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CHAPTER THREE
IT WASa cold but dry March - star-filled nights, frost-white dawns and sharp blue days The Cirque Du Freak was perfore town situated close to a waterfall We’d been there four nights already, and it would be another week before weto our shows, as well as the residents of the town It was a busy, profitable time
In the months after I first cried in Truska’s tent, I’d wept a lot for Mr Crepsley It had been horrible - the slightest reminder of him could set me off - but necessary Gradually the tearful bursts had lessened, as I came to terms with my loss and learnt to live with it
I was lucky I had lots of friends who helped Truska, Mr Tall, Hans Hands, Corh the hard ti s up with Harkat and apologized for the way I’d treated him, I relied on the Little Person ether, re each other of his personal quirks, things he’d said, expressions he’d favoured
Now,the coht dreams e left Vampire Mountain at the start of our quest, dreaons Mr Tiny said the dreams would worsen unless Harkat ith him to find out who he’d been before he died, but Harkat chose to accompany me instead on my hunt for the Vahtmares But the witch said it was only a temporary solution When the dreams resumed, Harkat would have to find out the truth about himself or be driven insane
For the last month Harkat had been tor as he could - Little People didn’t need htmares washed over him and he’d thrash and screae where he had to be tied dohen he slept - otherwise he stuinaryhe encountered
After five days and nights, he’d fallen asleep at the end of our latest show I’d tied hi ropes to strap his arms by his sides, and sat beside hireen beads of sweat from his forehead, away fro, after hours of shrieking and straining, the cries stopped, his eyes cleared and he sht"
"That was a long one," Ithe knots
"That’s the trouble with putting - sleep off so long," Harkat sighed, swinging out of his hahter"
"Maybe you should try hypnosis again," I suggested We’d done everything we could think of to ease Harkat’s pain, asking all the perforht to hi ointood," Harkat smiled tiredly "Only one person can help - Mr Tiny If he returns and shows me how to - find out who I was, the drearey, neckless head
After washing off the sweat in a barrel of cold water, Harkat accompanied me to Mr Tall’s van, to learn our schedule for the day We’d been doing a variety of odd jobs since hooking up with the Cirque, putting up tents, fixing broken seats and equip
Mr Tall had asked me if I’d like to perform in the shows, as his assistant I told hi on stage without Mr Crepsley
When we reported for duty, Mr Tall was standing in the doorway of his van, bea dully in the early ht," he said to Harkat
"Sorry," Harkat said
"Don’t be I htaith the news - I thought it best to let you sleep"
"What news?" I asked warily In ood
"You have visitors," Mr Tall chuckled "They arrived late last night, and have been waiting impatiently" He stepped aside and waved us in
Harkat and I shared an uncertain glance, then entered cautiously Neither of us carried a weapon - there seemed to be no need while we travelled with the Cirque Du Freak - but we bunched our hands into fists, ready to lash out if we didn’t like the look of our "visitors" Oncethe pair sitting on the couch, our fingers relaxed and we bounded forward, excited
"Debbie!" I yelled "Alice! What are you doing here?"
Debbie He us They were simply dressed in trousers and jumpers Debbie had cut her hair since I last saw her It was short and tightly curled I didn’t think it suited her, but I said nothing about it
"How are you?" Debbie asked once I’d released her She was studyingh but I’m over the worst - touch wood"
"Thanks to his friends," Harkat noted wryly