Charlie Bone and the Time Twister Part 4

"I know," Emma sighed. "I came to finish a drawing."

"We were just going," said Fidelio.

The two boys wriggled out from behind the painting.

Just as they were leaving the art room, Charlie caught sight of a large sketch book, lying open on a table. He stared at it, and moved closer.

"It's mine," said Emma. "Just sketches, nothing special."

But they were special. Both pages of the open book were covered with pictures of birds: birds in flight; swooping, hovering, soaring, and diving. They were so real Charlie felt that if he touched them he would feel real feathers.

"They're brilliant," he murmured.

"Brilliant," Fidelio repeated.

"Thank you!" Emma gave one of her shy smiles.

All at once, the door behind them opened, and a voice said, "What's going on in here?"

Mr. Boldova Boldova appeared. You could tell he was an art-teacher, because his clothes were covered in splashes of paint. Even his green cape, which he often forgot to wear, had little flecks of color on the sleeves. Mr. appeared. You could tell he was an art-teacher, because his clothes were covered in splashes of paint. Even his green cape, which he often forgot to wear, had little flecks of color on the sleeves. Mr. Boldova Boldova always looked as if he had just been on vacation. He had bright hazel eyes, a very healthy complexion, and long brown hair tied in a ponytail. always looked as if he had just been on vacation. He had bright hazel eyes, a very healthy complexion, and long brown hair tied in a ponytail.

"I was showing my work to Charlie and Fidelio," Emma said confidently "We were just going."

"That's all right, Emma." The art teacher beamed at them all.

It was impossible to be afraid of Mr. Boldova Boldova . He never gave detention, never punished pupils for untidiness, forgetfulness, or even being late. The only thing that made him angry was bad art. He gave Charlie a searching look and said, "Ah, Charlie Bone." . He never gave detention, never punished pupils for untidiness, forgetfulness, or even being late. The only thing that made him angry was bad art. He gave Charlie a searching look and said, "Ah, Charlie Bone."

"Yes, sir," said Charlie. "Good night, sir."

The three children slipped past him and ran for their dormitories. It was already five minutes to lights out. Matron would be on the warpath, and Matron was Matron was not an understanding person. She was, in fact, Charlie's great aunt, not an understanding person. She was, in fact, Charlie's great aunt, Lucretia Lucretia Yewbeam Yewbeam . .

As they dashed into their dormitory the boys heard Miss Yewbeam Yewbeam shouting at some poor girl who had lost her slippers. shouting at some poor girl who had lost her slippers.

"We'll just make it before she gets here," said Fidelio, rus.h.i.+ng to the bathroom.

Billy Raven was sitting up in bed. "Where've you been?" he asked Charlie.

"Had some extra work to do," said Charlie. He pulled on his pajamas and jumped into bed, just as Matron poked her long face around the door.

"Lights out!" she barked, flicking the light switch.

Out went the bare bulb hanging in the center of Ihe Ihe room. room.

"That was a close one," murmured Gabriel Silk from the bed next to Charlie.

Just before Charlie finally drifted off he thought of the boy in the tower; cold, hungry and probably frightened. What was to be done with Henry Yewbeam Yewbeam ? ?

Unable to sleep, Henry Yewbeam Yewbeam was staring out across the city was staring out across the city There There was a small, round window in the wall between the bookcases and Henry anxious to know if the world had changed in ninety years, had climbed onto a stool to find out. was a small, round window in the wall between the bookcases and Henry anxious to know if the world had changed in ninety years, had climbed onto a stool to find out.

The world had, indeed, changed. The sky above the horizon seemed to be on fire. It had a terrifying orange glow Could Could it be the rows of streetlights leading into the distance? Pinp.r.i.c.ks of radiance shone out from the dark blocks of houses and below the tower pairs of s.h.i.+ning lights, some red, some white, swept across Henry's field of vision, like earthly shooting stars. it be the rows of streetlights leading into the distance? Pinp.r.i.c.ks of radiance shone out from the dark blocks of houses and below the tower pairs of s.h.i.+ning lights, some red, some white, swept across Henry's field of vision, like earthly shooting stars.

"Motor cars," murmured Henry as one came closer. "So many"

"So many" said a voice, like an echo.

Henry became aware that a man was standing in the darkness beside him. The piano music coming from the room next door had stopped. Henry was relieved; he didn't have much of an ear for music.

"Are you Mr. Pilgrim?" Henry asked.

There was no reply to his question. In the soft light coming through the window Henry could make out a pale face and very black hair. The man's expression was solemn and faraway.

