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"Would you?" There was a weak, ratitude in the an to understand why it was that Emillie Harper had becoo now" He touched Madelaine’s hair gently "You’ll forgivecryptically, "The Count to the rescue"

"You’re incorrigible," he responded affectionately as he put his black hat on "I’ll be back in a while Tell Mr Rogers where I’ve gone, will you?"

"I’ll be happy to" Madelaine patted his leg, then watched as he strode off

"He see for reassurance

"He is," she said shortly, leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes

Mr Harper looked at her, baffled, then wandered off toward the tables, looking for his wife

Kathy had served hly technical discussion with Jim Sutton about the proper way to cook scallops

E, at the swi pool, the badminton courts, or the beach area of the resort Franciscus had checked all those places and had found no trace of the girl Those few guests who had not gone on the picnic had not seen her, and the staff could not recall noticing her

At first Franciscus had assu a show of childish petulance-she clearly resented Franciscus’ interference in her tryst the night before As he walked along the shore trail past the small dock, he wondered if he had been hasty, and his steps faltered He glanced north, across the bend of the lake toward the hillside where cabin 33 was, and involuntarily his face set in anger Why, of all the resorts in the Rocky Mountains, did Mr Milan Lorpicar have to choose Lost Saints Lodge for his stay?

A sound intruded on his thoughts, the persistent clacking of a typewriter The door to cabin 8 stood ajar, and Franciscus could see Myron Shires hunched over on the couch, his typewriter on the coffee table, his fingersspiders over the keys Beside the typewriter there was a neat stack of pages about two inches high The sound stopped abruptly "Franciscus," Myron Shires said, looking up quickly

"Good afternoon, Mr Shires I thought you’d be at the picnic" He liked the big, slightly distracted hts

"Well, I’o," he said "What ti now

"After one?" Shires repeated, amazed "How on earth"

"There’s plenty of food," Franciscus assured hi at Myron Shires’ consternation

Shires laughed and gave a self-deprecating shrug "I ought to have a keeper My ex-wife hated it when I forgot things like this, but I get so caught up in" He broke off "You weren’t sent to fetch ainst the door "As a irl Her parents are worried because she hasn’t shown up for lunch"

"The Harper girl?" Shires said "Is that the skittish teenager who looks like a ghost most of the time?"

"That’s her," Franciscus nodded "Have you seen her?"

Shires was gathering his pages into a neat stack and did not answer at once "Not today, no I did see her last night, walking along the trail on the other side of the beach She stopped under the light and I thought that she was really quite graceful"

Franciscus al his encounter with Ehtly piqued: he wanted to kno long the girl had waited for Mr Lorpicar "When was that?" he asked

"Oh, quite late Three, three-thirty in the es into a box and was putting his typewriter into its case

"Three?" Franciscus said, disht have been a little earlier," Shires allowed as he closed the lid of the case "Not h, because I had ht sight of Franciscus’ face "Is anything wrong?"

Franciscus sighed "I hope not" He looked at the novelist "Do you think you can find your way to the picnic without hed "I’m absentminded, but not that absentminded," he said with real joviality "Kathy’s picnics are one of the best draws this place offers" He had put his typewriter aside and was pulling on a light jacket

"Would you be kind enough to tell Mr Rogers what you’ve told me?" Franciscus added as he went to the door

"That I saw the Harper girl go out late? Certainly" He was plainly puzzled but too courteous to ask about the matter

"I’ll explain later, I hope And, if you can, contrive that her parents don’t hear what you say" He had the door open

"I’m not a complete boor, Franciscus" He had picked up his key from the ashtray on the end table and turned to address a further reone

The path to cabin 33 ell kept There were rails on the downhill side of it, and neat white stones on the other, and at night the lanterns were turned on, ht every fifty feet Franciscus knew the route well, and he walked it without reading any of the signs that pointed the way to the various clusters of cabins He h with such ease that his speed was not apparent The trail turned and grew steeper, but his pace did not slacken

Cabin 33 had been built eight years before, when all the cabins at the north end of the lake had been added It was of medium size, with a front room, a bedroom, bath and kitchenette, with a screened porch which was open in the summer but now had its winter shutters in place

