The Cure

by Loren Schechter

  “You think I care about the card shark and your bloodboy?” Bunny yelled. “You only have three little pigs protecting you, Bart.”

  “Two,” called Finkelstein, “Bart killed one himself.”

  “Shut your mouth, or I’ll kill you,” snarled Baneful.

  “And lose your chance to find Dr. Quintz?” replied Finkelstein.

  The whup-whup-whup of a helicopter caused Bunny to glance upward.

  “Doesn’t matter,” said Bart. “Homeland Security outnumbers us all. We’ll have to put our family feud on hold.”

  “Yeah, let’s do that.” Bunny crawled toward the stall door and observed the body of the vampire Vendetta had shot. Despite the hole in his head, the vampire’s limbs were twitching. She lay flat, reached for a leg and pulled the body toward her. A burst from an AR-15 splintered the planks above her head. “You never could shoot straight, Bart,” she called. But she pulled harder.

  Once she had the vampire’s body in the stall, she plunged Kathy’s knife into his heart and watched him go still. Six down, three to go. But hunkered down, with a bead on me. How do I attack them?

  The answer didn’t come before the warmbloods. She smelled them before she heard their cautious footsteps. They’ll have surrounded the barn.Try to break out?Dying here won’t cure anyone.We have Quintz.They’ll have to negotiate. She pulled the knife from the vampire’s chest, wiped the blood off and tucked it into her boot. Then she lay down next to him, eyes closed, arms outstretched, hands obviously empty.

  48

  Important Work

  Breathing hard, Kathy entered the circular reading room and stopped short. Tanya Lyskovitch was typing on one of the library’s desktops. No one else.One other exit. What about upstairs? Above wall shelves stuffed with reference books was a gallery set behind a cast-iron balustrade. Anyone could be hiding among the stacks up there. Within the room, a spiral staircase gave access to the upper level. Must be other staircases outside.

  “What are you doing here?” asked Kathy.

  Tanya’s head snapped around. “Oh, it’s you. I am waiting for Rose. I worry she’s been detained by vampires or security police.”

  “I hope not. I just had a horrible time with both. I was in the basement with these — ”

  “Stop!” Tanya waved her off. “I have no time for sympathy. You do the bedding of these monsters who threaten my life.”

  Kathy shook her head in puzzlement. “Oh! You mean ‘bidding.’”

  “Whatever. Just do not interrupt. I have important work to do.”

  “Where’s the student monitor?”

  “A government police sent her back to the dorm. I hid upstairs. Then he ran to the gunshots.”

  “Where are your parents?”

  “I sent them back to their hotel. I told them I had some final homework to give in. Almost I am done now. You are wasting my time.”

  “Homework?” Kathy’s hands flew to her head. “Are you nuts? Vampires are killing people all over the campus and you’re doing homework? What kind of homework? You’re graduating tomorrow.”

  “If we live,” Tanya murmured. She pulled back her shoulders and hiked herself up in her chair. “I am helping Rose make that possible. So do not annoy me.”

  “I don’t get it. I thought you wanted to stay out of things.”

  “The vampire who attacked us made that not possible.” Tanya ‘s cheeks reddened. “I am not a goat or sheep to be slaughtered or a – what is the English name for that big bird that hides its head in the sand?”

  “Ostrich.”

  “Yes, ostrich. Now you go be ostrich while we wait for Rose. I have important work yet to finish.”

  49

  The Captives

  Bunny lay on the cement floor with her eyes closed, listening to the sounds of surrender in other parts of the barn. Bart and his men made the same decision, she thought. Are we making a mistake not to go down fighting?

  The stink of warmblood sweat and fear saturated with lilac cologne pushed equine odors into the background. She heard stealthy movement, faint exhalations, then the scrape of a boot. A kick in the ribs forced a grunt out of her.

  “This one’s alive,” said a harsh voice.

  Bunny opened her eyes. “Good evening, gentlemen.” She looked up at four DHS agents, their fear and hatred etched on blackened faces, their courage bolstered by their cocked weapons.

