Vampires by John Steakley Read Free Book Online

to get, thought Jack Crow. And I'm tired of getting them. We need the best kind of person around. No one less will do.
    But they will die. And that means I have to find the best men I know and condemn them to a certain violent end just because they're the best.
    Shit.
    And they always said yes. That was the worst part of it. The good ones, once they knew it was being done, had to be doing it.
    So they did it and they died.
    Doubleshit.
    Oh, God! Please don't call us now! There's only four of us left and this kid-priest and one of 'em's a middle-aged woman and another is pushing sixty and fat and damn well not scared enough for me and another is the finest man I've ever known.
    And, tripleshit, the last one is me.
    Please, phone, don't ring!
    The plane landed and Jack Crow shook himself hard and reminded himself that he was supposed to be a leader of some kind so: Rock and roll, goddammit! Off your butt and off this plane and here we go again! Come on!
    Don't think about the phone.
    They knew the priest was coming but they didn't know anything about him. Jack strode through the gate to Anna-belle with Adam close behind. He leaned down and kissed her and said, “Folks, this is Adam.”
    “Father Adam,” Adam amended firmly. Team Crow exchanged rolled eyes.
    “I'm her Royal Highness Annabelle.”
    “Lord High-Muck-a-muck Carl Joplin.”
    Adam blinked, stared at them. Cat, grinning, stepped forward and shook his hand.
    “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain,” said Cat. “I am the Great and Powerful Oz.”
    And then they were all walking rapidly toward baggage claim without further explanation. Adam found himself offered Annabelle's arm. He took it and shut up and walked.
    “I need a vampire,” began Carl.
    Jack barely glanced at him. “Is it working?”
    “It was working last night.”
    Jack stopped. They all stopped and stared at Carl.
    “Well, to tell the truth, I don't know what made it beep then.” They resumed walking. “But it should work,” Carl persisted. “And it's gotta be tested.”
    “How does it work?” Jack wanted to know.
    “You wouldn't understand it, Jack, and you know it.”
    “Hmm. Possibly. Then how are we supposed to test it?”
    “We ain't. I am.”
    Jack sighed, shook his head. "Oh, great. Here we go again with your.
    “Goddammit, Jack! There ain't anybody else!”
    “How do you figure that?”
    They bad reached the baggage claim area. They stopped. Carl took a deep breath and hitched up his pants. He began counting off fingers.
    "Well, Annabelle can't do it 'cause she watches the soaps during the day. You're supposed to be guarding my ass while I'm doing it. Cat..
    “I could do it,” Cat offered with a sly grin.
    Carl gave him a dirty look. “What do you know about the electromagnetic spectrum?”
    “I'm for it.”
    “What do you know about EEGs? Brain waves?” Cat frowned. “Is this a surfing question?”
    Carl snarled. “As I was saying: Annabelle is out, you and Cat have your own little trick to do. That leaves me.” He paused, stepped up to Jack. His face was dead serious. “Look, Jack. You'll be able to operate it after I get it right. But I must be there to twitch it until it's on.”
    Jack stared at him but did not speak.
    Carl grimaced. “I'm telling you straight.”
    But Jack had never doubted that. All he could think of was: Here I go again. I'm going to have to risk you, too. Dammit, am I going to lose everyone?
    He stepped closer to Annabelle and hugged her without realizing why.
    “I'll think about it” was all he said, but it was already done and everyone but Adam knew it.
    There was an awkward pause while they stood about. No bags appeared from the chute, though they heard the usual destructive noises from somewhere beneath them.
    Cat's voice sparkled into the silence. He slapped Adam on the shoulder. “Don't know about you guys, but it's great to have a father, huh, folks?”
    Adam smiled uncertainly in reply. Annabelle grinned