you do these things； then maybe I will let you go。 If you don't； your brains will be all over the floor like your partner's。
Think about it for a moment； if you want； but don't think too long。 You can see what an impatient person I am。〃
He stammers。 〃I don't have the keys。〃
I smile。 〃Bad answer； Slim。 Now I will have to go through your pockets and find them。 But I'll have to make sure you're lying perfectly still while I do so。 I'm going to have to kill you。〃
He's scared。 He can hardly talk。 He accidentally steps in the mess dripping out of the woman's head。 〃No。 Wait。 Please。 I have the keys。 I will give you the keys。〃
〃That's good。 Good for you。〃 I release my grip slightly。 〃Undo the locks。 Remember； if you shout out； you die。〃
His hands shake badly。 All his training has not prepared him for me。 His eyes keep straying to what I have done to the woman's head。 A crumpled accordion of bloody assault。 Finally； though； Slim gets my cuffs off。 My relief at being free is great。 Once more； I feel my usual invincibility。 I am a wolf among sheep。 The slaughter will be a pleasure。 I toss the cuffs in the wastebasket。 Just then someone knocks at the door。 I press my fingers deep into the sides of Slim's throat。
〃Ask what it is；〃 I say。 I let go just enough to allow him to speak。
He coughs。 〃What is it？〃
〃Everything OK in there？〃 a man asks。 They have heard noise。
〃Yeah；〃 I whisper。
〃Yeah；〃 Slim says。
The man outside tries the doorknob。 Of course it is locked。 〃What's happening？〃 the man asks。 He is the suspicious type； to be sure。
〃Everything is cool；〃 I whisper。
〃Everything is cool；〃 Slim manages。 It is no wonder the guy outside doesn't believe Slim； he sounds like he's about to weep。 The guy outside tries the door again。
〃Open the door；〃 he demands。
〃If we go out that way；〃 I ask Slim； 〃will they shoot us both？〃
He croaks。 〃Yes。〃
I study the bathroom。 The wall against which I hold Slim is pletely tiled； it appears to be the thickest wall in the rest room。 But the wall behind the lone toilet looks flimsy。 I suspect on the other side of it might be the late…night attendant's office space。 Keeping Slim pinned with my left hand； I reach down and pick up the dead woman's automatic weapon。
〃We are going to go through that wall there；〃 I say。 〃I will kick it in； then we will move。 I don't want you wrestling with me。 If you do； I will rip out your throat。 Now tell me； what is behind this gas station？ A field？ Another building？ A road？〃
〃Trees。〃
〃Trees like in the forest？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Excellent。〃 I drag him into the stall。 〃Prepare yourself for a fun ride。〃
Still holding on to Slim； I leap into the air several feet and plant three swift kicks on the wall above the toilet。 It splinters and I break through what is left of it with a slash of my right arm。 We enter the all…night attendant's office。 Before he can turn to identify us； I strike him on the back of the head。 He goes down； probably still alive。 I kick open the door to the outside。 The fresh air is sweet after the staleness of the rest room。 Behind me I hear the bathroom door being broken down。 There are shocked gasps when they see what I have done to poor Miss Germany。
Dragging Slim； I e around the two parked limos from behind。 There are men inside the rest room； more hovering at the door； still more getting out of the first limo。 I raise the automatic weapon； an Uzi； and let loose a spray of bullets。 Screams rent the air。 Several of the men go down。 Others reach for their guns。 I empty the clip in their direction and drop the Uzi to the ground。 I don't need it； I am a vampire。 I need only my natural power。
In a blur； still holding on to Slim； I cross the parking lot and enter the trees。 A trail of bullets chases us。 One of them catching me in the butt； the right cheek。 The wound burns； but I don't mind。 The woods are mainly pine； some spruce。 A hill rises above us； a quarter of a mile to the top。 I pull Slim to the pinnacle； and then back down the other side。 A stream crosses our path and we splash through it。 The old belief is not true； running water does not bind my steps。
By now I have badly wrenched Slim's neck。 Behind us I hear men entering the forest； six of them； spreading out； searching for us。 I can hear others at the gas station； moaning in pain； the sputtering breath of still others dying。 I literally pick Slim off his feet and carry him a half mile upstream； running faster than a deer in her prime； even with the bullet in me。 Then I throw Slim down behind a cluster of bushes。 I straddle his chest。 He looks up at me with eyes wide with fear。 I must be little more than a shadow in his vision。 Yet I can see him perfectly。 I reach around to my back side； digging my fingers into the torn tissue。 I pull out the bullet and toss it aside。 The wound begins to heal immediately。
