cpike.thelastvampire-第15节

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　you　do　these　things；　then　maybe　I　will　let　you　go。　If　you　don't；　your　brains　will　be　all　over　the　floor　like　your　partner's。
　Think　about　it　for　a　moment；　if　you　want；　but　don't　think　too　long。　You　can　see　what　an　impatient　person　I　am。〃
　He　stammers。　〃I　don't　have　the　keys。〃
　I　smile。　〃Bad　answer；　Slim。　Now　I　will　have　to　go　through　your　pockets　and　find　them。　But　I'll　have　to　make　sure　you're　lying　perfectly　still　while　I　do　so。　I'm　going　to　have　to　kill　you。〃
　He's　scared。　He　can　hardly　talk。　He　accidentally　steps　in　the　mess　dripping　out　of　the　woman's　head。　〃No。　Wait。　Please。　I　have　the　keys。　I　will　give　you　the　keys。〃
　〃That's　good。　Good　for　you。〃　I　release　my　grip　slightly。　〃Undo　the　locks。　Remember；　if　you　shout　out；　you　die。〃
　His　hands　shake　badly。　All　his　training　has　not　prepared　him　for　me。　His　eyes　keep　straying　to　what　I　have　done　to　the　woman's　head。　A　crumpled　accordion　of　bloody　assault。　Finally；　though；　Slim　gets　my　cuffs　off。　My　relief　at　being　free　is　great。　Once　more；　I　feel　my　usual　invincibility。　I　am　a　wolf　among　sheep。　The　slaughter　will　be　a　pleasure。　I　toss　the　cuffs　in　the　wastebasket。　Just　then　someone　knocks　at　the　door。　I　press　my　fingers　deep　into　the　sides　of　Slim's　throat。
　〃Ask　what　it　is；〃　I　say。　I　let　go　just　enough　to　allow　him　to　speak。
　He　coughs。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Everything　OK　in　there？〃　a　man　asks。　They　have　heard　noise。
　〃Yeah；〃　I　whisper。
　〃Yeah；〃　Slim　says。
　The　man　outside　tries　the　doorknob。　Of　course　it　is　locked。　〃What's　happening？〃　the　man　asks。　He　is　the　suspicious　type；　to　be　sure。
　〃Everything　is　cool；〃　I　whisper。
　〃Everything　is　cool；〃　Slim　manages。　It　is　no　wonder　the　guy　outside　doesn't　believe　Slim；　he　sounds　like　he's　about　to　weep。　The　guy　outside　tries　the　door　again。
　〃Open　the　door；〃　he　demands。
　〃If　we　go　out　that　way；〃　I　ask　Slim；　〃will　they　shoot　us　both？〃
　He　croaks。　〃Yes。〃
　I　study　the　bathroom。　The　wall　against　which　I　hold　Slim　is　pletely　tiled；　it　appears　to　be　the　thickest　wall　in　the　rest　room。　But　the　wall　behind　the　lone　toilet　looks　flimsy。　I　suspect　on　the　other　side　of　it　might　be　the　late…night　attendant's　office　space。　Keeping　Slim　pinned　with　my　left　hand；　I　reach　down　and　pick　up　the　dead　woman's　automatic　weapon。
　〃We　are　going　to　go　through　that　wall　there；〃　I　say。　〃I　will　kick　it　in；　then　we　will　move。　I　don't　want　you　wrestling　with　me。　If　you　do；　I　will　rip　out　your　throat。　Now　tell　me；　what　is　behind　this　gas　station？　A　field？　Another　building？　A　road？〃
　〃Trees。〃
　〃Trees　like　in　the　forest？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Excellent。〃　I　drag　him　into　the　stall。　〃Prepare　yourself　for　a　fun　ride。〃
　Still　holding　on　to　Slim；　I　leap　into　the　air　several　feet　and　plant　three　swift　kicks　on　the　wall　above　the　toilet。　It　splinters　and　I　break　through　what　is　left　of　it　with　a　slash　of　my　right　arm。　We　enter　the　all…night　attendant's　office。　Before　he　can　turn　to　identify　us；　I　strike　him　on　the　back　of　the　head。　He　goes　down；　probably　still　alive。　I　kick　open　the　door　to　the　outside。　The　fresh　air　is　sweet　after　the　staleness　of　the　rest　room。　Behind　me　I　hear　the　bathroom　door　being　broken　down。　There　are　shocked　gasps　when　they　see　what　I　have　done　to　poor　Miss　Germany。
