Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (Children of the Red King, Book 2) by Jenny Nimmo Read Free Book Online

and whispered, "We must keep our spies happy" Billy had understood.
    He switched on the flashlight and a brilliant shaft of light swept right to the end of the passage. Billy began his long journey to the upper regions of the west wing. He usually waited for Blessed to lead him. But tonight he couldn't wait.
    As Billy made his way closer to the old man's room, he had to navigate a gloomy realm that never changed. It was one of the few places where Ezekiel's flawed magic had worked as he wished. So Billy's slippered feet made no prints in the thick dust, and the cobwebs he walked through wove themselves together as soon as he had passed. If it were not for the occasional hiss from a gaslight, you would have thought the creaking steps and shadowy passages had been deserted for a hundred years.
    Billy had reached a black door, the paint scarred by years of dog scratchings. He knocked twice and a voice croaked, "Who is there?"
    "Billy Raven," said Billy.
    "Enter, Billy Raven," said the voice.
    Billy walked in.
    Ezekiel Bloor sat in his wheelchair beside a blazing fire. A sheepskin blanket was draped around his shoulders, and his ancient skull-like face poked from beneath a black woolly hat. A pile of faded velvet cushions were propped behind his back, and he wore a black velvet jacket studded with gold buttons. For all his finery though, Billy couldn't help thinking the old man looked a bit like a dead sheep.
    Without being invited, the small boy sat down heavily in the chair opposite Ezekiel. The sudden change in atmosphere made him feel dizzy.
    "Where's the dog?" asked the old man.
    "I don't know I couldn't wait for him. I wanted to tell you something." Billy's glasses had misted up in the steamy atmosphere. He took them off and rubbed the lenses with his thumb.
    “Ah good. Something about Charlie?" The old man leaned forward eagerly.
    "Sort of," said Billy.
    "Come on, then. Tell, tell."
    "Well, it was Blessed really He saw it."
    "It?" wheezed the old man. "It? What 'it' was this? And the dog's name is Percy How many times do I have to tell you!"
    "Sorry But he thinks he's Blessed."
    "Yes, yes. Never mind. Go on!" Ezekiel waved his hand impatiently.
    Billy put his glasses back on, and then wished he hadn't. The old man's wizened face loomed unpleasantly close. Billy could see every wart and bristle in vivid detail.
    "The dog was howling and Manfred sent me to find out what was wrong, knowing I could understand dog talk, and all that."
    "Wish I could understand the wretched dog." Ezekiel shook his head. "So what did he say?"
    "Said he'd seen a boy come from nowhere. And this boy had a ball, very small and shiny He said it was bad . . ."
    "WHAT?" The old man clapped a hand over his mouth. "What? A boy and . . . and was it glass, this ball?"
    "Could be," said Billy amazed by the excitement his news had caused.
    "No, no, it can't be." Ezekiel stood up, but his useless legs let him down, and he sank back into his cocoon of sheep's wool and velvet.
    "And then I noticed Charlie Bone in the hall, and Blessed said he looked like the appearing boy" Billy smiled and waited for the effect these words would have. He wasn't disappointed.
    "Charlie Bone," breathed Ezekiel. "Yes, yes, of course. He was a bit like Charlie Bone. No wonder I can't stand the boy Find him, Billy Bring him here."
    "Who? Charlie?"
    "No, you fool. The other one. My cousin Henry"
    "Your cousin?" said Billy confused. "How? I don't know where he is."
    "You've just told me he's in the building. It can't be that difficult."
    "You mean he's your . . .?"
    "My cousin, yes. I sent him packing years ago. Never thought I'd see the wretch again." The old man's voice dropped to a low mumble. "Must be the weather — coordinating temperatures. Mm, hmm . . . Time Twister works that way . . . Ho hum." He drummed his fingers on the arm of his wheelchair.
    Billy was intrigued. "What's a Time Twister?"
    Ezekiel looked up. His small black eyes seemed to be staring right through Billy