Page 59 (1/2)

Quesnel took a strange sort of pity on Percy "Are they always like this around you, old man?"

Percy was morose "My whole life"

Quesnel said, "No wonder you’re so deranged"

Percy sniffed "Thank you very nac" Quesnel didn’t bother to hide his grin

Percy sighed "Yes, well, if you’ve all had enough fun teasing poor old Percy for one evening?"

"It never gets old," answered his sister

The tide had progressed inward, causing The Spotted Custard to tie in closer to the pro their walk back shorter than their walk out The hot evening had beco herself – she’d met Dama’s contact, received a code, uncovered possible scandal fro-lost relations Not torecently India, she thought, was turning out to be a delightful place

Unfortunately, when they arrived back at the ship things took a turn for the worse They could not board, for the gangplank was hauled in Arranged up on the s and Greaser Phinkerlington, all ar on the shore, trying to look like he didn’t care, was a man

"’Ware, Lady Captain," shouted Spoo, the ot us an uninvited vampire"

CHAPTER NINE

RAKSHASAS

The vampire turned to face them Rue expected him to look like any other vampire, only Indian in appearance Mostly, he did Mostly But it was in the vein of how a broad bean looks like a runner bean – different, but both still beans He had thick dark hair, a straight nose, high cheekbones, and a dark complexion combined with the clear smooth skin indicative of i one of those large thick moustaches that curved down and around below the cheeks before connecting to the hair above the ears An unflattering statement at best, but not one he could really be blaht of fashion when he was metamorphosed Poor vampires – so obsessed with style yet often cursed to look decades behind the times