Charlie Bone and the Shadow (The Children of the Red King, Book 7) Part 6 ppsx

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Charlie Bone and the Shadow (The Children of the Red King, Book 7) Part 6 ppsx

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"Will do. Thanks, Mrs. Brown." Charlie ran back to number nine. Maisie was up and another fine breakfast awaited Charlie: sausages, eggs, and mushrooms. "I'm sorry, Maisie. I don't think I can eat much." Charlie explained what had happened. "I thought I heard barking," Maisie ex- claimed. "Oh, Charlie, what wonderful news." "Except that Billy has disappeared," said Charlie. Maisie's face fell. "Charlie, are you sure? He must be in the house somewhere. Or he could have run up the road for something. Check his clothes." Charlie went up to his bedroom. Billy's clothes were piled neatly on a chair, exactly where he had left them. His shoes were 281/557 under the chair, his slippers by his bed. "So he can't have gone far," Charlie said to him- self, and once again, he tried to dismiss the thought that had persisted in entering his head 207 ever since he had searched the cellar. Billy has to be in Badlock. No. A wave of nausea made Charlie sit down, quickly, on his bed. He was far more frightened for Billy than he had been for himself. What chance did Billy have, with his white hair and poor eyesight? The shadow's army was bound to catch him. But what pos- sible reason could the count have for taking Billy and letting Runner Bean go? Unless it had been the shadow's plan all along? He had known that Billy could never resist a cry for help from a dog. Charlie re- membered Manfred's insistence that Billy 282/557 should come back to number nine, where the painting of Badlock waited like a trap. Charlie tore downstairs. "He's gone, Maisie. And I know where. He's in that painting." "I can't believe it, Charlie," said Maisie. "If he's gone, I'm going to call the police, there's no two ways about it." She went into the hall and began to dial. 208 Knowing it would be useless to try and stop her, Charlie waited in the kitchen. He listened to Maisie's voice, insisting that a child named Billy Raven was missing, and then her angry response to something she'd been told. "Bloor's Academy. Mr. Ezekiel Bloor, or perhaps the headmaster, Dr. Bloor. But the boy disappeared from here, not there." There was a pause while Maisie sighed heav- ily and tapped her foot. "Thank you. And will 283/557 you let me know? I'll call you, then. Good- bye." She slammed down the phone and came back to the kitchen, looking flushed and angry. "They can't proceed until they're authorized to do so by the child's guardian," said Maisie. "I suppose it must be Dr. Bloor, since Billy's an orphan. What a mess!" Charlie said nothing. He was now utterly convinced that Billy had been captured by the painting. How pleased Grandma Bone had been when she saw Billy arrive. It was obviously she who had locked the cellar door after Billy had "gone in." 209 Charlie sat by the kitchen window waiting for Uncle Paton to arrive in the white camper van. He saw Benjamin and Runner Bean walk down to the park. He saw Mrs. Brown go to the mailbox; she was wearing a skirt 284/557 and high-heeled shoes, for a change. It was no use telling Mrs. Brown that Billy was still missing. Maisie brought Charlie a mug of hot cocoa. "Your uncle might not come back till next week. Don't look so forlorn, Charlie. I'm sure little Billy will turn up." "He won't," muttered Charlie. He discovered that the cellar door key was still in his pocket. When he'd finished his co- coa, he went down into the cellar and stared at the painting of Badlock. He scrutinized every inch of it, looking for a way in. He didn't care if he was caught again, if only he could find Billy. But the shadow had no use for Charlie Bone at present. It was Billy he wanted. "Why have you taken him?" Charlie shouted at the painting. "Have you made a bargain? 285/557 Billy for your freedom to travel back into the world? Well, you 210 won't do it, Count Harken. Not now: The Mirror of Amoret was broken, so there's no way back. EVER!" A blast of wind hurled Charlie against the opposite wall. "You heard me, then!" he cried. Dust, laden with splinters, flew into his face, and he covered his eyes just in time. His nos- trils were filled with grit: It even crept between his teeth. Choking and sneezing, Charlie crawled across the cellar floor. He stumbled up the steps and fell into the hall. As he lay there, rubbing his eyes and spitting dust, he became aware of a tall figure loom- ing over him. "Foolish boy," said Grandma Bone. "What did you hope to achieve?" 286/557 Charlie sat up and glared at her. "You did it, didn't you? You opened the cellar door and then locked it behind Billy. I know he's in Badlock, and somehow I'm going to get him out." "Don't meddle with the shadow," she said grimly. 211 Charlie watched his grandmother walk to the front door. She was wearing her Sunday best: shiny black shoes, a Persian lamb coat, and a purple velvet hat. The back of her bony shoulders expressed utter contempt. There was roast beef for lunch, accompanied by Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, crispy sprouts, and rich gravy. It was Charlie's fa- vorite meal, and he tried to do it justice, but the food kept sticking in his throat, and he had to lay down his knife and fork. "I'm sorry, Maisie, it just won't go down," he said. 287/557 "Tell you what, I'll give the police a call," said Maisie. "Let's see if they've made any progress." Charlie didn't expect to hear good news, but he was totally unprepared for what Maisie had to tell him. She came running back from the phone, crying, "They've found him, Charlie." Charlie stood up, his fork clattering to the floor. "Found him?" he said in disbelief. "He went back to Bloor's, that's what the police 212 said. They rang the school, and Dr. Bloor said that Billy had turned up very early this morning. He was feeling homesick, the head- master said." "But, Maisie, he left his clothes, even his slip- pers. He couldn't have walked all that way in bare feet and pajamas." 