Charlie Bone and the Time Twister Part 17

"Of course he will," said Ezekiel. "Any boy would choose a dagger; all sharp and s.h.i.+ny."

"We had a bit of trouble with Paton," said Lucretia Lucretia . "I think he knows more than he should." . "I think he knows more than he should."

"You'll have to do something about that brother of yours. He reads too much."

The matron gave a nasty laugh. "Oh, yes, he reads," she sn.i.g.g.e.red. "And that will be his downfall. Leave it to us."

Miss Yewbeam's Yewbeam's laugh was infectious and soon they were both swept into a bout of unrestrained giggling. laugh was infectious and soon they were both swept into a bout of unrestrained giggling.

Billy chose this moment to knock.

"Who is it?" said Ezekiel, still chuckling.

"Billy Raven, sir," said Billy "Ah, I want a word with you," said Ezekiel.

Billy entered the room. He was feeling hopeful. Surely he was due for a reward. He was in for a nasty shock.

When the old man saw Billy he screamed, "You wretch. You kicked my doggie." You kicked my doggie."

"But I helped to catch the boy from nowhere," said Billy taken aback.

Ezekiel ignored this. "Why did you kick my Percy?"

"He wouldn't talk to me." Billy was beginning to lose hope. "When am I going to get new parents, parents, sir ?" ?"

"You don't hurt my doggie. No parents for you. You'll have to do better. Now get out!"

As Billy turned to go he saw a look of scorn cross Matron Yewbeam's Yewbeam's face. It was quite obvious that she didn't like children one bit. face. It was quite obvious that she didn't like children one bit.

RUN OVER!.

Charlie couldn't remember when he'd had such a horrible week.

It took Fidelio several days to recover from being hypnotized. He wandered along beside Charlie, hardly talking. Sometimes he forgot Charlie's name, and sometimes even his own.

During the day it was impossible to get into the ruin because Mr. Weedon Weedon was always there. was always there.

"Clear out!" the gardener would shout. "Go on. Buzz off!"

At night, whenever Charlie tried to leave the dormitory Lucretia Lucretia Yewbeam Yewbeam was always lurking around a corner, ready to pounce on him. In the end he just gave up. But Henry was on his mind all the time. Where was he? Was he being starved to death? was always lurking around a corner, ready to pounce on him. In the end he just gave up. But Henry was on his mind all the time. Where was he? Was he being starved to death?

It suddenly dawned on Charlie that Henry had no parents to come looking for him. No one would miss him because he shouldn't really exist. There was Cook, of course, and Mrs. Bloor. But what could they do, and who would believe poor Mrs. Bloor?

"It's up to me," Charlie murmured.

"What's up to you?" asked Fidelio.

It was Friday afternoon and they were packing their bags, ready to go home.

Charlie looked up. "Fidelio, that's the first sensible thing you've said all week. Are you feeling better?"

Fidelio nodded, "It's wearing off. But I've still got a headache. I'd like to give Manfred a taste of his own medicine."

"One day we'll get our own back," muttered Gabriel.

Billy Raven came in and Fidelio whispered, "It's all his all his fault. He's a spy." fault. He's a spy."

But Charlie felt almost sorry for Billy he looked so lonely and fed up.

"Don't be deceived," Fidelio muttered. "He's still dangerous."

The three boys ran down to the hall and out through the great oak doors.

"Another weekend of freedom!" cried Gabriel. "Gerbils, here I come!"

They leaped on the blue school bus and were soon on the move. Filbert Street was one of the last stops and Charlie could hardly wait to get home. He wanted to ask his uncle what to do about Henry As soon as Charlie got off the bus he saw Benjamin and Runner Bean racing toward him. From the look on Benjamin's face, Charlie knew that something was wrong.

"What's happened?" he asked when Benjamin stood panting beside him.

"Oh, Charlie, it's awful. Your uncle was run over!"

"What?" Charlie dropped his bag. "When? "When? How? Is he . . . ?" How? Is he . . . ?"

"No, he's not dead." Benjamin paused to get his breath back. "He's in the hospital. It was up near the cathedral," Benjamin panted. "Someone saw your uncle step into the road while he was reading a book. A car came around the corner and went straight into him. It didn't stop, it just sped off."

"No," Charlie moaned. "I was afraid this would happen."

