Page 17 (1/2)

HARKAT AND I sat on our ha cells were deserted, as were the tunnels Most of the va outside for the verdict - va, and all were anxious to hear the news firsthand

"How come you leapt to my rescue?" I asked Harkat after a while, to break the nerve-racking silence "Youto save me"

"To be honest," Harkat replied sheepishly, "I acted for ht never find out who I used to be"

I laughed "You’d better not tell the vahtly on you is that they respect bravery and self-sacrifice If they learn you did it to save your own skin, there’s no telling what they’d do!"

"You do not mind?" Harkat asked

"No" I smiled

"If they decide to kill you, will you let them?"

"I won’t be able to stop theo quietly?"

"I’ht after the fight, I’d have gone without a murmur - I was pu Now that I’ve calo withfor mercy"

"Not you," Harkat said "You’re too tough"

"You think?" I laughed dryly

"You fought boars and faced fire and water You didn’t show fear before Why should you now?"

"That was different," I said "I had a fighting chance If they decide to killit’s all over"

"Don’t worry," Harkat said "If you do die, maybe you will come back as a Little Person"

I stared at Harkat’s reen eyes, and the reat co to cheer you up"

"Well, don’t!"

Minutes trickled by agonizingly I wished the vampires would reach their decision quickly, even if ithere, not knowing Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, there came the sound of feet in the tunnel outside Harkat and I tensed, rolled off our halanced nervously at each other Harkat grinned weakly My grin was even weaker

"Here we go," I whispered

"Good luck," he replied

The footsteps slowed, stopped, then caloom of the tunnel and slid into the cell - Kurda

"What’s happening?" I asked

"I ca crookedly

"Fine!" I snapped "Just dandy Couldn’t be better"