288/557 "Then they're lying, Charlie, and I don't know what I can do about that." She ran the tap, and water splashed loudly onto the dirty plates and pans. "I wish your parents were here," she muttered. "Your father under- stands these things better than I do." "Well, he isn't here," said Charlie. Adding bitterly, "He's never here." Maisie turned to face Charlie. She didn't rep- rimand him for what he'd said. Instead, a look of pity crossed her face. "I'm sorry, Charlie," she said gently. "These things that happen to you and your friends, they're bey- ond my comprehension. I just can't deal with them." "I'll go to the bookstore," said Charlie, leav- ing the kitchen. "The others may be there." 213 "Don't go alone, Charlie, please," called Maisie. "I know something's not right in this 289/557 city, even if I can't understand it. I believe in your flying trolls and magic kettles and and evil paintings, you know I do. I just get so upset sometimes." Charlie's mind was made up. But as luck would have it, he didn't have to go out alone. The doorbell rang, and when Charlie opened the door, there stood Benjamin and Runner Bean. "Want to come over to my place?" said Benjamin. When Charlie explained that he was on his way to the bookstore, Benjamin agreed to go with him. On their way to Ingledew's, Charlie brought Benjamin up to date. Runner Bean bounded along in front of them, as though he were trying to escape from his own tail. His eyes still had a wary look, and he was easily spooked. Flying litter, swinging gates, and 290/557 [...]... burning A pile of roasted chestnuts by the grate reminded Charlie of Christmas There was even a jug of hot blackberry juice just inside the fireplace screen Once he was tucked into a corner of the sofa, with hot chestnuts in his hands and a mug of blackberry juice on the table beside him, Charlie recounted his extraordinary weekend There were interruptions, of course, 302/557 most of them from Olivia,... Benjamin panted, as they ran to catch up with the yellow dog 214 "Well, he did," said Charlie "I know that Billy's in Badlock What I can't figure out is why the shadow wants him." They were now in the older part of the city, where the great cathedral towered above the surrounding stores and houses Runner Bean had dropped behind them for some reason Every now and again he would give a low whine and sniff anxiously... seemed confused "There!" Benjamin pointed "There, Runner Get him! Now!" 2 16 Runner Bean ran so fast the stone hound had no time even to put out a paw But as Benjamin's dog leaped at Eric Shellhorn, the boy emitted a hissing chant and the stone 294/557 hound turned and flung itself at the yellow dog There was an explosion of sound and a cloud of dust filled the street When the dust cleared, the boys could... disagreeable-looking woman The very same woman who Dagbert had so tactlessly insulted This time Manfred's great-great-great-grandmother, Donatella Da Vinci, came tumbling off the wall There was a scream of pain as the portrait landed on the already prostrate Joshua Tilpin "What's going on?" 314/557 Silent children parted like waves as the talents master came storming down the corridor When he saw the portrait of his ancestor... uncle's door There was, however, a postcard "Look! Look!" cried Maisie, running into the kitchen "Your mom and dad have written I'm so glad it arrived before you left for school." Charlie looked at the picture on the front of the card A cold shiver ran down his spine He picked up the card and stared at it "Charlie, whatever is the matter?" said Maisie "Turn it over and read the message." But Charlie couldn't... he screamed, "Charlie Bone, go to the 3 16/ 557 headmaster this minute and tell him what you've done!" "Yes, sir." Charlie was glad of the opportunity to escape Donatella's curses, but he would have preferred to visit the headmaster in different circumstances He began to make his way back down the corridor, which was difficult because of the press of children who were trying to get to the cafeterias... couldn't tear his gaze from the image on the front: a small sailing boat, riding the waves of an endless gray sea It was the boat Charlie had seen in his nightmares, in the moments when he had fought off Manfred's hypnotizing stare, and glimpsed the thoughts behind those cruel black eyes 230 311/557 Unable to bear the suspense, Maisie snatched the card away and read: "This is such fun, Charlie, we have decided... after?" "Look, the owner," whispered Benjamin An elderly man had emerged through the 217 295/557 broken doorway He stared at the boys with a dazed expression He was very thin, with strands of crinkly white hair, deep-set eyes, and the sort of skin that appeared never to have seen the sun His black suit was dingy with age and his high-collared shirt was a dirty parchment yellow "Did you see that?" The man's... Bittermouse "Charlie Bone, sir." "Bone, " said the old man thoughtfully "My older brother knew a Bone - Lyell Bone. " 220 "He's my father," said Charlie "They were friends," went on Mr Bittermouse, "good friends Their relationship wasn't just professional." Charlie had no way of knowing that his next question would have far-reaching consequences He merely wanted to know how 299/557 and why his father had become... said Charlie "He's very strong, and nothing frightens him." 298/557 "Write it down for me, young man." Mr Bittermouse beckoned them into a dark study where a huge mahogany desk filled almost an entire wall The old man took out a pen and a notepad and handed them to Charlie Charlie wrote down Norton's name and the Pets' Cafe address "And what would your name be, young man?" asked Mr Bittermouse "Charlie . him." They were now in the older part of the city, where the great cathedral towered above the surrounding stores and houses. Runner Bean had dropped behind them for some reason. Every now and. Shellhorn, the boy emitted a hissing chant and the stone 293/557 hound turned and flung itself at the yellow dog. There was an explosion of sound and a cloud of dust filled the street. When the dust cleared,. won't," muttered Charlie. He discovered that the cellar door key was still in his pocket. When he'd finished his co- coa, he went down into the cellar and stared at the painting of Badlock.

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