Charlie Bone and the Time Twister Part 19

They emerged at last onto a wooded bank and before Olivia had time to get her bearings the cat was off again, weaving his way down through the trees to a shadowy glade. In the center of the glade, an orange cat and a yellow cat stood on a large black rock. Their eyes glittered green and gold in the moonlight.

Using the trees to steady herself herself Olivia walked down the steep bank. She crossed the glade and reached the black rock. The three cats, standing so close together, shone like a bonfire. Olivia walked down the steep bank. She crossed the glade and reached the black rock. The three cats, standing so close together, shone like a bonfire.

Olivia looked down to see her heavy black shoes turned to gold by the flames. And then she noticed a thin gap beside her feet. The rock seemed to be covering a pit. Could it possibly be a dungeon? She knelt in the gra.s.s and called, "Henry! Henry! Are you there?"

A thin voice came floating up to her. "h.e.l.lo. I think it's me, but I'm not sure anymore."

"Well, I'm sure," said Olivia. "You're Henry all right. Have they been starving you? I forgot to bring food."

"Zelda and Manfred push bread through the gap, and bottles of water."

Olivia heard a scuffling noise and all at once, two eyes were peering up at her through the gap.

"h.e.l.lo, Olivia," said Henry "I'm so glad to see you."

"It's good to see you, too, Henry But not in that pit. How did they catch you?"

"A boy with white hair tricked me."

"Billy Raven," muttered Olivia. "I didn't think he'd sink that low."

"Manfred brought me out here, and a girl called Zelda. They put sticky tape on my mouth and arms! It hurt like anything when I pulled it off."

"Ouch!" said Olivia.

"Olivia, I've seen my cousin Zeke," said Henry "He's so old and horrible. He still hates me after all this time. He made them bring me out here. Zelda moved that rock just by looking at it. I can't get out. I've tried and tried. But I can't budge the rock an inch."

"I'll try," said Olivia.

She threw her whole weight at the rock, but it' didn't move. For the next few minutes Olivia tried pus.h.i.+ng and pulling, kicking and hitting the rock, but it was useless.

"I'm sorry Henry we'll have to try something else." she said. "I'll tell Charlie where you are and we'll work something out, I promise."

"They're going to move me on Sunday" Henry said desperately "I don't know where I'll be going. I don't think I'll see any of you again - ever."

"We'll get here on Sat.u.r.day" Olivia said firmly "Charlie's uncle will help. Will you be all right till then? Is it cold down there?"

"It was at first, but the cats keep me warm. They keep my spirits up. Their light is so cheerful. And then, there's the tree."

"What tree?"

"It must be very close," said Henry "Whenever I feel really gloomy I can hear the leaves singing, and it makes me feel better."

Olivia was mystified. It was winter and the trees were bare. She looked around and was just in time to see two figures in plaid bathrobes rush down the bank. The cats yowled a warning and leaped at the strangers. There were two shrieks as Zelda and Beth tripped over the cats and tumbled to the ground.

Olivia jumped up and ran for the tunnel, but Zelda was on her feet again. She made a grab for Olivia and caught her arm. Olivia swung around and punched Zelda in the stomach.

"Help!" screeched Olivia, although there was no one else around.

The cats were having quite a tussle with big Beth Strong; biting and scratching every part of her body that they could reach. With a loud grunt of fury Beth threw them off and lunged at Olivia, catching her around the waist.

"Got you!" Beth cried triumphantly Beth cried triumphantly "You've had it, Olivia Vertigo," said Zelda. "We're going to tie you to a tree, and very soon a vicious old beast is going to come prowling around here. You'll be in a very nasty mess by morning."

"You won't get away with this," cried Olivia. "My mom'll mom'll . . ." . . ."

"Your mom'll mom'll be too late," said Beth. "Naughty girls shouldn't go out at night." be too late," said Beth. "Naughty girls shouldn't go out at night."

Shrieking with laughter, Zelda drew a piece of rope out of her pocket. As she pulled Olivia's wrists behind her back, the moon was suddenly obscured by a huge black cloud. The cloud seemed to be falling to earth; it dropped toward them and now Olivia could see it was a gigantic bird.

