Darren Shan – Vampire Rites Trilogy (страница 3)
There were benefits to being a half-vampire – I was stronger and faster than any human, and would live longer – but I’d have given them all up if it meant looking my real age and being able to lead an ordinary life.
Even though Evra and me were no longer as close as we’d once been, he was still my friend, and was worried about me heading off for Vampire Mountain. “From what I know, that journey’s no joke,” he warned in the deep voice which hit him a few years ago. “Maybe I should come with you.”
I’d 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 OK. Besides, snakes don’t like the cold, do they?”
“That’s true,” he laughed. “I’d most likely fall asleep and hibernate till spring!”
Even though Evra wouldn’t be coming, he helped me pack. I didn’t have much to take: spare clothes, a thick pair of boots, special cooking utensils which folded up neatly so they were easier to carry, my diary – that went everywhere with me – and other bits and pieces. Evra told me to take a rope – he said it might come in handy, especially when it came to climbing.
“But vampires are great climbers,” I reminded him.
“I know,” he said, “but do you really want to hang off the side of a mountain with only your fingertips for support?”
“Of course he does!” someone boomed behind us before I could answer. “Vampires thrive on danger.”
Turning to see who it was, I found myself face to face with the sinister being known as Mr Tiny, and my insides instantly froze with fright.
Mr Tiny was a small, plump man, with white hair, thick glasses and a pair of green wellies. He often toyed with a heart-shaped watch. He looked like a kindly old uncle but was in fact a cruel, dark-hearted man, who’d cut your tongue out as soon as say “hello”. Nobody knew much about him, but everyone was afraid of him. His first name was Desmond, and if you shortened it and put it together with his surname you got
I hadn’t seen Mr Tiny since shortly after joining the Cirque Du Freak, but I’d heard many tales about him – how he ate children for breakfast, and burned down towns to warm his feet. My heart tightened when I saw him standing a few metres away, eyes twinkling, hands wrapped behind his back, eavesdropping on Evra and me.
“Vampires are peculiar creatures,” he said, stepping forward, as though he’d been part of the conversation all along. “They love a challenge. I knew one once who walked himself to death in sunlight, merely because someone had sneered at him for only being able to come out at night.”
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-man, he stood, quivering, shaking his head furiously. Mr Tiny merely smiled and withdrew the hand.
“So, you’re off to Vampire Mountain,” he said, picking up my rucksack and peering inside without asking. “Take matches, Master Shan. The way is long and the days are cold. The winds that gust around Vampire Mountain would cut even a tough-skinned young 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 amiable, so even if you knew he was the sort of man who wouldn’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 moved (including humans!). A handful of the mysterious beings almost always travelled with the Cirque Du Freak, and there were eight of them with us at that time.
“They’re probably in their tent,” I said. “I took them in some food an hour or so ago and I think they’re still eating.” One of my jobs was to hunt for the Little People. Evra used to do it with me, until he grew up and demanded less messy chores. Nowadays I was helped by a couple of young humans, children of the Cirque helpers.
“Excellent,” Mr Tiny beamed, and started away. “Oh,” he paused, “one last thing. Tell Larten not to leave until I’ve had a word with him.”
“I think we’re in a hurry,” I said. “We might not have time to –”
“Just tell him I want a word,” Mr Tiny interrupted. “I’m sure he’ll make time for
MR CREPSLEY was snappish when I woke him – he hated rising before the sun went down – but stopped complaining when I explained why I’d disturbed his sleep. “Mr Tiny,” he sighed, scratching the long scar which ran down the left side of his face. “I wonder what
“I don’t know,” I answered, “but he said not to leave until he’d had a word with you.” I lowered my voice and whispered, “We could sneak away without being seen if we hurried. Twilight’s not far off. You could stand an hour or so of sunlight if we kept to the shadows, couldn’t you?”
