cpike.thelastvampire-第4章

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　〃I　knew　Marie　Antoinette　personally；〃　I　lie。　I　knew　of　Antoinette；　but　I　was　never　close　to　the　French　nobility；　for　they　were　boring。　But　I　was　there；　in　the　crowd；　the　day　Marie　Antoinette　was　beheaded。　I　actually　sighed　when　the　blade　sliced　across　her　neck。　The　guillotine　was　one　of　the　few　methods　of　execution　that　disturbed　me。　I　have　been　hanged　a　couple　of　times　and　crucified　on　four　separate　occasions；　but　I　got　over　it。　But　had　I　lost　my　head；　I　know　that　would　have　been　the　end。　I　was　there　at　the　start　of　the　French　Revolution；　but　I　was　in　America　before　it　ended。
　〃Did　she　really　say；　'Let　them　eat　cake'？〃　Ray　asks；　going　along　with　what　he　thought　was　a　joke。
　〃I　believe　it　was　her　aunt　who　said　that。〃　The　teacher；　Mr。　Castor；　enters　the　room；　a　sad…looking　example　of　a　modern　educator　if　ever　there　was　one。　He　only　smiles　at　the　pretty　girls　as　he　strides　to　the　front　of　the　room。　He　is　attractive　in　an　aftershave…mercial　sort　of　way。　I　nod　to　him。　〃What's　he　like？〃
　Ray　shrugs。　〃Not　bad。〃
　〃But　not　good？〃
　Ray　sizes　me　up。　〃I　think　he'll　like　you。〃
　〃Understood。〃
　The　class　starts。　Mr。　Castro　introduces　me　to　the　rest　of　the　students　and　asks　me　to　stand　and　talk　about　myself。　I　remain　seated　and　say　ten　words。　Mr。　Castor　appears　put　out　but　lets　it　go。　The　lesson　begins。
　Ah；　history；　what　an　illusion　humanity　has　of　the　past。　And　yet　scholars　argue　the　reality　of　their　texts　until　they　are　blue　in　the　face；　even　though　something　as　recent　as　the　Second　World　War　is　remembered　in　a　manner　that　has　no　feeling　for　the　times；　for　feeling；　not　events；　is　to　me　the　essence　of　history。　The　majority　of　people　recollect　World　War　II　as　a　great　adventure　against　impossible　odds；　while　it　was　nothing　but　an　unceasing　parade　of　suffering。　How　quickly　mortals　forget。　But　I　forget　nothing。　Even　I；　a　bloodthirsty　harlot　if　ever　there　was　one；　have　never　witnessed　a　glorious　war。
　Mr。　Castro　has　no　feeling　for　the　past。　He　doesn't　even　have　his　facts　straight。　He　lectures　for　thirty　minutes；　and　I　grow　increasingly　bored。　The　bright　sun　has　me　a　bit　sleepy。　He　catches　me　peeking　out　the　window。
　〃Miss　Adams；〃　he　says；　interrupting　my　reverie。　〃Could　you　give　us　your　thoughts　on　the　French　nobility？〃
　〃I　think　they　were　very　noble；〃　I　say；
　Mr。　Castro　frowns。　〃You　approve　of　their　excesses　at　the　expense　of　the　poor？〃
　I　glance　at　Ray　before　answering；　I　do　not　think　he　wants　the　typical　teenage　girl；　not　deep　inside；　and　I　have　no　intention　of　acting　like　one。　He　is　watching　me；　the　darling　boy。
　〃I　don't　approve　or　disapprove；〃　I　say。　〃I　accept　it。　People　in　power　always　take　advantage　of　those　without　power。〃
　〃That　sounds　like　a　generalization　if　I　ever　heard　one；〃　Mr。　Castro　replies。　〃What　school　did　you　go　to　before　moving　to　Mayfair？〃
