by Jenny Nimmo
By the time Benjamin got home from school the next day, the hunt was already underway. Half the city had turned out to watch. Forty able-bodied men were assembled on the bridge that led to the wilderness. In charge were the chief of police and Officer Wood. They were joined by a motley group of determined-looking men, dressed in an assortment of trenchcoats, suits, jackets, and raincoats. Their heads were covered by woolly hats, hoods, berets, and even a Stetson. A few pairs of rain boots and sneakers were to be seen, but most wore sturdy leather boots. Half the men carried rifles; the others took flashlights and clubs.
A cheer went up as the forty-two men marched across the bridge and turned right, down a path that ran beside the river. A few meters farther on, it disappeared into dense undergrowth - the beginning of the wilderness.
From a path on the city-side of the river, Benjamin's father had watched the whole proceedings. He returned home a worried man.
"It's not right," he told his wife and son, as they ate their scrambled eggs and spinach. "There's going to be a catastrophe, you mark my words. All those guns; someone's going to be killed in the wilderness, and it might not be the beast-boy."
Benjamin suddenly thought of Charlie's friend Naren. She lived with her father and mother in a little house deep in the wilderness. It was a beautiful, secret place, a sanctuary for lost and injured animals. Would it remain secret, when a group of angry men came tramping through the trees with guns and clubs and torches?
I wish I could talk to Charlie, thought Benjamin.
Charlie had fallen asleep. He woke up to find someone shaking his shoulder.
"Charlie, there's something on the wall behind you. A word." It was Dagbert's voice.
Charlie sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Look! Look behind you," Dagbert insisted.
Charlie looked around. On the wall above his bed was the word "good-bye," It was written in a patch of moonlight, in shaky spiderlike letters that seemed as though they were a little uncertain of themselves.
"Naren!" Charlie whispered to the wall.
One by one, the letters began to fade.
"Naren!" said Charlie, forgetting to whisper. "Where are you going?"
There was no answering message. The wall remained blank. The slice of moonlight disappeared and the room returned to its usual inky darkness.
"What's going on?" asked Dagbert.
9
ASA'S DISGUISE
Charlie turned over and pretended to be asleep. He felt a sharp thump on his back. "Don't!" he whispered harshly.
"Tell me about those words on the wall," Dagbert hissed.
"No," said Charlie. "It's a private message."
"I won't tell anyone."
"Huh!" Charlie got up and went to the bathroom. If there was going to be an argument it would be safer to have it where no one could hear them. Just as he expected, Dagbert followed him.
Charlie closed the door. The moon slipped from behind the clouds again, and the light was bright enough for the boys to see each other's faces.
Charlie stood with his back to the bathtub. The cold tap dripped; a loud, insistent rhythmic drip. Dagbert stood by the sink, his face silvery green in the moonlight.
"I'm not a spy," Dagbert said. "You can trust me, you know."
You're joking." Charlie sat on the edge of the bathtub. "You stalk me like a spy and you've turned nearly all my friends against me."
"Not all."
"Most. Why do you do it?"
Dagbert slid to the floor beside the sink and put his hands on his knees. He gazed at his long fingers, lifting them, one by one, and finally linking his hands together.
Drip, drip, drip went the tap, while Charlie waited for an answer.
Dagbert's crinkly hair began to unfold, as though invisible hands were tugging it straight. It became dark, flat, and shining. "The moon rules my life," he said at last. "Like the tides. I'm mean when the moon is hidden by clouds, worse when most of it is shadowed by the earth. I'm not going to ask you to forgive me, Charlie, because I can't help what I do. But if you tell me about those words on the wall, I promise I won't follow you anymore."
Charlie considered Dagbert's proposal. He wouldn't have to tell Dagbert where Naren lived. Besides, if Naren had said good-bye, it probably meant that she had left the cottage in the wilderness. "I know this girl," Charlie began. "She's called Naren, although her real name is much longer. It's Mongolian. Her parents were drowned in a flood ..."
"Nothing to do with me," Dagbert said quickly. "Go on."
"She was adopted by Ezekiel's son, Bartholomew, and his Chinese wife. They live outside the city, at least they did once."
