Charlie Bone and the Time Twister

by Jenny Nimmo

  Charlie began to explain how urgent it was to get Tancred back to the academy but his uncle wouldn't listen. It was obviously going to take Paton a long time to become the brave and helpful uncle that he had once been.

  "We've got to get there somehow" Charlie said desperately.

  "I don't go out in daylight," snapped Paton. "You'll have to find someone else."

  CHAPTER 8

  THE THUNDER HOUSE

  Henry Yewbeam was bored. Cook's underground rooms were cozy and interesting, but Henry had explored every inch of them. He wished Charlie would come and talk to him. But Cook said Charlie had gone home for the weekend.

  Cook seemed to be very busy even on a Saturday. She had found a pair of old pajamas for Henry and some modern-looking clothes: long trousers, black shoes, and gray socks. And she had persuaded him to exchange his warm jacket for a blue sweater. Henry found this wasn't as warm as his jacket, but at least he still had the blue cape he was wearing when he came twisting through time.

  Cook had hidden the Time Twister. "I don't want you trying anything silly again," she said, wagging her finger at Henry "You're here for good now Thing is, what to do with you?"

  Henry hadn't given up hope. There had to be a way back to 1916, otherwise what would become of him? He didn't want to return to Bloor's, of course. But if he could just get to the right year, he would eventually reach his happy home beside the sea.

  "But I'll have to go through that other world first,” he said to himself "The world in the Time Twister."

  When Henry had traveled through time he’d briefly glimpsed the world of the Red King. His mother, who was a Bloor, had told him once that he was descended from this mysterious Red King.

  "Some of the king's descendants have inherited a part of his magic," Grace Bloor had said. "But as far as I can tell, none of us have." And she had looked around at her family and laughed in her playful comforting way and added, "Thank goodness!" Henry wished he could hear her laughter again.

  "Charlie's got some of that magic," he said to himself.

  Perhaps he could live with Charlie? That wouldn't be so bad. Charlie could teach him to use all the new-fangled things, Cook had told him about: televisions, videos, computers, and other amazing things.

  He'd been told that Cook would be back to give him his lunch at half-past twelve. But, according to the little clock beside Henry's bed, it was still only ten o’clock.

  "More than two hours of nothing," sighed Henry.

  He had an idea. Now that he was dressed like all the other boys at Bloor's, surely he could do some exploring. He had always wanted to go into the ruin, but Sir Gideon had forbidden it. Now was Henry's chance.

  He tiptoed out of Cook's room, carefully closing the closet door behind him. After several more closets he found himself outside the cafeteria and running toward a loud noise that was coming from the hall. He looked in and saw a big man with a shaven head, hammering something into the main door.

  Without stopping his work, the big man said, Who might you be?"

  "I'm — er — Henry." said Henry nervously.

  "Henry what?"

  " Er — er — Bone." Henry didn't know why he'd said Bone. He just thought it might be a bad idea to say Yewbeam.

  "Don't seem very sure, do ya?" The man continued hammering.

  "I'm quite sure, thank you," said Henry.

  "We've got another Bone here. A real terror of a Bone."

  "He's my cousin."

  "I s'pose you're one of them endowed kids. Troublemakers, all of them." The man delivered a really savage blow to the door. "Broke the door, that's what the stormy one's done, blast him!"

  "Oh!" Henry continued on his way to the garden.

  "Taking the dog for a walk, are ya?" said the man.

  "What?" Henry increased his stride.

  "The dog. Miserable beast."

  Henry looked down to find Blessed panting at his feet. "Oh, yes. Come along," he said and walked briskly to the garden door.

  Once outside, Henry stopped to catch his breath.

  Blessed looked as nervous as he did.

  "What's the matter?" said Henry He bent down and patted the old dog's head. Blessed was very ugly, there was something so sad about his solemn, wrinkled face, Henry couldn't help feeling sorry for him.

  There were four boys playing soccer in the snowy slush just ahead of them. They paid no attention to Henry and Blessed as they walked past. A huge tree had been sawn into logs in the center of the field and Henry was tempted to climb up on them, but time was precious and he had to see the ruin.