　〃What　school　I　went　to　doesn't　matter〃
　〃It　sounds　as　if　you　have　a　problem　with　authority；〃　Mr。　Castro　says。
　〃Not　always。　It　depends。〃
　〃On　what？〃
　〃Whether　the　authority　is　foolish　or　not；〃　I　say　with　a　smite　that　leaves　no　doubt　I　am　talking　about　him。　Mr。　Castro；　wisely；　passes　me　over　and　goes　on　to　another　topic。
　But　the　teacher　asks　me　to　stay　behind　when　the　bell　rings。　This　bothers　me；　I　wish　to　use　this　time　to　speak　to　Ray。　I　watch　as　he　leaves　the　room　with　Pat。　He　glances　over　his　shoulder　at　me　just　before　he　goes　out　of　sight。　Mr。　Castro　taps　his　desk；　wanting　my　attention。
　〃Is　there　something　wrong？〃　I　ask　him。
　〃I　hope　not；〃　Mr。　Castro　says。　〃I　am　concerned；　however；　that　we　get　off　to　a　good　start。　That　each　of　us　understands　where　the　other　is　ing　from。〃
　I　stare　at　him；　not　strongly　enough　to　cause　him　to　wilt；　but　enough　to　make　him　squirm。　〃I　believe　I　understand　exactly　where　you're　ing　from；〃　I　say。
　He　is　annoyed。　〃Oh；　and　where　is　that？〃
　I　can　smell　alcohol　on　his　breath；　from　the　previous　night；　and　alcohol　from　the　night　before　that；　and　the　night　before　that。　He　is　only　thirty；　but　the　circles　under　his　eyes　indicate　his　liver　is　close　to　seventy。　His　tough　stance　is　only　an　image；　his　hands　shake　as　he　waits　for　me　to　respond。　His　eyes　are　all　over　my　body。　I　decide　to　ignore　his　question。
　〃You　think　I　have　a　bad　attitude；〃　I　say。　〃Honestly；　I　am　not　what　you　think。　If　you　knew　me　you　would　appreciate　my　understanding　of　history　and　。。。〃　I　let　my　voice　trail　off。　〃Other　things。〃
　〃What　grade　are　you　hoping　to　get　in　this　class？〃
　His　question　makes　me　laugh；　it　is　so　ridiculous。　I　lean　over　and　give　his　cheek　a　pinch；　a　hard　one　that　makes　him　jump。　He's　lucky　I　don't　do　the　same　to　his　crotch。　〃Why；　Mr。　Castro；　I'm　sure　you're　going　to　give　little　old　Lara　just　about　any　grade　she　wants；　don't　you　think？〃
　He　tries　to　brush　my　hand　away；　but　of　course　it　is　already　gone。　〃Hey！　You　better　watch　it；　miss。〃
　I　giggle。　〃I'll　be　watching　you；　Mr。　Castro。　Just　to　make　sure　you　don't　die　of　drink　before　the　semester's　over。　I've　got　to　get　that　good　grade；　you　know。〃
　〃I　don't　drink；〃　he　protests　feebly　as　I　walk　away。
　〃And　I　don't　give　a　damn　about　my　grade；〃　I　say　over　my　shoulder。
　I　fail　to　catch　Ray　before　my　next　class　starts；　which　I　do　not　share　with　him。　Seems　my　pseudo　guardian　was　unable　to　match　my　schedule　exactly　to　Ray's。　I　sit　through　fifty　minutes　of　trigonometry；　which　naturally　I　know　almost　as　well　as　history。　I　manage　to　refrain　from　alienating　the　teacher。
　The　next　period　I　don't　have　with　Ray　either；　although　I　know　fourth　period　we　will　be　together　in　biology。　Third　is　P。E。　and　I　have　brought　blue　shorts　and　a　white　T…shirt　to　wear。　The　girlfriend；　Pat　McQueen；　has　the　locker　beside　mine　and　speaks　to　me　as　we　undress。