  “Keep your hands where we can see them and slowly turn over on your belly.” The harsh voice came from a muscular agent with a hawkish face. His blood had the rancid odor of HIV.

  “I took a round in my shoulder,” she said, “so go easy.”

  “This shoulder?” said Harsh Voice, delivering another kick. Pain exploded from her neck to her fingertips. Her fangs pierced her lip and her eyes welled up, but she stayed silent as they handcuffed her wrists behind her back and patted her down for weapons. She kept disappointment from her face as they wrestled her boots off.

  “Look at this!” said a pudgy agent, bringing forth Kathy’s wooden knife.

  “A vampire toothpick,” said another.

  “Until they punch it into your chest,” said Harsh Voice. “Cuff her ankles.”

  Leaving her boots behind, they dragged her into a horse stall that had become a vampire holding cell and dumped her next to Finkelstein.

  The fact that Bart, Arthur Bulch and a whimpering, one-eyed henchman lay with hands and feet manacled on the other side of the stall gave Bunny little satisfaction. At least they haven’t caught Vendetta and LittleHawk. Terminated? No, they’re pros in moving unseen.

  “It’s nice to see a friendly face,” murmured Finkelstein as the DHS agents left the stall, sliding the door shut behind them.

  “I don’t feel friendly,” she muttered. Through the bars of the stall, she saw the heads of Harsh Voice and the pudgy agent staying on as guards. “You hurt?” she asked Finkelstein.

  “I took a bullet that passed through a Legionnaire before it passed through me. Bart shoots like a doctor, not a fighter.”

  “Bunny was supposed to be the great fighter,” said Baneful. “Seeing her humbled so easily, I’ll have to revise my opinion.”

  “Well I don’t have to change mine,” she replied. “I always knew you were a loser.”

  “You thought that from the day I was born.” Baneful’s tone became bitter. “You were always so resentful and arrogant, I relished bringing you down a few pegs whenever I could. Seeing you dragged in like a trussed pig is the highlight of my day.”

  “You must’ve had an awful day,” said Bunny. “But take comfort where you can. Our night’s going to get worse.”

  “Your night. I may yet snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.” Grunting, he struggled to sit up against a plank wall. Wisps of straw clung to his hair and black uniform. “Like your deceitful associate, I keep a card or two up my sleeve.”

  “You have a key?” whispered Bulch.

  “Not a tangible one,” said Bart.

  “My eye,” Otto whimpered.

  “Why can’t losers accept that I win fair and square at cards?” complained Finkelstein.

  “Because you don’t,” said Bunny. “I’ll go to my grave believing you took that fourth king from the bottom of the deck.”

  “If we’re going to our graves, what does it matter?” asked Finkelstein. “We certainly need a trick or two now. What are they doing out there?”

  “Probably searching the woods for Edna and the dorm for Rose,” replied Bunny. She winced as she jerked herself into a sitting position. “How does it feel to be as helpless as your victims, Bart?”

  Baneful growled, then took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “From helplessness comes determination and strength, if one has guts enough.”

  “And hatred and sadism if one doesn’t,” she said. “Although I must admit, for a while it did lead you to a successful career in Neurology.”

  “I need an eye doctor,” wailed Otto.

  “What is she talking about?” a
sked Bulch.

  “Nothing worth listening to,” Baneful snarled.

  “I think it is, if it still embarrasses you,” said Bunny. “When he was six, Bart had Guillain-Barre syndrome. It’s rare in children, but Bart was unlucky. He could barely move his limbs or breathe and had to be put on a respirator. I felt guilty as sin for my eviI thoughts until he recovered – that is, until I realized the illness had scared every drop of decency out of him.”

  “Tell the truth!” said Bart. “Until you turned me, I’d helped many more people than you ever did. You envied my success — you’ve always resented me. So with one vicious bite, you took away everyone I loved and everything I’d worked for. It was you who infected me with blood lust and delivered me to Satan. You’re responsible for everything I’ve done since.”

  Bunny snorted. “I thought Satan had that honor. Why don’t you whine to him?”

  The door slid open. A tall lantern-jawed agent wearing a Kevlar vest and a crooked smile stepped in. Behind him, Harsh Voice and Pudgy stood in the doorway with weapons drawn.