"But the words... the words on the wall," Dagbert repeated insistently.
"That's her endowment," said Charlie. "She can send messages through the air. As long as the curtains are open and the moon is shining."
"Do you mean like a text message on a cell phone?"
Charlie frowned. "Not at all like that. She doesn't need any... instruments. All she has is my glove as a kind of homing device."
"I see." Dagbert looked impressed.
"We'd better get back to bed," said Charlie.
"There's just..." Dagbert couldn't finish his sentence. Something was happening to him. He began to shake violently.
Charlie stood up, his eyes never leaving the trembling boy on the floor. Dagbert's fingers slowly uncurled and he held his hands out to Charlie.
Speechless with horror, Charlie couldn't touch the unnaturally long sticklike fingers, for they had begun to glow. A soft green light was pouring through Dagbert's skin; his face, his bare feet, and his hands had a phosphorescent glow. Even the skin covered by his pajamas gleamed faintly through the thick cotton.
Charlie fought a desperate urge to get as far away as possible from the glowing boy. "What's happened to you?" he whispered.
The boy on the floor was shaking so badly his voice came out in a halting splutter. "G-g-g-get... s-s-sea gold... cr-cr-creatures," he stuttered. "Un-under... m-my... p-pillow."
It took Charlie several seconds to make sense of Dagbert's speech. When he finally grasped what the afflicted boy wanted, he dashed into the dormitory and felt under Dagbert's pillow. His fingers touched one, two, three... seven small hard objects. Holding them cupped in his hands, he ran back to the bathroom and, with some difficulty, placed them on Dagbert's palms, closing his glowing fingers over them. Five tiny gold crabs and a golden fish in one hand, a sea urchin in the other.
Dagbert shut his eyes and bent his head. Slowly, the shaking stopped. Gradually, the green, phosphorescent glow faded. Dagbert opened his eyes and gave a twisted half-smile.
Charlie knelt in front of him. "What's going on, Dagbert?"
"It's my birthday," Dagbert replied. He glanced at his watch. "To the minute. One o'clock precisely."
Your birthday? I don't understand."
"I'm twelve," said Dagbert. "I knew something would happen to me, but I never guessed what it would be."
"What does it mean?" In spite of the extraordinary moment, in spite of the shock and amazement, Charlie was unable to suppress a yawn. He got to his feet, leaning on the wall for support.
Dagbert stood up, still shivering a little. "It means that I am as strong as my father. And you mustn't tell a soul. NOT A SOUL. Because my father mustn't know. Not yet. Do you understand?"
"I understand. And I promise not to tell." Charlie yawned again. "Let's both keep our promises, shall we?"
"Agreed," Dagbert said solemnly.
They stumbled back to bed. The last thing Charlie heard before he fell asleep was the tinkle of sea-gold creatures.
It was a great relief to see Cook at breakfast the next morning. She looked almost like her old self. She had a message for Charlie. Leaning over the counter, she said quietly, "Your friend Benjamin has contacted me."
"Ben!" said Charlie.
"Shhh. Do you want the whole world to hear?"
"Sorry," Charlie mumbled.
Talking to Cook was always tricky, especially when you were in a breakfast line. Luckily, Billy was immediately behind Charlie, and Fidelio behind him.
Cook leaned farther over the counter. "He wants you to get some of Asa Pike's clothes. It's to do with the howling. Did you hear the gunshots last night?"
"Certainly did," said Billy.
"Do you want milk on your oatmeal, Charlie?" Cook asked as two girls strolled by.
"Yes, please."
"There was a hunt." Cook poured milk into Charlie's bowl. "Hit something, so I heard. Let's hope it was no one we know."
"Do you mean... ?" Everything suddenly fell into place. Charlie walked over to one of the tables. How slow he'd been, putting two and two together.
When Billy and Fidelio joined him at the table, Charlie whispered, "It must be Asa out there in the wilderness. At least Benjamin thinks so."
Billy nodded very slowly, as though he were still thinking about something. "Me too. That's why Ben wants the clothes, so Runner Bean can follow the scent."