"I'm Henry Yewbeam Yewbeam ," said Henry ," said Henry Still no reply It was like talking to someone who wasn't really there. Perhaps it wouldn't matter if Henry told him the truth.

"I'm very old," he said. "Or at least I should be."

In the distance a clock began to strike. The deep chimes of the cathedral pealed out across the city Mr. Pilgrim turned to Henry His eyes held a strange glitter.

Henry had just counted the twelfth stroke when Mr. Pilgrim said, "Are you cold?"

"Yes," said Henry The piano teacher took off his blue cape and wrapped it around the boy's shoulders.

"Thank you," said Henry stepping off the stool.

Mr. Pilgrim smiled. He stretched up to a high shelf and pulled a tin from a row of books. Lifting the lid he offered the tin to Henry "Oatcakes," he said. "You see I live up here, practically And one gets hungry"

"One does," Henry agreed, politely taking only one oatcake.

Mr. Pilgrim didn't offer him any more. He put the tin on the stool and said, "Help yourself yourself ." The faraway look had come back into his eyes. He seemed to be trying to remember something. Frowning, he murmured, "Good night." ." The faraway look had come back into his eyes. He seemed to be trying to remember something. Frowning, he murmured, "Good night."

And then he was gone, slipping away down some stone steps with hardly a sound.

Henry would have liked the strange man to stay He was grateful for the extra cape but, to tell the truth, it was not as cold as it had been. In fact the temperature was temperature was rising rapidly The icicles hanging outside the window were beginning to melt. rising rapidly The icicles hanging outside the window were beginning to melt.

All around the tower there was a steady drip, drip, drip of ice turning to water. It was a sound that filled Henry with foreboding. He had just worked out that his sudden twist through time must have had something to do with the cold. He had arrived in Bloor's when the temperature had reached exactly the same degree as when he had left, in 1916. A change in the weather could make a difference in time travel.

"I won't be able to get home," Henry said to himself. "I'll never see my family again." And suddenly his situation seemed almost too grim to bear. "But I must!" he murmured.

OLIVIA MAKES A MESS.

Billy Raven lay wide awake. For two weeks he had slept alone in the long dormitory. Now he must get used to the grunts and snores, the heavy breathing and tiny whimpers of other boys. It wasn't easy Billy had always been a light sleeper.

Tonight he was feeling excited. He had something to tell old Ezekiel Bloor. Perhaps he would be rewarded. When he was quite sure the other boys were asleep, Billy swung his feet into his slippers and pulled on his bathrobe. The floorboards gave only the slightest creak as he crossed the room and slipped out of the dormitory.

Manfred Bloor had given Billy a present for Christmas; a long black flashlight with a very powerful beam. Billy hadn't expected a gift from the head boy of all people, but when Manfred bent down and whispered, "We must keep our spies happy" Billy had understood.

He switched on the flashlight and a brilliant shaft of light swept right to the end of the pa.s.sage. Billy began his long journey to the upper regions of the west wing. He usually waited for Blessed Blessed to lead him. But tonight he couldn't wait. to lead him. But tonight he couldn't wait.

As Billy made his way closer to the old man's room, he had to navigate a gloomy realm that never changed. It was one of the few places where Ezekiel's flawed magic had worked as he wished. So Billy's slippered slippered feet made no prints in the thick dust, and the cobwebs he walked through wove themselves together as soon as he had pa.s.sed. If it were not for the occasional hiss from a gaslight, you would have thought the creaking steps and shadowy pa.s.sages had been deserted for a hundred years. feet made no prints in the thick dust, and the cobwebs he walked through wove themselves together as soon as he had pa.s.sed. If it were not for the occasional hiss from a gaslight, you would have thought the creaking steps and shadowy pa.s.sages had been deserted for a hundred years.

Billy had reached a black door, the paint scarred by years of dog scratchings scratchings . He knocked twice and a voice croaked, "Who is there?" . He knocked twice and a voice croaked, "Who is there?"

"Billy Raven," said Billy "Enter, Billy Raven," said the voice.

Billy walked in.

Ezekiel Bloor sat in his wheelchair beside a blazing fire. A sheepskin blanket was draped around his shoulders, and his ancient skull-like face poked from beneath a black woolly hat. A pile of faded velvet cus.h.i.+ons were propped behind his back, and he wore a black velvet jacket studded with gold b.u.t.tons. For all his finery though, Billy couldn't help thinking the old man looked a bit like a dead sheep.

