Without anything else to occupy his mind, the deputy found himself considering the reasons for the eventual capture of the O’Hares and whether the truth of the matter would ever emerge. However, these musings were only of the lightest kind, and in next to no time at all they gently let him settle down into a doze. Just before he finally dropped off into a true deep sleep, someone knocked on the door, and the deputy - more than a little frustrated at being deprived of the chance to rest – called whoever was outside to come in with a notable amount of irritation in his voice. To his continued displeasure, the door started to open in what the deputy perceived to be far too slow a manner, leading him to jump up from his seat, cross his tiny office and grab hold of the handle.
“Come on,” said the deputy, testily, as he swung the door open, “we haven’t got all day.”
Due to the deputy’s eagerness to move things along, he took the person on the other side of the door by surprise and practically launched them into the room as they had no time to let go of the handle. Immediately, the deputy realised he had made a mistake.
“Oh Brenden,” said the man. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“Sorry, sorry,” mumbled Brenden, who then proceeded to turn around with the clear intention of leaving.
“No, stay,” added the deputy, grabbing hold of the boy’s shoulder before guiding him to a seat. Brenden gave no resistance. “You’ll have to forgive me. This morning went on a little longer than I expected. Why did you want to come and see me?” he continued as he swiftly closed his door and returned to his place behind his desk.
“He’s just like me, isn’t he,” said Brenden.
“Sorry?”
“Peter. I was scared to even look at him when I first saw him. But when Mary said about how she had killed him, I realised that in a way, Peter is just like me.”
“Brenden, the man has killed! He has killed two people, one of them being yourself.”
“Yeah, I know. But, he didn’t really mean to, did he? It was, sort of, it was an accident, wasn’t it?”
“My boy, he was foolish to let himself fall into the situation he was in. No, more than foolish; especially after it happened the first time.”
“I know. But that’s the thing that’s helped me make up my mind. I found it really hard to decide, but when I heard their story, I could see that I could end up just like them out there.”
The deputy sighed and rubbed his fingers around his tired, closed eyes. He realised that he had not quite processed what the boy had said, perhaps the morning really had drained him more than he had realised.
“I believe I must have missed something, you’ll have to forgive me. What did you want to say about the case?”
“Well, I suppose it was to say that I think I forgive them. They didn’t really mean to do what they did, did they? I guess it might make no difference, you know, for the sentencing. But I thought I should tell you before you sentenced them later on. But also, I wanted to say that I have come to a decision. I don’t want to end up like them. I want to go down to the Tunnels as well, so I never end up hurting people like they did.”
“Brenden, my good fellow,” said the deputy with a degree of genuine surprise. “This is no choice that you should take lightly. This has been a long morning, one I am I sure that was much more tiring for you than for me, and it has been most trying for myself. Of course, I don’t mean to contradict your wishes, but I believe you should wait for the emotions that have most likely been roused from the events today to die down. Perhaps in a few days, you will see things differently. Have a few words with your teacher as well. Are you with Adam? Still, see what he has to say. You are still truly very young, and to go down there. Indeed, we may even be able to find you a family. So to retreat to the Tunnels so soon, and with that man. Well, I’m not so sure this would be right at all. Just wait and see, you may change your mind yet.”
The first response of the boy was to hang his head. He had been so convinced, he had not expected the deputy to question his decision. Then something told him for the first time since he had arrived at the school that despite the concerns of the deputy, he was still sure of what he wanted.
“No,” the boy mumbled. “I don’t think so.”
Just as the deputy was about to attempt for a second time to convince the boy to reconsider his plans, a knock came at the door. It was Freddie, he had come to inform the deputy that it was time for him to return to the hall. Within an instant, even though the boy was still sitting in front of him, the deputy’s thoughts about Brenden disappeared from his mind and he left the room in a hurry. It was only after the old vampire was halfway down the corridor that the meaning of much of what Brenden had said became apparent to him. When the deputy poked his