Franciscus made a quick circle of the place, then waited to see if Mr Milan Lorpicar wouldback to the front of cabin 33, Franciscus rapped with his knuckles "Mr Lorpicar?" A glance at the red tab by the doorfrae the bed and vacuu with the s the off-season The more remote cabins were serviced in the late afternoon

A second knock, soht no response, and Franciscus reached into his pocket, extracting his passkey He pounded the door onewith certain amusement the time he had burst in on a couple at the most aard of moments, made even more so because the husband of the wo for their absent partners in the recreation hall The tension in his neck told him that this occasion would be different

The door opened slowly onto a perfectly orderly front roo there hinted that the cabin was occupied There were notackle, nothing except what Lost Saints Lodge provided

Emillie was in the bedroom, stretched out with only the spread over her, drawn up to her chin She an, her closed eyes like bruises in her face, her htly parted

"E to alar a swift look around the room to be sure that they were alone "Eave a soft moan, but her eyes did not open

Franciscus lifted the spread and saw, as he suspected, that she was naked He was startled to see how thin she was, ribs pressing against her skin, her hips rising like promontories at either side of her abdomen There were dark blotches here and there on her body, and he nodded grinized them

"God, an amateur," he said under his breath, and dropped the spread over Eirl’s clothes in a heap on the bathroon of Lorpicar there, either-no toothbrush, no razor Franciscus nodded, picked up the clothes and went back to the bedroom He pulled the spread aside once an to dress the unconscious E," Doctor Eric Muller said as he stood back fro hair nervously "This isn’t my field, you know Most of ood at off-the-cuff diagnoses like this, and without a lab and more tests, I really couldn’t say"

Franciscus recalled that Mister Rogers had warned him that the doctor was jumpy, and so he schooled his patience "Of course I understand But you will ad woman, if you prefer, to be in this condition"

"No, not usual," the doctor agreed, refusing to et her to an eency facility," Franciscus said coolly, "is thirty miles away and is operated by the forest service They’re better suited to handling broken ankles, burns, and snake bites than cases like this"

Doctor Muller tightened his clasped hands "Well, all I can recommend is that she be taken somewhere I can’t be of much help, I’m afraid"

"Why not?" Franciscus asked He had hoped that the doctor would be able to tell the Harpers so when he left this room

"There aren’t lab facilities here, are there? No And I’m not licensed in this state, and with the way , I can’t take responsibility There’s obviously soirl, but I don’t think it’s too serious" Doctor Muller was already edging toward the door "Do you think Mister Rogers would mind if I checked out early?"

"That’s your business, Doctor," Franciscus said with a conde lift of his fine brows

"There’ll have to be a refund I paid in advance" There was a whine under the arrogance, and Franciscus resisted the urge to shout at hioing," he said with an elegant inclination of his head

"Yes Well" The door opened and closed like a trap being sprung

Franciscus reirl on the bed She was in cabin 19 now, in the smaller bedroom, and her parents hovered outside Harriet Goodman ith them, and occasionally her steady, confident tones penetrated to the darkened room

There was a knock, and Franciscus turned to see Mr Harper standing uncertainly near the door "The doctor said he didn’t knoas wrong He said there would have to be tests"

"A very wise precaution," Franciscus agreed with a reassuring s She’s been looking a little washed out the last few days, and all her activity probably caught up with her" It was plausible enough, he knew, and Mr Harper was searching for an acceptable explanation "You’ll probably want to call the doctor in Fox Hollow He ht transportation for her if there is anything ue the , so he added, "Also, it will save Emillie eed his head quickly "Yes Yes, that’s important Emillie hates attention" He cae?"

"Not that I’ve noticed" It was the truth, he knew, but only a portion of it "You ht like Ms Goodman or my friend Ms Montalia to sit with Emillie until she wakes up"

"Oh, her mother and I will do that," Mr Harper said at once

Franciscus realized that he had pressed the matter too much "Of course But I’m sure that either lady would be pleased to help out while you take dinner, or speak with Dr Fitzallen, when he comes" It was all Franciscus could do to hold back his sardonic smile Mr Harper was so transparently reassured by that very proper name, and would doubtless be horrified when the physician, a forty-two-year-old Kiowa, arrived That was for later, he thought

"Did you anyone give her first aid?" Mr Harper asked in growing distress

"I know some first aid," Franciscus said kindly "I checked her pulse, and breathing, and did my best to determine that no bones were broken" It was a facile lie, and not in the strictest sense dishonest "Mr Harper," he went on in sterner tones, "your daughter is suffering froh he could not force the frightened father to discuss his daughter’s involvement with the Reverend Masters, he felt he had to dispel the illusion that all ell

