Charlie Bone and the Shadow of Badlock (Children of the Red King, Book 7) by Jenny Nimmo Read Free Book Online Page A

Bean.
    Paton bent closer to the dog's head.
    Benjamin's scream had brought the others rushing to the cellar door.
    "What is it? What's happened?" Maisie demanded.
    "Can I come down, please," begged Olivia. "I can't stand not knowing."
    "Runner's h... h... here," Benjamin quavered.
    "Here?" said Fidelio.
    "Here... but, not here. THERE," moaned Benjamin.
    "In the painting." Uncle Paton's tone gave the already tense atmosphere an edge of menace. This was too much for Olivia, who began to scramble down the steps. She was stopped by a shout from the hall.
    "RABBIT!" screamed Grandma Bone from upstairs.
    Grandma Bone was scared of most animals, but harmless rabbits were her betes noires.
    Olivia reluctantly climbed back, while Fidelio said calmly, "It's all right, Mrs. Bone. It won't hurt you."
    "It's EVIL," shrilled Grandma Bone, and then she saw Olivia. "What are you doing here, you harpy?"
    Olivia had never been called a harpy before. She was rather pleased. Her rabbit, Wilfred, had escaped from his basket and was now halfway up the stairs, happily grazing the carpet. Grandma Bone was standing at the top; one of her small black eyes was screwed shut, the other watched the rabbit's progress in horror.
    Olivia leaped up the stairs, grabbed her rabbit, and carried him back to his basket. "He honestly wouldn't hurt a fly," she said, fastening the basket lid.
    "I asked you what you were doing here." Feeling safer, Grandma Bone slowly descended the stairs.
    Before Olivia could think of a reply, Uncle Paton emerged and said, "I think it's about time you answered a few of my questions, Grizelda."
    "Such as?" Grandma Bone tossed her head imperiously.
    "Such as - what is that painting doing in the cellar, and where has it come from?"
    "None of your business." With a wary glance at Wilfred's basket, Grandma Bone swept back up the stairs and crossed the hall into the living room. Uncle Paton followed her and the three children trooped after him. Maisie, however, sank onto the hall chair with a baffled sigh.
    "It is my business," Uncle Paton insisted.
    Grandma Bone settled herself in an armchair and picked up a newspaper.
    "Are you listening to me, Grizelda?" roared Uncle Paton, and then, to the concern of the three children hovering by the door, he said, "Your grandson has vanished into that painting."
    Benjamin muttered, "We're not supposed to tell..."
    Grandma Bone lowered her newspaper. Her long, grumpy face was momentarily transformed by a look of pure delight. "But that's what he does," she said.
    In the giant's tower, Charlie gave Runner Bean a brief wave before being lowered to the floor.
    "A dog?" said Otus. "Their like is ne'er seen in Badlock."
    "We must rescue him before those awful troll things come back," said Charlie, making for the door.
    "Boy, wait!" commanded Otus. "This is not as simple as it seems."
    "Nothing here is simple." Charlie began to run down the stone spiral.
    "STOP!" The giant's huge roar echoed down the stairwell, and Charlie was forced to obey. "It is most likely a trick, Charlie, to force you into the open. Come back, I beg you."
    Charlie reluctantly trudged back to the giant's room. The situation would be hopeless, he realized, if both he and Runner Bean were caught. "I feel so guilty," he told the giant, "leaving him out there, all alone, especially now that he's seen me."
    "I know, I know." Otus lit a candle and set it on the table. "But all around us there are towers and watchers. Soon the darkness will come, a darkness like no other, Charlie. No stars shine in Badlock and moonlight is - scarce. So we will creep down our tower and rescue the poor dog."
    The giant stirred the pot hanging over his stove. "I had a dog once, in the world we come from. It was a fine dog, and we were scarce parted. Here, in Badlock, there are no dogs or cats. There are only bugs and slimy, creeping, cold-blooded things called durgles. And the birds fly on bony, featherless wings, and they have long, fearful beaks."
    Charlie