The vampire who brought it back was the only one of the pack to survive and the story he told about the bullets that killed his squad was very disturbing indeed. "Tell me again what happened, dog. What do you mean they were shot?" he roared at the quivering beast that lay face down in front of him. "Nothing can kill us, nothing they shoot at us can kill us!”
"Except silver … " Maria let it hang in the air.
"Silver!" He turned on Maria. "Since when have the Germans used silver bullets?”
Maria clutched the Book to her bosom and lent forward as if to impart a great secret, "Since they decided to fight against you, Master,” she whispered.
As the words sunk in, his anger boiled and he struggled to contain it. He watched her a while as she cooed at the Book as if it were a baby, his mind in overdrive.
"They’ll be at the tree tomorrow." She smiled slyly at him. "They think they can kill you at the ceremony.”
"How do you know that?" he challenged.
"Why do you think they’re here, Master?" she said, smiling sweetly. "They’re here with silver bullets and the Cronica Insangerata, on the eve of the ceremony. They want to stop you and I wager they’ve brought your brother with them.”
The last was too much for him. He sprang from the chair in a blinding rage and kicked at the head of the prone vampire. With a sickening crack, his head exploded and it sprang up clutching its broken skull.
The Count's body started to swell as he transformed into his bestial alter ego. "Get out!” he bellowed at the wounded beast as it ran out, howling in pain. He followed it outside and flew up to the roof of one of the barrack blocks, screaming his rage at the perceived treachery of his twin. Bulging and wild, like a wounded lion, he roared into the night and his animal cry echoed from out of the darkness a thousand times over.
From all corners of the wood his soldiers answered his call. He looked down at them, a multitude of slavering ogres, all baying for their master. They numbered in their thousands and the cacophony was tremendous.
He held his hands aloft and the noise increased tenfold. "Dogs!" He thought to himself. "Children," he called to them and they silenced immediately, "tomorrow we hunt a new prey. Tomorrow, before the ceremony that marks the new dawn, we will kill my brother and all who ride with him.” They screamed in their bliss and eagerness. His eyes blazed in raw hatred as he preached his word. "And I will lead you to battle the heretics who dare to oppose us.”
Maria sat in the library, clutching the Book to her breast, silently laughing to herself as she listened to the Dracyl and his minions.
"You fool," she spoke to nobody, "tomorrow you will die in Utu’s wrath and I will control your vampires. I will control the next plague!”
Chapter 58
Borkin was fast losing his composure. He was tired and hungry too but it seemed the Professor needed another rest and at this rate they’d never find the Atrocity Camp.
"Just a couple of hours more, please” he pleaded.
"I can’t, I can’t go on anymore. I need a rest. My eyes are closing as we speak.”
Stephanie was sure that the concussion still wasn’t healed.
”He had a nasty knock. We should rest a while. We can go on a little later.”
Borkin knew it would be no good arguing. Besides, he’d come to like the old man. However, time was pressing and he had to deliver results, and soon. "Is it far? Perhaps I could go on alone.”
Reuben didn’t answer and all but tumbled from his mount. He staggered to a tree, sat down and immediately fell into a deep sleep. Stephanie looked to Borkin. "He can’t go on. We should take him back to the hospital.”
He steeled himself to tell Stephanie the reason why he had been given a bed in the hospital in the first place. "The fact is that if he goes back he’ll more than probably get a bullet in the head, not a bed.”
She opened her mouth in shock and frowned in annoyance. "What did you promise them? What have you said that put us in danger?”
He stepped forward and put his hands lightly on her arms. "I told the General that only he knew where this camp is, which is why he was nursed back to health. The General needs this camp to put him back in the Party's good books. He and his whole family will suffer if he doesn’t find something to prove his loyalty, so the finding of the camp would save him. The whole area has been left out of the battle plan so we can move here without bumping into other Red Army units, it’s that important to him. If we go back now, I don’t know what the General might do. He is a good sort but there’s a lot of pressure on him at the moment.”
