Charlie Bone and the Time Twister Part 22

Paton went slightly pink. "I believe so." Then he gave a light cough and asked, "So what's your next plan?"

"Tomorrow me me and my friends are meeting at the Pets' Cafe. Mr. and my friends are meeting at the Pets' Cafe. Mr. Onimous Onimous sent a message. He says he has the answer. But I don't know what that means. How can he rescue Henry?" sent a message. He says he has the answer. But I don't know what that means. How can he rescue Henry?"

"The Pets' Cafe," Paton murmured. "The Pets' Cafe." "The Pets' Cafe." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully "Aha! I should have remembered." He gave a delighted chuckle. "There's an old pa.s.sage, long forgotten. It's mentioned in one of these." He tapped a pile of books on his desk. "It leads underground, from somewhere in the old city walls, right into the center of the ruined castle. No one knows where it starts, but I'll bet you anything Mr. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully "Aha! I should have remembered." He gave a delighted chuckle. "There's an old pa.s.sage, long forgotten. It's mentioned in one of these." He tapped a pile of books on his desk. "It leads underground, from somewhere in the old city walls, right into the center of the ruined castle. No one knows where it starts, but I'll bet you anything Mr. Onimous Onimous knows. He has a wonderful, underground, burrowing look about him." knows. He has a wonderful, underground, burrowing look about him."

"It's in the Pets' Cafe!" Charlie exclaimed.

"Without a doubt," said Paton. "Charlie, get a bag packed. Tell your mother you're coming to the coast with me on Sat.u.r.day night."

"I don't understand," said Charlie.

"Tomorrow you're going to get Henry out of that pit. You'll bring him back to the Pets' Cafe, and there he'll have to stay until nightfall. You'll come back here and tell me that all is well, and together we'll drive to the cafe and collect our poor lost relation."

"And where will we take him?"

"Ah - you'll have to wait and see."

AMBUSHED!.

On Sat.u.r.day morning, Benjamin Brown crossed Filbert Street Filbert Street to number nine. He had done this every Sat.u.r.day for as long as he could remember. Runner Bean, as usual, raced across the road in front of him. to number nine. He had done this every Sat.u.r.day for as long as he could remember. Runner Bean, as usual, raced across the road in front of him.

When Benjamin rang the bell he had to wait at least a minute before Charlie opened the door.

"Oh!" said Charlie, when he saw Benjamin. "It's you!"

"Of course, it's me," said Benjamin. "Why are you so surprised?"

Charlie felt guilty He had completely forgotten about Benjamin.

"Come upstairs," he whispered. "I've got a lot to tell you."

Benjamin stepped inside. "Where's your grandma? She'll be cross about Runner."

"It's OK. She's gone out. She had a plotting look on her face. I dread to think what she's up to."

It took Charlie a long time to tell Benjamin everything that had happened. Benjamin sat motionless on the bed with his mouth open and his eyes getting wider and wider.

"Phew!" he said, said, when Charlie had finished. "You are going to let me come to the Pets' Cafe, aren't you?" when Charlie had finished. "You are going to let me come to the Pets' Cafe, aren't you?"

Charlie didn't see how he could leave Benjamin out. "Of course. "Of course. And Runner Bean might be useful." And Runner Bean might be useful."

"Mom wants you to come to our place for lunch. We can sneak out the back afterward. And then your grandma won't know where you are."

Charlie thought this an excellent idea. His mother was at work so he ran down to tell Maisie Maisie where he was going, and then the two boys walked over to number twelve. where he was going, and then the two boys walked over to number twelve.

That afternoon, everything went according to plan until they reached Frog Street Frog Street . Runner Bean gave a low growl and Benjamin saw a woman in red boots disappear around a corner. High Street was full of shoppers, so he didn't get a clear view, but the figure looked very familiar. . Runner Bean gave a low growl and Benjamin saw a woman in red boots disappear around a corner. High Street was full of shoppers, so he didn't get a clear view, but the figure looked very familiar.

