JACK BEGAN TO LAUGH. He laughed so much, he stared to feel tears trickle down his cheeks.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡgANYrwRBYh
The last time he had laughed in such a way was so long ago; he could no longer remember it.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW1NUyuEGb
"What are you laughing about, young man?" the stranger's angry voice demanded.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvUJIEAmMr
"I told you; I am no longer a gullible boy." For almost a minute he did not reply, but stood there, deep in thought.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyWtxPdBEP
"Tell me..." he trailed of. "How about a compromise? You ought to keep the stake, for now. And I shall give the seeds three days to grow."copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuCts5zRpA
Jack stopped laughing and instead frowned. He have done much farming in his life... But he knew very well that three days was nowhere near enough time for a garlic plant to grow.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqAoauc4xZ
"That is enough, is it not? Enough to prove them to be magical?" What was the man playing at?copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Wnf8Z3JlG
"And?"copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6twDF8P7tf
"Well, if it grows I recieve my stake. If it doesn't, you may keep it. Either way, you get to keep the garlic, don't you? What do you have to lose, anyway?"copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGtb42QUkq
It was true, the boy realised. If the stranger was telling the truth, he was at gain both ways. Only the man was at loss.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UV8mBqlMQ
But that was wrong.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H3BH6IT6U
Why would the stranger give him such a good offer? He knew there was something wrong about it.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBYFlwtspN
"Where's the catch?"copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUc7xH8k1U
"There isn't one," the strange man said flatly. "Why would there be?"copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtzwIMQK3Q
"Why are you acting for my benefit?" he demanded. "It does not make any sense..."copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWW1hLNkVK
"I thought my offer quite straight forward, young man," the stranger raised a confused eyebrow.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlKMB59hwh
"What is in it for you?"copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcYWc9XTob
"Must there be something?"copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46WO9D7UJx
Jack hesitated. He wasn't sure if it was best to trust a stranger... But like he was told, he had nothing to lose.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡmponoMrgZZ
"I accept your offer," he answered.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfRco6wlEt
"Very well, Jack," the man said, quickly placing the seeds in his palm. "Plant them when you get home; I shall see you in three days time."copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rW4LYrT4G
He looked down at the clump of seeds and glanced back up as he realised that the strange man had known his name.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkDr9XHMw9
And Jack hadn't told the stranger his name.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlCLWaw2ri
HIS MOTHER MET HIM AT THE DOOR. With her narrow frame, untidy blonde hair and blank brown eyes, it was clear that Jack inherited much of his features from her.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCIYnDSUE5
"Did you manage to get anything?" she asked weakly. "The wooden stake ought to have been worth something."copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZs0KH9XA1
"I did not sell it." Her face fell at his statement.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡfque5USZ28
"Come inside, Jack," she sighed, quickly recovering from her shock. As he stepped into the small, ebbing house, he placed the wooden stake on the table. "I don't understand," she muttered, pouring murky water from a chipped jug. "Many people believe in the Vampire... Yet they fail to protect themselves." Jack was hardly paying any attention to her. His mind was still spinning from the stranger,who he had made the agreement with. "And a boy with as much spirit as you... It is shocking that no one was interested..."copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC2LdkE889
"There was a strange man at the market," the boy told his mother. "He made a compromise with me and gave me this." He opened up his fist, revealing the clump of garlic seeds. His mother's face brightened slightly at the sight of it. "He claims that they are magical... If I find that this is true in the three days to come, I must present him with the stake."copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vfKed6yY6
"Did he tell you what to do?"copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJe8OvP1Ew
"He mentioned..." Jack trailed off. "I believe he mentioned something about planting it."copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxUyvd8Iwu
"Then we shall try that, Jack" she smiled sadly. "And we shall give it our all."copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMtESKY8hO
Jack couldn't help but think that he had misread his mother. He had believed that losing his father had left his mother deranged; and possibly insane.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡ456089zrKj
But in moments of hardship, it appeared that his mother had more spirit than himself.copyright protection273ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGF4KYUipk
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