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When night fell, we departed Declan andLittle Kenny bid us farewell They were settling down in the living room, mobile phones laid in front of them like swords Debbie and Alice’s va the town for traces of Steve and the other vampaneze since the massacre in the stadium Declan and Little Kenny were to coordinate that search in the ladies’ absence

"You have our nu "Call if you have anything to report, no rinned, saluting cluet yourself shot this ti

Alice and Debbie had a rented van We piled in, Harkat and Vancha in the back, covered by several blankets "If we’re stopped and searched, you till have to break free," Alice told them "We’ll act like we didn’t know you were there It’ll be easier that way"

"Youus out to dry," Vancha grunted

"Exactly," Alice said

Even though it was night and the lasses My eyes were especially sensitive that night, and I had a splitting headache I was also wearing earplugs and had little balls of cotton wool stuffed upine

"I’hts, wincing at the roaring gruine

"We could walk," Alice said, "but we’re more likely to be stopped and searched"

"I’ down in my seat "Just don’t blow the horn"

The drive to the old football stadium where the Cirque Du Freak was encamped was uneventful We passed two security checkpoints, but aved through at each (I took s and cotton wool as we approached, so as not to arouse suspicion) Alice parked outside the stadium We let Harkat and Vancha out of the back and walked in

A big smile broke across ood to be home As we exited the tunnel and roup of children playing on the outskirts

One stood, studied us warily, then raced towards us, yelling, "Godfather! Godfather!"

"Not so loud!" I laughed, catching Shancus as he leapt up to greet , then pushed hie, and any forlasses?" Shancus frowned "It’s night"

"You’re so ugly, I can’t bear to look at you without protection," I said

"Very funny," he snorted, then reached up, picked the cotton wool out of my left nostril, examined it, stuck it back in, and said, "You’re weird!" He looked behind me at Vancha, Debbie and Alice "I remember you lot," he said "But not very well I was only a kid the last ti, I made the introductions "Oh yeah," Shancus said when I told him Debbie’s name "You’re Darren’s bird"

I spluttered with eht red Debbie just smiled and said, "Am I, indeed? Who told you that?"

"I heard Mu about you Dad knows you froly-eyed when you’re around He?"

"That’s enough," I interrupted, wishing I could strangle him "Why don’t you show the ladies how you can stick your tongue up your nose?"

That distracted hi Alice and Debbie about the act he perfor at me sideways I smiled back weakly

"Is Truska still with the show?" Vancha asked

"Yes," Shancus said

"Ia ball of spit to slick back his green hair The ugly, dirty Prince fancied hih no ladies ever agreed with hiuess," Shancus said Then he glanced at Debbie and Alice and straightened up "Come with me," he said officiously "I’ll lead you to him"

All five of us fell in behind the snake-boy as he led us through the ca Debbie and Alice who the various tents and caravans belonged to, giving the show As we neared Mr Tall’s van, we passed Evra, Merla and Urcha They had the fa tubs of water and were carefully scrubbing thehted to see ht "I wanted to coood idea He said Iwatched?" Vancha snapped, eyes narrowing

"He didn’t say so in as many words," Evra said "But I’ve felt eyes on ht when I’ve been wandering around I’y here lately"

"Maybe we shouldn’t have? come back," Harkat said, worried

"Too late now," Vancha huffed "Let’s go see what Hibernius has to say"

Merla grabbed Shancus as he ain "No you don’t," she said "You’ve a show to prepare for You needn’t expect o and play with your friends"

"Aw, Mue in Shancus’s hand and dragged hiht for his birthday

"I’ll catch up with you later," I laughed, feeling sorry for him "I’ll show you roaned He turned appealingly to Evra "How cohts and have scars?"

"Your et busy on that snake," Evra responded, and winked at me over Shancus’s head "Drop by when you have time"

"I will," I pro for us at his van He was standing in the doorway, lookingthan ever, eyes dark, face drawn "I have been expecting you," he sighed, then stood aside and beckoned us in As I passed hie shiver ran down my spine It took me a few seconds to realize what the sensation reot whenever I saw a dead person

When ere all seated, Mr Tall closed the door, then sat on the floor in theon his knees "I hope you do not think ," he said to me "I knew you would recover, and I had much to put in order here"

"That’s OK," I s theain, Vancha," Mr Tall said, and then welcomed Debbie and Alice

"Now that the pleasantries are out of the way," Vancha grunted, "let’s get down to business You kneas going to happen at the football arena, aye?"

"I had

"But you let Darren go regardless? You let his friend die?"

"I did not ’let’ anything happen," Mr Tall disagreed "Events unfolded the way they had to It is notof destiny You know that, Vancha We have had this conversation before Several tirumbled "IfI had the power to see into the future, I’d use it to help those I cared about You could have told us who the Lord of the Vampaneze was Larten would be alive now if you’d warned us in advance"