"Not exactly," he said, watching Franciscus uneasily

"Because," Franciscus went on relentlessly, "if she is, this ht be adjusted to her needs" He waited, nother

"There has been a little difficulty," Mr Harper said when he could not endure the silence

"Be sure you tell Dr Fitzallen all about it Otherwise he " With a nod, he left the bedside and went to the door to the sitting room "Harriet," he said crisply as he started across the rooet Jih to ask no questions of hi up in her as she hastened after hiht as she told Mrs Granger, who had been asleep with a headache, of the exciteirl hite as a sheet-I can’t tell you" She signaled Frank, the bartender, to send over another round of ed for a side-car

At the other end of the lounge, Franciscus sat with Harriet Goodman and Jim Sutton His face was turned away froue of their feelings on this occasion "I can’t insist, of course," he said to Jim Sutton

"Let’s hear it for the First Aood stories, and this one is a beauty" He was drinking coffee and it had grown cold as they talked Now he made a face as he tasted it "Christ, this is awful"

Harriet Goodravely "That child er, I’ll concede that," Franciscus responded

"It’s more than that I helped her " She could not find a word that satisfied her

"I saw them," Franciscus said calmly, but quietly so that this revelation would not attract the toe

"Saw them?" Harriet repeated, and Jim Sutton leaned forward

"What were they like? Harriet hasn’t toldabout this"

Franciscus hesitated a moment "There were a number of marks on her and scratches"

Jiuy Lorpicar must be one hell of a kink in bed"

"That’s not funny, Jim," Harriet reprireed "What how did she get the marks? Was it Lorpicar?"

"Probably," Franciscus said "She was in his cabin, on his bed, with just the spread over her" He let this information sink in, and then said, "With what Eh with that Reverend Masters, she’s in no shape for ets a lot of press attention"

"Which it estured his accord and went on, " then she ht not coed its nain with If this is added"

"Yes," Harriet said in her calirl, it must be dealt with circumspectly That o putting this in a casebook and getting a big publicity tour for it," Jim shot back, more caustically than he had intended

"Both of you, stop it," Franciscus said with such" assurance and resignation that the other tere silenced at once, like guilty children "I’ that you each suspend your first inclinations and keep quiet about what is going on here If it gets any worse, then you’ll have to do whatever your professions de, I hope that you’ll be willing to spend soains consciousness"

"You seeain consciousness," Harriet snapped

"Oh, I’m certain I’ve seen this condition before Not here I hadn’t expected to encounter this affliction here" He stared toward theand the long, dense shadows that heralded night There were patches of yellow sunlight at the ends of dusty bars of light, and the air was still

"If you knohat it is, why didn’t you tell the Harpers?" Jireater mystery

"Because they wouldn’t believe me They want to talk to a doctor, not to me Jorry Fitzallen is welcome to talk to me after he’s seen Eht about her parents They do need to hear bad news froe before dinner, and I’ve got less than half an hour to do that I’ll look in on the girl on my way back to the cabin"

"Thank you," Franciscus said, then turned his attention to Ji to sit on this story for a little while?"

He shrugged "I’ up in Denver that will keep my paper in advertisers for the next six months I’ll pretend that I haven’t seen or heard a thing Unless it gets bigger That would lass in a toast "I o, maybe even last year, I would have filed the story and be daht be time to be a teacher, after all" He tossed off his drink and looked away

The dining rooh the foyer beside the lobby calling out, "Mr Rogers, er looked up fro room "Why, certainly, Mr Franciscus In the library?"

"Fine" Franciscus was already cliers as he caers said as the door closed

"Yes I’ve been up to his cabin and checked it out Wherever he’s staying, it’s not there No one is staying there That means that there are almost a hundred other places he could be I’ve asked the staff to check their unoccupied cabins for signs of entry, but I doubt he’d be that foolish, though God knows he’s bungled enough so far" He pounded the bookcase with his sed "We don’t even know that he’s at the resort He could be ca out beyond the cabins"

"What about Fox Hollow? Do you think he could have gone that far?" Mr Rogers asked, and only the slightly higher pitch of his voice belied the caler Backus, he would have seen so" He sat down "The idiot doesn’t know enough not to leave bruises!"

