The Little Vampire Read Online Free PDF Page A

had your own grave.”
    “A precautionary measure,” answered the vampire. “We put all the coffins together in one underground vault, and there is only one entrance, which is well hidden – except of course, there’s an emergency exit.”
    He looked carefully around. Then he picked up a flat stone, overgrown with moss, which lay almost entirely invisibleunder the shadow of a yew tree. A narrow shaft leading underground was revealed.
    “The entrance,” whispered Rudolph. “I’ll go first, then you follow. But don’t forget to put the stone back after you!”
    Feet first, the vampire slid down the shaft and under the ground.

In the Vault
    T ONY HESITATED FOR A moment. Should he really follow Rudolph into the vault? How could he be sure it would be all right? But on the other hand, the vampire had never tricked him before, and it was probably much more dangerous to be left alone out here in the cemetery at night! What if one of the other vampires came back? No way! It was definitely better to trust Rudolph, who knewall the dangers in the cemetery, and to climb in after him!
    Tony put his legs into the opening and let himself down slowly. At first, it seemed rather exciting to be sliding down into the earth like this, but when it came to actually letting go with his hands, his nervousness once more got the better of him. What would happen if there were quite a drop beneath him? Would he ever get out of thishole again? Then he heard Rudolph’s voice close to him saying, “Come on, Tony! Jump!” and he let go with his hands.
    He landed on a platform. Above him, just out of reach, he could see the hole he had just come in by. He stood on tiptoe and pushed the stone over the gap. At first he could see nothing in the darkness that enveloped him, and it took a while before his eyes could make out the stepsleading down into the inner chamber of the vault. There was only a feeble glimmer of light, and everything smelled of dankness and decay.
    “Are you there?” Tony called out anxiously.
    “Yes, come on,” came the answer.
    Cautiously, step by step, Tony made his way downwards, and found himself in an inner chamber. It was a low-ceilinged room, which was only half-illuminated by the slender candle burningin a niche near the entrance. Except for the coffins around the walls, it was completely empty. The little vampire was standing on the foremost coffin, a beaming smile on his face.
    “Welcome to the Sackville-Bagg vault,” he cried, and then added proudly, “Well, what do you think of it?”
    “I ...” began Tony, and hesitated. How could he say that he thought it was one of the nastiest places he hadever been in, and he thought the stink might make him sick at any moment?
    “Not bad, eh?” enthused Rudolph.
    “Why is it called the Sackville-Bagg vault?” Tony changed the subject.
    “Because it’s the last resting place of the Sackville-Bagg family, of course!” explained Rudolph.
    “Is your name Sackville-Bagg too?” asked Tony.
    “Yes! Rudolph Sackville-Bagg, if I may introduce myself!”
    He made afunny little bow, and Tony noticed how thin and wrinkly his neck was. “And now,” continued Rudolph, springing down from his perch, “I’ll show you around the coffins!”
    He picked up the candle, took Tony by the arm and went with him right into the vault. The flickering light of the candle threw ghostly dancing shadows on the walls. Tony’s mouth grew dry with suspense.
    “Here you see my dear grandmother’scoffin,” announced Rudolph, pausing in front of a large coffin which was decorated with many woodcarvings. “Sabina the Sinister Sackville-Bagg.”
    “Why was she sinister?” asked Tony.
    “Well, she was just called that in the old days,” replied Rudolph. “She was the first vampire in the family, and had to make a name for herself.”
    Tony looked at the coffin and shuddered. Just think what lay in itduring the daytime!
    “And this one,” went on the vampire by the next one, “is