　〃Why　did　Castro　ask　you　to　stay　behind？〃　she　asks。
　〃He　wanted　to　ask　me　out。〃
　〃He　likes　the　girls；　that　guy。　What　did　you　think　of　Ray？〃
　Pat　is　not　excessively　paranoid；　but　she　is　trying　to　ascertain　where　I　am　ing　from。　〃I　think　he　needs　lots　of　love；〃　I　say。
　Pat　is　not　sure　what　to　think　of　that；　so　she　laughs。　〃I　give　him　more　than　he　can　handle。〃　She　pauses；　admiring　my　momentarily　naked　body。　〃You　know；　you　really　are　incredibly　beautiful。　You　must　have　guys　hitting　on　you　all　the　time。〃
　I　pull　on　my　shorts。　〃I　don't　mind。　I　just　hit　them　back。　Hard。〃
　Pat　smiles；　a　bit　nervously。
　Phys　ed　is　currently　educating　the　boys　and　girls　of　Mayfair　in　the　rudiments　of　archery。　I　am　intrigued。　The　class　is　coed　and　the　bow　and　arrow　in　my　hands　bring　back　old　memories。　Perhaps；　though；　the　ancient　memory　of　Arjuna；　Krishna's　best　friend　and　the　greatest　archer　of　all　time；　is　not　one　I　should　stir。　For　Arjuna　killed　more　vampires　than　any　other　mortal。
　All　with　one　bow。
　All　in　one　night。
　All　because　Krishna　wished　it　so。
　Pat　follows　me　out　onto　the　field；　but　tactfully　separates　herself　from　me　as　we　select　our　equipment。　I　have　already　spooked　her；　and　I　don't　think　that　is　bad。　I　wear　strong　sunglasses；　gray　tinted。　As　I　gather　my　bow　and　arrows；　an　anemic…looking　young　man　with　thick　glasses　and　headphones　speaks　to　me。
　〃You're　new；　aren't　you？〃　he　asks。
　〃Yes。　My　name　is　Lara　Adams。　Who　are　you？〃
　〃Seymour　Dorsten。〃　He　offers　his　hand。　〃Pleased　to　meet　you。〃
　My　flesh　encloses　his；　and　I　know　instantly　that　this　young　man　will　be　dead　in　less　than　a　year。　His　blood　is　sick…how　can　the　rest　of　his　body　not　be？　I　hold　on　to　his　hand　a　moment　too　long；　and　he　stares　at　me　quizzically。
　〃You　are　strong；〃　he　says。
　I　smile　and　let　go　of　him。　〃For　a　girl？〃
　He　rubs　his　hand　on　his　side。　His　illness　has　startled　me。　I　have　bruised　him。　〃I　suppose；〃　he　says。
　〃What　kind　of　name　is　Seymour？　It　makes　you　sound　like　a　nerd。〃
　He　likes　my　forthright　manner。　〃I've　always　hated　it。　My　mother　gave　it　to　me；〃
　〃Change　it　when　you　get　out　of　high　school。　Change　it　to　Marlboro　or　Slade　or　Bubba　or　something　like　that。　And　lose　those　glasses。　You　should　be　wearing　contacts。　I　bet　your　mother　even　buys　your　clothes。〃
　I　am　a　revelation　to　Seymour。　He　laughs。　〃She　does。　But　since　I　am　a　nerd；　shouldn't　I　look　the　part？〃
　〃You　think　you're　a　nerd　because　you　think　you're　so　smart。　I'm　a　lot　smarter　than　you　and　I　look　great。〃　I　gesture　to　our　bows　and　arrows。　〃Where　should　we　shoot　these　things？〃
　〃I　think　it　would　be　best　if　we　shot　them　at　the　targets；〃　he　says　wisely。
