cpike.thelastvampire-第20章

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　should　go　off　almost　simultaneously。　But　Ray　and　I　need　rise　up　only　fifteen　feet　on　our　Orion。　Then　the　blast　from　the　larger　bomb　should　propel　us　through　the　skylights。　If　the　two　bombs　are　more　than　fifteen　feet　apart…ideally　twice　that　distance…then　the　shock　wave　from　the　hidden　bomb　should　not　get　to　the　larger　bomb　before　we　have　achieved　our　fifteen　feet　elevation。
　Our　heads　will　heal　quickly　after　we　smash　through　the　skylights　as　long　as　we　are　in　one　piece。
　The　physics　are　simple　in　theory；　but　in　practice　they　are　filled　with　the　possibility　for　limitless　error。　For　that　reason　I　figure　Ray　and　I　will　be　dead　before　sunrise。　But　any　odds　are　good　odds　for　the　damned；　and　I　will　play　them　out　as　best　I　can。
　I　stop　at　a　phone　booth　and　call　my　primary　troubleshooter　in　North　America。　I　tell　him　I　need　dynamite　and　thick　sheets　of　steel　in　two　hours。　Where　can　I　get　them？　He　is　used　to　my　unusual　requests。　He　says　he'll　call　back　in　twenty　minutes。
　Fifteen　minutes　later　he　is　back　on　the　line。　He　sounds　relieved　because　he　knows　it's　not　good　to　bring　me　disappointing　information。　He　says　there　is　a　contractor　in　Portland　who　carries　both　dynamite　and　thick　steel　plating。　Franklin　and　Sons…they　build　skyscrapers。　He　gives　me　the　address　of　their　main　warehouse　and　I　hang　up。　Portland　is　eighty　miles　away。　The　time　is　ten…fifty。
　I　sit　in　my　car　outside　the　warehouse　at　a　quarter　to　midnight；　listening　to　the　people　inside。　The　place　is　closed；　but　there　are　three　security　men　on　duty。　One　is　in　the　front　in　a　small　office　watching　TV。　The　other　two　are　in　back　smoking　a　joint。　Since　I　have　spent　a　good　part　of　the　night　thinking　about　Krishna；　hoping　he　will　help　me；　I　am　not　predisposed　to　kill　these　three。　I　climb　out　of　my　car。
　The　locked　doors　cause　me　no　problem。　I　am　upon　the　stoned　men　in　the　back　before　they　can　blink。　I　put　them　to　sleep　with　moderate　blows　to　the　temples。　They'll　wake　up；　but　with　bad　headaches。　Unfortunately；　the　guy　watching　TV　has　the　bad　luck　to　check　on　his　partners　as　I　knock　them　out。　He　draws　his　gun　when　he　sees　me；　and　I　react　instinctively。　I　kill　him　much　the　same　way　I　killed　Ray's　father；　crushing　the　bones　in　his　chest　with　a　violent　kick。　I　drink　a　belly　full　of　his　blood　before　he　draws　his　last　breath。　I　am　still　weak。
　The　dynamite　is　not　hard　for　me　to　find　with　my　sensitive　nose。　It　is　locked　in　a　safe　near　the　front　of　the　building；　several　crates　of　thick　red　sticks。　There　are　detonator　caps　and　fuses。　Already　I　have　decided　I　will　not　be　taking　my　car　back　to　Mayfair　tonight。　I　will　need　a　truck　from　the　warehouse　to　haul　the　steel　sheets。　The　metal　is　not　as　thick　as　I　wish；　I　will　have　to　weld　several　layers　together。　I　find　a　welding　set　to　take　with　me。
　There　are　actually　several　suitable　trucks　parked　inside　the　warehouse；　the　keys　conveniently　left　in　the　ignitions。　I　load　up　and　back　out　of　the　warehouse。　I　park　my　Ferrari　several　blocks　away。　Then　I　am　on　the　road　back　home。
　It　is　after　two　when　I　reenter　Mayfair。　Ray　is　sitting　by　the　fire　as　I　e　through　my　front　door。　He　has　changed。　He　is　a　vampire。　His　teeth　are　not　longer；　or　anything　silly　like　that。　But　the　signs　are　there…gold　specks　deep　in　his　once　uniformly　brown　eyes；　a　faint　transparency　to　his　tan　skin；　a　grace　to　his　movements　no　mortal　could　emulate。　He　stands　when　he　sees　me。
　〃Am　I　alive？〃　he　asks　innocently。
　I　do　not　laugh　at　the　question。　I　am　not　sure　if　the　answer　is　something　as　simple　as　yes　or　no。　I　step　toward　him。
　〃You　are　with　me；〃　I　say。　〃You　are　the　same　as　me。　When　you　met　me；　did　you　think　I　was　alive？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　you　are　alive。　How　do　you　feel？〃
　〃Powerful。　Overwhelmed。　My　eyes；　my　ears…are　yours　this　way？〃