Without being invited, the small boy sat down heavily in the chair opposite Ezekiel. The sudden change in atmosphere made him feel dizzy "Where's the dog?" asked the old man.

"I don't know I couldn't wait for him. I wanted to tell you something." Billy's gla.s.ses had misted up in the steamy atmosphere. He took them off and rubbed the lenses with his thumb.

"Ah good. Something about Charlie?" Something about Charlie?" The old man leaned forward eagerly The old man leaned forward eagerly "Sort of," said Billy "Come on, then. Tell, tell."

"Well, it was Blessed Blessed really He saw it." really He saw it."

"It?" wheezed the old man. "It? "It? What 'it' was this? And the dog's name is Percy What 'it' was this? And the dog's name is Percy How How many times do I have to tell you!" many times do I have to tell you!"

"Sorry But he thinks he's Blessed Blessed ." ."

"Yes, yes. Never mind. Go on!" Ezekiel waved his hand impatiently Billy put his gla.s.ses back on, and then wished he hadn't. The old man's wizened face loomed unpleasantly close. Billy could see every wart and bristle in vivid detail.

"The dog was howling and Manfred sent me to find out what was wrong, knowing I could understand dog talk, and all that."

"Wish I could understand the wretched dog." Ezekiel shook his head. "So what did he say?"

"Said he'd seen a boy come from nowhere. And this boy had a ball, very small and s.h.i.+ny He said it was bad . . ." And this boy had a ball, very small and s.h.i.+ny He said it was bad . . ."

"WHAT?" The old man clapped a hand over his mouth. "What? A boy and . . . and was it gla.s.s, this ball?"

"Could be," said Billy amazed by the excitement his news had caused.

"No, no, it can't be." Ezekiel stood up, but his useless legs let him down, and he sank back into his coc.o.o.n of sheep's wool and velvet.

"And then I noticed Charlie Bone in the hall, and Blessed Blessed said he looked like the appearing boy" Billy smiled and waited for the effect these words would have. He wasn't disappointed. said he looked like the appearing boy" Billy smiled and waited for the effect these words would have. He wasn't disappointed.

"Charlie Bone," breathed Ezekiel. "Yes, yes, of course. He was a bit like Charlie Bone. No wonder I can't stand the boy Find him, Billy Bring him here."

"Who? Charlie?" Charlie?"

"No, you fool. The other one. The other one. My cousin Henry" My cousin Henry"

"Your cousin?" said Billy confused. "How? "How? I don't know where he is." I don't know where he is."

"You've just told me he's in the building. It can't be that difficult."

"You mean he's your your . . . ?" . . . ?"

"My cousin, yes. I sent him packing years ago. I sent him packing years ago. Never thought I'd see the wretch again." Never thought I'd see the wretch again." The old man's voice dropped to a low mumble. The old man's voice dropped to a low mumble. "Must be the weather - coordinating temperatures. "Must be the weather - coordinating temperatures. Mm, hmm . . . Time Twister works that way. . . Ho hum." He drummed his fingers on the arm of his wheelchair. Mm, hmm . . . Time Twister works that way. . . Ho hum." He drummed his fingers on the arm of his wheelchair.

Billy was intrigued. "What's a Time Twister?"

Ezekiel looked up. His small black eyes seemed to be staring right through Billy "It's a marvelous thing," he murmured. "A crystal ball, hardly bigger than a marble. "A crystal ball, hardly bigger than a marble. It can twist you through the years. It can twist you through the years. No wonder the dog didn't like it. No wonder the dog didn't like it. Never look at Never look at it, it, unless you want to travel, that's what my aunt told me. Ask the dog where that boy is. Percy knows everything. Now get out and close the door." unless you want to travel, that's what my aunt told me. Ask the dog where that boy is. Percy knows everything. Now get out and close the door."

Billy was very disappointed. He'd expected to be rewarded with a cup of hot cocoa at the very least. " Er Er . . . you know what you said about my parents he began. . . . you know what you said about my parents he began.

"Parents? You haven't got any" said Ezekiel. Clearly his mind was on other things. You haven't got any" said Ezekiel. Clearly his mind was on other things.

"No, but you said someone wanted to adopt me," Billy said hopefully "Did I? Can't remember We'll We'll see about them when you've found the boy And don't forget the Twister." Ezekiel dismissed Billy with a wave of his bony hand. see about them when you've found the boy And don't forget the Twister." Ezekiel dismissed Billy with a wave of his bony hand.

Billy slipped out of his chair and made for the door. Then he turned to the old man and said, "Thanks for the boots. My chilblains are much better."

