The Little Country by De Lint Charles

Author:De Lint, Charles
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9780812522488
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 1991-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Touch Me If You Dare

Yield not to evils, but attack all the more boldly.

‌—VIRGIL, from Aeneid, Book VI

The Tatters children began to arrive while Henkie, Taupin, and Lizzie were blocking off the windows of the warehouse. The three of them took turns standing on a rickety ladder, covering the panes with squares of cardboard that they then taped into place. Window by darkened window, the warehouse took on a gloomy air as the only light inside now came from the handful of oil lamps that Henkie had hung about the cavernous room.

Taupin had gone out earlier to leave word with Kara Faul about how they needed the help of the Tatters children and she was now the first to arrive, flinging the door open without so much as a knock and marching inside. Sunlight streamed in through the door, cutting a bright swath of light down the center of the warehouse while deepening shadows beyond.

“Hello!” she cried, blinking in the doorway. “Shall I bring in my bike?”

“Shut the bloody door!”

Henkie’s voice boomed from the far side of the warehouse‌—loud enough to make Jodi wince. She sat on Denzil’s right shoulder, because that was the best way for her to stay out of the way, yet still make herself heard to at least one of her co-conspirators. She hung on to his collar to keep her perch, grumbling whenever Denzil bent too far over the table to work on the task that Henkie had assigned to him.

“Does he always have to shout so?” she asked Denzil.

“Actually,” he replied, “I rather feel he’s been on his best behavior.”

“I can’t believe that.”

“Well, from all I’ve heard‌—”

“Will you shut the door!” Henkie repeated, his voice booming louder.

Kara merely smiled at him, now that she could make him out in the gloom.

“The others are just coming,” she said, “so we might as well keep it open. What about my bike?”

“Toss it in the bay for all I care.”

Kara’s lips shaped a practiced moue. “You’re not being very friendly,” she announced. “Especially seeing as how we’re here to help you.”

Henkie glared down at her from the top of the ladder.

“Well, it’s true,” she added.

“Fine,” Henkie told her. “Leave the bloody door open. Let the witch’s creatures in so they can spy out all our secrets. We’ve only spent the last bloody hour blocking off these windows so that they can’t peer in, so naturally we’re delighted that you plan to leave the door wide open so that they can simply waltz in. Shall I put on some tea for them, do you think?”

“What’s he on about, then?” Kara asked Taupin.

“Never mind him. We’re happy to see you. Just do keep an eye on that doorway and make sure nothing comes in.”

“What sorts of nothing?”

Taupin shrugged. “I’m not sure. To be safe, how about nothing larger than a fly?”

Kara’s gaze panned from him to Henkie and Lizzie, then to where Denzil was sitting at a table, sewing doll’s clothes.

“Nothing larger than a fly?” she repeated.

Taupin nodded. “Just to be safe.

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