When they reached number nine, Benjamin didn't come in with Charlie. "You'll want to be alone with your family" he said. "I expect they'll be going to the hospital."

Maisie opened the door and squeezed Charlie with a violent hug. "Oh, Charlie," she cried. "What a catastrophe. Did Benjamin tell you?" opened the door and squeezed Charlie with a violent hug. "Oh, Charlie," she cried. "What a catastrophe. Did Benjamin tell you?"

"Yes." Charlie twisted himself out of Maisie's Maisie's arms "Is Uncle Paton . . . ? Is he OK? I mean, is he talking?" arms "Is Uncle Paton . . . ? Is he OK? I mean, is he talking?"

"He wasn't yesterday" said Maisie Maisie . "His head was all wrapped up and so were his ribs. . "His head was all wrapped up and so were his ribs. Poor Paton. Poor Paton. He looked awful." He looked awful."

"Do they know who did it?"

"Hit and run," said Maisie Maisie grimly "There were a couple of witnesses, but they didn't get the number. The car just raced away." grimly "There were a couple of witnesses, but they didn't get the number. The car just raced away."

Maisie led Charlie into the kitchen where his mother was laying three places at the table. led Charlie into the kitchen where his mother was laying three places at the table.

"We're going to see your uncle later," she said, pecking Charlie's cheek. "Do you want to come, Charlie?"

"You bet," said Charlie.

After tea they took a taxi up to the hospital It It was a large building and they spent a long time looking for the right ward. As they walked down the long aisle between the rows of beds, they recognized two people sitting beside one of the patients: Emma and Miss was a large building and they spent a long time looking for the right ward. As they walked down the long aisle between the rows of beds, they recognized two people sitting beside one of the patients: Emma and Miss Ingledew Ingledew . .

"I'd like to give that woman a piece of my mind," Maisie Maisie muttered. "It's all her fault. She's been horrible to Paton." muttered. "It's all her fault. She's been horrible to Paton."

When it came to it, Maisie Maisie couldn't say a word, because as soon as she saw them, Mss couldn't say a word, because as soon as she saw them, Mss Ingledew Ingledew jumped up and said in a tearful voice, "I'm so, so sorry for what's happened. I blame myself entirely Paton was coming to see me, and I. . . Oh, he shouldn't have put himself at risk like that. I feel so guilty." She blew her nose very loudly. jumped up and said in a tearful voice, "I'm so, so sorry for what's happened. I blame myself entirely Paton was coming to see me, and I. . . Oh, he shouldn't have put himself at risk like that. I feel so guilty." She blew her nose very loudly.

"It's not your fault, Julia," said Amy Bone, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Paton was just trying out a little experiment. One of us should have been with him, but he just slipped out without our knowing."

All that could be seen of Paton was his white face. He had a black mask over his eyes and a bandage around his head.

"Is he conscious?" Charlie asked in a whisper.

"Yes," said a thin voice that was still unmistakably Paton's.

Charlie bent closer to his uncle. "How do you feel, Uncle Paton?" he asked. "You are going to get better, aren't you?"

"Of course." His voice dropped to a whisper. "It was one of them, Charlie." His voice dropped to a whisper. "It was one of them, Charlie."

"One of who who ?" ?"

"My sisters. She was wearing a wig. I can't tell them apart without seeing the hair, but I know" She was wearing a wig. I can't tell them apart without seeing the hair, but I know"

Charlie was so shocked he sat down heavily on the side of the bed.

Miss Ingledew Ingledew got up to leave, but before she went she handed Charlie a small, battered-looking book. "I found it in the gutter after your uncle's accident," she said. "He asked me to give it to you. That's right, isn't it, Paton?" got up to leave, but before she went she handed Charlie a small, battered-looking book. "I found it in the gutter after your uncle's accident," she said. "He asked me to give it to you. That's right, isn't it, Paton?"

"Yes," he said weakly "Good-bye, Paton dear. I'll be back tomorrow."

As Miss Ingledew Ingledew turned away Paton gave a very slight smile. turned away Paton gave a very slight smile.

Emma came around to Charlie's side of the bed and said, "I'm sorry Charlie. I haven't been very nice just lately. But I want to help."

"OK," said Charlie awkwardly "I mean, I will help."

"Thanks," he said. "See you on Monday"

Emma could fly and that could be useful.

