by Jenny Nimmo
"Oh, dear boy!" Paton suddenly banged the table with his fist. "I blame myself. Keeping one's head down is just not good enough. I knew something was going on, I can't deny it. Those sisters of mine were plotting and whispering; they had secret meetings, and there were visits from Dr. Bloor and his ghastly grandfather Ezekiel, and I took no notice."
"Grandfather?" said Charlie, somewhat surprised.
“Yes, grandfather," said Paton. “An evil old man if ever there was one. He must be over a hundred by now. One evening I got a phone call from Lyell. He had discovered that something was going on and he wanted my advice. In those days he lived on the other side of the city with you and your mother. I said I would meet him outside the cathedral." Paton covered his face with his hands. "I didn't go, Charlie," he moaned. "I forgot. I was working on my book, you see. But what's a book compared with a life? I never saw your father again."
In spite of the dreadful and mysterious events surrounding his father's disappearance, Charlie felt rather proud. His father had tried to prevent something evil from happening.
"Uncle Paton, tomorrow I'm going to take Dr. Tolly's tape to Miss Ingledew,” he said. “And while I'm there, I'll try and explain things for you about the exploding glass and everything."
"It's very good of you," Paton said sadly, “but I'm afraid my prospects there are doomed."
"They're not," Charlie retorted. He suddenly realized that he and his uncle had been making quite a noise. Why wasn't Grandma Bone thumping the floor or stomping downstairs to poke her nose into things?
"What's happened to Grandma?" he asked.
Paton smiled for the first time that night. "I put something in her milk. She won't wake up for hours. Probably not until teatime tomorrow" Charlie burst out giggling. He couldn't help himself Laughing merrily he and his uncle climbed the stairs together, their problems forgotten. For now.
CHAPTER 14
BILLY'S DARK BARGAIN
When Billy Raven told Charlie that he didn't mind being alone in the long dormitory it wasn't strictly true. In fact, Billy dreaded Saturday nights. He found it difficult to sleep knowing he would have to spend another whole day and night on his own.
True, Blessed kept him company in his way but the old dog's knowledge of humans was limited. His conversation was full of animal events and animal feelings and, now that he was getting old, he moaned constantly about his ailments. Billy sympathized, but he would rather have had another boy to talk to, or even a girl.
There were other orphans at the academy Billy knew this, but they had all been adopted by nice, friendly families. Billy often wondered why no one had ever wanted to adopt him. He decided it was because he looked so strange; perhaps people were afraid of his white hair and dark red eyes.
Across the courtyard, the candles in Manfred's room shone like eerie little stars. Billy watched them for a while, then, leaving the curtains open, he climbed over Blessed and got into bed. His head had barely touched the pillow when the old dog gave a snort and sat up.
"Billy's wanted," said Blessed.
"Who wants me?" asked Billy slightly alarmed.
"Old man. Now I show"
"Now? But it's dark and ... and ... why does he want me?"
"Blessed not know Come now"
Billy put on his slippers, took his flashlight from a drawer, then, wrapping himself in his bathrobe, followed Blessed out of the dormitory The battery in Billy's flashlight had run very low and he could barely see Blessed's tail as it swung in front of him. Billy kept meaning to ask one of the other boys to get him a battery but he wasn't sure who to ask. Next weekend he would be going home with Charlie. Charlie would get him a new battery he was sure.
Blessed was walking much faster than usual and Billy had to run a few paces to keep up with the old dog. When Blessed came to a staircase, however, he slowed down. He heaved himself upward, panting desperately At the top of the staircase the air was thick and warm. Now they were entering the Bloors' family quarters. Billy shuddered to think what would happen if Manfred found him outside his door.
“Are you sure this isn't a mistake?" Billy asked the dog. "Do you think you could be wrong?"
"Blessed never wrong," snorted the dog. "Follow" Billy followed, along passages that reeked of candles, and then up another staircase and into a shadowy area where flickering gas jets hissed and popped from the wall, and cobwebs hung limply from the dark, crumbling ceiling.
"Nice smell," Blessed commented.
