Paton explained the shape-shifter's attack to a bewildered Albert Tuccini. "He is so old he has no form of his own and has to borrow the shape and sometimes the minds of other creatures. His daughter was just as bad. She killed my mother, and then tried to do away with someone very dear to me."

Charlie whispered, "Miss Ingledew?"

Billy shuffled away and huddled in the corner, a picture of misery

"What a fiend this Yolanda must have been," said Albert.

"I electrocuted her," Paton said flatly

If Albert was shocked, he didn't show it. Maybe some of his memories were coming back to him. Memories that were so bad, nothing would ever surprise him again.

After they had been traveling for some time, they stopped at a café on the edge of a small town. The day was warm and sunny and Uncle Paton chose to sit at one of the tables outside. He gave Charlie a list and enough money to pay for four lunches. Billy, who seemed to have recovered a little, followed Charlie into a low-beamed room, lit by several soft lights.

"Just as well your uncle didn't come in," said Billy nudging Charlie's elbow as he read out the list to a purple-haired woman behind the counter.

Charlie gave Billy a warning look, and Billy said in a crushed voice, "I didn't give anything away, did I?"

Charlie grinned at the purple-haired woman, and she smiled back in a surprised way before disappearing through a curtain made of beads.

When Charlie and Billy went back to their table, Uncle Paton was in a public phone booth across the road.

"He is telling the police about the accident," said Albert. "It's a terrible thing."