"And the girl?" Mr Rogers said

"I think we got her in tihts, she’ll be all right Certainly no worse than she was in the hands of Reverend Masters" He laughed once, ers had not taken a seat, but watched as Franciscus paced the area between the bookcases and the overstuffed Victorian chairs

"Find him Before he makes a worse mistake" He halted, his hand to his forehead "He could have chosen any resort in the Rockies!"

"And ould have happened to that girl if you had not found her?" He expected no answer and got none

"Harriet thinks that giving E what she’s been through She’s probably right, but it her Because you can be completely confident that Lorpicar believes the myths" Franciscus looked out the"I’ll see if Kathy can spare soarlic That will help"

"I’ll tell her that you want soers pro an Uncle what? Not Tom, surely An Uncle Vlad? Uncle Bela? But what else can I do? Either we stop this rash youngster or Madelaine, and you, and I will be exposed to needless risk" He gave Mr Rogers a steady look and though Franciscus was quite short, he had a kind of h worse, old friend I’ht napping"

Mr Rogers allowed himself to smile "Thank you for that" He took a step toward the door "I’d better go down and start dinner seating Oh" He turned in the open door "There was a call froht"

"Good By then, I’ll have a better idea where we stand"

Franciscus’ confidence was destined to be short-lived He had left the library and had not yet reached the glass doors opening onto the porch when he heard an anguished shout froe and Harriet Goodman started toward hih by that ti with undisguised enthusiasm while Nick and Eleanore Wyler paused on the threshold of the dining roo Algerian caftan with elaborate piping embroidery with little mirrors worked into it, and she shi a levity he did not feel, Franciscus put his s is still living under your bathtub" It had happened the year before and had become a harmless joke The Wylers had been an in a loud voice to remind Eleanore of the various

Under the cover of this hearty basso, Harriet nodded gratefully "Thanks I realized as soon as I spoke that I should have reot your wits about you, which isvery softly, "I’?" Franciscus repeated, genuinely alar a fuss, so I went up the path to their cabin and asked rong She said she’d been out of Eather from her choice of euphemisms that she was in the John-and when she came back the bedroom door was open and Emillie was nowhere to be seen"

Franciscus rubbed his smooth-shaven face "I see Thank you And if you’ll excuse ers, but did not approach the lass doors in a few seconds, walking swiftly on the east-bound path past the parking lot to the trail leading to the Harpers’ cabin 19 His thoughts, which had been in turmoil when Harriet had spoken to hier He had let the , he told himself, but without useless condemnation He had not supposed that any vampire would be as obvious, as flathened his stride and steeled himself to deal with Doris Harper

Jorry Fitzallen had required little persuasion-he allowed himself to be put up in one of the "best cabins and provided with one of Kathy’s special late suppers He was curious about the girl, he said, and would not be needed in Fox Hollow that night unless an e to the descriptions of the irl from her parents, from Harriet Goodman, from all those who had seen Eot the background of Emillie’s disputes with Reverend Masters, and shook his head with distress He had treated a few of the good Reverend’s followers and had so words about that cult leader He was not able to talk to Dr Eric Muller, for though the physician had exa that he was only a der like Eain At last Jorry Fitzallen abandoned the questions for the pleasure of talking shop with Harriet Goodht, for Mr Franciscus was out with half the day staff, searching for Ee Mr Lorpicar

"I kneas not to be trusted," Mrs Emmons told the Jenkins sisters, Sally and Elizabeth, who had arrived that afternoon shortly before E

"But how could you? What was he like?" Sally asked, watching her sister stare longingly at Mrs Earita

"Well, you know Men like that-oh, very handsoe way Tall, dark, atrocious !" Her intended condemnation istful "Anyone could see at once that there would be no discouraging such a man once he made up his mind about a wo in more speculation "If she had bruises all over her, h if they’re inhibited, and if ever I saw someone who is" Nick Wyler asserted loudly

"I can’t ih," Eleanore agreed in a tone that implied she knehat she would want done to her, had Mr Lorpicar-and everyone was certain that her assailant was Mr Lorpicar-chosen her instead of Emillie Harper

The Browns, Ted and Katherine, came in and were instantly seized upon for news Since they had brought their own horses, they had been out on the trails with Franciscus and two others Enjoying thiswith the ranger named Backus who had reluctantly prouests

