按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
uld prefer to have a police chopper than a civilian one。 But the pilot is not reckless。 He keeps the chopper constantly moving a little from side to side。 For me to try to leap onto it would be risky。 I opt for the more conservative plan。
I get up slowly； limping。 My right shinbone is still fractured； but it will be all right in another minute … God bless Yaksha's blood。 Ducking behind the desks； the beam from the searchlight stretching long； stark shadows across the office； I move away from the broken window。 The helicopter swoops in a narrow arc； sometimes onto the far side of the hole； sometimes closer to where I'm hidden。 The windows are tinted； it is easier for me to follow their movements than for them to follow mine； unless their light were to hit me directly。 Yet they seem obsessed with the space just beyond the hole。 They must feel that I am in the wreckage somewhere near it； injured and dying。
〃e to me baby；〃 I whisper。
On their third swing toward my side； I punch out the window in front of me and open fire。 I take out the machine gunner first； I don't like his looks。 The searchlight goes next。 I take aim on the fuel tank。 As I said； I enjoy fireworks； wicked explosions。 When I pull the trigger on the shotgun； the chopper detonates in a huge fireball。 The pilot screams； the flames engulfing his body。 The other man is blown out the side door； in pieces。 The life goes out of the machine and it sinks to the ground。 Far below I hear people crying。 Far above； to my right； I hear the other two helicopters veer away。 They have lost enthusiasm for the fight。
On the way to the elevator； I pass a custodian。 He hardly looks up。 Despite my blood and artillery； he wishes me a good evening。 I smile at him。
〃You have a good night；〃 I say。
The elevator takes me to the top floor； and from there it is not hard to find a private access ladder onto the roof。 Not one but two helicopters wait to fly us to freedom。 Both are jet powered and I am pleased。 They will at least be as fast as the cops' choppers； if not faster。 Unfortunately there's a security guard on duty。 An old guy； obviously working the night shift to supplement a meager retirement； he takes one look at me and hurries over。 He has a handgun but doesn't draw it。 His glasses are remarkably thick； he squints through the lenses as he looks me up and down。
〃Are you a cop？〃 he asks。
I don't have the heart to lie to him。 〃No。 I'm the bad guy。 I'm the one who just blew that chopper out of the sky。〃
He is awestruck。 〃I watched you jumping from building to building。 How do you do that？〃
〃Steroids。〃
He slaps his leg。 〃I knew it！ The drugs young people are taking these days。 What do you want？ One of these choppers？〃
I point my shotgun at him。 〃Yes。 Please give me the keys。 I don't want to have to kill you。〃
He quickly raises his hands。 〃You don't have to do that。 The keys are in the ignitions。 Do you know how to fly a helicopter？〃
I turn my weapon aside。 〃Yes。 I've been taking lessons。 Don't worry about me。〃
He walks me to the closest chopper； a Bell 230。 〃This baby has a range of over three hundred miles。 You want to get far out of town。 The radio and TV are babbling about you； calling you a band of Arab terrorists。〃
I laugh as I climb into the cockpit。 〃You do nothing to destroy their illusions。 Just tell them you were overwhelmed by superior forces。 You don't want people to know a young woman stole a helicopter out from under your nose。〃
〃And a blond one at that；〃 he agrees。 〃You take care！〃
He closes the door for me and I'm off。
Picking up Joel proves to be the easiest part of the night。 The police helicopters are holding back…over a mile away。 They aren't used to being blown out of the sky。 The fire from the last downed chopper spreads over the front of the skyscraper。 In the distance I see smoke from the first chopper。 Joel shakes his head as he climbs in。
〃They'll never stop hunting us after this；〃 he says。
〃I don't know；〃 I jest。 〃They might be afraid to e after me。〃
We head northeast。 I'm anxious to get out of the suburban sprawl and into the wild； somewhere we can disappear。 The nearby mountains are a possibility。 Our chopper is fast； capable of going two hundred miles an hour。 To my surprise； the police helicopters don't really pursue us。 It's not just because we're faster than they are…a fact I have to question。 They allow the gap to grow between us to at least twenty miles。 The length of the space doesn't reassure me because I know they still have us under visual observation。
Nothing will be gained by plunging low to the ground； below the radar。 They are waiting for something； biding their time。
〃Reinforcements；〃 I mutter as we swoop over the sleeping city at an elevation of a thousand feet。
Joel nods。 〃They've called for bigger guns。〃
〃Army helicopters？〃
〃Probably。〃
〃Which direction will they e from？〃
〃There is a large base south of here。 You might want to head north。〃
〃I was planning to do so after I reached the Cajon Pass。〃 The pass cuts into the desert； also a nice place to hide。 Highway IS runs through the pass； and if followed far enough； leads to Las Vegas。
〃You might not want to wait that long；〃 Joel advises。
〃I understand。〃 Yet the temptation to put more distance between us and our pursuers is great。 It gives me the illusion of safety； a dangerous illusion。 But the farther we go； the more the desert beckons me。 Being winter； the mountains are covered with snow； and even though I am highly resistant to cold； I don't like it。 At our present speed Cajon Pass is not far ahead。 Once over it； we will be clear of the city； able to roam free。
I ask the question I have been waiting to ask。
〃Are you thirsty？〃
He is guarded。 〃What do you mean？〃
I glance over。 〃How do you feel？〃
He takes a deep breath。 〃Feverish。 Cramping。〃
I nod。 〃You need blood。〃
He takes time to absorb my words。 〃Do you really drink people's blood？ Like in the stories？〃
〃The stories have germs of truth in them； but can't be taken literally。 As a vampire； you do need blood to survive。 Yet you do not need to kill the person you drink from； and your contact with them will not change them into vampires。 You can also live off the blood of animals； although you will find it unsatisfying。〃
〃Do I need blood every day？〃
〃No。 Every few days。 But at first； you will crave it every day。〃
〃What happens if I don't drink it？〃
〃You will die horribly；〃 I say。
〃Oh。 Do I still need to eat regular food？〃
〃Yes。 You will get hungry as before。 But if need be； you will be able to survive for a long time without food。 You will also be able to hold your breath for incredible lengths of time。〃
〃But what about the sun？ You sat out in the sun with me。〃
〃Yes。 But that is not something you want to try yet。 The sun won't kill you； but it will irritate you； at least for the first few centuries。 Even now； after five thousand years； I'm not nearly so strong while the sun is up。 But forget everything else you've heard about vampires。 Crucifixes and white roses and running water…none of those will bother you。 Bram