“I could,” Mr Crepsley agreed, “were I given to fleeing like a dog with its tail between its legs. But I am not. I will face Desmond Tiny. Bring me my finest cloak – I like to look my best for visitors.” That was as close to a joke as the vampire was likely to come – he didn’t have much of a sense of humour.
An hour later, with the sun setting, we made our way to Mr Tail’s caravan, where Mr Tiny was regaling the owner of the Cirque Du Freak with tales of what he’d seen in a recent earthquake.
“Ah, Larten!” Mr Tiny boomed, “Prompt as ever.”
“Desmond,” Mr Crepsley replied stiffly.
“Have a seat,” Mr Tiny said.
“Thank you, but I will stand.” Nobody liked sitting when Mr Tiny was around – in case they needed to make a quick getaway.
“I hear you’re casting off for Vampire Mountain,” Mr Tiny said.
“We leave presently,” Mr Crepsley confirmed.
“This is the first Council you’ve been to in nearly fifty years, isn’t it?”
“You are well informed,” Mr Crepsley grunted.
“I keep an ear to the ground.”
There was a knock at the door, and Mr Tall admitted two of the Little People. One walked with a slight limp. He’d been with the Cirque Du Freak almost as long as me. I called him Lefty, though that was only a nickname – none of the Little People had real names.
“Ready, boys?” Mr Tiny asked. The Little People nodded. “Excellent!” He smiled at Mr Crepsley. “The path to Vampire Mountain is as hazardous as ever, isn’t it?”
“It is not easy,” Mr Crepsley agreed cagily.
“Dangerous for a young snip of a thing like Master Shan, wouldn’t you say?”
“Darren can look after himself,” Mr Crepsley said, and I grinned proudly.
“I’m sure he can,” Mr Tiny responded, “but it’s unusual for one so young to make the journey, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Mr Crepsley said curtly.
“That’s why I’m sending these two along as guards.” Mr Tiny waved a hand at the Little People.
“
“You can indeed,” Mr Tiny cooed, “but a little help never went astray, did it?”
“They would get in the way,” Mr Crepsley growled. “I do not want them.”
“My Little People? Get in the way?” Mr Tiny sounded shocked. “They exist only to serve. They’ll be like shepherds, watching over the two of you while you sleep.”
“Nevertheless,” Mr Crepsley insisted, “I do not want –”
“This is not an offer,” Mr Tiny interrupted. Though he spoke softly, the menace in his voice was unmistakable. “They’re going with you. End of story. They’ll hunt for themselves and see to their own sleeping arrangements. All you have to do is make sure you don’t ‘lose’ them in the snowy wastelands on the way.”
“And when we get there?” Mr Crepsley snapped. “Do you expect me to take them inside? That is not permitted. The Princes will not stand for it.”
“Yes they will,” Mr Tiny disagreed. “Don’t forget by whose hands the Hall of Princes was built. Paris Skyle and the rest know on which side their blood is buttered. They won’t object.”
Mr Crepsley was furious – practically shaking with rage – but the anger seeped out of him as he stared into Mr Tiny’s eyes and realized there was no arguing with the little man. In the end he nodded and averted his gaze, ashamed at having to bow to the demands of this interfering man.
“I knew you’d see it my way,” Mr Tiny beamed, then turned his attention to me. “You’ve grown,” he noted. “Inside, where it matters. Your battles with the Wolf Man and Murlough have toughened you.”
“How do you know about that?” Mr Crepsley gasped. It was common knowledge that I’d had a run-in with the fearsome Wolf Man, but nobody was meant to know of our fight with Murlough. If the vampaneze ever found out, they’d hunt us to the ends of the Earth and kill us.
“I know all manner of things,” Mr Tiny cackled. “This world holds no secrets from me. You’ve come a long way,” he addressed me again, “but there’s a long way yet to go. The path ahead isn’t easy, and I’m not just talking about the route to Vampire Mountain. You must be strong, and keep faith in yourself. Never admit defeat, even when it seems inevitable.”