"I think," Ted Brown said, his sht those two don’t want to be found for a while He said as hs in answer to this, and listening, Harriet Goodlad that the Harpers had ree

"That Backus sure didn’t want to help out," Katherine Brown agreed with playful indignation "He’s worried about fire, not a couple ofpeople"

Several diverse points of vieere heard, and in this confusion, Ted Brown ordered drinks from the bar

It was reater and the talk was uarded, that Franciscus appeared in the doorway His black clothes were dusty and his face was tired At the back of his dark eyes there was a cold wrath burning

The conversation faltered and then stopped altogether Franciscus came across the floor with quick, relentless steps, to where Jorry Fitzallen sat with Harriet Good for a response, he turned and left the lounge

The Kiowathe talk erupt behind him as he reached the front door

On the porch, Franciscus stopped him "We found her She’s dead"

"You’re certain?" Jorry asked "Laymen sometimes think that"

Franciscus cut in sharply "I’ve seen enough dead bodies to recognize one, Dr Fitzallen"

Jorry Fitzallen nodded, chastened, though he was not sure why "Where is she?"

"In cabin 19 Her parents are distraught If you have a sedative, a strong one, Mrs Harper could use it" The words were crisp, and Franciscus’ ire was no longer apparent, though Jorry Fitzallen was sure that it had not lessened

"I’ll getCabin 19 is on the eastern path, isn’t it?"

"Yes Second froht" He studied the physician’s sharp features "You will need to be very discreet, Jorry"

Jorry Fitzallen puzzled theof that remark all the way from his car to cabin 19

Madelaine de Montalia was seated beside Mrs Harper, her arm around Doris Harper’s shoulder, a barrier for the near-hysterical sobs that slah her like seis a third double scotch for the stunned Mr Harper, gave Jorry Fitzallen a quick glance and cocked his head toward the wo on the coffee table and crouched before Mrs Harper

Doris Harper gasped at the newco toward her husband in deep distress "Howard" she wailed

Franciscus stepped in, letting Mrs Harper see the full co force of his dark eyes "Yes, you are very fortunate, Mrs Harper Dr Fitzallen ca to have a look at you"

"But Emillie" the woman cried out

"That ait," was Franciscus’ immediate reply He laid one beautiful, small hand on her shoulder "You must be taken care of first" Had that ever happened to this poor, faded, ht He had seen wo They tried to buy safety and love and protection by putting thehed

"I’ive you an injection, Mrs Harper," Jorry Fitzallen was saying in his most professional tones "I want you to lie down on the couch afterward You’ll stay with her, will you, Miss ?"

"As long as you think is wise," Madelaine answered at once

Mrs Harper gave a little, desperate nod of thanks and gritted her teeth for the injection

"I think she’ll sleep for several hours," the doctor said to Franciscus and Mr Harper "But she’s already under tension, from what Mr Franciscus has told et her back into fas as soon as possible"

"But we sold everything euneasily froently "But now that doesn’t ements If you have family in another part of the country"

"God help hast, and put his hands to his eyes

Before either Franciscus or Jorry Fitzallen could speak, Madelaine came up beside them "I think that Mr Harper would like a little tientle father from the other two "Let’s see the body," Jorry Fitzallen said quietly, feeling that saave him

Franciscus held the door and the two passed into the smaller bedroom

Emillie was nude, and her skin was h this tireenish in the ht

"Jesus H Christ," Jorry Fitzallen ht of her "Is there any post-mortem lividity?"

"A little in the buttocks That’s about it" Franciscus kept his voice level and euination is your cause of death, then Not that there could be iven her color" He bent to touch one of the many wounds, this one on the inside of her elbow "How many of these on her?"

"Sixteen total Seven old, nine new It happened before, which is why you were called She was unconscious" Franciscus had folded his arirl

"If her blood loss was as heavy as I think it ht have been, no wonder she was out cold" He bent over the girl and examined the wound at the elbow "What kind of creature makes bites like this? Or is this one of the new torture cults at work?"