Ezekiel grunted. He wasn't listening to the boy When When Billy had gone the old man stared into the flames and uttered a stream of strange words and sounds. Now and again the name "Henry" bubbled to the surface, and then "Time Twister." Other recognizable words were "Never!" Billy had gone the old man stared into the flames and uttered a stream of strange words and sounds. Now and again the name "Henry" bubbled to the surface, and then "Time Twister." Other recognizable words were "Never!" "How?" "How?" "No, no!" "Why?" "Impossible!" These were spat so hard into the flames they began to sizzle. The fire might have gone out altogether if the old man hadn't reached into a silver box beside him and tossed a handful of sparkling sticks into the grate. But these small magic sticks caused such a violent explosion, clouds of black smoke billowed out into the room, and the old man was overcome by a violent fit of coughing. "No, no!" "Why?" "Impossible!" These were spat so hard into the flames they began to sizzle. The fire might have gone out altogether if the old man hadn't reached into a silver box beside him and tossed a handful of sparkling sticks into the grate. But these small magic sticks caused such a violent explosion, clouds of black smoke billowed out into the room, and the old man was overcome by a violent fit of coughing.

"Idiots!" he croaked at the innocent silver box.

Charlie was awake, awake, he couldn't think why Something must have woken him. What was it? he couldn't think why Something must have woken him. What was it?

The distant chimes of the cathedral clock began to ring out across the city. It was midnight and the back of Charlie's neck began to tingle. He felt as he always did when he heard the clock strike twelve. Afraid and elated at the same time. Afraid and elated at the same time.

A bed creaked at the end of the room and he wondered if Billy had been out and about. Even if he had he wouldn't be punished for it. Last semester Billy had won the ruin game, and he was now the proud possessor of a bronze medal, a medal that would give him extra privileges and a whole year free of detention.

"Billy is that you?" Charlie whispered.

No answer, but there was another long creak, and Charlie was sure that it came from Billy's bed.

"Where've you been?" he asked.

"None of your business," came came the reply the reply It was definitely Billy's voice. Charlie burrowed under the covers. If Billy wants to be secretive, let him, If Billy wants to be secretive, let him, Charlie thought. He had other things to worry about: rescuing Henry for one thing. The whole enterprise needed very careful planning. First of all, he would have to gel some food to Henry Charlie thought. He had other things to worry about: rescuing Henry for one thing. The whole enterprise needed very careful planning. First of all, he would have to gel some food to Henry Before Before he could decide how to do this, Charlie had fallen asleep. he could decide how to do this, Charlie had fallen asleep.

Fidelio's dreams had been more productive. He had devised a way for Charlie to sneak up the music tower after lunch. But they would need help.

Over breakfast next morning, Fidelio outlined his plan to Charlie. "Olivia will do it," he murmured in Charlie's ear. Although there was a great deal of noise all around them, Fidelio didn't want their plans to be overheard.

"Olivia? How can she help?" Charlie said softly He tried to keep his lips as rigid as possible because Billy Raven, sitting opposite, was watching him intently.

Fidelio was also aware of Billy's intense stare. He turned his head away from the table and whispered harshly "She can create a diversion. We need someone to stop Manfred and Asa Asa Pike reaching the hall, when you go through the door to the tower. They both use the drama cafeteria; if Olivia can hold those two up for a few minutes, you stand a chance. No one else would bother to watch us." Pike reaching the hall, when you go through the door to the tower. They both use the drama cafeteria; if Olivia can hold those two up for a few minutes, you stand a chance. No one else would bother to watch us."

"What are you whispering about?"

Charlie and Fidelio looked up to see Manfred Bloor leaning over Billy's chair. He was studying them closely It was almost as if the younger boy had called him over.

"Well, come on, on, share your secret, Charlie Bone!" Manfred's black eyes glittered dangerously share your secret, Charlie Bone!" Manfred's black eyes glittered dangerously Charlie immediately lowered his head. He knew he could fight Manfred's hypnotizing stare, but he didn't want to get into trouble with the head boy before Henry had been rescued.

Fidelio said quickly "We were just discussing Olivia Vertigo's hair."

"Oh?" Manfred raised a thin black eyebrow "Yes, we thought blue looked very nice on her," said Charlie, "but we didn't like to say it out loud, in case 1 1 she heard us." she heard us."

"As if," said Manfred scathingly "It's not exactly quiet in here, is it? Personally I think Olivia Vertigo's hair looks ghastly"