  When they reached the great red walls, Henry felt very excited. The place smelled of age and danger. He imagined knights in armor scrambling over the walls, battle horses charging through the entrance, and arrows whizzing overhead. He was about to walk through the huge arched entrance, when a voice said, "You boy come here!"

  Henry turned to see two older boys marching toward him. They both wore purple capes and had grim, unfriendly faces.

  "Who are you?" shouted the taller boy.

  Henry plunged into the ruin. He found himself a square courtyard with five passages leading out of it. Henry took the middle one.

  He could hear the other boys murmuring behind him. Henry ran as fast as he could. The passage opened into another open courtyard. Henry ran across it and stumbled down a flight of steep stone steps. He was now in a grassy glade, ringed with headless statues. In the center of the glade, two girls in purple capes sat on a large stone tomb. One was very small and very dark, with a long black pigtail and gold-rimmed glasses. The other had a bright, healthy-looking face and amazing blue hair.

  "Hello," said Henry breathlessly. "I'm er . . ."

  "You're Henry aren't you?" said the girl with blue hair. "Charlie told me about you. They're looking for you, you know The place was in a turmoil this morning. Manfred threw loads of music books out of the tower; he was in such a fury I'm Olivia and this is Bindi."

  "I'm very glad to meet you." Henry went to shake their hands. "How do you do?"

  "You are polite," said Olivia. "I expect that comes of being old."

  "Old? I suppose people would consider me to be old. But actually I only feel about eleven years."

  "Me, too," said Olivia. "But then I am. We wouldn't normally be here on Saturday but we've got detention."

  There was a shout from the courtyard above them and Blessed came stumbling down the steps.

  "They must have followed the dog, " muttered Henry "Two boys chased me in here. One was very tall and wore his hair like a girl."

  “A ponytail," said Olivia. "That's Manfred Bloor, the head boy."

  "We can't let him find you," said Bindi. "Quick, get in here."

  With surprising speed, the two girls leaped off the tomb and slid back the top. Henry stared into the dark gap. The inside of the tomb smelled of mildew and decomposing things.

  "Go on," said Olivia. "You can breathe in there. We've tried it."

  Another shout from above made Henry climb into the tomb. The girls pushed back the lid, leaving a tiny gap for air. They swung themselves back onto the top just as Manfred and Asa came rushing down the steps.

  "Have you see a strange boy?" said Manfred.

  "We've seen Daniel Robottom," said Olivia, choosing a boy about the same size as Henry who also wore a blue cloak. "He went that way!" She pointed to an arched entrance in one of the walls.

  "Daniel Robottom? Are you sure?" Asa's yellow eyes narrowed suspiciously.

  "Of course we're sure," said Bindi. "He was humming. Daniel always hums."

  Manfred and Asa rushed through the arch.

  There was a tap from inside the tomb.

  " Shh!" hissed Olivia. "You can't come out. It's not safe yet."

  She was right. A few minutes later, Manfred and Asa came running back.

  "Are you positive he went that way?" said Manfred.

  "Cross my heart and hope to die," Olivia said blithely "But he went back up those steps about fiv
e minutes ago. You must have missed him."

  "What's he done?" asked Bindi.

  "None of your business," said Manfred.

  "We're looking for someone else," added Asa.

  Manfred shot him a look that said, "Keep quiet!"

  "What's my great-grandfather's dog doing in here?" asked Manfred.

  "We thought we'd take him for a walk," Bindi told him.

  The two boys turned away but as they mounted the steps, Asa looked back and said, "Why are you two here, anyway?"

  "We came for a bit of peace." Olivia sighed. "The boys are so rough."

  "I wouldn't stay in the ruin too long," Asa gave her a peculiar smile and followed Manfred up the steps.

  "He gives me the creeps," muttered Bindi.

  They waited another five minutes before deciding it was safe enough to let Henry out. He scrambled over the side of the tomb and dropped onto the grass. His cloak and trousers were covered in green dust and bits of cobweb clung to his hair.

  "There's a huge toad in there," he said. "I'm not very fond of toads."

  The girls brushed him down and then all three sat on the tomb and shared a roll that Bindi had managed to sneak out of the cafeteria.