  The newcomer looked down at his prisoners. “Glad to see you all tucked in. I’m Major Winkish of the Department of Homeland Security.” His face and tone became stern. “You all are under arrest for murder, kidnapping, conspiring to commit acts of terrorism and to overthrow the government of the United States.”

  “And I have three unpaid parking tickets,” said Finkelstein.

  “I need a doctor,” cried Otto.

  “Don’t you guys need to read us our rights?” Bulch sounded aggrieved.

  “Vampires are enemy aliens,” replied Winkish. ”You have no rights.”

  “But some of us have agreements,” said Bart.

  Winkish flashed a murderous glance toward Bart. “Agreements made under duress are not worth spit. I have the thumb drive with Dr. Quintz’s data. We’ll pick up his daughter any minute. And one of these two — ” He indicated Bunny and Finkelstein. “– will tell us where they’re hiding the doctor.”

  So the Devil’s disciple made a deal with the feds, and he lost. Bunny suppressed a smile.

  “Don’t bet on them telling you,” said Bart. “You can’t take them apart like I could.”

  “I’ll take that bet. Once the helicopter lands, we’ll be flying a few of you to much less comfortable quarters for interrogation. Meanwhile – ” Winkish withdrew the hardwood knife from inside his vest. “ — one of my men found this on the female.” He took a few steps and looked down at Bunny. “I’ve trained on a lot of weapons, but never a wooden knife. I know what it’s for, but I’m not sure of the proper technique.”

  “You want me to tell you where to shove it?” asked Bunny.

  The Major shook his head. “No. I have a better idea. Hold that one!” He pointed to Otto. The guards slung their AR-15s across their backs and moved to obey.

  Otto’s remaining eye went wide as Winkish strode over. Otto struggled and screamed, but the guards pinned him down on his back. Winkish went down on one knee and plunged the knife into Otto’s chest. The vampire’s body spasmed once, then lay still. A spurt of blood came out with the knife.

  Winkish wiped the knife on Otto’s shirt, then rose to his feet.“Is that how it’s done?” he asked Bunny.

  “I don’t need to tie up my enemy and have two men hold them down,” she said. “What do you think, Mr. Finkelstein?”

  “As a guidance counselor, I’d say it’s evidence of a major flaw in character.”

  The guards snapped to attention.

  “What’s going on?” The short, white-haired man who stood in the doorway had mastered the command voice but he looked more like a politician than a soldier.

  So that’s General Corkle, thought Bunny, recognizing his voice from their encounter in Quintz’s lab. She sniffed. Unappetizing blood. Unimpressive man.

  “Nothing to worry about, sir,” said Winkish. “I have everything under control. I had to demonstrate that to our prisoners and lighten the load for the helicopter.” He glanced at the guards. “Make way for the General.”

  Harsh Voice and Pudgy quickly stepped out. The General swaggered in. His gaze swept over the captives, then flashed to the knife in Winkish’s hand. “I see,” he said. “Good work.”

  “He executed a bound captive,” Bunny said.

  The warmbloods ignored her.

  “Start moving the prisoners out in five minutes,” said Corkle. “The cleanup team will clear away the casualties. We still need to find Quintz’s daughter, but she can be flown out on the second copter with anyone else we apprehend.”

  Bunny raised an eyebrow. They didn’t find Rose outside?

  “Do we take the riding teacher and the boy?” asked Winkish.

  “No, the teacher is a basket case. I sent her and the Campos boy back to our command room with an escort. You can interrogate them there and get them to sign secrecy pledges. The same with that girl who had the thumb drive.”

  They caught Kathy. Bunny grimaced.

  A phone rang. Winkish pulled one from his pocket. “What now?” He listened for a moment. “Well find her and take her out, damn it! Call some of the men away from the buildings to help.” Frowning, he pocketed the phone. “It’s the Indian the boy told us about. She’s taken down another of our men.” He turned to Pudgy. “Elkins, go out there and post two agents at each door to this barn. They’re not to let anyone in, no matter what they hear. Then help the others find and terminate that woman before she gets a trifecta.”

