When the great cathedral clock chimed two, Charlie was still wide awake. How could he have slept after such a dreadful day? He put his hand under his bed and touched the iron kettle. He had expected it to be hot, but it was barely warm.
Claerwen appeared to be asleep. She lay with folded wings at the end of Charlie's bed. A few hours ago Charlie had been more afraid than at any other time in his life. And yet here, in his room, the danger seemed to have receded. The city was quiet, except for a sound, quite close. A light, rhythmic beat.
Charlie went to the window and looked out. Was that a horse, trotting down the street?
He must be mistaken. But when a white horse moved into the271circle of light thrown out by the streetlight, Charlie saw the rider; he saw the red feathers, lifting in the breeze, like a halo around the silver helmet. And he saw the jeweled scabbard at the knight's side, and the glint of the Red Knight's sword hilt.
Charlie watched the Red Knight and his horse move slowly down the street. He watched until they had disappeared from sight, then he lay on his bed and fell fast asleep.272CHAPTER 14
THE PAINTING VANISHES
Bloor's Academy was in shock. Something had happened to Tancred Torsson, that much was certain. But very few people knew what it was. The Children of the Red King knew and they weren't telling.
There had been a thunderstorm. The sculpture room was flooded; the school had been in darkness for twenty-four hours. The coatroom signs were scorched and a strong smell of burning lingered in the hall.
Rumors abounded. Some said that Tancred had drowned. Students kept their distance from Dagbert Endless. The staff carried out their duties but most of them seemed distracted. They lost their lesson notes, forgot their books, and on occasion, even went to the wrong classroom.
Lysander Sage was in danger of exploding into violence. His mind was in a turmoil; his thoughts full273of vengeance for his lost friend. Such passion was bound to wake his spirit ancestors, and the sound of their drumbeats followed Lysander wherever he went.
Dr. Bloor knew better than to rebuke him, aware that it would probably make things worse.
Only Mrs. Tilpin, in her flooded rooms, threatened to "do something" about Lysander Sage. With water underfoot and drumming overhead, she complained to Manfred that she was losing her mind. "And then where would you be?" she snarled. Manfred told her to bide her time.
Dr. Saltweather spent more and more time in the blue cafeteria. He was frequently seen in Cook's company. They both looked worn out with talking.
Two days after the thunderstorm, Gabriel and Fidelio reached the cafeteria five minutes before lunchtime. As they had hoped, Cook and Dr. Saltweather were sitting at a table in the corner. They were deep in conversation and didn't notice the two boys enter the cafeteria. Cook had her back to them.274Fidelio gave a slight cough as he approached the corner table. He didn't want to give Cook a fright.
Dr. Saltweather looked up and said, "What do you boys want? You're five minutes early."
"We wanted to ask you something, sir." Gabriel looked over his shoulder to make sure no one had followed them.
Cook swung around quickly and smiled with relief. "I'm glad it's you two," she said.
"We know what happened to Tancred," Fidelio said solemnly. "Emma told us. And that's bad enough ..."
"It's about the worst thing that's ever happened" - Gabriel brushed his floppy hair out of his eyes - "and I still can't really believe it. There are so many rumors flying around. But what we can't figure out is -"
"What's happened to Charlie, sir?" Fidelio said in a rush. "He was here on Monday, then he was sent to the headmaster, and we haven't seen him since."
"He's been suspended." Dr. Saltweather gave a275wry smile. "For damaging a valuable painting. But he'll be back next week."
"Don't worry, boys. Dagbert hasn't got to him yet." Cook suddenly grabbed Gabriel's arm.
"Perhaps I can ask you something now. Do you know what's happened to little Billy Raven?"
Gabriel looked at Fidelio before saying, "Yes. Emma told us. Charlie thinks Billy is in Badlock."
"What?" Cook jumped up and looked hard at Gabriel. "That can't be true. Billy's not a traveler. And why would Charlie think that?"
"There's a painting in Charlie's cellar," Gabriel told her. "His great-aunt put it there. It's a picture of Badlock, Charlie says, where the shadow lives. Billy went into the cellar... and never came out."
Cook and Dr. Saltweather looked so shocked Fidelio added quickly, "Dr. Bloor says Billy came back here, but we haven't seen him."
"And nor have I." Cook spoke so quietly they could hardly hear her. "Nor have I."276"What should we do, sir?" Gabriel asked Dr. Saltweather.
The large music teacher stood up. "Keep me posted," he said. "That's all I can suggest.
Let me know everything you think I should know, and I'll do my best to find out what's going on."
Dr. Saltweather marched out of the cafeteria just as a crowd of music students came rushing in. They began to line up beside the counter, and Cook hurried into the kitchen.
Fidelio and Gabriel went to the back of the line. Neither of them wanted to stand directly behind Dagbert Endless. Fidelio allowed a gap to form until he was several feet away from Dagbert.
"What's the matter?" Dagbert turned and gave Fidelio one of his icy blue-green stares.
"What have I done?"
"You tell me," said Fidelio, bravely closing the gap.
Dagbert shrugged and moved on.277No one wanted to sit with Dagbert. But he didn't seem to care. He took his plate of spaghetti to a far corner and started eating. He didn't look up once during the whole meal. But he walked out without having dessert, even though it was treacle tart. He'd been summoned by the talents master. But Dagbert didn't want anyone else to know that. He was going to be late, but he didn't see why he should go without a bit of spaghetti to keep up his strength.
Manfred was in his study eating when Dagbert knocked on the door.
"You're late," called Manfred. "Come in, then, Dagbert."
"Sorry, sir." Dagbert pressed the knot of wood and the door swung inward.
"I told you to come before lunch," said Manfred, without looking up from his plate.
"I'd have missed the spaghetti." Dagbert eyed the slice of tart on Manfred's plate. "I went without my treacle tart, anyway."278"Don't think you can have mine." Manfred gave Dagbert a spiteful glance. "Going without lunch was supposed to be part of your punishment."
"Punishment?" Dagbert looked extremely offended. "What have i done?"
"Now you're being stupid." Manfred pushed the last of his tart into his mouth and washed it down with a glass of water.
Dagbert waited, inwardly fuming, but not confident enough to show it.
"The flood," Manfred said at last. "You didn't have to go that far. Fairy Tilpin's furious.
The water seeped into all her rooms. Now she's demanding to be relocated."
Dagbert's arctic eyes roved around Manfred's study. "It's a big house," he said. "I'm sure you could squeeze her into a room in the west wing."
"Not enough bathrooms," said Manfred. "Dad and I don't like sharing."
"She'd only need a sink and a..."
"Stop talking about bathrooms." Manfred's fist279came down hard on his desk. "I'm disappointed in you, Dagbert. I thought we had an understanding. I'm afraid you're getting detention. The headmaster has ordered it. No going home on Saturday."
Dagbert smiled. He hated his temporary home in the fish shop, where an elderly guardian cooked unappetizing food, washed his clothes, snored in bed, and never spoke to him.
"And you can stop smiling," said Manfred. "You've drowned someone. You were not supposed to do that. You were only supposed to scare him. What possessed you?"