　〃Mine　are　more　sensitive。　They　bee　more　and　more　sensitive　with　time。　Are　you　scared？〃
　〃Yes。　Is　he　ing　back？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃When？〃
　〃At　dawn。〃
　〃Will　he　kill　us？〃
　〃He　wants　to。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because　he　feels　we　are　evil。　He　feels　an　obligation　to　destroy　us　before　he　leaves　the　planet。〃
　Ray　frowns；　testing　his　new　body；　its　vibrancy。　〃Are　we　evil？〃
　I　take　his　hands　and　sit　him　down。　〃We　don't　have　to　be。　Soon　you　will　begin　to　crave　blood；　and　the　blood　will　give　you　strength。　But　to　get　blood　you　don't　need　to　kill。　I　will　show　you　how。〃
　〃You　said　he　wants　to　leave　this　planet。　He　wants　to　die？〃
　〃Yes。　He　is　tired　of　life。　It　happens…our　lives　have　been　so　long。　But　life　does　not　tire　me。〃　I　am　so　emotional　around　Ray；　it　amazes　me。　〃I　have　you　to　inspire　me。〃
　He　smiles；　but　it　is　a　sad　smile。　〃It　was　a　sacrifice　for　you　to　save　me。〃
　He　takes　my　breath　away。　〃How　did　you　know？〃
　〃When　I　was　dying；　I　could　see　you　were　afraid　to　give　me　your　blood。　What　happens　when　you　do？　Does　it　make　you　weak？〃
　I　hug　him；　glad　that　I　can　squeeze　his　body　with　all　my　strength　and　not　break　his　bones。　〃Don't　worry　about　me。　I　saved　you　because　I　wanted　to　save　you。〃
　〃Is　my　father　really　dead？〃
　I　let　go　of　him；　look　into　his　eyes。　〃Yes。〃
　He　has　trouble　looking　at　me。　Even　though　he　is　a　vampire　now；　a　predator。　Even　though　his　thought　processes　have　begun　to　alter。　He　didn't　protest　when　I　told　him　about　the　blood…drinking。　But　his　love　for　his　father　goes　deeper　than　blood。
　〃Was　it　necessary？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Did　he　suffer？〃
　〃No；　less　than　a　minute；〃　I　add　gently。　〃I　am　sorry。〃
　He　finally　raises　his　eyes。　〃You　gave　me　your　blood　out　of　guilt　as　well。〃
　I　nod。　〃I　had　to　give　something　back　after　what　I　had　taken。〃
　He　puts　a　hand　to　his　head。　He　doesn't　pletely　forgive　me　but　he　understands；　and　for　that　I　am　grateful。　He　still　misses　his　father。　〃We　won't　talk　about　it；〃　he　says。
　〃That　is　fine。〃　I　stand。　〃We　have　much　to　do。　Yaksha　is　returning　at　dawn。　We　cannot　destroy　him　with　brute　force；　even　with　our　bined　strengths。　But　we　might　be　able　to　trick　him。　We　will　talk　as　we　work。〃
　He　stands。　〃You　have　a　plan？〃
　〃I　have　more　than　a　plan。　I　have　a　rocket　ship。〃
　Welding　the　sheets　of　metal　together　so　that　we　have　six　inches　of　protection　does　not　take　long。　I　work　outside　with　the　arc　gun　so　that　Yaksha　will　not　notice　the　smell　when　he　enters　the　house。　He　will　have　to　e　into　the　house　since　I　won't　go　out　to　him。　Cutting　a　huge　rectangle　in　the　floor　to　acmodate　the　metal　plate；　however；　takes　a　lot　of　time。　I　fret　as　the　hours　slip　by。　Ray　is　not　much　help　because　he　has　not　acquired　my　expertise　in　everything　yet。　Finally　I　tell　him　to　sit　and　watch。　He　doesn't　mind。　His　eyes　are　everywhere；　staring　at　mon　objects；　seeing　in　them　things　he　never　imagined　before。　A　vampire　on　acid；　I　call　him。　He　laughs。　It　is　good　to　hear　laughter。
　As　I　work；　I　do　not　feel　Yaksha　in　the　area。
　It　is　fortunate。
　My　speed　picks　up　when　I　bolt　the　two　chairs　to　the　plate　and　recover　the　plate　with　carpet。　Here　I　do　not　have　to　work　so　carefully；　the　skirts　of　the　chairs　cover　much。　When　I　am　done；　the　living　room　appears　normal。　I　plan　to　use　an　end　table　to　hide　the　detonator　to　the　bomb　I　will　strap　beneath　the　steel　plate。　I　bore　a　long　hole　through　the　table　and　slip　in　a　metal　rod　that　goes　through　to　the　metal　plate。　I　hide　the　tip　of　the　rod　under　a　lamp　base。　I　place　a　blasting　cap　at　the　bottom　end　of　it。　When　the　time　es；　I　will　hit　the　top　of　the　small　table；　the　rod　will　crush　the　blasting　cap；　and　the　first　bomb　will　go　off；　sending　us　flying。
