you leave?"he asked.
I glared at him. "You know why,"I said coldly.
He nodded slowly.
"Is it okay if we stay?"Mr. Crepsley asked.
"Of course,"Mr. Tall replied immediately. "Delighted to have you back, actually. We're a bit understaffed at the moment. Alexander Ribs, Sive and Seersa, and Gertha Teeth are off on vacations or business. Cormac Limbs is on his way to join Us but is late getting here. Larten Crepsley and his amazing performing spider will be an invaluable addition to the lineup."
"Thank you,"Mr. Crepsley said.
"What about me?"I asked boldly.
Mr. Tall smiled. "You are less valuable,"he said, "but welcome all the same."
I snorted but said nothing.
"Where shall we be playing?"Mr. Crepsley asked next.
"Right here,"Mr. Tall told him.
"Here?"I piped up in surprise.
"That puzzles you?"Mr. Tall enquired.
"It's in the middle of nowhere,"I said. "I thought you only played in towns and cities, where you'd get big audiences."
"We always get a big audience,"Mr. Tall said. "No matter where we play, people will come. Usually we stick to more populated areas, but this is a slow time of the year for us. As I've said, several of our best performers are absent, as are... certain other members of our company."
A strange, secretive look passed between Mr. Tall and Mr. Crepsley, and I felt I was being left out of something.
"So we are resting for a while,"Mr. Tall went on. "We shall not be putting on any shows for a few days. We're relaxing."
"We passed a camp on our way,"Mr. Crepsley said. "Are they causing any problems?"
"The foot soldiers of NOP?"Mr. Tall laughed. "They're too busy defending trees and rocks to interfere with us."
"What's NOP?"I asked.
"Nature's Opposing Protectors,"Mr. Tall explained. "They're ecowarriors. They run around the country trying to stop new roads and bridges from being built. They've been here a couple of months but are due to move on soon."
"Are they real warriors?"I asked. "Do they have guns and grenades and tanks?"
The two adults almost laughed their heads off.
"He can be quite silly sometimes,"Mr. Crepsley said between fits of laughter, "but he is not as dumb as he seems."
I felt my face reddening but held my tongue. I knew from experience that it was no use getting mad at grown-ups when they laugh at you; it only makes them laugh even harder.
"They call themselves warriors,"Mr. Tall said, "but they're not really. They chain themselves to trees and pour sand into the engines of backhoes and toss nails in the paths of cars. That sort of thing."
"Why -"I started, but Mr. Crepsley interrupted.
"We do not have time for questions,"he said. "A few more minutes and the sun will be up."He rose and shook Mr. Tall's hand. "Thank you for taking us back, Hibernius."
"My pleasure,"Mr. Tall replied.
"I trust you took good care of my coffin?"
"Of course."
Mr. Crepsley smiled happily and rubbed his hands together. "That is what I miss most when I am away. It will be nice to sleep in it once more."
"What about the boy?"Mr. Tall asked. "Do you want us to knock together a coffin for him?"
"Don't even think about it!"I shouted. "You won't get me in one of those again!"I remembered what it felt like to be in a coffin - when I was buried alive - and shivered.
Mr. Crepsley smiled. "Put Darren in with one of the other performers,"he said. "Somebody his own age, if possible."
Mr. Tall thought a moment. "How about Evra?"
Mr. Crepsley's smile spread. "Yes. I think putting him in with Evra is a marvelous idea."
"Who's Evra?"I asked nervously.
"You will find out,"Mr. Crepsley promised, opening the door to the van. "I will leave you to Mr. Tall. He will take care of you. I have to be away."
And then he was gone, off to find his beloved coffin.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Mr. Tall standing directly behind me. I don't know how he crossed the room so quickly. I didn't even hear him moving to stand up.
"Shall we go?"he said.
I gulped and nodded.
He led the way through the campsite. The morning was breaking and I saw a couple of lights coming on in a few of the vans and tents. Mr. Tall led me to an old gray tent, big enough for five or six people.
"Here are some blankets,"he said, handing over a bunch of woolly sheets. "And a pillow."I didn't know where he got them from - he didn't have them when we left the van - but was too tired to ask. "You may sleep as late as you wish. I will come for you when you are