"The only clothes belonging to Asa will be that old coat and hat from the drama department," muttered Fidelio. "Olivia's in drama. She'll be able to find them."
"That old coat," said Charlie affectionately. "Asa could never disguise himself properly, could he? I owe him everything. I've got to help him." He didn't add, If Olivia will listen to me.
Dagbert arrived at their table, holding his bowl of oatmeal. "Can I sit here?"
Fidelio grinned. "Can't smell fish today, so I guess it's OK."
Dagbert's face remained expressionless. "Thanks." He took a seat between Charlie and Billy.
Charlie sneaked a glance at him. There was no trace of the extraordinary phosphorescent glow that had radiated from Dagbert the night before. In fact he looked so downright normal, Charlie was finding it difficult to believe he hadn't dreamed the scene in the bathroom.
When Charlie stood up, Dagbert took no notice. And when Charlie left the cafeteria, Dagbert didn't follow him. He didn't creep after him at the end of assembly either, or into the blue coatroom. Did it mean that he was going to keep his word?
"Let's talk to Olivia at break," Fidelio suggested as he and Charlie went to their French class.
"OK." Charlie didn't relish a talk with Olivia, but he couldn't think of a better idea.
Emma was right about Olivia, however. Just as she had predicted, Olivia had already grown tired of her feud with Charlie. Besides, he was looking so preoccupied she longed to know what was going on. So it was Olivia who came up to Charlie and Fidelio during the first break rather than the other way around.
Charlie was very relieved. Words of apology had been chasing themselves around in his head. Now he was saved the trouble of choosing the right ones.
"What are you up to, Charlie Bone?" Olivia asked casually, as she pirouetted on the frost-hard ground.
Standing just behind Olivia, Emma grinned.
"Matter of fact, I was going to ask if you'd help us," Charlie said gravely.
Olivia pirouetted again. "What's it worth?"
"Your help?" Charlie floundered.
Fidelio came to his rescue. "There's something we're going to find very difficult to do without you, Liv. So you tell us what your help is worth."
A delighted grin spread across Olivia's face. "What have I got to do?"
"We need to find the clothes Asa used to wear as a disguise," said Charlie. "I'm sure they came from the drama department. You know, that old coat and hat, and the weird mustache that was always falling off."
"I know." Olivia clicked her glittery shoes together and hopped back and forth. "He used to stick on false eyebrows, too. And there were those funny old boots with holes in them."
"Yes, yes," Charlie said excitedly. "Thing is, do you know where they're kept?"
"Of course I do." Olivia came to a standstill at last. "Most of the stuff is kept in the basement, under the theater. I'll get the clothes for you during lunch break. There'll be more time then."
"Fantastic, Liv!" cried Charlie.
Fidelio nudged him. "The terms, Charlie, remember? What do you want for helping us, Liv?"
Olivia rolled her eyes at the sky. "Oh, I don't know. Yes, I do. One of Mrs. Onimous's chocolate fudge rolls... AND... you've got to tell me why you want Asa's clothes."
Charlie hesitated. He was always hesitating these days, never sure whom he could trust. Fidelio had no such qualms. He told Olivia about the distant howling and Benjamin's theory that it was Asa, and that
Runner Bean could find him if he got a scent of Asa's clothes.
"So if I get the clothes, I can come into the wilderness with you, right?" Olivia started hopping again.
"If we can come with you into the costume department," said Charlie, beginning to feel dizzy as he watched Olivia do a few twirls.
"You're on. When are you going into the wilderness?" Feeling dizzy herself, Olivia staggered to a halt.
"Saturday. Early. Seven o'clock."
"I'll be there." Olivia couldn't resist a last-minute twirl as the horn rang out across the grounds. "Hey, look at that," she said. "Dagbert Endless has made friends with Gabriel Silk."
Amazing but true. Charlie saw Dagbert and Gabriel heading for the door, side by side, deep in conversation.
"Must be the moon," Charlie murmured.
"The what?" asked Fidelio.
"Nothing."
Emma was smiling until Olivia had to go and say, "Look at those two lovebirds."
