Charlie Bone and The Blue Boa (Children Of The Red King, Book 3) by Jenny Nimmo

up asleep somewhere," said Charlie. "I'm going to put some potatoes in the oven."
    Before he could do this, his mother walked in with an armful of carrots. She showed no surprise on seeing a small white-haired boy sitting at the kitchen table. She was used to Benjamin's visits and was glad that Charlie would have a friend around over the weekend. She had guessed that Paton had come home because she'd heard strange noises very late the previous night, but she hadn't had time to pop in and see him before she left for work.
    "He's ill, Mom," said Charlie. "Really, really ill. His hair's turned gray and he can't speak."
    "Oh, dear, perhaps I'd better go and see." Mrs. Bone ran upstairs.
    A few minutes later she came down looking very-worried. "I'll call the doctor. Does your grandmother know about Paton?"
    "She said he deserved it for meddling," Charlie told her.
    Mrs. Bone shook her head. "That family" she muttered.
    While Charlie got the dinner ready Amy Bone called the doctor. She was on the phone for quite some time, trying to describe Paton's symptoms. It wasn't easy explaining that someone had turned gray overnight.
    "I don't think the doctor believed me," said Amy replacing the receiver. "But he's coming around in an hour, just to check."
    At that moment Grandma Bone came back with her prunes. As soon as she heard that a doctor had been called, she went to the phone and canceled his visit.
    "How could you do that?" said Amy "Paton needs a doctor."
    "No he doesn't," Grandma Bone retorted. "There's nothing a doctor can do. It's a waste of his precious time."
    "Honestly! Your own brother," cried Amy "Suppose . . . suppose he dies? How would you feel then?"
    "We all die — in time," said Grandma Bone, rinsing her prunes.
    Watching the arguments in wide-eyed silence, Billy decided that family life wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.
    Dinner was an uncomfortable affair. Refusing ham and potatoes, Grandma Bone worked her way through a bowl of prunes, making a horrible sucking noise in the process.
    After dinner, while Mrs. Bone made up a bed for Billy the boys told her about Rembrandt.
    "Oh, Charlie, not another animal," sighed Mrs. Bone.
    "He's very clean," said Billy "and not a biter."
    "But a rat . . .”
    "Just look out for him, please, Mom?" begged Charlie. "We don't want Grandma to find him first."
    "I should think not," said his mother with a grin. "I'll do my best, but don't blame me if I scream when I see him." She left the bedroom saying, "Rats. Whatever's next?"
    Billy wanted to continue the search for Rembrandt, but Charlie was afraid Grandma Bone would become suspicious. Besides, Uncle Paton, who could always be relied on in a crisis, was now lying in some terrible stupor, unable to tell anyone what had happened to him. Perhaps he would never be quite himself again.
    "Your uncle breaks lightbulbs, doesn't he?" said Billy.
    "He's a power-booster," said Charlie. "Something happens when he looks at a light; it just kind of explodes. That's why he doesn't go out until after midnight. Someone might see one of his 'accidents.'"
    "There was a light on in his room," said Billy
    "What?" Charlie hadn't noticed. He had to find out if it was true.
    When he looked into his uncle's room, there it was — a bright light hanging from the ceiling, right above his uncle's desk.
    "It's gone, Charlie," came a faint voice from the bed.
    Paton's dark eyes were now open. He was gazing at the light with an expression of horror.
    "Uncle, you're awake!" cried Charlie.
    "If you can call it that," croaked Paton. "Charlie, I'm cleaned out, whipped. He's stronger than anyone could imagine."
    "Who?" said Charlie.
    Paton closed his eyes again. "Your grandmother put the light on to test me. She wanted to make sure I'd lost the power. Well — I have."
    "But who did this to you?" Charlie asked.
    Paton's gray head tossed from side to side. "I thought he was dead — gone. But he never will be."
    "Who?" begged Charlie.
    "I can't say his name.