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The key events of the past can’t be changed, but the people in it can Evanna had told me that if she went back and killed Adolf Hitler, the universe would replace him with somebody else The major events of World War II would unfold exactly as they were urehead at the helm This would obviously create a nuher force of the universe couldn’t set right

While I couldn’t alter the course of my history, I could re off young Darren The events of my life would unravel the same way they had before A child would be blooded, travel to Vampire Mountain, unmask Kurda Smahlt, become a Vampire Prince, then hunt for the Vahtened off tonight Somebody else ¨C some other child ¨C would have to fill the shoes of Darren Shan

I felt bad about putting another kid through the tough trials of my life, but at least I knew that in the end ¨C in death ¨C he would be triumphant The person who replaced me would follow in my footsteps, kill the Vampaneze Lord and die in the battle, and out of that death peace would hopefully grow Since the child wouldn’t be responsible for his actions, his soul should go straight to Paradise when he died ¨C the universe, I hoped, was harsh but fair

And maybe it wouldn’t even be a boy Perhaps I’d be replaced by a girl! The new Darren Shan didn’t have to be an exact replica of the old one He or she could coround or country All the child needed was a strong sense of curiosity and a slightly disobedient streak Anyone with the nerve to sneak out late at night and go see the Cirque Du Freak had the potential to take my place as Mr Crepsley’s assistant

Since e too Maybe another girl ¨C or boy ¨C would fill Debbie’s role, and somebody else could be Sam Grest Perhaps Gavner Purl wouldn’t be the vampire as killed by Kurda, and even Steve could be replaced by another Maybe Mr Crepsley wouldn’t be the one to die in the Cavern of Retribution, and would live to be a vampire of ancient years and wisdom, like his mentor, Seba Nile Many of the parts in the story &urabs now that the central character had been changed

But that was all wild speculation What I did know for certain was that the boy I’d once been would now lead a noret a job, s the original Darren Shan had iven hiods of the vampires that he made theof my robes wereas I could re in it &u Mr Crepsley’s assistant, my time in Vampire Mountain, the War of the Scars and hunt for the Vaht when I’d hadi with lots of trivial stuff too

Evanna had brought the diary up to date She must have taken it from the house where Debbie and Alice were based, then described all that had happened on that blood-drenched night, the shoith Steve andyears ofin the Lake of Souls, followed by a more detailed account of one beyond that, and told what happened next, inal Darren away, and

I don’t knohat she wrote in the last few pages I didn’t read that far I’d rather find out for hts are ¨C not read about them in a book!

After Steve left and Mr Crepsley retired to the cellar where his coffin was stored, I went in search of Mr Tall I found hiht’s receipts He used to do that regularly I think he enjoyed the normality of the simple task I knocked on the door and waited for him to answer

"What do you want?" he asked suspiciously when he sawsurprised, certainly not by a Little Person

I held the diaries out to hi thee from Desmond?" he asked I shook asped "It can’t be!" He pushed my hood back &u me ¨C and studied my features fiercely

After a while Mr Tall’s look of concern was replaced by a smile "Is this my sister’s work?" he enquired I nodded et involved," heyour soul, but I won’t press you for information ¨C better for all concerned if I don’t know"

I raised the diaries, wanting him to take them, but Mr Tall still didn’t touch them "I’m not sure I understand," he said