"The wounds were reedy one," Franciscus stated surely

"Oh, for the love of God, don’t joke!" Jorry Fitzallen snapped "I’ll have to notify the county about this at once The sheriff and thetwo more of the bites now, one on the curve of her ribs and one just above her hip "They’re not deep She shouldn’t have bled like this"

Franciscus was silent

"This is going to take a while," Jorry said, rather reive the ambulance service in Red Well a call Tell the a cold box"

"Of course," Franciscus said, grateful for the diss he had to do for him to spend more time with the Kiowa physician

The Harpers left the next h they had done little but sit in their cabin and play table tennis in the recreation hall

"She was so close to us," said Mr Barnes, who had been in the first cabin on the eastern trail He looked about nervously, as if he thought that death istration desk

"I quite understand," Mr Rogers assured hi of the elderly couple’s brief stay

"How ?" Madelaine asked when the lobby was eers

"Dr Muller, the Barneses, the Harpers, Amanda Farnsworth and the Lindholms As Martha so correctly pointed out, a man with a heart condition does not need to be distressed, and the events of the last two days are distressing" He had closed the huge, leather-bound register

"But Lorpicar is still here," Madelaine said, her violet eyes brightening with anger

"Apparently No one has seen him He hasn’t checked out He could have deca to settle his account, and that would be quite acceptable to ers said austerely, but with an understated familiarity

The lobby doors by the foyer opened and Jim Sutton strode into the room "Have either of you seen Harriet?" he asked anxiously

"No, not since breakfast," Mr Rogers answered "Miss Montalia?"

"Not this hed, tried to look irritated and only succeeded in looking worried "She was talking some nonsense about that Lorpicar whacko She said that she could figure out where he was hiding if she could only figure out what his guilt-patterns are What a ti like a shrink!" He started toward the door and turned back "If Franciscus comes in, ask him if he’s seen her It’s crazy, I know," he went on in a voice that ached to be reassured "It’s because of that girl You’d think I’d be used to bizarre deaths by noouldn’t you? But with Harriet trying to prove a point, daone

"Where’s the Co the cabins on the north end of the lake He’s already done the southern ones" His face showed no emotion, but he added, "I thank you"

Madelaine tossed her head "I’ll tell him He likes Harriet" She was down the stairs and almost to the doors "So do I"

"Next we’ll have Mrs E in the bushes!" Franciscus burst out when Madelaine had told him about Harriet "Why couldn’t she have waited a bit?"

"For the same reason you didn’t, probably," Madelaine said with a sad, aing "I do love you,But now, they are all we can share" He took her in his arainst her hair She was only half a head shorter than he and she was so lonely for hiave a little cry, as if in remembered pain

"Why not you, when I love you best?" she protested

"You know the answer It is not possible when you and I are of the same blood Before, well, since we do not die, we must find our paradise here on earth, and for a time it was ours My dearest love, believe this We have had our heaven together And our hell," he added, thinking back to the desolation of war

Their kiss was brief and intense, as if each feared to er It was Madelaine who stood back "We have not found Harriet," she reminded hiedy" He agreed pro for Undoubtedly he will have his box of earth somewhere near"

"And if he has treated Harriet to the saently

Franciscus tried for humor "Well, on’t be able to keep Ji a story on it"

"Don’t hed "If he has, we must be very, very cautious We must be so in any case" He stopped in the open door of the empty cabin "I don’t want to sell this place I like it here These mountains remind me of my hoh"

Madelaine touched his arirl like Emillie there will not be too e"

"Perhaps" He shook off the, despondency "I’ll take the west side of the trail and you take the east We should be able to do all the cabins in half an hour"

Harriet was on the floor of a tool shed near the stable There were savage discolorations on her throat and wrists, and one of the rips in her skin still bled sluggishly

"Good God," Madelaine said in disgust "Hasn’t that ainst it," Franciscus said wryly He bent to pick up Harriet "She’ll coe There’s a rooot a bed Jorry Fitzallen can check her over"

"And ill he say?" Madelaine asked, not able to conceal her anxiety

"My dear, Jorry Fitzallen is a Kiowa He will be very circu which he attributed to snakebite, which, if you stretch a point, was true" He carried Harriet easily, as if she were little more than a child "You’d best make sure that there is no one on the trail I would not like to have anythan we already have to contend with"

Jim Sutton had turned first pale, but now his face was flushed and he staet er yourself and Harriet needlessly," Franciscus said sharply "It won’t work, Jim It’s rateful, you know-than that you waste your energy running around the hills looking for this man"

