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

clinging to pieces of furniture. The handle of an oak chest suddenly came off in Asa's hand, and he slid across the floor with a howl of surprise. Manfred had been more successful. His arms were wrapped around the newel post at the bottom of the stairs.
    Charlie didn't know how he could stop himself from being blown into the wall. Tancred's furious energy filled every space in the hall. Chairs were tumbling about like matchsticks. As he raised his head, he saw Tancred standing in front of the huge doors leading to the outside world. His blond hair was standing up like a stiff, sparkling brush. A few meters behind him, Dr. Bloor, bent double, was shouting into the wind.
    "Tancred Torsson, calm down. Come away from those doors. Immediately!"
    Tancred took not the slightest notice. Indeed, Dr. Bloor's voice was almost drowned by the noise.
    All at once, Manfred let go of the newel post and began to crawl across the floor toward Tancred.
    Charlie knew it was no use shouting a warning. Tancred would never have heard him.
    Manfred had almost reached the stormy boy when Tancred wheeled around and, seeing Manfred, let loose such a fierce bolt of electricity the head boy was sent sprawling away from him. At the same time, the massive doors cracked down the middle and, with a loud splintering sound, they flew open.
    Tancred turned and marched out, taking his stormy power with him.
    Dr. Bloor rushed to close the doors, but they were so badly cracked it was impossible to lock them. The big key Dr. Bloor always carried with him clicked uselessly in the lock.
    "Bring the chest," he ordered, waving at Manfred and Asa.
    As the two boys pushed the heavy chest across the hall, Charlie got to his feet. The floor was littered with debris. It was incredible how much hidden garbage Tancred's storm had drawn out of the shadowy corners in the hall.
    Lying at Charlie's feet was a black leather glove and, almost without thinking, he picked it up and put it in his pocket.
    Manfred and Asa gave the big chest a final shove, and it came to rest in front of the doors.
    "That'll do for now," said Dr. Bloor. "I'll have to get Weedon to fix it. We don't want anyone else escaping."
    It makes this place sound like a prison, thought Charlie.
    Some of the other children were peering cautiously into the hall, but it was Charlie whom Manfred saw first.
    "Charlie Bone, what are you doing here?" shouted the head boy.
    "I'm trying to get to assembly," said Charlie.
    Manfred could hardly quarrel with that. "Get moving then," he said irritably.
    Fidelio rushed across the hall and caught up with Charlie just as he was going into the blue coatroom.
    "What about that?" whispered Fidelio. "It was practically a hurricane."
    In all the excitement many of the children behind them had forgotten the rule of silence.
    They were immediately given detention and then dispatched to the kitchen to fetch brooms and dustpans.
    "Olivia won't be lonely on Saturday" said Fidelio. "I heard at least six people get detention."
    Charlie sat on one of the benches and began to pick off the bits of dust and garbage that clung to his cloak. A great weariness stole over him, and he slumped back against the wall.
    "What's up, Charlie?" said Fidelio. "You look done in."
    “I wish Tancred hadn't gone," Charlie murmured. “We’ve got to get him back."
    “Why?"
    “I can't explain. He helped me once, and now he's gone. Suppose he's expelled?"
    "He won't be," said Fidelio confidently "The endowed are never expelled. Sooner or later he'll calm down and come back."
    "I hope it's sooner," muttered Charlie. He wasn't mistaken. Without Tancred there was something definitely amiss.
    That night Charlie was the first to reach the King's room with his homework. Gabriel came in a few seconds later. He looked ill at ease. Carefully placing his books beside Charlie's, he said, "Something's wrong."
    "It's Tancred, isn't it?" said Charlie. "I feel sort of unbalanced."
    "Me, too," said Gabriel. "We've got to get him