by Jenny Nimmo
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Charlie's mother ran down the aisle, calling her husband's name. He looked up but gave no sign of recognition. Charlie followed his mother. They stood side by side while Lyell stared at them in bewilderment. "Do I know you?" he asked.
The cathedral clock began to strike twelve. Charlie took out the small glass bottle. He uncorked the top and held it out to his father.
"For me?" Lyell frowned at the bottle. "What should I do with it?"
Charlie wasn't sure. He was about to tell his father to pour the water into his palm, when a figure stepped from behind the organ and, with a yell of triumph, knocked the bottle out of Charlie's hand.
"There!" Manfred kicked the broken bottle across the floor. "That's put an end to your little game, Charlie Bone!"
The smile suddenly left Manfred's face and he stared in horror at the piles of drifting leaves. They had, somehow, become three huge cats. At first glance their coats appeared to be dappled with the shadows
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of floating leaves, but as they moved closer, it became clear that their spots were no mere shadows. The cats were leopards. The three bright creatures ran down the aisle with their golden eyes fixed on Manfred.
Whimpering in terror, Manfred tore around the pews, pursued by the cats. With thunderous roars they chased him out of the chapel, and then, above the midnight chimes, there came a single, dreadful scream - followed by silence.
Lyell Bone stood up and shook his head, as though he couldn't quite understand what he had seen.
"Lyell!" Amy said in a desolate voice. "Oh, Lyell, will you never wake up?"
Charlie looked at the empty broken bottle. The king's tears had gone.
Lyell gave a faint smile. His eye had been caught by the glint of wet glass. He bent down to pick up the broken bottle, but cut his finger on the jagged edge.
"Ouch!" Lyell sat down and put his bleeding finger into his mouth. He tasted something utterly strange;
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it was warm and infinitely comforting. He looked at the two people standing before him. One of them he knew, so very well. The other must be...
"Charlie?" he said. "And Amy."
Charlie watched his parents fall into each other's arms. He felt that he could stand there forever, just watching. But then his father beckoned to him.
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CHILDREN OF THE RED KING BOOKS
BOOK #1: Midnight for Charlie Bone
Ten-year-old Charlie discovers that as a descendant of the Red King, he has magical powers that he must learn to use at the mysterious Bloor's Academy.
"A MYSTERIOUS BOX, A MISSING GIRL... AND VARIOUS VILLAINS ALL FIGURE INTO CHARLIE'S EXCITING, FAST-PACED ADVENTURE TALE, WHICH HAPPILY IS THE FIRST BOOK IN A PLANNED QUINTET CALLED CHILDREN OF THE RED KING."
- BOOKLIST
BOOK #2: Charlie Bone and the Time Twister
It's up to Charlie to help Hart Yewbeam, a young time traveler from 1916, return to the past. Will Hart ever see his home again? Not if his evil cousin Ezekiel can help it!
"Charlie Bone is a likable character whom kids will turn to for a fix after they've finished the latest Harry potter for the fifth time." - school library journal
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BOOK #3: Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy
Charlie discovers an invisible boy named Ollie in the attic of Bloor's Academy. Can Charlie and his friends make Ollie visible again?
"... IT'S A WILD ROLLER-COASTER RIDE OF A STORY..."
- School library journal
BOOK #4: Charlie bone and the Castle of Mirrors
Charlie journeys to the ominous Castle of Mirrors to help his friend Billy and to try to find his father at last!
"NIMMO ONCE AGAIN DELIVERS AN EXCITING, PLOT-DRIVEN TALE THAT IS SURE TO PLEASE FANTASY AND ADVENTURE FANS. THIS NEW CHAPTER IN CHARLIE'S SAGA IS FULL OF PLOT TWISTS AND THRILLS AND WILL LEAVE READERS EAGERLY AWAITING THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN THE SERIES."
- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
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JENNY NIMMO
I was born in Windsor, Berkshire, England, and educated at boarding schools in Kent and Surrey from the age of six until I was sixteen, when I ran away from school to become a drama student/assistant stage manager with Theater South East. I graduated and acted in repertory theater in various towns and cities.
I left Britain to teach English to three Italian boys in Amalfi, Italy. On my return, I joined the BBC, first as a picture researcher, then assistant floor manager, studio manager (news), and finally director/adaptor with Jackanory (a BBC storytelling program for children). I left the BBC to marry Welsh artist David Wynn Millward and went to live in Wales in my husband's family home. We live in a very old converted water mill, and the river is constantly threatening to break in, which it has done several times in the past, most dramatically on my youngest child's first birthday. During the summer, we run a residential school of art, and I have to move my office, put down tools (typewriter and pencils), and don an apron and cook! We have three grown-up children, Myfanwy, Ianto, and Gwenhwyfar.
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When Charlie turns twelve on New Year's Eve, the Flame Cats give him a grave warning: Something ancient has awoken, and Charlie must be watchful. Soon Charlie
learns that the shadow from the Red King's portrait has been released, and that it will do anything to keep Charlie from finding his father. Meanwhile,
pets are mysteriously vanishing from the city, and Olivia is in danger of revealing her newfound powers.