"Nice?" said Billy. “It's like bad eggs and ... and dead things."
"Nice," said Blessed. He had reached a black door with a huge brass handle. The paint was scarred by a patch of deeply scored lines and, as Blessed lifted a paw and began to scratch at the door, Billy realized what they were. Obviously the old dog came here often.
After three scratches, a cracked and haughty voice said, "Enter!"
Billy turned the handle and went in. He found himself in an extraordinary room. The only light came from a fire that burned in a massive stone fireplace at the end of the room. Beside the fire sat an old man in a wheelchair. Strands of thin white hair hung limply from a red woolen cap, and beneath the cap the old man's bony face protruded like a skull; the eyes were so deep and dark, the cheeks so hollow, and the lips so thin they were hardly there, and yet the dreadful mouth smiled when Billy came in.
"Come closer, Billy Raven." The old man beckoned with a long, twisted finger.
Billy swallowed and approached. The heat in the room was stifling and Billy couldn't imagine why the old man wore a woolen shawl around his shoulders.
He took a few steps into the room and stopped. Blessed waddled past him and lay beside the fire, panting.
"It's very hot in here, sir," Billy said, gasping for air.
"You'll get used to it. My doggie loves a fire, don't you, Percy?" The old man grinned fondly at the dog, though it was hard to tell. He might have been scowling.
"I thought he was Cook's dog, sir."
"He thinks he's Cook's dog because I can't take him for walks anymore. Can I, Percy?"
"He told me his name was Blessed." Billy ventured a little farther into the room.
"His name is Percival Pettigrew Pennington Pitt. He just thinks he's Blessed." The old man gave a cackle. "Do you want some cocoa, Billy?" Billy had never had cocoa. He didn't know what to say.
"It's hot and sweet and gives you wonderful dreams. The old man's crooked finger beckoned again. "There's a saucepan of milk warming by the fire. And on my little table there, you'll find two blue mugs with cocoa and sugar in them, already mixed. You just pour that milk into the cups and stir away and then we can have a nice little chat, can't we, Billy?"
“Yes," said Billy He carried out the old man's instructions and soon he was sitting in a big, comfortable chair, very much enjoying his first cup of cocoa.
The old man took a few noisy slurps and then said, "Well now, Billy I expect you're wondering who I am. I'm Mr. Bloor Senior Senior. Ha, ha!" There came another unhealthy-sounding cackle. "But I am also Ezekiel.You can call me Mr. Ezekiel."
"Thank you," said Billy.
"Good! Good! Now, Billy you've got a problem, haven't you? You haven't been adopted, have you? No. And that's a pity isn't it? Would you like to be adopted, Billy? Have nice, kind, cheerful parents?"
Billy sat up. "Yes!" he said.
There seemed to be a small flicker in the fathomless eyes. "Then you shall, Billy I've got just the mom and dad for you. They're wonderful people and they're very very excited to have you."
"Really?" Billy could hardly believe it. "But how do they know me?"
"We've told them all about you. They know how clever you are, and what a good boy you've been, and they've seen your school photo."
"So they know about..." Billy touched his white hair. Mr. Ezekiel gave one of his sinister smiles. "They know you're an albino, and it doesn't worry them at all."
"Oh." Billy felt quite dizzy with excitement. He took a long gulp of the sweet, rich cocoa to
steady his nerves.
Mr. Ezekiel was now staring at him intently. “If we arrange this adoption for you, Billy you will be expected to do something for us in return."
"I see," Billy said uncertainly.
"You've made a new friend, haven't you? A boy in your dormitory called Charlie Bone?"
The old man's tone was kind and gentle, and Billy was reassured. "Yes," he said.
"I want you to tell me everything he does; where he goes, who he talks to, and, most important of all, what he says. Do you think you can do that?" The old man leaned forward and fixed Billy with his chilling black eyes.
"Yes," Billy whispered. "I'm going to stay with him next weekend, if I'm allowed."