The smile left Emma's face. Tancred Torsson and Tracy Morsell were ambling over the frosty ground as though there were no such thing as a school bell. Tancred's arm was around Tracy's neck, his hand resting on her shoulder, and Tracy was gazing up at him as though he were the only boy in the whole world.
"Better buck up, you two!" Fidelio bellowed, undaunted by the fact that they were a year above him.
Tancred and Tracy took no notice, anyway.
"They didn't hear you," said Charlie. "Come on, race you to the door."
"I'll get there first," screamed Olivia, rushing away. "Bet you another chocolate fudge."
The boys raced after her, but Charlie was aware that Emma's run was very halfhearted. Olivia won her bet, though no one had taken her on.
Drama lessons took place in the school theater. It was here that Mrs. Marlowe, head of drama, put on the very popular productions that she herself wrote, produced, and directed. She was a small, vivacious woman, her face wrinkled from the many expressions that continually passed across it. Her hair, usually tied in a ponytail, was described as salt and pepper, in other words white and gray, and she wore exotic-colored shawls, long velvet skirts, and suede boots dyed to match her outfits.
Luckily, Olivia was Mrs. Marlowe's favorite, so when the teacher caught her and her friends about to creep down into the costume department at lunch-time, she wasn't as angry as she might have been.
The heavy velvet curtains had been pulled across the stage, and when Olivia opened the trapdoor at the back, she had no idea that Mrs. Marlowe was sitting alone in the dark auditorium, dreaming up her next production.
"Hello! Who's there?" Mrs. Marlowe sprang up the steps at the side of the stage and peeped through the curtains. "Olivia! What are you doing? And you two boys - you aren't in drama."
"So sorry, Mrs. Marlowe. We do apologize." Fidelio could really lay on the charm when he wanted to. "We had no idea you were there or we'd have asked. The thing is, I've written this musical. We're putting it on in the summer, in Olivia's backyard - she's starring, of course - but I wondered if we could borrow some costumes, and Olivia was going to ask, but she couldn't find you."
Charlie and Olivia stared at Fidelio in admiration. How had he managed to come up with such a good excuse so fast?
Mrs. Marlowe was certainly impressed. "A musical! How marvelous!" she purred. "I hope you'll invite me. Of course you may borrow some costumes, but let me know what they are, so that I can check them out." She withdrew her head and then, popping it br
iefly through the curtains again, added, "Be careful, kids. One of the bulbs has gone out. It's a bit dark down there."
"We'll be OK, Mrs. Marlowe," Olivia said cheerfully. She placed one foot on the wooden steps and descended backward into the room below. Charlie followed. Fidelio came last.
Olivia flicked a switch, and a light hanging almost above her head illuminated a part of the room nearest to the steps. Tall pine cupboards stood in rows against one wall, while a procession of leather trunks and large wicker baskets ran down the center of the room. On the other side, a line of ancient stone pillars created shadowy recesses where nothing at all could be seen.
"That's where the other light should be." Olivia pointed to the ceiling at the other end of the room.
"I hope Asa's stuff's not down there." Charlie gave a small shiver.
"No, it'll be at this end," Olivia said confidently. "And it won't take long. Mrs. Marlowe's very efficient. See, everything's labeled. All the clothes from 1900 to 2000 are at this end. They get progressively older until you reach bearskins and loincloths..."
"In the dark," said Charlie.
"There's so much," Fidelio exclaimed. "I think I really will write a musical."
Olivia picked out three large trunks and suggested they take one each. A label marked "1900-2000. Coats. Male." hung from the handles of all three trunks.
Charlie was the first to swing back a lid. He leaped away with a screech as a large beetle scuttled over the rim.
"You wait till the bats come out." Olivia laughed.
Charlie flung a look at the distant shadows, and then at the utter blackness behind the line of pillars. Was it his imagination, or did something glint in there? A bat's eye, or a beast's shiny fang? He turned his attention to the clothes in the trunk.
It was Fidelio who found Asa's coat. "This is it. I'd know it anywhere." He pulled out the long, tattered garment that Asa used to wear on weekends when he was spying for Manfred.
