Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors Read Online Free PDF

he write them? He decided on his new homeroom. As he crossed the hall, he was swamped by groups of children, some coming in from games, others rushing down the stairs, still more emerging from the coatrooms. Everyone seemed to know exactly where they were going, except Charlie. Something had gone horribly wrong with his schedule. He hurried on, hoping to find at least some of his year's group in the classroom.
    There was a note tacked to the classroom door. It was printed in the same, old-fashioned handwriting as the words on A4r. Pilgrim's door:
    Tantalus Ebony
    Music, Mime, and Medieval History
    Charlie put his ear to the door. Not a sound came from the other side. He went in.
    * * *
    There were no children in the room, but there was a teacher. He sat at a high desk in front of the window, a teacher with a long, narrow lace and black eyebrows that met across the bridge of his nose. His dark hair covered his ears, and heavy bangs ended just above his eyebrows. He wore a purple cape.
    "Yes?" said the teacher, looking up from his book.
    Charlie swallowed. "I've come to write out some lines, sir."
    "Name?" The man's voice rumbled as though it came from underground.
    "Charlie Bone, sir."
    “Approach!" The teacher beckoned with a long, white finger.
    Charlie walked to the desk. The man stared at him for a full minute. His left eye was gray and his right eye brown. It was most disconcerting. Charlie was tempted to look away but he held his ground and looked first into one eye and then the other. An angry frown crossed the man's face and he leaned back, almost as though he feared that Charlie had seen some part of him that he wished to keep secret. Eventually the teacher said, "I am Tantalus Ebony"
    "I guessed that, sir."
    "How presumptuous. Stand still."
    Charlie was about to say that he hadn't moved, when Mr. Ebony went on, "Why are you not with the rest of your class?"
    "I got a bit confused, sir."
    "Confused? Confused is for freshmen. Not a very promising beginning for your second year, is it, Charlie Bone? And you say you have lines already I wonder why"
    "I was talking in the hall, sir."
    Mr. Ebony's response was amazing. He roared with laughter. He rocked with unrestrained giggles.
    Ahem." The teacher gave a little cough. "Go and write your lines, then. And don't disturb me. I'm going to sleep." Mr. Ebony pulled his purple hood over his head and closed his eyes. Still sitting bolt upright, he began to snore.
    Is it possible to be watched by someone who isn't looking at you? Charlie had the impression that the strange teacher was still awake. Or rather that someone else, behind the sleeping face, was still on guard.
    After waiting a few seconds, Charlie tiptoed to his desk, got out an exercise book, and began to write out the hall rules. He had just completed the last line when the horn sounded for snack time. Mr. Ebony opened his eyes, threw back his hood, and cried, "OUT!"
    "Yes, sir." Charlie gathered up his papers and hurriedly left the room.
    * * *
    "Where on earth have you been?" asked Fidelio, when he saw Charlie in the cafeteria.
    "Where have you been?" said Charlie.
    "1 had English, then games."
    Charlie saw a weekend of detention looming ahead. Mr. Carp, the English teacher, wouldn't forgive him for missing a lesson. "I was writing out my lines for Manfred," he said gloomily "And I still haven't found out where his office is."
    Fidelio couldn't help, nor could Gabriel when he arrived at their table. "What's with him, then?" he said, munching a Choclix bar. "I mean, what's Manfred supposed to be? He's not head boy anymore, and he's not a teacher. So what is he?"
    "He's a hypnotizer," said Charlie grimly. “Always has been and always will be. He'll probably stay here forever and ever, perfecting his skills until he becomes a musty old magician like his great-grandfather."
    As long as he keeps out of my way I don't care what he is." Gabriel swallowed the rest of his Choclix and wiped his fingers on his sleeve. "By the