by Jenny Nimmo
"Except me," said Billy.
Ignoring Billy Lucretia Yewbeam walked out and slammed the door.
"That was close," Fidelio whispered so softly no one but Charlie could hear him. "Do you want me to come with you tonight?"
"No," Charlie whispered back. "It's better if just one of us goes. Thanks anyway"
"Good luck!" Fidelio turned over and was soon asleep.
For a few moments Charlie lay with eyes wide open, fighting sleep. In desperation, he threw off the covers. Now he was so cold, sleep was impossible.
He waited until he heard the cathedral clock strike twelve, and then, with a mixture of fear and excitement, he quickly pulled on his bathrobe and slippers and crept out of the dormitory.
"Right, then left, then down the stairs," Charlie murmured to himself. The beam of light from his flashlight was so feeble he couldn't see much beyond his feet. By the time he'd managed to find his way down two staircases, he realized he was lost, or certainly in a place he didn't recognize. Everything looked so different in the dark.
Taking a chance, Charlie continued for several meters until he came to another set of steps. He descended two when something bumped into his knees and sent him crashing to the floor.
"Ow! Ooo! Ouch!" Charlie muttered under his breath. No bones were broken but he felt bruised and shaken. "Can't go back now;" he muttered.
Picking himself up he turned a corner and found himself on the landing above the hall. The lights here were left burning all night and, with a soft whoop of relief, Charlie ran down the stairs and on into the long passage that led to the cafeterias.
Stumbling against chairs and tables, Charlie made his way through the blue cafeteria and into the kitchen. Here, counters covered in saucepans blocked his way. Machines jutted out at odd angles, mops and buckets were hidden beside cupboards. A heavy pan crashed to the floor as Charlie felt his way along a shelf. He froze for a second, and then became aware of a low light coming from the frosted glass at the top of a door beside him. Very slowly Charlie opened the door.
He looked into a small room with walls of tall white fridges and freezers. Henry Yewbeam stood in front of the tallest.
"Henry" breathed Charlie. "What are you doing?"
"Hello, Charlie," said Henry. "It's good to see you."
"It's freezing in here," said Charlie whose teeth had begun to chatter.
"I know" Henry smiled mysteriously "It's just what I want."
"What are you talking about? Please come out of there. I think we could die of cold."
"I don't want to die," said Henry "But I think I will if I don't get home." He stepped out of the freezing room and closed the door.
Charlie relaxed. It was warm in the kitchen and he found it easier to think. He perched himself on a counter and Henry jumped up beside him.
"I looked for you at lunch break," Charlie said. "I sneaked some food up to the music room, where were you?"
"There was a lady very small, all in black. She took me to her room. I was a bit frightened of her, but she gave me a cup of tea and some sweets." Henry held out a candy wrapped in silver paper. "Have one! She gave me a handful."
Charlie took the sweet. It was chocolate with a strawberry center. One of his favorites. "Yummy" he said. "I bumped into that woman. 1 thought she was a ghost."
Henry shook his head. "Not quite a ghost. She used to play the violin, but now her left hand doesn't work and that makes her very very sad. You could say she was in mourning for her fingers."
Henry had an odd way of putting things. Charlie was intrigued. "Who is she?"
"I didn't like to ask. Mama said it was rude to pry. The lady told me to go to the kitchens at night. So here I am. But, Charlie," Henry's face lit up. "I have found a wonderful thing."
"What?"
"In there," Henry pointed to the cold room, "a closet that's full of ice."
“A freezer," said Charlie.
“A freezer?" Henry repeated. "Well, I never. It hums in a very comforting way Charlie, I think it will take me home."
"What d'you mean?" said Charlie anxiously.
"I have come to the conclusion that I arrived in this new century because the weather was right. When I left 1916, it was the coldest day for many many years. And when I got here, it was exactly the same. But now it's getting warmer and if I use the Time Twister, I could end up anywhere."
"You'd be crazy to use it," Charlie agreed.
"Not if I go into the freezer," said Henry earnestly.
"What? You'd freeze to death."