　So　that's　what　we　do。　A　few　minutes　later　we　are　at　one　end　of　the　football　field　sending　our　arrows　flying　toward　the　targets　that　have　been　arranged　in　a　neat　row　on　the　fifty…yard　line。　I　impress　Seymour　when　I　hit　the　bull's…eye　three　times　in　a　row。　He　is　further　impressed　when　we　go　to　remove　the　arrows　from　the　target　and　they　are　stuck　in　so　deep　he　has　to　use　all　his　strength　to　pull　them　out。　He　does　not　know　that　I　could　have　split　the　shaft　of　my　first　arrow　with　the　next　two　if　I　had　wished。　I　am　showing　off；　I　know；　and　it　is　probably　not　the　wisest　thing　to　do；　but　I　don't　care。　My　mood　this　day　is　frivolous。　My　first　day　of　high　school。　First　happy　thoughts　about　Ray　and　Pat　and　now　I　have　taken　an　immediate　liking　to　Seymour。　I　help　him　pull　the　arrows　from　the　target。
　〃You　have　shot　before；〃　he　says。
　〃Yes。　I　was　trained　by　a　master　marksman。〃
　He　pulls　out　the　last　arrow　and　almost　falls　to　the　ground　as　it　es　loose。　〃You　should　be　in　the　Olympics。〃
　I　shrug　as　we　walk　back　toward　the　goal　posts。　〃I　have　no　interest；〃　I　say。
　Seymour　nods。　〃I　feel　the　same　way　about　mathematics。　I'm　great　at　it；　but　it　bores　me　to　death。〃
　〃What　does　interest　you？〃
　〃Writing。〃
　〃What　do　you　like　to　write？〃
　〃I　don't　know　yet。　The　strange　and　unusual　fascinates　me。〃　He　pauses。　〃I　read　a　lot　of　horror　books。　Do　you　like　horror？〃
　〃Yes。〃　I　start　to　make　a　joke　of　his　question；　something　about　how　close　it　is　to　my　heart；　but　a　feeling　of　deja　vu　sweeps　over　me。　The　feeling　startles　me；　for　I　haven't　had　it　in　centuries。　The　sensation　is　intense；　I　put　a　hand　to　my　head　to　steady　myself；　while　searching　for　the　source　of　it。　Seymour　reaches　out　to　help；　and　once　more　I　feel　the　sickness　flowing　beneath　his　skin。　I　am　not　sure　of　the　nature　of　his　disease；　but　I　have　a　good　idea　what　it　is。
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　he　asks　me。
　〃Yes。〃　A　cool　film　of　sweat　has　gathered　on　my　forehead；　and　I　wipe　it　away。　My　sweat　is　clear；　not　tinted　pink；　as　it　bees　when　I　drink　large　quantities　of　human　blood。　The　sun　burns　bright　in　the　sky　arid　I　lower　my　head。　Seymour　continues　to　watch　me。　Suddenly　I　feel　as　if　he　has　e　so　close　to　me　his　body　is　actually　overlapping　mine。　Like　the　deja　vu；　I　do　not　like　the　sensation。　I　wonder　if　I　have　developed　a　greater　sensitivity　to　the　sun。　I　have　not　been　out　like　this；　at　midday；　in　many　years。
　〃I　feel　as　if　I've　met　you　before；〃　he　says　softly；　puzzled。
　〃I　feel　the　same　way；〃　I　say　honestly；　the　truth　of　the　matter　finally　striking　me。　Already　I　have　said　how　I　can　sense　emotions；　and　that　is　true。　The　ability　came　to　me　slowly　as　the　centuries　of　my　life　passed。　At　first　I　assumed　it　was　because　of　my　intense　observatory　faculties；　and　I　still　feel　that　is　part　of　it。　Yet　I　can　sense　a　person's　feelings　even　without　studying　them　closely；　and　the　ability　baffles　me　to　this　day　because　it　suggests　a　sense　that　is　nonphysical；　which　I　am　not　yet　ready　to　accept。
　I　am　not　alone　with　this　ability。　Ove