"I reckon your auntie's been following us," said Benjamin, "the one with the red boots."

" Venetia Venetia !" said Charlie. !" said Charlie.

Before walking down Frog Street Frog Street he scanned the crowds for a glimpse of the he scanned the crowds for a glimpse of the Yewbeam Yewbeam aunts. There was a chilly wind and a lot of people were wearing hats and head scarves. He couldn't see any of his aunts or his grandmother. aunts. There was a chilly wind and a lot of people were wearing hats and head scarves. He couldn't see any of his aunts or his grandmother.

"We'll have to risk it," he told Benjamin.

They dashed down Frog Street Frog Street with Runner Bean bounding ahead of them. with Runner Bean bounding ahead of them.

"Welcome, Charlie Bone," said Norton, the bouncer, as the two boys entered the cafe. "It's all right, right, your friend over there is looking after your pet for you." your friend over there is looking after your pet for you."

Charlie had forgotten about bringing a pet. He was glad to see Gabriel waving at him from a dark corner.

As he made his way toward Gabriel he saw that all the others had reached the cafe before him. They were sitting around one of the largest tables. Olivia had a white rabbit on her lap, and its mate was sitting on Tancred. Gabriel had his usual a.s.sortment of gerbils, one of which was sitting on Emma's shoulder. Lysander had brought a parrot in a cage and Fidelio was holding a startled-looking cat.

"She's deaf," Fidelio explained. "On account of the noise in our house, but her eyesight's terrific." "On account of the noise in our house, but her eyesight's terrific."

The cat bristled when it saw Runner Bean, but the big dog ignored her and ran over to a group of dogs by the window.

Tancred's yellow hair began to crackle. "Who's this?" he asked, frowning at Benjamin.

"Benjamin," said Charlie. "He lives on my road and I've known him forever."

"OK." Tancred's hair subsided. "Sorry I'm just a bit edgy"

"Who isn't?" said Gabriel.

"We're not, are we?" Olivia grinned at Emma.

"Not a bit," said Emma, pulling a gerbil from under her collar.

"Hi there, Benjamin," said Lysander with a huge smile. "Don't you take any notice of us. us. We're Charlie's school friends. I'm Lysander. He's Tancred. You just sit down and have a bite to eat." We're Charlie's school friends. I'm Lysander. He's Tancred. You just sit down and have a bite to eat."

"Thanks." Benjamin eyed the plates of food on the table and sat down beside Charlie. They both helped themselves to a large portion of chocolate cake.

"We didn't have to pay for anything today," Gabriel told them. "Mr. Onimous Onimous said it was a special occasion and to take as much as we wanted." said it was a special occasion and to take as much as we wanted."

"I suppose it will be special - if everything works out," said Charlie, remembering why he was here.

"It will!" Mr. Onimous Onimous had suddenly appeared at Charlie's side. "We'd better make a start, Charlie my lad," he said. "Are you coming alone, or do you want to bring a friend?" had suddenly appeared at Charlie's side. "We'd better make a start, Charlie my lad," he said. "Are you coming alone, or do you want to bring a friend?"

Charlie looked around the group of expectant faces. He didn't want to disappoint anyone.

"I don't want it to be me, if you don't mind," Benjamin said helpfully "Is he going into the ruin?" asked Gabriel, lowering his voice.

"He is," said Mr. Onimous Onimous . .

"Then we'll be more use here." Gabriel looked at Lysander and Tancred.

"Fidelio, will you come?" asked Charlie.

Fidelio jumped to his feet. "You bet!"

Olivia gave a huge sigh. "I suppose I've done my bit."

"It's not over yet," Emma reminded her.

With a furtive look around the cafe, Lysander slid the wand out of his sleeve and handed it to Charlie. "Good luck," he murmured.

"Thanks." Charlie tucked the wand under his jacket.

Fidelio pa.s.sed his cat to Gabriel and then he and Charlie followed Mr. Onimous Onimous to the back of the counter. They walked through a tinkling bead screen and into the kitchen. to the back of the counter. They walked through a tinkling bead screen and into the kitchen.