"You will be allowed, Billy It would be perfect. And now you can tell me everything that you have learned about him so far." With the prospect of living forever with kind and wonderful parents, Billy eagerly told the old man everything he wanted to know He didn't think that it would hurt Charlie, and even admitted his own part in spying on Dr. Bloor in the Da Vinci tower.
Mr. Ezekiel frowned when he heard this and cursed under his breath; but he quickly assumed an expression of kindly interest while Billy continued to recount all the details he could remember. There was one thing about Charlie that he didn't tell the old man.
He couldn't tell him that Charlie knew his father was alive because Billy had not heard Gabriel's conversation with Charlie about the blue tie.
"Thank you, Billy,” said Mr. Ezekiel when Billy had finished. "You may go now The dog will take you back to your dormitory Percy get up!" Blessed blinked and stood up, rather shakily.
Billy slid out of the comfortable chair and put his empty mug on the table. "When will I see my new parents, sir?" he asked.
“All in good time.’ The old man's voice had lost any trace of warmth. "You have to keep your part of the bargain first."
"Yes, sir." With Blessed panting at his side, Billy walked to the door where he turned and said, "Good night, sir. When shall I..."
"The dog will bring you." Mr. Ezekiel dismissed him with an impatient wave. When the old man was alone, he pointed his deformed finger at the saucepan. Slowly the pan lifted into the air and, as the old man beckoned, it flew gently toward an empty mug. "Pour," said Mr. Ezekiel. The pan tipped forward and poured a few drops of warm milk into the mug, the rest dripped on the old man's woolen shawl. "Fool!" shouted Mr. Ezekiel.
"Will you never learn?"
The hot room seemed to have exhausted Blessed. It took him a long time to reach the dormitory by which time Billy's flashlight had lost all its remaining strength, and he had to walk with his hand on the old dog's head. Blessed knew the way even in the utter darkness and stopped only once, to say. “Ears bad. Don't touch."
"Sorry,” said Billy.
"Need drops," muttered Blessed. "Billy get some?" Billy didn't see how he could. "I'll try,” he said. When they reached the dormitory they found Cook pacing anxiously outside. She was a small, round person with dark, graying hair and very rosy cheeks. The sort of person you would expect a cook to be.
"I've been looking everywhere for that blessed dog," said Cook. "He's got to have his medicine."
"He says he needs drops for his ears," Billy told her.
"Does he?" Cook knew about Billy's relationship with Blessed. "He needs drops for just about everything, doesn't he? WhereVe you been, young Billy?"
"I've been to see the old man."
"You poor thing." Cook gave a kindly sigh. "I'd get back to bed if I were you."
Billy said good night to Cook and Blessed and went to bed. He lay awake for a long time, trying to imagine what his new parents would be like.
CHAPTER 15
A RINGING, CHANTING, SHINING KNIGHT
It was a real joy to get up on Sunday morning, knowing that Grandma Bone would still be asleep. Charlie leaped out of bed and went down to eat a huge breakfast with Maisie and his mother.
"I expect you've had a lot of nasty breakfasts lately haven't you, Charlie dear?" asked Maisie.
"Five," said Charlie. He told them he was going to be spending some time with Benjamin and to make up for it, he would wash up his breakfast things. His mother wouldn't hear of it. "You go and have a good time while you can," she said, cheerfully waving him away.
Benjamin looked worried when he let Charlie in. "I've had a letter from my parents," he said.
"I thought they lived here," said Charlie.
"So did I. But they must have left early this morning. I sort of remember Mom coming in to give me a kiss when it was still dark. When I woke up I found the letter on my pillow" Benjamin led Charlie into the kitchen where Runner Bean was finishing off his cornflakes.
"Can I read it?" asked Charlie.
Benjamin handed him the letter. It had obviously been written in haste because the writing rushed across the page in big, looping scrawls. It said:
Our dear Benjamin,
As you know, we are private detectives. Just lately we have both been working on the same case. The case of the missing window cleaner. It has taken up all out time and quite exhausted us, and we are so sorry, dear Benjamin, that we’ve had to leave you all on your own so often. We will make up for it when we come home.
This brings us to the reason for our letter. The strange case of the missing window cleaner has just taken an exciting turn. We’ve received information that he may be trapped in a cave in Scotland, so we are going up there right now, before he disappears again.