"Well, we’ll go back, get Reuben fit and … ”
"No, don’t you see? The General doesn’t like Jews and especially not German Jews. We’ve got to move on. Going back is not an option.”
Stephanie could feel tears threatening behind her eyes. She blinked them away in a silent reproof to herself. "But he can’t go on," she shouted. "Can’t you see how ill he is?”
Borkin looked at Reuben and his shoulders slumped in weary resignation. He knew it was useless to deny Reuben’s condition but he didn’t know what to do. They stood facing each other in silence for what seemed like an eternity until something rustled in the foliage behind Borkin.
He turned and whipped his rifle up, pushing Stephanie behind him.
"Who’s there? Come out" Borkin called into the trees. Despite his rifle he felt dreadfully exposed and he realised that, though they were in enemy territory, they had let any pretence of field craft fall by the wayside.
Mordechai emerged from out of the bushes in front of them. They had heard him over the last couple of days but he hadn’t made himself visible to them until now, and the sight of him made Borkin involuntarily step back.
Tall and muscular, his powerful body was covered in a light brown fur that shimmered when it caught the sun’s rays. All trace of the short, timid Jewish professor were gone and replaced by a regal beast of the wild.
His large wolf-like head radiated intelligence and the eyes, that had seemed so alien the first time Stephanie had seen him, were filled with a compassion that broke through their fear. Though his presence was fearsome, they both instinctively knew that he was a friend.
"I can look after him. He’ll be alright with me, I promise,” he rumbled in a dark, fractured bass.
A confused silence held the air before Borkin spoke. "And the camp? Who can take us to the camp?”
Before she even spoke, Borkin knew the answer. "I was there too, remember?” she said. “We can go together. You mark it on your map and we’ll come back for Reuben.”
The werewolf nodded and turned to Reuben. "How long has he been like this?" he said kneeling down in front of him. The deep, predatory sound of his voice sounded at odds with the attentive nature of the question.
Stephanie answered him. "Only today. We’ve been running on empty for the last couple of days and I think the concussion hasn’t properly healed. His body is probably shutting down to heal itself.”
Mordechai nodded and Borkin could only stare at the surreal scene before him.
"Shall we make camp here?" Stephanie asked nobody in particular.
"I thought we could move on and make some time up,” Borkin cautiously suggested.
Mordechai turned from his ministrations to Reuben and nodded. "You go. There’s nothing for you to do here. I’ll wait with him until he wakes up and I’ll see about sorting out some kind of shelter somewhere. We’ll follow on in a couple of days' time, or if he’s too ill I’ll come on my own.”
”You can’t leave him. Just stay with him until we get back. It’s snowing, he’ll freeze.”
He walked up to her and put one massive paw on her shoulder; the other he put on Borkin.
"You forget I have business there too. I’ll make sure he’s fine and then I’ll come. You’ve only got to find the camp. I’ve got to find my old self. I can’t go on like this. Every day the wild in me gathers more strength. I can feel it. I’ve got to try and find out how I can change back to being human a
gain or I’ll lose my humanity forever.”
"But you can’t leave him on his own in this state … ”
"Child, do you think I would leave him in any danger? I will build a shelter and make sure he has enough food. He’s not an infant, he just needs rest. Believe me, he’ll be fine after a few days of good eating and lots of rest.”
Borkin guided her by the shoulders to her horse. "He’s right, you’ll see. He’ll get better and we can come back and collect him when the time is right.”
Stephanie mounted and turned back to Mordechai who was so tall that he could look her in the eye. "Look after him, Mordi, please. I know its right to leave him with you but I have this … ”
She broke off as the werewolf put his massive paw on her lap. "He’ll be ok, I promise. If you need me, just shout and I’ll be there for you. Go now and I will see you there, at the Castle." He turned to Borkin. "Good luck, soldier. You’re a good man, I feel these things, so look after her and I will be there for you too,”
With a last forlorn look at Reuben, she turned her horse and rode off, Borkin riding after her.
