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CHAPTER FOUR
THE CREATORof the Little People was dressed in his custoh thick glasses and twirled a heart-shaped watch between the fingers of his left hand He was s sreeted Harkat and me "Andhello ! beautiful ladies" He winked rakishly at Debbie and Alice Debbie smiled, but the ex-Chief Inspector ary Mr Tiny took a seat and ree, six webbed toes I’d glimpsed once before "I see you survived your run-in with Master Leonard," he drawled, putting the boot back on
"No thanks to you," I sniffed angrily "You knew Steve was the Lord of the Vampaneze You could have told us"
"And spoilt the surprise?" Mr Tiny laughed "I wouldn’t have missed that fatal confrontation in the Cavern of Retribution for anything I haven’t enjoyed myself so uessed the outcoed hiuess the outcome - youkneould end!"
Mr Tiny yawned insolently "I ht not have been there physically," he said, "but I was there in spirit As for knowing the final outcome - I didn’t I suspected Larten would fail, but I wasn’t sure Hecould have won
"Anyhow," he said, clapping sharply "That’s in the past We’ve other fish to fry" Looking at Harkat, he spun his watch so that it caught the light shining in theof the van and reflected it into Harkat’s round green eyes "Been sleeping well, Master Mulds?"
Harkat stared straight back at his master and said blankly, "You know only too damn - well that I haven’t"
Mr Tiny tucked his watch aithout taking his eyes off Harkat "Time to find out who you used to be," he htmares have intensified He o mad - and perish"
"Why can’t you just tell him?" I prodded
"Doesn’t work that way," Mr Tiny said
"Will I be gone long?" Harkat asked quietly
"Oh yes," cao well It’s not a case of si and dangerous, and even if you struggle along to the end, there’s no guarantee you’ll make it back But it’s a road you o loopy and die" Mr Tiny let out a fake sigh "Poor Harkat - trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea"
"You’re all heart," Harkat gruust "Looks like this is where - we part coan, but he cut et it," he said "You have to lead Debbie and - Alice to Vauide them, but to - protect them - it’s a hard trek"
"We could wait until you returned," Debbie said
"No," Harkat sighed "There’s no telling how long - I’ll be gone"
I gazed helplessly at Harkat He washim But I loved Debbie and didn’t want to abandon her
"Actually," Mr Tiny purred, stroking the top of his heart-shaped watch, "I think young Shanshould acco you value your life"
"What do you ernails and spoke with a deceptively light tone "If Darren accompanies you, your chances of survival are fair Alone, it’s practically certain you’ll fail"
My eyes narrowed hatefully Mr Tiny had set Mr Crepsley andit was a journey bound to end in death Noished to launch ," Harkat said as I opened my mouth to lay into Mr Tiny "He has problems of his oith the vampaneze This is my quest, not his"
"Of course, dear boy," Mr Tiny sio with the beautiful ladies, I won’t say anything to stop hi of me not to let him know in advance the awful?"
"Stop!" Harkat snapped "Darren goes with Debbie and - Alice End of story"
"Harkat," I muttered uncertainly, "maybe we should?"
"No," he stopped me "Your loyalty lies with the vampires It’s time you returned to the fold I’ll be OK onmore about it
We broke camp before midday Debbie and Alice had co boots, strong torches, lighters and uns, knives, you name it! As a half-vampire, I didn’t require any special tools All I packed in e of clothes I earing jeans, a shirt and a light ju my pirate costume, I didn’t feel comfortable in it - it was a child’s outfit I’d picked up ear over the lastfew ive the costume to Shancus or Urcha when they were older
I didn’t wear my shoes The trek to Va vaear were allowed Normally you weren’t allowed to flit either
In recent years, because of the War of the Scars, that rule had been relaxed But the others still stood Debbie and Alice thought I was crazy! It’s hard for huht
One other thing I did take was ht the diary lost for ever - it had been left behind in the city, along with the rest of s - and was astonished when Alice produced it with a flourish