Miss Ingledew Ingledew and her niece walked away and and her niece walked away and Maisie Maisie began to tell Paton all the news she could remember, both public and personal. While she talked, Charlie looked at the small brown book. The name began to tell Paton all the news she could remember, both public and personal. While she talked, Charlie looked at the small brown book. The name Geiriadur Geiriadur was printed in faded gold on the cover. Inside there were columns of words in a strange language. was printed in faded gold on the cover. Inside there were columns of words in a strange language.

After a while Paton gave a huge yawn and murmured, "I'm wearing the mask because of the lights. I told them they hurt my eyes. It could've been nasty."

"It certainly could," said Mrs. Bone, gazing up at the rows of fluorescent lights.

"Good night, everyone," said Paton with another yawn another yawn . .

Taking the hint, Mrs. Bone and Maisie Maisie got up to leave, but leaning closer to his uncle, Charlie said, "Uncle Paton, the book's in a foreign language." got up to leave, but leaning closer to his uncle, Charlie said, "Uncle Paton, the book's in a foreign language."

"Welsh," muttered Paton. "You'll need it for Skarpo Skarpo ." ."

"Why?"

Paton didn't answer. He merely said, "Keep it safe."

Charlie wanted to ask his uncle's advice about Henry but he didn't see how he could while Paton was so ill.

A nurse appeared with a cart full of pills and, promising to return next day the three visitors said good night to Paton and left the hospital.

At number nine they found Grandma Bone in the kitchen eating cake.

"You haven't been to see Paton," Maisie Maisie said accusingly. said accusingly.

"I've been busy," grunted Grandma Bone.

" Grizelda Grizelda ! ! Your own brother!" Your own brother!" Maisie Maisie turned away in disgust. "You've got a heart of stone." turned away in disgust. "You've got a heart of stone."

Grandma Bone ignored her. She took a large bite of cream cake and then noticed the book Charlie was holding.

"What's that you've got?" She stared at Charlie's hand.

A book," said Charlie.

"I can see that," she said irritably "What sort of book? Give it here." "No. It's private."

Charlie ran upstairs. He didn't trust Grandma Bone. She was bound to come snooping in his room as soon as she got the chance. He found that the book just fit into his pants pocket. He would keep it with him wherever he went. Tomorrow they would pay another visit to the hospital and he could have a private chat with his uncle.

It was not to be. Next day when Charlie asked to visit the hospital, Maisie Maisie looked glum. "Grandma Bone and the looked glum. "Grandma Bone and the Yewbeams Yewbeams are going today" she said. "And I'm not traveling up there in are going today" she said. "And I'm not traveling up there in Eustacia's Eustacia's car. She drives like a maniac." car. She drives like a maniac."

"What about Mom?" asked Charlie. Charlie.

"She can't get away from work until after visiting hours."

Charlie didn't know what to do. At length he decided he must see his uncle, so at three o'clock when Eustacia's Eustacia's black car pulled up outside number nine Charlie got in the back with Grandma Bone. Aunt Venetia was in the pa.s.senger seat. black car pulled up outside number nine Charlie got in the back with Grandma Bone. Aunt Venetia was in the pa.s.senger seat.

"What a treat," exclaimed Aunt Venetia. "We're going to have little Charlie with us."

"Not little, if you don't mind," muttered Charlie.

"Sensitive about our size, are we?" Venetia Venetia giggled. giggled.

Charlie didn't think there was any point in replying As soon as they reached Paton's ward, Charlie realized that any conversation with his uncle would be impossible. When Paton heard his sisters' voices his face took on a blank, shuttered look, and he refused to speak.

"He doesn't appear to be conscious," said Grandma Bone. She raised her voice, "Paton, it's US. Your Your SISTERS. Aren't you going to talk to us?" SISTERS. Aren't you going to talk to us?"

Paton's face remained blank.

"We've bought grapes," said Eustacia Eustacia , , plonking plonking a bag on the bedside table. a bag on the bedside table.

"And Charlie's here," added Venetia Venetia . .

Paton gave no sign that he'd heard them. Charlie didn't blame him. The three sisters sat around the bed discussing the weather and the national news as if their brother were not there.

After half an hour they stood up, and Charlie took his chance. Leaning over his uncle, he whispered. "See you next weekend, Uncle P"