The vast wings drove a rustling wind across the glade and Zelda and Beth gazed up in horror. All at once they were in the air; hooked up by the necks of their bathrobes, and dangling from the talons of a great feathered foot.

" Kraaak Kraaak !" called the bird. !" called the bird.

Olivia shrank against the bare trees and watched in horrified amazement. Beth and Zelda sailed into the night sky Beth's head lolled forward in a faint, while Zelda's mouth was open in a silent scream.

Olivia tore up the bank and began to slither along the tunnel. The cats had joined her and filled the tunnel with their bright light. But when Olivia squeezed through the boarded entrance the cats remained behind.

"Thanks!" whispered Olivia.

She raced across the garden, not daring to look back. The door into the hall was still unlocked. There was no one about. Olivia crept up the stairs. As she entered her dormitory one of the windows closed with a soft thud. Olivia could see a figure silhouetted against the moonlight.

"Who's that?" she whispered.

"Me," said Dorcas Dorcas . "I was just shutting the window . "I was just shutting the window It It was freezing in here. Where've you been?" was freezing in here. Where've you been?" Dorcas Dorcas was one of the endowed but Olivia had never seen any evidence of a magical talent. was one of the endowed but Olivia had never seen any evidence of a magical talent.

"I've been to the bathroom." said Olivia.

"Did you see Emma? She's gone, too."

" Er Er - yes," said Olivia. - yes," said Olivia.

"Night then." Dorcas Dorcas closed the curtains and got into bed. closed the curtains and got into bed.

For several minutes Olivia sat in the dark wondering about the window. Who had opened it? And where was Emma? They said Emma could fly. Was Was it possible that she and the bird in the ruin were one and the same? If it were true, then Emma would need a way to come back. it possible that she and the bird in the ruin were one and the same? If it were true, then Emma would need a way to come back.

When she was sure Dorcas Dorcas was asleep, Olivia tiptoed out of the dormitory and opened one of the windows in the corridor. was asleep, Olivia tiptoed out of the dormitory and opened one of the windows in the corridor.

"Good luck, Emma!" she murmured.

The next morning, Olivia could barely keep her eyes open. Emma looked exhausted, too. The girls went down to breakfast together. They caught up with Charlie and Fidelio, just as they were going into the dining hall.

"You two look as if you've been awake all night," said Charlie.

"We have," said Olivia, grinning at Emma. "Tell you about it later."

In the first break the two girls found Charlie and Fidelio sitting on a pile of logs outside the ruin.

"What's the news, then?" asked Charlie.

Olivia told them about her adventure. Charlie looked at Emma. "The tollroc tollroc came to life, then?" he said. came to life, then?" he said.

"Of course," said Emma.

At that moment, Gabriel came running up. "Have you heard?" he cried, dropping on to a log. "Beth and Zelda were found wandering on the Heights in their pajamas. They're in a state of shock and can't remember how they got there."

"We know;" said Olivia.

When she told Gabriel about the tollroc tollroc , he stared at Emma in disbelief. , he stared at Emma in disbelief.

"You don't eat gerbils, do you?" he asked gravely Emma shook her head and everybody laughed. But as the laughter died, a chilly draft crept down Charlie's neck and he thought of Henry.

"I can't wait until the weekend," he said. "Tonight. "Tonight. I may need your help." I may need your help."

Fidelio stared at Charlie. "You mean . . .?"

"I'm going to visit Skarpo Skarpo ." ."

THE WAND.

Charlie decided to use the art room for his visit to the sorcerer. The painting of Skarpo Skarpo wouldn't look out of place among the other pieces of artwork, and if anyone caught him, he could say Emma had asked him to look at her sketches. wouldn't look out of place among the other pieces of artwork, and if anyone caught him, he could say Emma had asked him to look at her sketches.

As soon as homework was over, he began to make his way up to the dormitory "What's the hurry Charlie Bone?" asked a voice behind him.

Charlie turned to see Manfred strolling toward him.

"No hurry," said Charlie as casually as he could.

"I want a word with you," said Manfred.

"Now?"

"Yes. Now." Now." Manfred came up to Charlie and stared at him. Manfred came up to Charlie and stared at him.

Charlie looked away quickly He couldn't afford to be hypnotized when he was so close to rescuing Henry.

"Look at me!" Manfred demanded.

