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BULLETS POUNDED the platforht in the line of fire clucked backwards quickly, but not quickly enough - one of the bullets struck the Va an arc of blood and a sharp cry of pain!

At their Lord’s cry, the va like mad animals, they launched the Barrelling over one another in their haste to be first upon her, they descended upon Burgess in a vicious, churning wave, breaking over Harkat and Debbie along the way

My first instinct was to rush to Debbie and pull her frorabbed me before I could uarded

I knew immediately that this was our first priority Debbie would have to fend for herself

"Who goes?" I gasped, as we hurried to the stake

"Me," Vancha said, grabbing the rope

"No," Mr Crepsley disagreed, laying a hand on the Prince’s shoulder "It must be me"

"We don’t have time to?" Vancha started

"That is true," Mr Crepsley interrupted "We do not have tiuments"

"Larten ?" Vancha growled

"He’s right," I said softly "It has to be hiawped at me "Why?"

"Because Steve was my best friend and Gannen’s your brother," I explained "Mr Crepsley’s the only one who can concentrate wholly on the Vampaneze Lord You or I would have one eye on Steve or Gannen, no ht about that, nodded and let go of the rope, clearing the way for Mr Crepsley "Give them hell, Larten," he said

"I will," Mr Crepsley smiled He took hold of the rope and started across

"Wea handful of shurikens and squinting up at the platfor vampaneze ahead of me, ready to combat thee

One of the trio on the platform must have spotted Mr Crepsley, because Vancha suddenly let fly with a couple of throwing stars - he had a clear shot at the - and I heard a curse above as whoever it was jumped back out of the way of the shurikens

There was a pause, then a roar which filled the cavern and cut through the cries and ht!" Gannen Harst bellowed "Look to your Lord! Danger approaches!"

Heads turned and eyes fixed, first on the platforasps, the vampaneze and vampets spun and rushed towards the spot where Vancha and I were standing

If there hadn’t been quite so many, they’d have ainst the in confusion and chaos So, instead of facing a solid wall of warriors, ere able to pick off individuals