Something of the Night by Paul Cave Read Free Book Online

the bowels of
the Earth. But soon Ezekiel would conquer all, and then he and his brethren
would thrive in the eternal torrent of blood that he was about to bequeath upon
this world.
     
    ***
     
    Isaac entered the flickering light of the campfire.
Three cloaked figures moved nearer, close enough so curious ears could not
hear.
    “What news?” one dark shape
asked.
    Isaac turned to the speaker.
His fangs glinted malevolently as he spoke. “Ezekiel does not waver. He keeps to
the original plan.”
    Another vampire drew near.
“What about the camp – and the body found there? You warned him of that, yes?”
    “Yes,” Isaac confirmed. “But
our master does not think it is a sufficient threat to warrant a delay.”
    “Then he is a fool,” the first
speaker spat.
    “Quiet!” Isaac hissed. The
vampire lieutenant looked around with nervous eyes.
    The flames they stood around
were a single flicker of light, caught within the inferno of a hundred
different burning campfires. Flames sputtered, sounding like the snap of a
thousand bullwhips. The sky above had taken on a lighter hue, imitating day,
covering the undead beneath in a glare of artificial sunlight. Thousands of
tents covered the field in which they stood in a seamless canvas blanket that
stretched for miles in all directions.
    Huge vehicles were parked
awkwardly, or abandoned, their fuel tanks bled dry. Like gigantic tamed beasts,
eighteen-wheeler trucks, decorated with machinegun turrets, spikes and other
indescribably inhumane objects sat silent, waiting for their masters’ return.
Other vehicles were dotted around the camp and, in the flicker of light, front
grills appeared to snap and snarl at the legs of those who stood around them.
Now, with the lack of gasoline, most of the undead army had been forced to
travel on foot; thousands of worn-down boots marching towards the extinction of Man.
    Isaac’s eyes narrowed. He
scanned the immediate vicinity, but found all those around them preoccupied
with the preparations of battle. Most of the soldiers were either resting or
checking firearms, and oblivious to those around them.
    “Do not fear, my brothers, I
have taken steps towards accomplishing our plan,” Isaac said.
    “You mean the assassin?”
asked one of the vampires.
    Isaac’s thin face grinned
with dangerous intent. “Yes, our slayer is very close to infiltrating the
humans’ lair.”
    “You know this for sure?” the
vampire quizzed.
    “Trust me, Brother Jeremiah,
we will not fail.”
    Jeremiah tilted his head
upwards. He looked up at the illuminated sky above. A thick cloud of dust
churned violently from east to west.
    “The price of failure will be
immeasurable,” he remarked, dropping his eyes back to Isaac’s face.
    “Then we’d better pray our
plan works,” the lieutenant said. “Or we’ll be seeing out our days in the glare
of humanity.”

 
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    Ezekiel laid the child gently down. With a sleepy
murmur the infant boy nestled into the thick woollen blanket. The vampire
pulled the blanket high, covering the child and forcing the night chill to seek
out another soul to torment. A dark hand brushed a lock of brown hair away from
the boy’s smooth brow. Such a handsome child, Ezekiel thought, as he watched
the boy sleep.
    He turned away and withdrew
from the tight sleeping quarters. A long time ago the room had caged a ruthless
serial killer. As Ezekiel strode past the rows of iron bars, he could smell the
rank odour of his brethren, sleeping in an attempt to slow the onslaught of
hunger. Once again, these prison cells were home to men of sin and immorality.
    Damn this wretched world,
Ezekiel thought, as he made his way outside. He remembered the start, when his
race had first emerged from the shadows. The bounty had been plentiful to begin
with. What had survived had been confused and disorientated, and easy prey. Not
now. The surviving humans had become smart, hiding in their dark underground
sanctuaries.
    Ezekiel