Lots of love,
Mom and Dad
P.S A nice-lady from social services is coming to look after you until we get back
"I don't like the part about the nice lady,” said Charlie, when he had finished the letter. "People have different ideas about nice."
“As long as she's nice to Runner, I don't mind," said Benjamin. The two boys decided to go to Ingledew's immediately Benjamin had taken the precaution of copying the tape twice, in case Manfred turned up to search them, or something equally horrible. He had also pushed a large suitcase into the cellar and dropped a rug over it, so that anyone searching for Dr. Tolly's case would be temporarily fooled.
"You have been busy,” said Charlie admiringly.
With Runner Bean leading the way they set off for the bookshop. Being Sunday they found it closed, of course, but after several knocks and a few shouts, Miss Ingledew opened the door. She was wearing a long green bathrobe and looked a bit down in the dumps.
"What do you want?" she asked. "It's Sunday morning, for goodness sake."
"I'm sorry Miss Ingledew,” said Charlie. He told her about the tape they'd found in the metal dog. "It's meant for you," he said, "so we brought it for you. It'll tell you everything about your niece. She's in the academy and we think we can wake her up."
"Wake her up? What are you talking about? You'd better come in, both of you." She glanced at Runner Bean. "He doesn't eat books, does he?"
"Never," said Benjamin.
They followed Miss Ingledew through the curtains and into her cozy book-lined living room, Runner Bean taking great care not to knock over the little towers of books scattered on the floor.
Miss Ingledew put the tape into a dusty-looking tape recorder and motioned the boys to sit. They squeezed themselves into the only empty armchair - the others being full of books and papers, while Miss Ingledew perched on the edge of her desk. She pressed play and Dr. Tolly's voice rumbled out into the room.
The boys watched Miss Ingledew's face as she listened. Several times she shook her head, and often she wiped her eyes. Now and again she exclaimed, "Oh no," and when the tape finally ended, she murmured, "I remember that day so well. A very strange thing happened-I should have guessed."
"What sort of strange thing?" asked Charlie.
"Cats," said Miss Ingledew.
"Cats?" Charlie sat up.
"I don't know where they came from, but the day little Emma was due to leave they suddenly appeared in my kitchen. They caused a fire by knocking a dish
cloth onto the gas burner. It took a while to put it out. Their coats were very bright -red, orange, and yellow-and they kept circling the baby as if they were trying to protect her. They gave Dr. Tolly a nasty scratch on his face when he finally lifted the baby away."
"One of them is in the photo," Charlie said.
"I daresay it is," said Miss Ingledew. "They were everywhere. But when Emma left, they vanished." She rubbed her forehead. "So poor little Emma is asleep. This is all so extraordinary!"
"She's hypnotized," said Charlie. "Manfred did it to me. Only he's done it much worse to her. But it's wearing off Miss Ingledew I heard them talking about your niece, and Manfred said he was getting fed up because he had to keep 'putting her under' So it won't take much to wake her up, and we think we've got the thing that'll do it."
"But who is she, Charlie?"
"We think she's a girl called Emilia Moon," said Charlie. "She has fair hair and her eyes are very blue and sort of dreamy. She doesn't say much, but she's very good at drawing."
"Nancy,” murmured Miss Ingledew. "She sounds just like my sister, Nancy. Oh, I wish I could see her."
"Leave it to us, Miss Ingledew,” said Charlie, jumping up. "We'll find a way to wake her up, and then she can come and live with you." Miss Ingledew gasped. "Is that possible? Perhaps she's happy where she is, living with the Moon people."
"She doesn't look very happy,” said Charlie. "She probably doesn't even know she can fly."
"That's something, isn't it?" Benjamin remarked. "I wish I could fly."
"I think it's very unlikely that Emma can fly Dr. Tolly certainly never mentioned it before." Miss Ingledew pushed herself off the desk. "I can't thank you enough, Charlie, and you, Benjamin," she said. "You've given me hope. Let me know as soon as you need me, won't you?"