　The　other　bomb　should　go　off　as　well；　almost　immediately。　I　keep　ing　back　to　that　point　in　my　mind　because　it　is　the　central　weakness　in　my　plan。　I　hope　we　will　be　high　enough　to　take　the　shock　from　the　second　bomb　from　below　so　the　plate　will　protect　us。
　Attaching　the　bomb　beneath　the　plate　takes　only　minutes。　I　use　twenty　sticks　of　dynamite；　tightly　bound。　I　place　fifty　sticks；　a　whole　crate；　beside　the　fireplace　in　the　living　room；　next　to　the　most　fortable　chair　in　the　house。　That　seat　I　will　offer　Yaksha。　We　will　live　or　die　depending　on　how　accurate　my　calculations　are；　and　how　well　we　play　our　parts　in　front　of　Yaksha。　That　is　the　other　serious　weakness　in　my　plan；　that　Yaksha　will　sense　something　amiss。　For　that　reason　I　have　instructed　Ray　to　say　little；　or　nothing　at　all。　But　I　am　confident　I　can　lie　to　Yaksha。　I　lie　as　effortlessly　as　I　tell　the　truth；　perhaps　more　easily。
　Ray　and　I　sit　in　our　special　flight　chairs　and　talk。　The　bomb　in　the　crate　sits　thirty　feet　away；　directly　in　front　of　us。　Above　us　I　have　opened　the　skylights。　The　cold　night　air　feels　good　for　once。　Even　with　them　open；　we　will　still　strike　glass　as　we　rocket　by。　I　warn　Ray；　but　he　is　not　worried。
　〃I　have　already　died　once　today；〃　he　says。
　〃You　must　have　had　your　nose　pressed　against　the　glass　to　fall　with　it。〃
　〃I　didn't　until　just　before　he　raised　his　flute。〃
　I　nod。　〃He　glanced　at　the　house　then。　He　must　have　pulled　you　forward　with　the　power　of　his　eyes。　He　can　do　that。　He　can　do　many　things。〃
　〃He　has　more　power　than　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Why　is　that？〃
　〃'He's　the　original　vampire。〃　I　glance　at　the　time…　an　hour　to　dawn。　〃Would　you　like　to　hear　the　story　of　his　birth？〃
　〃I　would　like　to　hear　all　your　stories。〃
　I　smile。　〃You　sound　like　Seymour。　I　visited　him　tonight　while　you　slept。　I　gave　him　a　present。　I　will　tell　you　about　it　another　time。〃
　I　pause　and　take　a　breath。　I　need　it　for　strength。　The　simple　work　of　a　terrorist　has　exhausted　me。　Where　to　begin　the　tale？　Where　will　I　end　it？　It　doesn't　seem　right　that　it　could　all　be　over　in　an　hour。　Right…what　a　word　choice　for　a　vampire　to　make。　I　who　have　violated　every　injunction　of　the　Vedas　and　the　Bible　and　every　other　holy　book　on　earth。　Death　never　es　at　the　right　time；　despite　what　mortals　believe。　Death　always　es　like　a　thief。
　I　tell　Ray　of　the　birth　of　Yaksha；　and　how　he　in　turn　made　me　a　vampire。　I　talk　to　him　about　meeting　Krishna；　but　here　my　words　fail　me。　I　do　not　weep；　I　do　not　rave。　I　simply　cannot　talk　about　him。　Ray　understands；　he　encourages　me　to　tell　him　about　my　life　in　another　era。
　〃Were　you　in　Ancient　Greece？〃　he　asks。　〃I　was　always　fascinated　by　that　culture。〃
　I　nod。　〃I　was　there　for　a　long　time。　I　knew　Socrates　and　Plato　and　Aristotle。　Socrates　recognized　me　as　something　inhuman；　but　I　didn't　scare　him。　He　was　fearless；　that　man。　He　laughed　as　he　drank　the　poison　he　was　sentenced　to　drink。〃　I　shake　my　head　at　the　memory。　〃The　Greeks　were　inquisitive。　There　was　one　young　man…Cleo。　History　does　not　remember　him；　but　he　was　as　brilliant　as　the　others。〃　My　voice　falters　again。　〃He　was　dear　to　me。　I　lived　with　him　for　many　years；〃
　〃Did　he　know　you　were　a　vampire？〃
　I　laugh。　〃He　thought　I　was　a　witch。　But　he　liked　witches。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　him；〃　Ray　says。
　〃I　met　Cleo　during　the　time　of　Socrates。　I　had　just　returned　to　Greece　after　being　away　for　many　years。　That's　my　pattern。　I　stay　in　one　place　only　as　long　as　my　youth；　my　constant　youth；　doesn't　bee　suspicious。　When　I　returned　to　Athens；　no　one　remembered　me。　Cleo　was　one　of　the　first　people　I　encountered。　I　was　walking　in　the　woods　when　I　found　him　helping　to　deliver　a　baby。　In　those　days　that　was　unheard　of。　Only　women　were　present　at　births。　Even　though　he　was　covered　with　blood　and　obviously　busy；　he　took　an　immediate　liking　to　me。　He　asked　me　to　help　him；　which　I　did；　and　when　the　child　was