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baby wrapped in a white blanket on her knees； she looks up at me as I raise my shotgun and take aim at her bow。 She is only fifty yards away。 Her eyes shimmer with the glow of the moon and she doesn't seem to be surprised。
The baby talks softly to her； infant nonsense。 He is not afraid； but fear is almost all I know as I sight along the barrel and squeeze the trigger。
The blast of the shotgun echoes across the bay。
I have blown a hole in the front of the boat
Water gushes in。 Kalika grabs the handle of the outboard and turns the boat around。 For a moment her back is to me； an easy shot。 Yet I don't take it。 I tell myself there is a chance I might hit the child。 At first Kalika seems to be headed back toward the beach below Paula's house； but then it is clear the miniature island in the center of the bay is her goal。 Perhaps the water is gushing in too fast。 Kalika picks up the child and hugs him to her chest even before the boat reaches the island。 Then she is tip and out of the sinking craft； scampering up the dirt path that leads to a small abandoned house at the top of the island。 Sliding the shotgun under my black leather coat； I dive off the low cliff and into the water。
The lake temperature is bracing； even for me。 But vampires never like the cold； although we can tolerate it far better than human beings can。 My stroke is hampered by my clothes and gun； but I reach the island in less than a minute。 Shivering on the beach in the rays of the moon； I remove the shotgun and pump another round into the chamber。 There is a good chance it will still fire。 If it doesn't then this will be the last moonlit night of my life。
I find Kalika sitting on a bench in the stone house at the top of the island。 It is not properly a house； more an open collection of old walls。 Last time I was here a guide told me people came here for tea during the Second World War。 Kalika sits with the baby on her lap； playing with him； oblivious of me and my shotgun。 I feel I have to say something。 Of course I am not fooled。 I keep my weapon held ready。
Yet maybe I am the biggest fool of all。
〃It is over；〃 I say。 〃Set the child down。〃
Kalika doesn't even look up。 〃The floor is cold。 He might catch cold。〃
I shake my gun。 〃I am serious。〃
〃That is your problem。〃
〃Kalika…〃
〃Do you know what name Paula gave the child？〃 she interrupts。
〃No。 I didn't stop to ask her。〃
〃I think she named him John。 That's what I've been calling him。〃 Finally she looks at me。 〃But you know Mike； don't you？〃
I am bewildered。 〃Yes。 Have you spoken to him？〃
〃No。 But I know him。 He's a bum。〃 She lifts the child to her breast。 Kalika has a voluptuous figure； she could probably bear many healthy children。 God knows what they would be like。 She strokes the baby's soft skull。 〃I think we have pany。〃
〃What are you talking about？〃
〃Your friend is ing。〃
〃Good；〃 I say； although I don't hear anyone approaching。 〃More reason for you to surrender the child。〃 I grow impatient 〃Put him down！〃
〃No。〃
〃I will shoot。〃
〃No； you won't。〃
〃You murdered two dozen innocent people。 You ripped their hearts and heads off right in front of my eyes and you think I can still care for you？ Well； you're wrong。〃 I step closer and aim the shotgun at her face。 〃You are not immortal。 If I fire and your brains splatter the wall behind you； then you will die。〃
She stares at me。 We are out of the moonlight。 There should be no light in her dark eyes at all。 Nevertheless they shine with a peculiar white glow。 I had thought it was red the last time I saw them during our confrontation on the pier。 But maybe the color is not hers but mine。 Maybe she is just a mirror for me； Kali Ma； the eternal abyss； who destroys time itself。 My mother myself。 I cannot look at her with the child and not think of when she was a baby。
〃The body takes birth and dies；〃 she says。 〃The eternal self is unmoved。〃
I shake my shotgun angrily。 〃You will move for me； goddamn you！〃
Kalika smiles。 She wants to say something。
But suddenly there is a blade at my throat。
〃I will take that shotgun；〃 James says softly in my ear。
I am surprised but not terribly alarmed。
〃James；〃 I say patiently； 〃I am not going to shoot the child。〃
He presses the blade tighter and forces my head back。
〃I know that； Sita；〃 he says calmly。 〃I still want the gun。〃
I swallow。 Now I am concerned。
〃How do you know my name？〃 I ask。
He grips the shotgun and carefully lifts it from my hands。
〃We have met before；〃 he says。 〃You just don't remember me。〃
〃She remembers；〃 Kalika says； standing now； her expression unfathomable。
James points the shotgun at her while he keeps the blade at my throat。 Out of the corner of my eye I get a glimpse of it。 A dagger of some kind； ancient design； cold metal。 James is calm and cool。 He gestures with the tip of the shotgun。
〃You will set the child down on the bench beside you；〃 he says to my daughter。 〃If you don't I will shoot； and you know I won't miss。 Either of you。〃
Kalika does not react。
James scrapes me lightly with the knife and my throat bleeds。
〃I will kill your mother；〃 he says。 〃You will have to watch her die。〃
A shadow crosses Kalika's face。 〃No；〃 she says。
James smiles。 〃You know me。 You know I do not bluff。〃
Kalika nods slightly。 Really； it is as if she knows him well。
〃All right；〃 she says in a soft； perhaps beaten； voice。
〃Do it！〃 James orders。
Kalika turns to set the child down。 The baby is almost out of her hands when I see her change her mind。 Maybe James sees the same thing； I don't know。 But he is ready for her when she suddenly grabs the baby and bolts。 Kalika moves extraordinarily fast but James is no slouch when it es to reflexes。
He shoots her in the lower back。
Kalika staggers but manages to hold on to the child。 Keeping his blade tight to my throat； he pumps the shotgun again and takes aim。 It is then I ram an elbow into his side。 He seems ready for that as well； because even though I have hurt him； he manages to draw the blade all the way across my throat。 And he doesn't just nick me。 Suddenly my life's blood is pouring over my chest and James has got Kalika in his sights again and there is absolutely nothing I can do to stop him。
James shoots Kalika in the back； behind the heart。
Kalika is covered in blood。 She tries to turn； perhaps to attack； but seeing James pumping again； she puts her back to him once more。 He fires a third time； hitting her right shoulder。 Kalika slumps to the floor； her right arm useless now。 Still she manages to hold on to the child； to shelter him from the blasts that ravage her body。 As I collapse to the floor； James pumps again and points the shotgun at Kalika's head； actually touching her left temple with the black barrel He still has the dagger in his right hand and I finally recognize it。
Ory's knife。 I feel his poison once more in my system。
I even recognize Ory's voice when James speaks next。
Funny how I didn't before。 Too bad； huh。
〃I just want the child；〃 James says to my daughter。
She stares up at him。 〃Your