　Dragging　Slim；　I　e　around　the　two　parked　limos　from　behind。　There　are　men　inside　the　rest　room；　more　hovering　at　the　door；　still　more　getting　out　of　the　first　limo。　I　raise　the　automatic　weapon；　an　Uzi；　and　let　loose　a　spray　of　bullets。　Screams　rent　the　air。　Several　of　the　men　go　down。　Others　reach　for　their　guns。　I　empty　the　clip　in　their　direction　and　drop　the　Uzi　to　the　ground。　I　don't　need　it；　I　am　a　vampire。　I　need　only　my　natural　power。
　In　a　blur；　still　holding　on　to　Slim；　I　cross　the　parking　lot　and　enter　the　trees。　A　trail　of　bullets　chases　us。　One　of　them　catching　me　in　the　butt；　the　right　cheek。　The　wound　burns；　but　I　don't　mind。　The　woods　are　mainly　pine；　some　spruce。　A　hill　rises　above　us；　a　quarter　of　a　mile　to　the　top。　I　pull　Slim　to　the　pinnacle；　and　then　back　down　the　other　side。　A　stream　crosses　our　path　and　we　splash　through　it。　The　old　belief　is　not　true；　running　water　does　not　bind　my　steps。
　By　now　I　have　badly　wrenched　Slim's　neck。　Behind　us　I　hear　men　entering　the　forest；　six　of　them；　spreading　out；　searching　for　us。　I　can　hear　others　at　the　gas　station；　moaning　in　pain；　the　sputtering　breath　of　still　others　dying。　I　literally　pick　Slim　off　his　feet　and　carry　him　a　half　mile　upstream；　running　faster　than　a　deer　in　her　prime；　even　with　the　bullet　in　me。　Then　I　throw　Slim　down　behind　a　cluster　of　bushes。　I　straddle　his　chest。　He　looks　up　at　me　with　eyes　wide　with　fear。　I　must　be　little　more　than　a　shadow　in　his　vision。　Yet　I　can　see　him　perfectly。　I　reach　around　to　my　back　side；　digging　my　fingers　into　the　torn　tissue。　I　pull　out　the　bullet　and　toss　it　aside。　The　wound　begins　to　heal　immediately。
　〃Now　we　can　talk；〃　I　say。
　〃W…who？〃　he　stutters。　I　lean　over；　my　face　in　his。
　〃That　is　the　magic　question；〃　I　say。　〃Who　sent　you　after　me？〃
　He　is　struggling　for　breath；　although　I　am　no　longer　holding　him　by　the　throat。　〃You　are　so　strong。　How　is　it　possible？〃
　〃I　am　a　vampire。〃
　He　coughs。　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　〃I　am　five　thousand　years　old。　I　was　born　before　recorded　history　began。　I　am　the　last　of　my　kind　。。。　I　believe　I　am　the　last。　But　the　person　who　sent　you　after　me　knew　of　my　great　strength。　You　were　carefully　prepared。　That　person　must　know　that　I　am　a　vampire。　I　want　that　person。〃　I　breathe　on　his　face　and　know　he　feels　the　chill　of　the　Grim　Reaper。　〃Tell　me　who　he　is；　where　I　can　find　him。〃
　He　is　in　shock。　〃Is　this　possible？〃
　〃You　have　seen　a　demonstration　of　my　power。　Do　you　really　want　me　to　give　you　another　one？〃
　He　trembles。　〃If　I　tell　you；　will　you　let　me　live？〃
　〃Perhaps。〃
　He　swallows　thickly；　perspiring　heavily。　〃We　work　out　of　Switzerland。　I　have　only　met　my　boss　a　few　times。　His　name　is　Graham…Rick　Graham。　He　is　very　wealthy。　I　do　odd　jobs　for　him；　my　people　and　I。　Two　years　ago　he　set　us　searching　for　someone　who　fit　your　description。〃
　〃How　did　he　describe　me？〃
　〃The　way　you　look。　Other　things　as　well。　He　said　you　would　be　rich；　private；　have　no　family。　He　said　there　would　be　mysterious　deaths　connected　with　your　name。〃