"I don't want to," said Charlie. "Anyway you know I can play your mind games."

" Hm Hm ." ." Manfred stroked his chin, where a few wispy hairs were beginning to sprout. Manfred stroked his chin, where a few wispy hairs were beginning to sprout.

"You've got a fine beard coming in, Manfred," said Charlie.

Manfred couldn't decide if Charlie was being rude or flattering him. "All right. "All right. You can go now. But try and keep out of trouble." You can go now. But try and keep out of trouble."

"Yes, Manfred." Charlie hurried away Charlie hurried away Why had Manfred stopped him? It was almost as if he were trying to slow him down.

As Charlie walked into the dormitory Billy Raven turned quickly from Charlie's bedside closet. He was holding the painting of Skarpo Skarpo . .

"What do you think you're doing?" said Charlie angrily "I was looking for something of mine," said Billy innocently. "I thought it might have got into your closet by accident. So I looked, and this fell out."

"It couldn't have. It was right at the back. You've been spying."

"Why are you always so suspicious?" said Billy resentfully "I'm telling the truth."

"Give it to me!" Charlie demanded.

"OK. OK." As Billy handed the painting to Charlie he pointed to a dagger lying on Skarpo's Skarpo's table. "Look at that dagger. It's so bright. I bet it was as sharp as anything. I bet it killed a few people." table. "Look at that dagger. It's so bright. I bet it was as sharp as anything. I bet it killed a few people."

"I bet," said Charlie, grabbing the painting. "Just leave my stuff alone in the future."

"Sorry Charlie." Billy smiled. "I didn't mean to be nosy."

Charlie hurried out of the dormitory. He waited for a few seconds to make sure Billy wouldn't follow him, and then he ran down the pa.s.sage that led to the art room.

He was surprised to find his friends already waiting for him. Even Lysander had turned up.

"Gabriel told me what you're going to do," he said. "I'll stand by the door in case anyone tries to come in while you're . . . out of action."

"Thanks, Lysander," said Charlie.

They chose an empty s.p.a.ce behind one of Mr. Boldova's Boldova's large canvases. Charlie sat on the floor with the painting in front of him. Olivia and Emma knelt on either side of him, while Gabriel and Fidelio perched on a bench in front of him. large canvases. Charlie sat on the floor with the painting in front of him. Olivia and Emma knelt on either side of him, while Gabriel and Fidelio perched on a bench in front of him.

All at once, Charlie began to have doubts. He'd never done this before. How would he get out of the painting? He hadn't really thought it through. But somehow it was too late to stop.

Charlie took a deep breath. "OK. I'm going in."

"Hold on, Charlie," said Gabriel. "Just so we know - are you going to bring that weird-looking person into this room?"

" Skarpo Skarpo ? ? No, I hope not. I'm just going to ask his advice. Maybe I'll borrow something." Charlie was already beginning to feel dizzy "I No, I hope not. I'm just going to ask his advice. Maybe I'll borrow something." Charlie was already beginning to feel dizzy "I don't. don't. . . ," he began, and then . . ," he began, and then Skarpo Skarpo looked at him, and he could hear the swish of the sorcerer's robes and the squeak of chalk on stone. looked at him, and he could hear the swish of the sorcerer's robes and the squeak of chalk on stone.

"Enter," said a voice.

Charlie's friends began to fade. A white mist drifted around him, obscuring everything except the sorcerer's bony face with its strange golden yellow eyes.

When the mist cleared, Charlie found himself in a chilly candlelit room. He could smell burning candle grease, pine, spices, and ancient decaying things. The sorcerer's possessions were no longer merely painting objects. Now they were real; pages were rough and ink-stained, feathers were delicate, and velvet smooth, the earthenware bowls were pitted and chipped, and belts and straps had a worn, s.h.i.+ny look.

Charlie's eyes fell on the dagger. It was lying in front of a large open book, right at the edge of the long table. Candlelight made it gleam with life. The blade was so thin it was just a shaft of brilliant light.

"What is it you want, child?"

Charlie jumped. He'd forgotten that the sorcerer could see him, too.

"You know what that weapon is? It's magic, boy." The sorcerer's magnetic eyes glittered.

"You can see me," breathed Charlie.