Mr. Onimous Onimous showed them to a small door at the back of the kitchen, and then they were in a long pa.s.sage lined with shelves of disgusting-looking pet food. showed them to a small door at the back of the kitchen, and then they were in a long pa.s.sage lined with shelves of disgusting-looking pet food.

"Come along," urged Mr. Onimous Onimous as the boys gazed around them. as the boys gazed around them.

The shelves came to an end and the pa.s.sage narrowed. They were now walking on a rough stone floor and this very soon became a path of hard earth. As Mr. Onimous Onimous scurried along he seemed more and more to take on the appearance of a mole or some other burrowing creature. scurried along he seemed more and more to take on the appearance of a mole or some other burrowing creature.

Charlie realized that the ceiling was now so low he could rest the flat of his hand on its damp surface. It was getting darker. When the light had almost petered out they stepped into a small round cavern. It was lit by a single lantern hanging from the ceiling, and all around the walls huge tea chests stood shoulder to shoulder with plastic sacks and wooden crates. There seemed to be no way out except the way they had come.

"Now what?" Fidelio whispered to Charlie. Fidelio whispered to Charlie.

Mr. Onimous Onimous had ears as sharp as a rabbit's. "Aha!" he said, making both boys jump nervously. "You're wondering where it is, aren't you? You think Mr. had ears as sharp as a rabbit's. "Aha!" he said, making both boys jump nervously. "You're wondering where it is, aren't you? You think Mr. Onimous Onimous has led you into a nasty trap, don't you?" has led you into a nasty trap, don't you?"

Charlie gulped. "Of course not." "Of course not."

Fidelio asked, "Where what is?"

Mr. Onimous Onimous beamed, and then, with amazing speed, he spun a crate away from the wall. And there it was. beamed, and then, with amazing speed, he spun a crate away from the wall. And there it was. A very A very very very small and ancient door. small and ancient door. The little man's smile disappeared. His next words were spoken in such a solemn tone Charlie would never forget them. "Before you go in I want you boys to swear never to tell a soul about this door." The little man's smile disappeared. His next words were spoken in such a solemn tone Charlie would never forget them. "Before you go in I want you boys to swear never to tell a soul about this door."

"I swear," said Charlie.

"I swear," Fidelio repeated gravely Mr. Onimous Onimous nodded. "Good." He reached inside his woolly shirt and pulled out a small key on a gold chain. Putting a nodded. "Good." He reached inside his woolly shirt and pulled out a small key on a gold chain. Putting a pawlike pawlike hand on the door, he fit the key into the lock and gently turned it. With a light creak the door swung open. hand on the door, he fit the key into the lock and gently turned it. With a light creak the door swung open.

"The cats are there," said Mr. Onimous Onimous . "They'll take you. Off you go now I'm going to lock the door behind you. We can't take any chances." . "They'll take you. Off you go now I'm going to lock the door behind you. We can't take any chances."

Charlie peered into the gloom behind the door. He could just make out the huge stones that formed the walls of a tunnel. A distant glowing light began to draw nearer and Charlie breathed, "I see them."

He stepped into the tunnel. Fidelio was right behind him. They walked in single file, treading softly on a smooth cobbled floor. Charlie had expected a rough, earthy burrow but the tunnel had been carefully built. The large red stones fitted neatly together, even in the low ceiling.

"It's very old." Fidelio's hushed voice echoed down the tunnel. "I wonder who used it."

"Soldiers perhaps," said Charlie. "It would have been a secret way out, if the castle was under siege."

"And children," said Fidelio. "Now it's Henry's way out."

They could see the cats clearly now but before the boys could reach them the three animals turned and began to hurry along the tunnel ahead of them.

Charlie and Fidelio began to run. The tunnel was far from straight and they had to make several turns before they could see a welcome speck of daylight in the distance. Instead of making for the light, however, the cats swerved away from the main pa.s.sage and disappeared into a long fissure. The boys hesitated and then squeezed themselves into a tunnel that was so narrow they had to walk sideways. At the end of a very nasty journey they inched themselves past a pillar and stepped into an astonishing room.

