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ard about vampires。 Crucifixes and white roses and running water…none of those will bother you。 Bram Stoker was just spicing up his novel when he wrote that stuff。〃 I pause。 〃Did you know I met him once？〃
〃Did you tell him you were a vampire？〃
〃No； but he knew there was something special about me。 He autographed my copy of Dracula and tried to get my address。 But I didn't give it to him。〃 I raise my wrist to my mouth。 〃I am going to open my vein。 I want you to suck my blood for a few minutes。〃
He fidgets。 〃Sounds kinky。〃
〃You'll enjoy it。 I taste wonderful。〃
A moment later Joel reluctantly accepts my bleeding wrist； but he is no Ray。 He has seen plenty of blood in his line of work and it doesn't make him sick to his stomach。 Indeed； after a couple of minutes he is sucking hungrily on my wrist。 I have to stop him before he is sated。 I cannot allow my strength to wane。
〃How do you feel？〃 I ask as I take back my arm。
〃Powerful。 Aroused。〃
I have to laugh。 〃Not every girl you meet will be able to do that for you。〃
〃Can we be killed with a stake through the heart？〃
The laughter dies in my throat。 His question brings back the agony of the wound I suffered when my house exploded and Yaksha supposedly died。 The chest pain is still there…yet； since drinking Yaksha's blood； it has receded。 I wonder what Yaksha would think of me now that I have broken Krishna's vow against creating more vampires。 After I have killed so many innocent people。 No doubt he would say I am damned。
I miss Yaksha。 And Ray。 And Krishna。
〃You can be killed that way；〃 I say quietly。
Ten minutes later we reach the gap in the mountains and I veer north； climbing in altitude。 The pass is almost a mile above sea level。 The police helicopters are now thirty miles behind us； blinking red and white dots in the night sky。 We have at most four hours of night left。 Before then； I must find shelter for Joel and a place to sit quietly and plot my next moves。 Scanning left and right； I consider dumping the helicopter。 The cliffs of the pass offer more hiding places than the desert will。 Yet I don't want to set down so soon。 Another idea has e to me； one that may throw our pursuers off。
What if I were to crash the helicopter into a lake？
It would sink and hopefully leave no sign behind。
The plan is a good one。 Fuel dictates I choose the closest lake； Big Bear or Arrowhead。 But once again I resist heading into the snowy mountains。 As a newborn； Joel will not fare well there。 I remember how sensitive I was to the cold after Yaksha changed me。 Vampires； serpents； the offspring of yakshinis…we prefer warmth。
I need a sand dune oasis with a lake in the center of it。
We plunge over the pass and into the desert。
The bleak landscape sweeps beneath us。
Time passes。 I cannot see anyone following。
〃We can't stay up here forever；〃 Joel says finally。
〃I know。〃
〃What are you waiting for？〃
〃Lake Mead。〃 Hoover Dam…it is only twenty minutes away； I estimate。
But I have waited too long。
Five minutes later I catch sight of two military helicopters； ing at us from the west； not the south。 Because my eyes are so sharp； I see them far off…sixty miles away。 I feel it is still possible to reach the lake。 Yet I know they have spotted us； that they are tracking us on their radar。 When I alter course slightly； they do likewise。 Joel sees my concern but doesn't understand it at first。 Even changed； his sight is no match for mine。
〃What is it？〃 he asks。
〃We have pany；〃 I say。
He looks around。 〃Can we reach the lake？〃
〃Possibly。〃 I ask in jest； 〃Can we fight two Apache helicopters？〃
〃No way。〃
I guess at the type of craft that pursues us； but a few minutes later I see that I was right。 My knowledge of the Apache isn't extensive； but I have read enough to know that we are facing the most lethal attack helicopter on earth。 The two choppers move close to each other； on a direct intercept course with us。 Black as the desert sky； with wide hypnotic propellers…they are clearly faster than we are。 Their machine…gun turret and rocket launchers hang from the sides like dangerous fists。 They sweep toward us for a knockout punch。 Joel sees them。
〃Maybe we should surrender；〃 he suggests。
〃I never surrender。〃
They catch us three miles short of the lake。 The wide flat expanse of water is clearly visible； but it could be on the other side of the moon for all the good it can do us now。 That's what I think at first。 Yet the Apaches do not immediately lock on their weapons。 They swoop above and below us； dangerously close； ordering us to land。
〃Somebody has told them to take us alive；〃 Joel observes。
〃Who？〃
Joel shrugs。 〃The order could have e from the President of the United States。 But I suspect the mander of the base where these helicopters originated has given the order。〃
〃We only need to get to the water；〃 I say。 〃They couldn't imagine that we'd try to vanish underwater。〃
〃I can't imagine it。 Can we really hold our breath a long time？〃
〃I can go an hour。〃
〃But what about me？〃
I pat his leg。 〃Have faith。 We should have died a dozen times tonight and we're still alive。 Maybe Krishna hasn't deserted us after all。〃
〃If they open fire in the next minute we might have a chance to ask him directly；〃 Joel says dryly。
The Apaches buzz us a couple of times more； then grow tired of the cat…and…mouse game。 They lay down a stream of bullets across our path and I have to slow sharply to avoid being torn to shreds。 Still； they could blow us out of the sky whenever they wish。 Yet they hold back； although they don't want me flying above the lake。 They try blocking our path and I have to go into a steep dive to stay on course。 We e within several feet of the ground and Joel almost has a heart attack。
〃You are one mean pilot；〃 he says when he catches his breath。
〃I'm pretty good in bed as well；〃 I reply。
〃Of that I have no doubt。〃
These military men are not like the LAPD。 They expect their orders to be obeyed。 They may have instructions to take us alive； but they also have orders to prevent us from escaping。 A quarter mile from the water； they open fire with surgical precision and suddenly our rotor blades are not a hundred percent intact。 Our copter falters in the air； but stays up。 The noise above us is deafening。 Yet I continue on toward the lake。 I have no choice。
〃Get ready to jump；〃 I tell Joel。
〃I'm not leaving till you leave。〃
〃Nice line。 But you have to jump as soon as we cross over the water。 Swim for the far shore； not the near one。 Stay under water as long as possible。〃
Joel hesitates。 〃I don't know how to swim。〃
〃What？〃
〃I said I don't know how to swim。〃
I can't believe it。 〃Why didn't you tell me that earlier？〃
〃I didn't know what you had planned。 You didn't tell me。〃
〃Joel！〃
〃Sita！〃
I pound the chopper dashboard。 〃Damn！ Damn！ Well； you're just going to have to learn how to swim。 You're a vampire。 All vampires can swim。〃
〃Says who？〃
〃Says me； and I'm the only authority on the subject Now stop arguing with me and prepare to jum