"You could help me, Charlie. Just open the freezer door, now and again, to make sure I'm breathing. Once I hit the right temperature, I'll be gone." Henry leaned forward. "Please help me. I want to go home so much. I want to get back to 1916 and see my family I'll never survive in this new world. I don't belong."
Charlie had only known his new relation for a day but already he had begun to like him a lot. He would miss him, he realized. "It's a bit chancy" he said evasively "I mean you could end up back in the Ice Age, with mammoths and things."
"I've considered that, but I want to take a chance. If I think hard about Mama and Papa, and my brother and sister, I'm sure I'll get back." He grinned encouragingly at Charlie, "What do you say?"
"OK," said Charlie reluctantly "Let's give it a go. But if you turn blue, I'm pulling you out of there." "Thank you, Charlie."
The two boys swung themselves off the counter and went into the cold room. For a moment Henry stood looking at the tall, white freezer and then he took the Time Twister out of his pocket. Charlie caught a glimpse of sparkling light in Henry's hand and he looked away quickly But the light was reflected on the low ceiling, and through a mist of swirling colors Charlie could make out a city of dazzling golden domes, and then a range of snow-clad mountains. The snow became a forest, and the trees turned into the crashing green waves of a mighty sea. And then a river of glass swept beneath the bluest sky Charlie had ever seen.
Mesmerized by the amazing world above him, Charlie felt himself being drawn toward it. When his feet began to slide out from under him, he tore his gaze away from the ceiling, but he was too late to see his cousin step into the freezer. Henry had already disappeared.
Charlie stared at the tall white door. How long should he wait? He didn't want to ruin Henry's chances, but what if he should freeze to death before the Time Twister did its work. He closed his eyes and slowly counted to ten. Then, seizing the freezer door, he pulled.
The door wouldn't open. Charlie pulled again. He put both hands on the handle, braced himself, and tugged with all his might. The freezer door was stuck fast. Either it was ice, or some tremendous force inside the freezer was holding the door shut.
Charlie tried again. He banged on the freezer, he twisted,, pulled, had a short rest, and then tried again. “Henry! Henry!" he called, pummeling the door.
“And what d'you think you're doing, Charlie Bone?"
Charlie whirled around to see Cook standing in the doorway.
"I . . . I . . ., " Charlie began. "Cook, there's a boy in the freezer. I don't know if he's dead or . . . or gone. You see he might've, but I've got to know . . ."
"Lord save us," cried Cook, almost knocking Charlie off his feet as she charged at the freezer.
With one mighty heave, she pulled open the door.
Henry was crouched at the bottom, under a huge frozen carcass. His face was blue and his hair and cape were covered in frost.
"Heaven's above!" exclaimed Cook as she pulled Henry out of the freezer.
He was cold and stiff but Charlie was relieved to hear him give a small groan as Cook gathered him into her arms.
"Follow me, Charlie Bone," she commanded. "You'd better tell me what all this is about."
Cook crashed her way through the door, across the kitchen, and into what started out as a broom closet, but ended up being a long, softly lit corridor. Even though she was carrying Henry Cook walked so fast, Charlie found it hard to keep up with her.
&n
bsp; At the end of the corridor, several steps led down to another small closet and this opened into one of the coziest places Charlie had ever seen. Bright pictures hung all around the room, from just beneath the very low ceiling, almost to the floor. The chairs looked old and soft, and a gleaming ancient dresser had been filled with gold patterned cups and plates. In a deep alcove there was a large black stove; a kettle boiled on the top, while bright coals flickered in a window at the bottom. They filled the room with a warm, glowing light.
Cook laid Henry in a large armchair beside the stove and began to rub his hands. As she did this, Henry's stiff fingers relaxed and the Time Twister dropped to the floor.
"What's that?" said Cook.
"It's er . . . um . . . a Time Twister," said Charlie.
"Huh!" grunted Cook, not at all surprised. "I might have known. It always causes trouble. Put it in that red mug on the dresser. But don't look at it."
