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I WAS EXCITED BUT ANXIOUS about the journey - I was venturing into the unknown, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t turn out to be a s knapsacks for myself and Mr Crepsley, to make the time pass faster (Full vampires will die if exposed to the sun for more than a few hours, but half-vampires aren’t affected by it) Since I didn’t knohere ere going, I didn’t knohat to take or leave If Vampire Mountain was icy and wintry, I’d need thick clothes and boots; if it was somewhere hot and tropical, T-shirts and shorts would make more sense

I asked some of the Cirque people about it but they didn’t know anything, except Mr Tall, who said I should pack for snow Mr Tall was one of those people who seereed about the snow "I doubt if sun-shy vahed sarcastically

Evra Von was a snake-boy, with scales instead of skin Or wait, he used to be a snake-boy - noas a snake-otten taller and broader and older-looking I hadn’t As a half-vaht years had gone by since Mr Crepsley bloodedable to grow normally Evra and ood friends and shared a tent, but he was a young man now, e In reality I was only a couple of years younger than Evra, but I looked like a kid, and it was hard for hi a half-vaer and faster than any huiven the able to lead an ordinary life

Even though Evra and me weren’t as close as we’d once been, he was stilloff for Vampire Mountain "From what I know, that journey’s no joke," he warned in the deep voice that had hit hio "Maybe I should come with you"

I would have loved to jump at his offer, but Evra had his own life to lead It wouldn’t be fair to drag him away from the Cirque Du Freak "No," I told him "Stay and keep my hammock warm I’ll be okay Besides, snakes don’t like the cold, do they?"

"That’s true" He laughed "I’d probably fall asleep and hibernate till spring!"

Even though Evra wouldn’t be co, he helped me pack I didn’t have much to take: spare clothes, a thick pair of boots, special cooking utensils that folded up neatly so they were easier to carry, my diary - that went everywhere with me - and other stuff Evra told ht co

"But vareat climbers," I reminded hi off the side of a ertips for support?"

"Of course he does!" someone booer"

Turning to see who it was, I foundknown as Mr Tiny, and ht

Mr Tiny was a slasses, and a pair of green boots He fiddled around a lot with a heart-shaped watch He looked like a nice old uncle but was really a cruel, dark-hearted ue out as soon as say hello to you Nobody knew much about him, but everyone was afraid of him His first name was Desether with his last naot Mr Destiny

I hadn’t seen Mr Tiny since a little after joining the Cirque Du Freak, but I heard a lot of stories about him - how he ate children for breakfast and burned dons to war a few feet away, eyes twinkling, hands wrapped behind his back, eavesdropping on Evra andforward, as though he’d been part of the conversation all along "They love a challenge I knew one once alked hiht,able to coht"

He stuck out a hand and, scared as I was, I automatically shook it Evra didn’t - when Mr Tiny extended his hand to the snake- his head furiously Mr Tiny just smiled and took back his hand

"So, you’re off to Va inside without asking "Takeand the days are cold The winds that gust around Va man like you to the bone"

"Thanks for the advice," I said

That was the confusing thing about Mr Tiny He was always polite and friendly, so even if you kneas the type of guy ouldn’t blink in the face of great evil, you couldn’t help liking him at least some of the time

"Are my Little People near?" he asked The Little People were short creatures who dressed in blue robes with hoods, never spoke, and ate anything that s almost always traveled with the Cirque Du Freak, and there were eight of them with us at that tiht theo, and I think they’re still eating" One of my jobs was to hunt for the Little People’s food Evra used to do it with rew up and demanded lesshumans, children of the Cirque helpers

"Excellent" Mr Tiny bea Tell Larten not to leave until I’ve had a ith hiht not have time to -"

"Just tell him I want a word," Mr Tiny interrupted "I’lasses at us, waved good-bye, and moved on I shared a worried look with Evra, found so, then hurried off to wake Mr Crepsley