Charlie Bone and The Blue Boa (Children Of The Red King, Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

big toe."
    In horrified fascination, Charlie's eyes were drawn toward the floor. Emma couldn't help screaming. She had already seen it: a small pink blob lying just a few steps away from them.
    "Sorry" said the voice. "It used to have a bit of sock and shoe on it, but the shoe got too small, and the sock wore out. A toe's a bit disgusting on its own, isn't it?"
    "Not at all," said Charlie cheerfully
    "They tried to get all of me back," said the voice. "They made me drink revolting potions and threw smelly liquid over me, and once they covered my bed in spiderwebs while I was asleep."
    "That is so gruesome," said Emma.
    Charlie said, "Ollie, why don't you escape? The door's not locked. You could easily run away No one would see you."
    "You try it." The voice sounded very aggrieved. "I came out once. People walked into me, knocked me down — some of them screamed. 1 couldn't get out of the main doors; no one can. I didn't feel safe, so I came back here."
    "It must be so horrible, all alone," said Emma. "What do you eat?" She was actually wondering how Ollie ate but was too polite to ask.
    "The food's mostly disgusting, but Manfred gives me nice jam. I suppose he does it to keep me quiet. And, in case you're wondering, I eat just like anyone else. Only you can't see the food once it's inside me."
    Emma hoped Ollie couldn't see her blush.
    Charlie had an idea. "If you come down to the dining hall at dinnertime, we'd all be sitting still. No one would bump into you, and I could make room for you between me and my friend Fidelio. The food's not so bad on the first day of school."
    Silence. Perhaps Ollie was thinking.
    Emma remembered the most important thing of all. "Ollie, your brother's here," she said. "He's come to look for you."
    "What? Samuel? I can't believe it. Wow!" Suddenly the pink toe jumped into the air and there was a small thud as two feet landed back on the floor.
    "So, if you come down to dinner, you can see him," said Charlie.
    "Yes. Oh, yes . . . " A pause. "But I won't know the time. I haven't got a watch."
    Charlie took off his watch and held it out. "You can borrow this."
    It was disturbing to see a watch gradually disappear into thin air.
    "Don't worry it'll come back when I take it off. Everything I wear becomes invisible," Ollie explained. "Everything I eat or hold or put on."
    Emma glanced at her own watch and cried, "We've only got five minutes. We'll never make it."
    She dashed out of the room and down the steps while Charlie followed, calling, "Sorry Ollie. Got to get back to class. Hope to see — er — hear you later!"
    Emma and Charlie tore down the empty passages, often taking the wrong turn or the wrong staircase but ending up, at last, on the landing above the entrance hall. Their relief was short-lived. Approaching them from the other side of the landing was Dr. Bloor.
    The big man strode toward the children. "Why aren't you two in class?" he boomed.
    Emma and Charlie froze. They couldn't think of an explanation.
    Dr. Bloor stared down at them with cold, pale eyes. Suspicion was written all over his big face with its dull, gray skin and thick, bluish lips. "Well, I'm waiting."
    "We — er . . . " Charlie floundered.
    “Ah, there you are," said a voice, and Mr. Boldova appeared behind the headmaster. "I've been looking for these two," said the art teacher. "Did you find it?"
    Charlie swallowed. "Um . . .”
    "That rat's such a rascal." Mr. Boldova turned to the headmaster. "I brought it along for the children to draw, but it keeps escaping. When I saw these two idling away I asked them to look for it. Any luck, Charlie?"
    "No, sir."
    “And now we're late for our next lesson," said Emma meaningfully
    "Dear, oh dear," said Mr. Boldova. "I'd better explain to your teachers. All my fault. Come along, kids. Sorry about this, Dr. Bloor."
    Mr. Boldova propelled the two children past Dr. Bloor toward the corridor that led to the classrooms.
    Dr. Bloor swiveled around to watch them go. "That rat must be