The Little Vampire by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg Read Free Book Online Page B

tale if you believed in vampires.”
    “Maybe I do believe in them now,” said Nigel. “And if I don’t, you could always introduce me to your friend to convince me.”
    “Now?” grinned Tony.
    “Why not?” answered Nigel. He was getting annoyed with Tony’s obvious enjoyment and I-know-better-than-you smiles.
    “I can’t,” Tony said calmly, “because vampires don’t get up till after sunset, andit’s still daytime at the moment.”
    “So why did you say you’d arranged to meet him then?”
    “Well, I had to start this stupid nonsense somewhere, didn’t I?”
    Nigel was so surprised that for a moment he just looked at Tony without saying a word. Then he turned bright red, and his voice cracked with anger. “You – you little creep! Just shut up about your vampires! It’s all fairy tales anyway.”
    “But you believed me!” laughed Tony.
    “I certainly did not!” raged Nigel.
    Tony just went on grinning.
    “And anyhow,” finished Nigel, “I’m off home!” He turned on his heels and stamped off.
    At that moment an idea occurred to Tony. What if Nigel were to come on Wednesday and not Rudolph ... but not as Nigel, as Rudolph ... that was it! The answer! His parents would stop going on at him, becausethey would think they had met Rudolph at last!
    “Ni-igel!” called Tony as loudly as he could, and ran off after him. “Wait!”

Anna the Toothless
    T ONY WAS ALREADY ASLEEP when something tapped gently on his window. Blinking his eyes sleepily, he could only make out through the drawn curtains the outlines of two dark shapes crouching on the window-sill. It had to be vampires, for who else could be outside in the middle of the night, tapping on a window on the sixth floor! But he wondered why there were two. Rudolph alwayscame alone. Perhaps it was a trap! Perhaps Rudolph’s family had found out where he, Tony, lived! But Rudolph would surely have warned him if that had happened. No, Tony decided, it was far more likely just to be Rudolph outside – but who on earth had he brought with him?
    The tapping came again, this time more impatiently. Tony tiptoed over to the window and peeped through the curtains. He recognisedthe little vampire, with his cloak wrapped tightly round him, and by his side a second, much smaller vampire, who was also wearing a black cloak.
    Tony heard a whisper from outside. “It’s me, Rudolph!” His heart beating loudly, Tony drew the curtains to one side and there sat a girl-vampire! He was so astonished that for a moment he remained speechless, rooted to the spot.
    “Open up!” calledRudolph, sliding restlessly backwards and forwards on the window-sill. Tony quickly opened the window, and the two vampires slipped noiselessly into the room.
    “My sister,” said Rudolph, indicating the girl-vampire. “Anna the Toothless!” Her face was small and very white, with pink eyes and a round, little mouth. She smiled shyly at Tony, and two red spots appeared on her cheeks as she roundedon her brother.
    “You shouldn’t introduce me as Anna the Toothless,” she complained. “For a start, they are growing, and anyway, you didn’t have any either when you were my age!”
    “She’s the only one in our family who drinks milk,” giggled the vampire.
    “Not any more!” said Anna defiantly.
    “She was absolutely determined to meet you,” went on the vampire.
    Anna’s face turned an even deeper shadeof red. “So?” she said, glaring at her brother. “Isn’t that allowed?” Turning to Tony, she continued: “In fact, I wanted to see your books. He –” and she pointed at her brother “– told me that you had masses and masses.” She went over to the bookshelf and picked one out. “What about this one? Twelve Chilling Vampire Tales . Will you lend it to me?”
    “Er – O.K.,” said Tony.
    “Thank you,” she said,smiling, and tucked the book under her cloak, at the same time throwing a triumphant look in the direction of her brother.
    She would really