The room off what Franciscus called his workshop was spartanly simple There was a narrow, hard captain’s bed, a si table, and a chair On the ere three paintings, two of unremarkable subjects and talents, one, clearly by ahis lost Eurydice

"This is yours?" Jilanced around Now that the shock of seeing Harriet had lessened, he was intrigued by his surroundings

"Yes"

"It’s damned austere," he said uncomfortably

"I prefer it," Franciscus responded

"That Orpheus looks so at it a little while

"It does, doesn’t it?" Franciscus drew the single chair up to the bed where Harriet lay "Come, sit down She’ll be awake by sunset I’ll have Frank send in an occasional double Cruzan" He waited while Jim Sutton reluctantly sat down "I would recoers It’s true that Lorpicar hasn’t been found, but there is a possibility"-he kneas, in fact, a certainty-"that Lorpicar may try to find Harriet to finish what he started"

Jiht "I’ll kill him," he vowed

"Will you" Franciscus looked at the reporter "Harriet needs your help Leave Lorpicar to me"

"You?" There was polite incredulity in his expression

"I knohat I aainst, my friend You don’t And in this instance, a lack of knowledge ht be fatal" He bent over Harriet, his dark eyes keen "She will recover I don’t think there will be any serious aftereffects"

"God, I hope not," Jim Sutton said quite devoutly

Franciscus almost smiled "I’ll send you e’ve found Lorpicar Until then, if you want to stay here, fine If you’d rather leave, it would be best if you let Mr Rogers know so that someone else can stay with Harriet"

"Then she isn’t safe yet?" he said, catching at Franciscus’ sleeve

"She, herself, is not in any great danger But Lorpicar is another matter, and he may still try to reach her" He wanted to be certain that Jim Sutton did not underestiht now, but if Lorpicar has another go at her"

"Oh, shit" Jim rubbed his face "The world is full of psychos I swear it is"

Franciscus said nothing, but before he closed the door, he saw Ji hand between his own

There was little conversation at dinner, though Kathy had outdone herself with the food Guests drank uard on the porch with a shotgun, but Mr Rogers had quickly put an end to that idea,rooh Mrs Emmons had declared that she would not sleep a moment for fear she would be the next victim

Frank kept the bar open until eleven, and Mr Franciscus sat at the harpsichord in the lounge, playing uests were touched by fear, and the last group bought a bottle of bourbon and left together, taking co to bed, Franciscus?" the bartender called as he finished closing out the register for the evening

"In a while Don’ta Scarlatti sonata now "Turn off the lights when you go"

The bartender shrugged "Whatever you say"

Half an hour later, Franciscus sat alone in the dark The harpsichord was silent The last pan had rattled in the kitchen some time before and the tall clock in the lobby sounded oddly muffled as its St Michael’s chimes tolled the quarter hour

An errant breeze scaone Franciscus waited, alert, a grim, sad curve to his lips

There was a soft tread in the dining rooainst cloth, the quiet squeak of a floorboard

The lounge, at an oblique angle to the foyer and separated froht that glowed at the registration desk, and the soft footfalls turned to the lounge fro the haven of darkness

When the steps were halfway across the rooht over the keyboard It was soft, dispelling little of the night around it, but to the black-cloaked figure revealed on the edge of its luht as the heart of a star

"Good evening, Mr Lorpicar," Franciscus said

"You!"

Franciscus watched the tallas if to ward off a blow "You’ve seen too ently

Milan Lorpicar chose to ignore this remark "Do not think to stand in hed

Mr Lorpicar had been treated with fear, with hysteria, with abject adoration, with awe, but never with ahtened to his full, considerable height "You cannot stop me"

"But I can, you know" He had not s were crossed at the ankle and his neat black-and-white clothes were relieved by a single ruby on a fine silver choker revealed by the open collar of his white silk shirt Short, stocky, compact, he did not appear to be much of a threat, and Mr Lorpicar sneered

"You may try, Franciscus" His posture, his tone of voice, the tilt of his head all implied that Franciscus would fail

The ht the attention of both e

"It is time I cannot stay," Mr Lorpicar announced

"Of course you can," Franciscus replied He had still not risen, and he had ly civil attitude "I can’t pero You have been a reckless, irresponsible barbarian since you came here, and were before, I suspect But you need not compound your mistakes" A steely note had crept into his voice, and his dark eyes regarded the tall man evenly There was no trace of fear in him

Mr Lorpicar folded his arms "I will not tolerate your interference, Franciscus"

"You have that wrong," Franciscus said with a glittery smile "I am the one ill not tolerate interference You’ve killed one person here already and you are trying to kill another I will not allow that"

With a terrible laugh, Mr Lorpicar moved toward the arch to the lobby "The wo I feel it as surely as I felt the power of night at sunset I will have her She is mine"

"I think not" Franciscus raised his left hand He held a beautiful eighteenth-century dueling pistol

"You think that will stop arlic?"