"I won't," said Charlie. He picked up the shining marble and dropped it into the mug. Vivid colors spun and twisted inside the mug, and Charlie was tempted to wait and see what sort of picture they would make.
"Don't look, Charlie!" Cook warned again.
"No, no. I won't." Charlie stepped away from the dresser.
Cook continued to rub Henry's fingers, but he didn't stir or make a sound. She looked back at Charlie and said, "You stupid boy You of all people, Charlie Bone. What were you thinking of?"
"I was trying to help," whispered Charlie.
"Help? Help? Murder more like," Cook said coldly.
"No, no, I didn't . . ."
"Who is this boy?"
It took Charlie a few seconds to remember his exact relationship to Henry Very slowly he said, "He's my great-great uncle Henry I think. But I just call him cousin. He came from 1916."
“And the Time Twister's responsible, I presume."
"Yes, poor Henry's come a long way I mean he's come from a long time away"
"I'll say" said Cook. "Get my bathrobe." She nodded at a large red garment lying over a chair.
Charlie brought it to her.
"Now; take off this poor boy's cape."
Cook gently lifted Henry out of the chair, while Charlie took off the frost-covered cape. On Cook's instructions he wrapped his cousin in the big red bathrobe, but still Henry showed no sign of life.
Cook felt the frozen boy's pulse, shook her head, and then put her ear to his heart. "Something," she murmured. "Something there."
Charlie felt terrible. He sank into a chair and covered his face with his hands.
“All's not lost," said Cook. "They're here."
Charlie heard a faint meowing above his head. He looked up to see a skylight of small green glass panes. Peering through the glass were three cats with glowing yellow eyes.
"The flames," breathed Charlie.
"Yes, the flames. Look out, Charlie."
Charlie jumped out of the chair as Cook came toward him. She climbed on the chair and opened the skylight. A blast of cold air and a shower of snow brought one of the cats sliding down onto the back of the chair. He was a handsome creature with deep copper-colored fur.
“Aries!" said Charlie.
The cat gave a long, welcoming meow.
"You know these creatures, then?" said Cook, as an orange cat, and then a yellow followed Aries. They landed either side of him and greeted Charlie with loud purring voices.
"Leo and Sagittarius," said Charlie. "Yes, I know the flames. And I think I know what they're going to do."
The three cats leaped down from the chair and ran over to Henry Charlie could hear the crackle of tiny flames as the cats rubbed their heads against the red bathrobe. They began to circle the chair where Henry's blue-tinged face rested on a faded cushion. Cook closed the skylight and stepped off the chair.
"They saved my friend's dog," Charlie told Cook. “And I think they've saved a lot of people. But I can't understand how they know when they're needed."
"Sixth sense," said Cook. "Now hush. Let them do their work."
Charlie sank into a chair opposite Henry. Already he could feel the heat from the cats as they ran around the frozen boy Soon all Charlie could see was a bright golden red streak circling Henry's chair.
Charlie yawned. His head drooped and his eyes closed. In a few minutes he had drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up, Henry still wearing the red bathrobe, was sitting up and smiling at him. He held a mug of something steamy and sweet smelling.
"Hello again, Charlie!" said Henry.
Charlie blinked and rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry Henry" he said. "It didn't work, did it? I tried to get you out but something, I don't know what, it seemed to be fighting me."
Henry nodded. "I'm going to stay here with Cook," he said. "No one knows about this room, so I'll be safe until we can decide what to do next."
Cook was bustling around the stove. She took a hay of small cakes out of the oven and shook them onto a plate. "Take one of these," she said, offering the cakes to Charlie, "and then I think you'd better creep off back to bed."
"Thanks!" Charlie took a cake and bit into it. It was delicious. "Very good," he said quietly.
"It wasn't your fault, Charlie," said Cook, guessing Charlie's thoughts. "I shouldn't have been so quick to blame you. You of all people."
"Why d'you keep saying that?" asked Charlie. "Me of all people. What d'you mean?"
"I'll tell you another time."
