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The officer cursed, then shuffled to his feet and started for the door "Keep an eye on hin of a twitch - hit him hard! Remember who and what he is Take no chances"

"Find out what the fuss is about while you’re out there," one of the other officers said as his colleague was leaving "The way people are rushing about, there ency"

"Will do," the officer said, then called for the door to be opened and let hiuard by the door would be He slid forward silently, stopping when he got a fix on the policeman I listened for sounds of the officer closer to Mr Crepsley, tuned into his heavy breathing, shifted back a metre or so, then held ers spread I counted to two and lowered er Another couple of seconds and I bent downswiftly at Harkat, I lowered o of the rafters and dropped through the plaster tiles of the ceiling, s theinglike a wolf for added effect

The policemen didn’t knohat to uard by the door tried to bring his rifle up, but Harkat’s plu body collided with his arrip My officer,no move to protect himself

While Harkat clauard, I drew a fist back to let the officer have a bunch of fives in the face Mr Crepsley stoppedto his feet and tapping the officer on the shoulder "Let h hypnotized Mr Crepsley opened his as of the vampires over hi in their sockets I caught hiently lowered hi you so soon," Mr Crepsley said conversationally, picking at the lock of his left handcuff with the fingers of his right

"We didn’t want to keep you waiting," I said tightly, eager to be out of there, but not wanting to appear any less composed than my old friend and mentor, who looked entirely untroubled

"You should not have rushed onfree with a click He bent to work on the chains around his ankles "I was perfectly content These are old-style handcuffs, I riggling out of their kind before the officers holdingto escape, but ratherwhen "

"He can be an annoying - know-it-all souard out and had shuffled over to the table, to

"We can leave you behind and return for you later," I suggested to the va restraints

"No," he said "I ht as well depart now that you are here" He winced as he took a step forward "But, seriously, a few extra hours would not have been unwelcome My ankle has healed considerably, but is not yet one hundred per cent Further rest would have been beneficial"

"Will you be able to walk?" I asked

He nodded "I in no races, but nor shall I be a hindrance I am more worried about the sun - I have over two and a half hours of it to deal with"

"We’ll cross that bridge e come to it," I snapped "Now, are you ready to continue, or do you want to stand here and shoot the breeze all day until the police colint in his eye

"Yes," I said

"Do not be," he told ot up on the table and paused "By the end of the co"

With that cheerless coloos clear, then jumped up after him We spread out so eren’t in one another’s way, then Mr Crepsley asked which direction we should take

"Right," I replied "That leads to the rear of the building, I think"

"Very well," Mr Crepsley said, wriggling ahead of us "Crawl slowly," he whispered over his shoulder, "and try not to pick up any splinters"

Harkat and I shared a rueful look - the phrase "cool as a cucumber" could have been invented with Mr Crepsley in ot too far ahead and left us behind