Charlie Bone and the Shadow (The Children of the Red King, Book 7) Part 2 potx

clever Tolemeo. It is an awful place. There is

the eternal wind,

26

and then in winter there is a deluge. Water

fills the land between the mountains, a

fathom deep."

"It IS a boat, then." Charlie nodded at the

wooden boat shape hanging on the wall.

"Indeed, a boat. There is no other place to

live but in a tower."

"And where does the enchanter live?"

"In a dark fortress, a scar on the mountain.

I'll show you." Dropping the meat into an

iron pot, Otus wiped his hands on a rag

tucked into his belt and, before Charlie could

protest, lifted him up to the high window.

Night was falling fast, but the mountains

were sharply outlined against a ribbon of

pale green sky. Close to the top of the tallest

mountain, flickering red lights could be seen

57/557

and, behind them, a black shape capped with

steep turrets.

"He is seldom there," said the giant, "but the

fires burn constantly to remind his subjects

that he is watching them."

Charlie shuddered. It had only just occurred

to

27

him that he might be trapped in this hostile

world forever. He was about to be lowered to

the ground when he shouted, "Stop. I see

something."

A few feet away from the base of the giant's

tower stood a large yellow dog. It was staring

up at the window. When the dog caught

Charlie's eye, it began to bark.

"Runner Bean!" cried Charlie.

How had his best friend's dog followed him

into a painting? It couldn't happen.

But he had.

58/557

28

CHAPTER 2

THE MELTING DOG

minutes after Charlie had traveled into Bad￾lock, his best friend, Benjamin Brown, a

small, tow-haired, anxious-looking boy, left

his house at number twelve Filbert Street

and crossed the road to number nine. His

dog, Runner Bean, trotted behind him.

When Benjamin rang the bell at number

nine, the door was immediately opened by

Charlie's grandmother Maisie.

"Benjamin, love," cried Maisie, drawing him

into the hall. "I hope you can do something.

Charlie's gone."

"Gone, Mrs. Jones? Gone where?" Benjamin

dutifully wiped his shoes on the doormat.

"If I knew that, I wouldn't be standing here

asking you to do something, would I?" Mais￾ie closed her eyes and scratched the back of

59/557

her neck. "Whatever am I going to tell his

parents?"

29

"I don't expect you'll have to tell them any￾thing," said Benjamin. "Perhaps my mom

and dad can help, being detectives."

Benjamin instantly regretted saying this. His

parents were working on a very important

case. They had just left the house; Mrs.

Brown disguised as a man, and Mr. Brown

disguised as a woman. Benjamin didn't much

like it when his parents dressed like this;

they hadn't even explained the circum￾stances that demanded the fake mustache

(for Mrs. Brown) and the blond wig (for Mr.

Brown), they had just told Benjamin to go

over to Charlie's house, where Maisie would

give him lunch.

"Actually, I'm sorry, I don't think my parents

can help," Benjamin apologized.

60/557

"I'm pretty sure they can't." Maisie turned

away and led Benjamin down a dim hallway.

"This is one of those disappearances that

normal people couldn't hope to solve."

"But I'm normal," Benjamin reminded her.

30

Maisie sighed. "Well, I know. But you're a

friend, and you could get one of the others.

The endowed ones - or whatever they call

themselves."

"Children of the Red King," Benjamin said

quietly.

They had reached the cellar door, which

stood wide open. Maisie beckoned to Ben￾jamin and pointed into the cellar. Benjamin

looked down into the murky underground

room. Maisie nodded encouragingly. Ben￾jamin didn't like cellars, nor did Runner

Bean. The big dog began to whine.

"Do I have to?" Benjamin asked.

61/557