The ground was paved with tiny squares of color. On a white background, lines of red, orange, and yellow radiated from a huge red circle. The walls were covered in frescoes; golden domes blazed beneath blue skies and tall robed figures paced through leafy arbors. The vaulted roof echoed the pattern on the floor, only here the central circle was open to the sky "It's the sun," murmured Charlie. "See, the pattern is like the rays of the sun."

"There's so much light." Fidelio gazed up at the tiny circle in the roof. "It must be a trick - or magic."

"It was on his shield," said Charlie. "The Red King's shield was like a burning sun. It's his room. His own special place. His own special place. I don't think anyone's been here since he left." I don't think anyone's been here since he left."

"Not ever?" asked Fidelio.

Charlie shook his head. "I don't think so."

At that moment neither boy could have explained his feelings. The place affected them in very different ways. While Fidelio was uneasy and eager to move on, Charlie felt at home and deeply comforted.

"The cats have gone," Fidelio observed. "Now what?" "Now what?"

Charlie noticed a red-gold leaf beside his foot. How did it get there? Through the roof? Through the roof? He studied the ten pillars surrounding the courtyard. They were made of the same deep red rock as the rest of the castle, and there was only the s.p.a.ce the width of a finger between the pillars and the wall. He studied the ten pillars surrounding the courtyard. They were made of the same deep red rock as the rest of the castle, and there was only the s.p.a.ce the width of a finger between the pillars and the wall. Except for two standing opposite to each other. Except for two standing opposite to each other. They had entered the courtyard by a narrow opening behind one of the pillars. Charlie walked over to investigate the other. They had entered the courtyard by a narrow opening behind one of the pillars. Charlie walked over to investigate the other.

Screened by the pillar, a small round window gave onto a dark wood. Squinting through the window Charlie could see a green glade beyond the trees. In the center of the glade there was a black rock. The three cats were sitting on top of it.

"It's here," cried Charlie. "Fidelio, it's here."

Fidelio ran over to Charlie. "What is?"

"The dungeon. There's a rock, just like Olivia said. See? There's a rock, just like Olivia said. See? Where the cats are sitting." Where the cats are sitting."

Fidelio gave a low whistle. "You first, Charlie. "You first, Charlie. I'll be right behind you." I'll be right behind you."

They scrambled through the round hole and dropped to the ground. When they looked back all they could see was a wall of ivy No one would have guessed what lay behind it.

Charlie led the way The The cats yowled encouragement as he knelt in the gra.s.s and called, "Henry? Henry cats yowled encouragement as he knelt in the gra.s.s and called, "Henry? Henry are are you there? It's me, Charlie!" you there? It's me, Charlie!"

"Charlie?" From a narrow gap beside the rock there came a sound of shuffling footsteps. And then Charlie was looking into a pair of large gray eyes. "Good to see you, Charlie," said Henry "Great to see you, Henry. Sorry it's taken so long. But we're going to get you out of there, right now" Sorry it's taken so long. But we're going to get you out of there, right now"

"How?" The gray eyes looked anxious. The gray eyes looked anxious.

"Well, I've got something powerful here." Charlie drew the wand out of his jacket and held it above the eyes. "Can you see it?"

"But it's just a stick." Henry sounded disappointed. "That won't do it, Charlie."

Fidelio peered over Charlie's shoulder. "Actually Henry it's a wand," he said, "and wands can do anything."

"Oh! Who's this?" Henry asked.

"My friend Fidelio," said Charlie. "He's great in a crisis. Never panics. I think you'd better get away from there now Henry Just in case the rock moves the wrong way."

"I won't be able to breathe if it does that," Henry said in a scared voice.

"Don't worry It'll work," Fidelio said confidently "If you say so."

The eyes disappeared and they heard Henry shuffle down into his dungeon.