Eternal by Pati Nagle Read Free Book Online Page A

the news story until we pulled out. There was a picture of the victim—nice looking guy, vaguely familiar—and one of police tape tied around some trees. I skimmed the story for details.
    The dead guy was a grad student. He was found by the duck pond, throat slit and bled out. My gut twisted into a knot; that pond was right next to the library where Len and I worked. The library where she’d seen the campus killer last fall.
    Except she’d said he was dead.
    Len got in the driver’s seat and put on some music, then pulled out and got back on the highway. Reading in a moving car always made me sick, so I put the paper on the seat beside me. I’d read enough.
    I watched the scenery go by, puzzling about the killer. My thoughts went around and around, and finally I gave up in favor of a less gruesome and, to me, more interesting subject: Savhoran.
    I liked him enough to want to see him again, whenever he got well enough. I definitely was not just going forget about him. I decided to write him a letter and enclose it in my thank-you note to Madera. Spent the rest of the trip composing it in my head.
    None of us were hungry when we got to Santa Fe, so we continued on home to Albuquerque. By the time we hit the outskirts of town I was starving. I leaned forward.
    â€œ Hey, you guys hungry? Dinner’s my treat.”
    Len glanced over her shoulder at me. “You don’t have to do that.”
    â€œ I want to. It’s a thank-you for taking me up to Madera’s.”
    â€œ You didn’t get to enjoy it much. I’m sorry about that,” Len said.
    â€œ At least I got to see it. You were right about Madera’s place. It’s wonderful. So what do you say? Dinner?”
    They were silent for a moment, then Len said, “Sure. Where do you want to eat?”
    We ended up at Pappadeaux, a great guilty pleasure, best when you’re very hungry. I ordered my usual huge platter o’ fried stuff. Len ordered the planked fish special and Caeran got a salad. In a fit of self-indulgence, I splurged on a fondue appetizer.
    I’d brought the paper in with me. After we ordered, I laid it on the on the table in front of them.
    â€œ Talk to me.”
    They traded a long look, then Caeran turned to me. “Yes, we believe that was done by the person you saw.”
    A chill ran down my back. I swallowed. “And?”
    â€œ And that’s why we took you up to Madera’s,” Len said. “These guys are serious hunters. He could have tracked you down.”
    I still had trouble buying that, but I let it pass. “Why are we back in Albuquerque, then?”
    They didn’t answer, and neither of them would look me in the eye. I started drumming my fingers on the table top.
    â€œ The killer probably won’t strike again for a while,” Caeran said, looking uncomfortable.
    â€œ And you wanted to get me away from Savhoran?”
    Caeran frowned. Len met my gaze.
    â€œ Yes, but only because he’s so ill. It’s not that we don’t want you to be close to him. It’s just that right now he can’t…”
    I waited, but she didn’t finish. “You’re telling me he can’t see anyone? Or he just can’t see me?”
    â€œ Anyone,” said Caeran roughly. “Even staying with Madera is a risk. It is likely he will leave once he has adjusted.”
    Leave? No!
    â€œ Adjusted to what?” I demanded, panicking. “What is this disease, anyway? It doesn’t sound like anything I’ve ever heard of.”
    â€œ It isn’t.”
    â€œ Well…” Len said, then the waiter arrived with our drinks and some bread.
    I sucked down half my soda and pulled a chunk off the loaf of hot bread. I was mad, and more than that I was scared that I’d never see Savhoran again. I had wild thoughts of going back to Madera’s on my own, except that it would probably piss everybody off.
    â€œ Why don’t