"There is no painting of my wife," said Otus.
"No - but - I think I have seen her."
"You... !" The giant's face came very close to Charlie. His large hand clutched Charlie's shoulder. "How is that possible?"
"The castle where she died still stands, but the walls turned to glass."
"I heard that snow fell," Otus murmured, almost to himself. "Snow sent by a magician, but it came too late."
"Too late to save them," Charlie agreed. "But it was a wonderful spell in its way, because now the397walls are like glass, but they are also mirrors." He pointed to the mirror on Uncle Paton's dresser, and the giant, seeing himself reflected there, smiled.
"When I went to the castle," Charlie continued, "there was a wall that showed me a time picture, not a painting but, well, it was like a memory, like the walls had kept the memory of the people who lived there. I saw a family: Amadis and his wife and children, and a beautiful woman with black hair ..."
"Yes, yes!" Otus exclaimed.
"And they called her Amoret."
"And you saw her... truly?"
"She talked to me." Charlie looked into the giant's incredulous face. "I went in."
"You went... in?" Otus lifted his head and stared at the ceiling. He looked at the shelves of books, the pictures, and the calendar. He looked at Uncle Paton's desk with its jars of pens and pencils, and he didn't seem surprised by any of it. "So you could take me?" he said.398"I think I could, with Claerwen's help. After all, she was a magician's wand. The magician that sent the snow, I think."
The giant stood up, and the bedsprings twanged into place again. "When do we travel?"
he asked.
"Urn ... I haven't told my uncle yet," said Charlie. "It'll be up to him."
Uncle Paton opened the door just then, and said, "We've got a visitor."
Mrs. Kettle, carrying a large basket, pushed past him into the room. She gave a little start when she saw the giant's face so very far above her, and the giant, obligingly, sat down again.
"I'm so very thrilled to meet you, Mr. Yewbeam." She held out her hand. The giant took it and leaned forward, bending his head as though he would have made a bow, if he'd been standing up.
"My name is Mrs. Kettle," the blacksmith went on, "and I've been caring for... ah, there he is." She spied the blue boa, curled up on a pile of Uncle Paton's clothes.399"Come on, Solomon darling, time to go home."
"A wondrous snake," Otus remarked as Mrs. Kettle approached the boa with her basket.
"I wouldn't like him to get into the wrong hands," said Mrs. Kettle, helping the snake to curl himself into the basket. "There." She closed the lid and smiled around at everyone.
"Well, this is a most incredible event, and I am very happy to be part of it. There is some good news that I don't suppose Lysander told you, Charlie."
Charlie shrugged.
"No, I thought not. I imagine it's been very busy here." She glanced at the giant.
"Anyway, Gabriel Silk has obtained so many signatures on his petition for reopening the Pets' Cafe, it is likely that the Onimouses will be successful."
Instead of giving her a happy smile, Charlie suddenly leaped up, clapping his hand to his head. "Oh, no!" he cried. "I've remembered."400"What have you remembered?" Paton came farther into the room and closed the door.
The giant stared anxiously at Charlie as he paced toward the window. "Norton Cross, the doorman at the Pets' Cafe," he said. "I saw him in the Chapel. He must be one of the shadow's followers. Perhaps he even caused the Onimouses' accident."
"We'll just make sure he doesn't go back there, my dear," said Mrs. Kettle calmly.
"You don't understand" - Charlie clutched his tangled hair - "I told Mr. Bittermouse to contact Norton, to help with repairing his door. And now I've put him in danger."
"He was in danger already, Charlie," said Mrs. Kettle. "But we'll make sure that he's safe.
Don't you worry about it. You've got enough on your plate." She smiled at the giant who was sitting very still with a faraway look in his eyes. "I mean no offense, Mr. Yewbeam, but I'm sure Charlie's been making plans for you."
"Er, yes," Charlie muttered.401"And what are they, my dear? Will you let me into your secrets?"
"Urn... ," began Charlie.
The giant said, "He is taking me to my wife."
Not by a single twitch did Mrs. Kettle show her surprise. "How wonderful," she said. "I'll be off now and let you get on with things. Good luck all." She slipped out, closing the door very quietly behind her.
Unfortunately, Uncle Paton was so flabbergasted, he staggered to a chair and sat down rather heavily. "Can I believe my ears, Charlie? Did you tell Mr. Yewbeam here that you were taking him to see his wife?"
"I'm sorry I didn't mention it before," said Charlie.
"But..." Paton looked at the giant and shook his head.
Charlie felt deflated and helpless. It was several seconds before he realized that the giant was speaking. Otus Yewbeam's deep voice stole so softly into402the room, Charlie and his uncle felt they were listening to a voice from another world.
"I know what awaits me, sir. I know the fire was fierce and that Amoret died most horribly. I have known this for many years. I have thought of it every day since I learned the nature of my wife's passing; every day that I spent in that prison, for Badlock is a prison, my friends. And I thank you, most fervently, Charlie, for bringing me out of it. I would not have wished to die there. I know what my end will be if I am with my wife, but one day, one hour, one minute spent with her would, at a stroke, wipe away the memory
of all those bitter years. So I beg you, Paton, uncle of Charlie, sir, please help Charlie take me to my wife."
Uncle Paton had been looking at the giant, as though struck by an amazing revelation. "It will be a pleasure," he said.
There was a crash from below as the front door was flung open, and a voice called,
"WHERE IS IT,403THEN? I've heard from my friends on Piminy Street that there is a giant in my house."
"Grandma Bone!" Charlie whispered.
"An ill-disposed voice," remarked the giant.
"Exceedingly ill-disposed," Paton agreed. "But don't let it worry you. Stay here with Charlie. I'll deal with this."
Uncle Paton left the room, calling, "Good afternoon, Grizelda. Are you grumbling again?"
"I most certainly am." She stared up at her brother, her features twisted with spite.
"Where is it?"
"IT? IT?" shouted Paton, descending the stairs. "There is no IT here, unless you mean your sorry self."
Grandma Bone stamped her foot. "Don't try and be clever, Paton. I won't have it in my house."
"YOUR house, Grizelda?" Paton poked her in the chest. "YOUR house? It's half mine, and I won't have you poking your nose into my business."404"Don't do that!" Grandma Bone found herself backing down the hallway as Paton poked and poked at her.
"Stop it," she shrieked.
They had reached the cellar, and in one swift movement, Paton opened the door and pushed her in. She slipped down the first two steps, steadied herself and screamed,
"HELP!"
Paton slammed the door. As the key was not readily available, he quickly pushed a heavy oak chest in front of the door.
"What's going on?" asked Maisie, looking at Paton in alarm.
"I've temporarily imprisoned my sister," Paton told her. "Don't worry, Maisie. She'll lose her voice in a minute. We've got a very long journey ahead of us, so I'd like you to make sure Grizelda stays put until we get back."
"Are you taking" - she hesitated and looked up the stairs - "the other Mr.
Yewbeam?"405"We are indeed. We are taking him somewhere safe."
"I'm so glad. I was very worried about him. But I thought that little Billy would be coming back? Is he still... there?"
"Still there, Maisie." Paton frowned. "And I'm not sure how we'll get him out."
"But you will get him out," said Maisie sternly.