  As the guard hurried away, Bart fixed his gaze on the General. “Sir! Major Winkish and I had an agreement guaranteeing my safety.”

  Corkle chuckled. “Yes, he told me. You’ll also be charged with trying to bribe an officer to mutiny and commit treason against the United States. Frankly, I look forward to your trial and termination.”

  “As I do,” said Winkish. He glanced at Harsh Voice, then turned back to the General. “We have the backup data and these prisoners, and we’ll soon have the girl. This is a successful piece of our mission, General. I think this vampire knife rightfully belongs to you as a souvenir of this victory.” He approached Corkle, offering him the grip end of the knife.

  Corkle reached to take it.

  “Watch out!” yelled Finkelstein, but Harsh Voice pinned Corkle’s arms from behind.

  “What!” said Corkle.

  Reversing the knife, Winkish thrust it into the General’s throat.

  50

  You Have the Gun

  Given the choice between wearing handcuffs or walking arm-in-arm with the sobbing Ms. Pelliger, Hector had reluctantly chosen to support the distraught teacher. Still in shock, she now clung to his arm with both hands and moved across the grass at a zombie’s pace, often looking back at the barn and wailing, “My horses, my horses.”

  “Don’t worry,” he finally said. “Vampires don’t usually attack big animals. Certainly not when human blood is available.”

  “No-o-o,” Pelliger screeched. Her fingers dug deep into his arm.

  “See what you’ve done!” said their DHS escort. “Just shut up and keep moving!” He poked Hector in the back for emphasis.

  “Hey! Chill out, dude,” said Hector. “We won’t get there any faster if we fall.” He’s almost as scared as she is, thought Hector. Would he shoot if I ran? Probably tackle and handcuff me before this puta loca ever let go. I’ve got to get free and find Kathy.

  Hector saw no guards in front of the Administration Builiding. The lights were still on, but the entrance hall was empty. Once inside, Pelliger’s cries turned into sniffles. She took one hand off him to wipe her nose on her sleeve. Hector gaped at the huge chandelier and massive stone walls, but their escort hurried them through a long corridor and down a stairway to the basement, where the door to a large storeroom stood open.

  “That’s not right,” said the agent.

  Hector stopped. He drew Pelliger against the corridor wall. “Why don’t you go first, man. You have the gun.”

  “And let yo
u get behind me? Or run off?” The agent cocked his pistol. “Take the lady inside.”

  The room looked like a hurricane had passed through. Tables and chairs were overturned; computers and monitors lay smashed on the floor; cardboard boxes of school supplies had fallen or been ripped from metal shelves. Amidst the debris, two male bodies lay face up, the nearer one with a hole in his head.

  “Jesus!” Hector’s breath caught in his throat.

  “Vampires did this,” said the agent. “We need to terminate every one of them.”

  “They attacked me, too.” The woman’s voice was mournful. She rose from behind an overturned table, a hunched figure with head bowed, hands cupped over her face, and black hair straggling down to her brown tweed jacket

  “Miss Flowers!” Pelliger disengaged her arm from Hector’s and stepped forward.

  “Who?” asked the agent.

  “Our Admissions Director. Did they hurt you?” asked Pelliger, reaching out in concern.

  Flowers nodded and stepped around the table. “I was helpless to stop them. I am so mad. I had such a beautiful smile.” Her hands came away from her face and whipped Pelliger aside. Fangs bared, she barreled into Hector, throwing him back against the agent and both men fell to the floor. The agent pushed Hector away and got off a wild shot before the vampire bit into his wrist and the gun clattered to the floor. Then she was on top of him, going for his neck, with the agent struggling to keep her fangs from their target.

  Hector dove across the floor for the gun. Flowers glanced back.

  Hector rose to one knee. “Get off him or I’ll shoot,” he ordered.

  “No you won’t,” she said. “You’re not one of them. Don’t you want us to be cured?”

  “Yes. But I can’t let you kill him.”

  “Yes, you can. I won’t harm you or that horse’s ass I worked with.” Flowers nodded toward Pelliger, who sat sobbing against a wall.