Chapter 59
The Tree
They rode hard throughout the day and, despite the snow, they reached the Tree in the late afternoon. The horses were unloaded and all of them set free. There was no room for them under the tree’s branches so they were rubbed down and let loose with at little fuss as they could muster; this they all found extremely hard.
They picked their arcs and distributed the ammunition, collected wood and made fires in a circle to mark out the area under the tree’s boughs. Michael didn’t think the flames would do much good but they did have a reassuring effect that was undoubtedly important for morale. Von Struck, Michael, Henning and Rohleder took the four points of the compass with Nau, Gruhn, Inselman, Grand and Smith in the spaces between.
Von Struck put Schneiderat’s sword and rifle at the base of the tree behind him. He wasn’t sure why he’d brought them but he had a notion that they might come in handy as spares.
Smith was placed between Von Struck and Michael. He was nervous but not overly so, and he knew that when the time came to do battle he’d be ready. He had faith in the silver bullets and they had more than enough ammunition to hold out through the night.
He wondered what would happen after tonight. Would the Dracyl die and with him all his vampires? Would he somehow be caught up in this and also die? Would the vampires simply wait another year for the next Winter Solstice?
Looking at the ring of cottages that surrounded the tree, he was contemplating the situation when Michael broke his reverie.
"What’s the matter, English, worried?” He smiled amenably.
"No, I was just wondering what happens after tonight. Will they simply have to wait another year for the Winter Solstice to break the curse or will they all die at sun up? It’s all so complicated that I’ve forgotten it all.” He laughed but it sounded forced.
"James, think back to the list. This is the first Winter Solstice where the list of names in the Book of Blood is complete. That’s why we’re here tonight.” He paused and walked over to him. "Also, it has to be tonight because they’re calling on Utu to come and do battle with them, like in the second battle. They attacked at night and Utu lit the night sky like the day, and destroyed all Szaran’s and Lilith’s army, remember? This time they hope to break him because they have the Book of Blood with the ten names and all the power that brings. Lilith has also got a tree which she has to enter to start the cycle from the beginning,” he looked at Smith in a false earnest manner, "because she started as a demon in the tree that belonged to Utu’s sister. I’m only complicating things, aren’t I?” he smiled encouragingly.
"Will they succeed?” The words were out before he could stop them.
"James, they never had silver bullets in the old days and they didn’t succeed then. All we have to do is battle the vampires until dawn, keep the Dracyl busy so he can’t concentrate on whatever ceremony he needs to perform against Utu, and keep Lilith from trying to enter the tree. Have faith, James. Our silver bullets will carry the day and tomorrow our only problem will be finding the horses to go home.”
Suddenly Inselman pointed in the direction of the castle and shouted to them, "Stand to, they’re coming.”
They all turned to the direction he was pointing in and gasped as one. Above the Castle, a swarm like a black cloud was gathering in the cold winter dusk. It grew with every second until it seemed that the whole sky above the building would soon be black with vampires. As the sun let slip its grasp on the heavens, the cloud grew ever larger, ever more threatening.
Von Struck automatically took control. "Positions. Face them until they’re upon us but don’t forget your arcs. Wait for my word to fire.”
As disciplined as a flock of starlings, the cloud moved up to a pinnacle and then the tip curved down and they dived to attack.
The men moved to meet the onslaught, their weapons raised to fire, fingers on the trigger.
"Wait, wait … " Von Struck said.
The only noise was the wind in the branches and the creak of snow underfoot. The vampires drew ever closer at breakneck speed. Von Struck reminded them to be on automatic when they fired.
Smith subconsciously searched for his brother but he couldn’t see him. Suddenly Von Struck was by him. "Are you ready for this?" he asked quietly.
Smith could only nod mutely.
Von Struck turned to look him in the eye, "Good luck, and stay strong." He walked forward and shouted, "Fire!”
As one they fired the first volley into the attacking mass. The battle for mankind had begun.