〃Now we can talk；〃 I say。
〃W…who？〃 he stutters。 I lean over； my face in his。
〃That is the magic question；〃 I say。 〃Who sent you after me？〃
He is struggling for breath； although I am no longer holding him by the throat。 〃You are so strong。 How is it possible？〃
〃I am a vampire。〃
He coughs。 〃I don't understand。〃
〃I am five thousand years old。 I was born before recorded history began。 I am the last of my kind 。。。 I believe I am the last。 But the person who sent you after me knew of my great strength。 You were carefully prepared。 That person must know that I am a vampire。 I want that person。〃 I breathe on his face and know he feels the chill of the Grim Reaper。 〃Tell me who he is； where I can find him。〃
He is in shock。 〃Is this possible？〃
〃You have seen a demonstration of my power。 Do you really want me to give you another one？〃
He trembles。 〃If I tell you； will you let me live？〃
〃Perhaps。〃
He swallows thickly； perspiring heavily。 〃We work out of Switzerland。 I have only met my boss a few times。 His name is Graham…Rick Graham。 He is very wealthy。 I do odd jobs for him； my people and I。 Two years ago he set us searching for someone who fit your description。〃
〃How did he describe me？〃
〃The way you look。 Other things as well。 He said you would be rich； private； have no family。 He said there would be mysterious deaths connected with your name。〃
〃Did he know my name？〃
〃No。〃
〃Has he had you look for anyone else？〃
〃No。 Only someone who fit your description。〃 He grimaces in pain。 〃Could you get off me？ I think you broke several of my ribs when you pulled me through the trees。〃
〃You were not concerned about my fort in the car。〃
〃I stopped to let you go to the bathroom。〃
〃That was your mistake。〃 My voice is cold。
He is very afraid。 〃What are you going to do to me？〃
〃What is Graham's address？ Is he in Switzerland？〃
〃He is never in one place。 He travels constantly。〃
〃Why？〃
〃I don't know why。 Maybe he looks for you。〃
〃But is he on the West Coast now？ In Oregon？〃
〃I don't know。〃
He is telling the truth。 〃But you were taking me to him tonight； weren't you？〃
〃I don't know。 We were to drive you to San Francisco。 I was to call from a certain phone booth。 I can give you the number。 It is in Switzerland。〃
〃Say it。〃 He gives me the number。 I consider。 〃I faxed you in Switzerland earlier tonight。 Yet you were here。 It is possible Graham is here as well？〃
〃It is possible。 We have relays。〃
〃Do you have a business card； Slim？〃
〃What？〃
〃A card。 Give me your card。〃
〃My wallet is in my front right pocket。〃
I rip away his pocket。 〃So it is。〃 I stuff the wallet in my back pocket。 My pants are soaked with blood； some of my own； some of the woman's。 In the distance I hear two of the men ing my way。 Farther off I hear a police siren； heading south on Coast Highway。 The men hear it as well。 I can practically read their thoughts； they are so obvious。 This woman is a monster。 If she has Slim； Slim is dead。 She will probably kill us if we do catch up with her。 The police are ing。 We'd better get the hell out of here and chalk it up to a bad night。
The men reverse their direction； back toward the gas station。 I lovingly stroke the sides of Slim's face。 Of course there is no possibility I will let him live。
〃Why do you work for Graham？〃 I ask。
〃The money。〃
〃I see。 Tell me what Graham looks like？〃
〃He is tall； six three maybe。 His hair is dark。 He wears it long。〃
Now I am the one who trembles。 〃What color are his eyes？〃
〃Blue。〃
〃Pale blue？〃
〃Yes。 They are frightening。〃
My voice whispers。 〃Like mine？〃
〃Yes。 God； please don't kill me。 I can help you； miss。 I really can。〃
Yaksha。
It is not possible； I think； after all this time。 The stories； why did I listen to them？ Just because they said he was dead？ He probably invented them。 But why does he e for me now？ Or is that the most foolish question of all？ These people had orders to shoot if I so much as burped。 He must want me dead。
He must be afraid of what Krishna told him。
〃You have helped me enough；〃 I tell Slim。
He pants。 〃What are you going to do？ Don't do it！〃
My fingers reach down to his throat； my long nails caressing the big veins beneath his flesh。 〃I told you what I am。 And I'm hungry。 Why shouldn't I suck you dry？ You are no saint。 You kill without conscience。 At least when