  Henry told the girls about his home beside the sea, and how he had come upon the Time Twister. Olivia recounted some of her famous mother's adventures while filming in the jungle. And then Bindi described how she had traveled to India to visit her amazing grandparents.

  When the horn called them in for lunch, Olivia said, "Come with us, Henry Stay calm. Don't look nervous, and when we reach the cafeteria you can slip through into the kitchen."

  Henry had only told the girls he was hiding in the kitchen. Although he trusted the girls, he felt it would be safer if no one knew exactly where he was.

  Unfortunately when he reached the cafeteria he walked straight into a lunch lady.

  "What are you doing in here?" she asked.

  "M . . . m . . . message for Cook," stuttered Henry.

  "She's in the cold room." The dinner lady smiled. She was young and cheerful-looking.

  Henry made his way through the kitchen. Cook wasn't in the cold room. He tried to find the closet he'd come out of but he kept blundering into broom closets and cupboards full of pots and pans. Cook's secret entrance seemed to have disappeared.

  Henry was fumbling behind a row of plastic aprons when a firm hand came down on his shoulder. Henry froze.

  A voice in his ear hissed, "Henry Yewbeam, where have you been?"

  Henry turned to see Cook's angry red face.

  "I just went for a little walk," he explained.

  "Didn't I tell you not to leave here," she whispered harshly "Didn't I? Never do that again. It's dangerous out there."

  "I'm sorry" said Henry contritely.

  "Took you long enough to find the right place, didn't it?" Cook turned a handle beside the row of aprons and a door swung inward. Without a word she pushed Henry through the door into a stack of mops and brooms. "You'll have to find your own way now,” she said. "If you're lucky you'll get lunch in half an hour." She swiftly closed the door.

  Henry made his way back to Cook's rooms. He sat beside the stove, feeling rather sorry for himself. Was he to spend the rest of his life like this? Hiding from people who wished him harm? Why was it dangerous "out there"? He recalled something Manfred Bloor had said to the girls. "What's my great-grandfather's dog doing in here?"

  Who was Manfred's great-grandfather? Was it possible . . .? No, it couldn't be. Could it? Cousin Ezekiel would be over a hundred years old.

  It is possible, thought Henry. He shuddered. Cousin Ezekiel is still alive, and he still wants to get rid of me, one way or another.

  Henry wished the Time Twister had taken him somewhere else — Charlie Bone's house, for instance.

  At that moment, Charlie would rather not have been in his house. He and Benjamin were sitting in the kitchen at number nine, wondering what to do. Frantic phone calls had been made between Charlie, Fidelio, and Gabriel. But no parent could be found, or persuaded to give them a lift up to the Heights.

  "We could get a taxi," Benjamin suggested. "I've got some money"

  Charlie didn't think they had enough. His mother was out at work and Maisie was shopping. He didn't think his uncle would have any money and he certainly couldn't ask Grandma Bone.

  "We're stuck." Charlie stared glumly out of the kitchen window.

  He had hardly spoken when a luxurious car drove into view It pulled up right in front of number nine, and Lysander jumped out of the passenger seat. He waved at the kitchen window.

  Charlie scribbled a note to his mother, checked the door key in his pocket, and ran to the front door. He opened it just as Lysander was about to ring the bell.

  "Hi there, Charlie!" said Lysander. "My dad's going to give us a ride up to Gabriel's place."

  Benjamin and Runner Bean appeared behind Charlie.

  "Can my friend and his dog come?" asked Charlie.

  "Of course. More is merrier," said Lysander. "Come."

  Benjamin, Charlie, and Runner Bean followed Lysander down the steps to the car. Lysander got in the front, while the others climbed in the back. They found Fidelio already tucked into the deep leather seat.

  "How do you do, boys," said the very handsome black man sitting in the driver's seat.

  "My dad," said Lysander quickly "He's a judge, but don't let that scare you."

  "How do you do, Judge," said Benjamin and Charlie, slightly daunted by this imposing man.

