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Chapter 1

This is a work of fiction

Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products

of the author's iination or are used fictitiously Any

rese

or dead, is entirely coincidental

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges those people who helped in the research and writing of Bloodsucking Fiends:

Mark Joseph and Mark Anderson for help with research in the Bay Area Rachelle Stambal, Jean Brody, Liz Ziehtful suggestions My editors, Michael Korda and Chuck Adaent, Nick Ellison, for his patience, guidance, friendship, and hard work

In memory of my father:

Jack Davis Moore

Part I

Fledgling

Chapter 1

Death

Sundown painted purple across the great Pyraainst a du worked its way up from the bay, snaked around coluainst the tohere the West's o it ran with rivers of ray wool and woold-rush garbage, were deserted-quiet except for a foghorn that lowed across the bay like a lonesome cow

The Emperor shook his scepter to clear the last few drops, shivered, then zipped up and turned to the royal hounds aited at his heels "The foghorn sounds especially sad this evening, don't you think?"

The ss, a Boston terrier, dipped his head and licked his chops

"Bu before your eyes The air is thick with poison, the children are shooting each other in the street, and now this plague, this horrible plague is killing my people by the thousands, and all you think about is food"

The Eolden retriever

"Lazarus knows the weight of our responsibility Does one have to die to find dignity? I wonder"