Charlie looked up at Cook. For a moment he glimpsed another face behind Cook's lined, worn features; a face that was young and beautiful. He would have liked to hold the moment for a long time. He had never felt as warm and safe as he did now sitting in Cook's wide shadow with the glowing room behind her, the humming of the stove, and the deep contented purring of the three cats, as they sipped a bowl of milk before the fire.
"Who are you?" he asked Cook.
"Me?" She smiled. "I'm the lodestone of the house I keep you all from flying off into the dark."
"But your name?"
“Another time."
"Can I come back tomorrow?" asked Charlie. He wanted to know so much.
"Better not," said Cook. "Wait a while. Certain persons will be watching you. And not just persons." She nodded at a fat form that had appeared in the shadows at the back of the room.
Blessed waddled into the light. It was obvious that he wanted to sit in front of the stove, but the three cats gave warning growls and the old dog retreated.
"I've seen him before," exclaimed Henry "He's very old, isn't he?"
"He's a spy" said Cook. "So if you've seen him, he's already told someone about you. Charlie Bone, you'd better go back now Someone might have noticed your bed's empty"
Charlie swallowed the last of his cake and said good night to his cousin. Then he followed Cook through the labyrinth of closets and passages that led to the hall. Here, Cook took a small flashlight from her pocket and gave it to Charlie.
"It has a good light," she said. "Off you go now And I don't tell anyone about tonight. And I mean 'anyone.'"
"My best friend already knows about Henry"
Cook shook her head. "Can't be helped, I suppose. But the fewer people know about Henry the better."
"OK. I promise I won't tell anyone where he is."
Cook watched Charlie cross the hall and begin to mount the stairs. She gave him a quick wave and walked speedily back to her room.
She was pleased to see that Henry Yewbeam had fallen into a deep untroubled sleep. Taking the empty mug out of his warm hand, she replaced it on the dresser. The three cats had finished their milk and were looking at her expectantly so she stepped onto the chair beneath the skylight and opened it once more.
The flames ran to the chair, jumped up onto the back, and from there leaped out through the skylight.
"Thank you, my dears," called Cook. She fastened the skylight and stepped off the chair.
"Now for you," she said to the fat dog that had moved into his favorite place before the stov
e.
"I know what you are," Cook said to Blessed, "but you've been a good boy up to now and kept my room secret even from your friend Billy Raven."
Blessed looked at Cook and whined softly.
"Now, listen. Don't you dare tell that friend of yours about this boy. " She pointed to Henry asleep in the big armchair.
Blessed stared at Cook with sad brown eyes. Although she didn't speak his language, he knew her well enough to understand exactly what she was saying.
"If you give the game away there'll be no more of Cook’s chops. No more bed by the stove, or walks in the park. You'll be out on your ear, for you're of no use to me, you lazy lump of lard. I've mothered you only out of the goodness of my heart." She wagged a finger at him. Are we clear about this?"
Blessed grunted and heaved himself into his basket. He knew when he was well off.
CHAPTER 6
THE BLACK GLOVE
Cook's flashlight was unusual. Although the beam wasn't very bright, it lit the way ahead in such a way that Charlie could see details that he'd never noticed before. In fact some of the things he passed were definitely different.
For instance, there was a row of paintings along the entire length of a wall beside one of the staircases There was a pair of man-sized boots outside a door, and a pair of satin shoes outside another. On one of the landings, a tall plant grew in a blue china pot, and ivy trailed out of a large brass urn.
"That wasn't there," muttered Charlie.
In spite of these small changes it was easy for Charlie to find his way back. However, he had only taken a few paces down the passage to his dormitory when a narrow beam of brilliant light almost blinded him. Instinctively he turned off Cook's flashlight and waited, hardly daring to breathe.
The blinding light went out. Whoever stood at the other end of the passage was waiting to see what Charlie would do. Charlie cautiously felt his way along the wall. He knew his door was the second on his left. He passed the first door and stopped, listening intently for footsteps. Hearing nothing, he made a rush for his door and ran straight into a body.
Charlie gasped. At the same time the body squeaked, "Ouch! You're standing on my foot."
"Is that you, Billy?" whispered Charlie.