　〃Did　he　know　my　name？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Has　he　had　you　look　for　anyone　else？〃
　〃No。　Only　someone　who　fit　your　description。〃　He　grimaces　in　pain。　〃Could　you　get　off　me？　I　think　you　broke　several　of　my　ribs　when　you　pulled　me　through　the　trees。〃
　〃You　were　not　concerned　about　my　fort　in　the　car。〃
　〃I　stopped　to　let　you　go　to　the　bathroom。〃
　〃That　was　your　mistake。〃　My　voice　is　cold。
　He　is　very　afraid。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　to　me？〃
　〃What　is　Graham's　address？　Is　he　in　Switzerland？〃
　〃He　is　never　in　one　place。　He　travels　constantly。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃I　don't　know　why。　Maybe　he　looks　for　you。〃
　〃But　is　he　on　the　West　Coast　now？　In　Oregon？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　He　is　telling　the　truth。　〃But　you　were　taking　me　to　him　tonight；　weren't　you？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　We　were　to　drive　you　to　San　Francisco。　I　was　to　call　from　a　certain　phone　booth。　I　can　give　you　the　number。　It　is　in　Switzerland。〃
　〃Say　it。〃　He　gives　me　the　number。　I　consider。　〃I　faxed　you　in　Switzerland　earlier　tonight。　Yet　you　were　here。　It　is　possible　Graham　is　here　as　well？〃
　〃It　is　possible。　We　have　relays。〃
　〃Do　you　have　a　business　card；　Slim？〃
　〃What？〃
　〃A　card。　Give　me　your　card。〃
　〃My　wallet　is　in　my　front　right　pocket。〃
　I　rip　away　his　pocket。　〃So　it　is。〃　I　stuff　the　wallet　in　my　back　pocket。　My　pants　are　soaked　with　blood；　some　of　my　own；　some　of　the　woman's。　In　the　distance　I　hear　two　of　the　men　ing　my　way。　Farther　off　I　hear　a　police　siren；　heading　south　on　Coast　Highway。　The　men　hear　it　as　well。　I　can　practically　read　their　thoughts；　they　are　so　obvious。　This　woman　is　a　monster。　If　she　has　Slim；　Slim　is　dead。　She　will　probably　kill　us　if　we　do　catch　up　with　her。　The　police　are　ing。　We'd　better　get　the　hell　out　of　here　and　chalk　it　up　to　a　bad　night。
　The　men　reverse　their　direction；　back　toward　the　gas　station。　I　lovingly　stroke　the　sides　of　Slim's　face。　Of　course　there　is　no　possibility　I　will　let　him　live。
　〃Why　do　you　work　for　Graham？〃　I　ask。
　〃The　money。〃
　〃I　see。　Tell　me　what　Graham　looks　like？〃
　〃He　is　tall；　six　three　maybe。　His　hair　is　dark。　He　wears　it　long。〃
　Now　I　am　the　one　who　trembles。　〃What　color　are　his　eyes？〃
　〃Blue。〃
　〃Pale　blue？〃
　〃Yes。　They　are　frightening。〃
　My　voice　whispers。　〃Like　mine？〃
　〃Yes。　God；　please　don't　kill　me。　I　can　help　you；　miss。　I　really　can。〃
　Yaksha。
　It　is　not　possible；　I　think；　after　all　this　time。　The　stories；　why　did　I　listen　to　them？　Just　because　they　said　he　was　dead？　He　probably　invented　them。　But　why　does　he　e　for　me　now？　Or　is　that　the　most　foolish　question　of　all？　These　people　had　orders　to　shoot　if　I　so　much　as　burped。　He　must　want　me　dead。
　He　must　be　afraid　of　what　Krishna　told　him。
　〃You　have　helped　me　enough；〃　I　tell　Slim。
　He　pants。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？　Don't　do　it！〃
　My　fingers　reach　down　to　his　throat；　my　long　nails　caressing　the　big　veins　beneath　his　flesh。　〃I　told　you　what　I　am。　And　I'm　hungry。　Why　shouldn't　I　suck　you　dry？　You　are　no　saint。　You　kill　without　conscience。　At　least　when