  The car purred away from the curb, sailed down Filbert Street, around the park, and then up through the city Up and up and up. None of them noticed the yellow taxi that was following them. The car was now climbing the steep road up to the Heights. They passed several grand houses and then they were beyond the fashionable area and skirting the borders of a wild-looking wood. The judge pulled up outside a rather dilapidated building with a very muddy yard. Hens scratched in the dirt and a goat with large horns was chewing a bush.

  "This is as far as I go, boys," said the judge.

  "Couldn't you take us up to the top, Dad?" asked Lysander.

  "I'm not driving my new car up there," said his lather. "Too much turbulence."

  As they got out, they could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.

  "Good luck, young fellows!" The judge backed into the muddy yard, turned his car, and drove down the hill.

  "Will he come and get us?" asked Benjamin, anxiously.

  "Might," said Lysander. "Might be Mom, though."

  A little further down the hill, and out of sight of the boys, the yellow taxi had pulled up. An odd-looking creature got out; an old man in a long, dirty raincoat. He had a white mustache but tufts of ginger hair stuck out from under his filthy tweed cap. He paid the driver and then began to run up the hill, not moving like an old man at all, but more like a schoolboy.

  Charlie had never been so high above the city The view was magnificent, but there was something unsettling about such a high and windy place. The trees behind them sighed ominously and the thunder became more persistent.

  They were about to walk into the yard when Gabriel came out of the dilapidated house. He was wearing long, muddy boots and splashed deliberately through the deepest puddles. His jeans were so dirty the mud hardly made a difference.

  "Hi!" Gabriel raised his left hand. "Look! Good as new."

  "Glad to hear it," said Lysander. "Are we all ready then?"

  "Ready for anything," said Fidelio.

  They set off Lysander and Gabriel leading the way After a while the road became rough and narrow; and then it petered out altogether. They found themselves at a gate. A wooden sign, marked THUNDER HOUSE, had been nailed to the top bar. Beneath this a smaller sign read, BEWARE OF THE WEATHER!

  "What does that mean?" said Benjamin.

  "We'll soon find out," said Fidelio.

  Beyond the gate a narrow lane led between rows of dark evergreens. The tops of the trees thrashed violen
tly in the wind that swirled overhead and twigs, stones, and dead grass came bowling down the lane.

  "Here goes," said Lysander, opening the gate. "I've been here before, but it's never been this windy"

  The others followed him through. They were immediately struck by flying debris.

  "This isn't going to be easy" muttered Charlie.

  Leaning into the wind, the two leaders set off up the lane. Behind them Fidelio, Charlie, and Benjamin walked in a huddle, with Runner Bean anxiously winding around their legs.

  With every step they took, the wind grew fiercer, and now sharp little bolts of hail peppered their faces. Charlie took a peek around Lysander and saw an awesome gray stone building. The roof was divided into three very steep triangles, the middle section resembling a tower. The windows were long and narrow, and the porch roof echoed the sharp angle of the center gable. A weather vane in the shape of a hammer whirled madly at the very top of the building. Every now and again the whole building shook violently.

  As they drew near to the house, the porch door opened and out came a man with frizzy blond hair and a beard to match. He must have been nearly seven feet tall because he banged his head on the top of the door frame when he stepped through it.

  "It's no use," the big man roared, as the boys battled their way toward the house. "I've tried to calm him down, but we've got to let this storm blow itself out."

  "We need him, Mr. Torsson!" Lysander shouted through the wind.

  "I know! I know; but Tancred's got this weather thing worse than I have. I can't manage him at all."

  The determined gang had now reached the shelter of the house. Not that it gave them much protection. The wind came at them from every direction, tearing their hair and making their eyes stream with tears.

  Mr. Torsson stood with his arms across his chest, braced against the hail that battered his broad back. "I've tried to reason with him." He coughed and a deep rumble echoed somewhere in his chest. "He's locked himself in his room. Furniture's probably in smithereens by now My wife . . ." He gave another cough, this one coinciding with a bolt of lightning that came sizzling down a nearby tree.

  They all watched the tree crash to the ground, its feathery branches alight with flames. These were soon put out, however, by the deluge that suddenly poured from the sky In a brief moment of quiet before the next clap of thunder, Mr. Torsson said sadly "My poor wife's got a terrible headache."