* * *
The Dracyl stormed into the room with Lilith after him. This time the vampire entourage that followed the Dracyl didn’t wait outside; they poured into the room seeking Lilith, filing up along the walls as if to keep a respectful distance. Iullia stood up but he pushed her aside and made straight for the cot.
She looked on in stunned silence as he reached into the crib and pulled the now screaming child out. A spark of alarm flared inside and she moved towards the Count as he held the child aloft.
"You’re hurting him," she pleaded.
"Stay out of this, woman, and I’ll let you live to see him grow into a man, into the Dracyl.”
Something in her snapped. The constant threat of death, the loneliness, the fact that she felt she was helping the devil himself all came together and she rushed at the vampire.
Arms outstretched like talons, her teeth bared in a primeval rage, she screamed her attack as she dashed across the room.
Quicker than the vampires, Lilith held out a hand and shot an invisible force to block her. Iullia ran into the force field and bounced back onto the floor.
Without even looking at Iullia, the Dracyl acknowledged Lilith’s action. "Your powers are returning, Demon,” he observed dryly, "but soon we will both be more powerful than even the Gods who shunned us.”
Lilith smiled and nodded. "The Book has rejuvenated me. For the first time in a thousand years I feel strong again.”
He pulled the child back into him and turned to his vampires. "They’ll only have so much silver in their arsenal. Throw the newest at them to waste their bullets and we’ll take them when they’re spent and desperate. Fear always makes the blood sweeter.”
His generals ran out to give orders, the Count following with Lilith in tow.
Dazed and concussed, Iullia could only watch from the floor as they left the room with the screaming child. She remained on the floor until the last vampire had scuttled out.
She could feel herself starting to weaken and the tears that pricked behind her eyes threatened to leak out. Then she noticed the door. It was open.
She stood up and padded over to it. She looked around the corner but there was no one there. Steeling herself, she stepped out into the corridor.
* * *
Borkin heard the volley but he doubted it was Russian soldiers doing the shoo
ting. "Kurakin assured me there’d be no Red Army around here, so unless he’s been removed from command, I can only guess that it’s German or Romanian soldiers shooting up the night.”
The thought of German soldiers made Stephanie think of Rohleder, and her hands involuntarily moved to her stomach. "Shall we wait here? Perhaps they’ll go away.”
Borkin looked worried. "I’d prefer to but we’re limited by time.”
"What do you mean? Why are you in such a hurry?”
"Kurakin can only keep this place free of soldiers for so long. The last thing we need is some Party busybody to decide this area must be cleared before we find the Atrocity Camp. Then we’ll both be in trouble.”
Stephanie thought long and hard before she answered Borkin. Sooner or later the truth would have to come out and it was best to tell him now, rather than to let him rush in headlong on a wild goose chase.
"Olaf, about this camp, what exactly are you expecting to find there?”
He looked at her quizzically. "What do you mean?”
"Well, the camp, the Atrocity Camp, what do you expect to find there? Germans, guard towers?”
He snorted doubtfully. "Well, the one they found a couple of months ago had … ”
"Olaf, there is no camp,” she broke in.
He reacted as if she had slapped him in the face. His mouth shut tight and he blinked rapidly a few times as if to gather his senses. "The Doctor said that you’d all come from a camp, a German camp; Hell on earth I think he called it.”
Stephanie nodded vehemently. "Yes, yes, we did, but the camp no longer exists as it did when we were there. Only the Castle, the stables and the barracks remain. The camp itself, I don’t know, but there are no inmates there to liberate. They’ve all gone or are long since dead.”
"So why are we going back there?" Borkin shouted, flapping his arms in exasperation; "Why didn’t you say something earlier? The General is going to ask about a camp and all I can give him is an old castle and some stables? He gave me a camera, for pity’s sake. Do you have any idea how rare these things are? He wants proof, pictures, evidence." He shook his head in disbelief, "We’ll all be shot,” he said to himself, and then loudly to the trees, "We’ll all be shot, the werewolf too!”
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