"If you know that, you know that bullets cannot harm me," Mr Lorpicar announced as he started forward

"Take one more step and you will learn otherwise" There was sufficient calm command in Franciscus’the shorter hteen-ninety-six"

"Dear me" He shook his head "No wonder you believe all that nonsense about garlic and crucifixes"

Now Mr Lorpicar faltered "It isn’t nonsense"

Franciscus got to his feet He was a full ten inches shorter than Milan Lorpicar, but he dohty-four years, you have learned nothing?"

"I have learned the power of the night, of fear, of blood" He had said it before and had always found that the reaction was one of horror, but Franciscus merely looked exasperated

"God save us all," he said, and as Mr Lorpicar shrank back at his words, he burst out, "Of all the absurdities!"

"We cannot say that name," Mr Lorpicar insisted

"Of course you can" He sat down again, though he did not set the pistol aside "You’re a menace Oh, don’t take that as a compliment It was not intended as one"

"You do not know the curse of this life-in-death" He ain hed outright

"None better" He looked at Mr Lorpicar "You’ve been so involved with your posturing and pronouncements that you have not stopped to think about what I aht" Mr Lorpicar began

"And I cross running water I also line the heels and soles of my shoes with my native earth" He saw the surprise on Mr Lorpicar’s features deepen "I handle crucifixes And I know that anything that breaks the spine is deadly to us, so I re between the shoulder blades, will give you the true death"

"But if you’re va to fraation I may have to those of my blood doesn’t extend to those who do matically, and for that reason alone Mr Lorpicar believed him "You’re an embarrassment to our kind It’s because of you and those like you that the rest of us have been hunted and hounded and killed Pray don’t give ure at the edge of the light "Even when I was young, when I abused the power, this life-in-death as you call it, I did not make excuses I learned the folly of that quickly"

"You mean you want the women for yourself," Mr Lorpicar said with cynical conte" He heard Mr Lorpicar’s incredulous laugh "It isn’t the power and the blood, Mr Lorpicar," he said, with such utter loneliness that the tallTerror, certainly, has a vigor, but it is nothing co"

"Love!" Mr Lorpicar spat out the word "You’ve grown maudlin, Franciscus" He heard the chimes mark the first quarter hour "You can’t do this to me" There was a desperate note in his voice "I er I must have her!"

Franciscus shook his head "It’s irown louder and he moved toward the arch onceand ai

Before he could fire there was the crack of a rifle and

Mr Lorpicar was flung back into the lounge to thrash once or twice on the floor

Aghast, Franciscus looked toward the lobby, and saw in the di outside the inconspicuous door to the workshop, a 22 in his hand

"How long have you been there?" Franciscus asked after he knelt beside Mr Lorpicar

"Long enough to know to aiht va when they got killed," Jied the body of Milan Lorpicar up the trail toward cabin 33

Franciscus, who had been further up the trail, said quietly as he came back, "One of e shape, either"

"Da the body of a bat up this hill" He stood aside while Franciscus picked up the dead man It ard because Mr Lorpicar was so ed it well "I don’t think I really accept this," he added

"There aren’t any more occupied cabins fro to rise to Jiiving in

"Burn the cabin Otherwise there would be too many questions to answer" He wished it had not happened As much as he had disliked Lorpicar himself, and abhorred his behavior, he did not want the man killed

"Why’s that?" The reporter in Ji himself

"Autopsies are inadvisable There’s too hed "I know this could be the biggest story ofit away"

They had reached the last, isolated cabin "Why do you say that?" He shifted Mr Lorpicar’s body "The keys are in my left hip pocket"

As Jim retrieved them, he said, "Well, what the hell? Who’d believe me anyway?" Then stood aside and let Franciscus carry Mr Lorpicar into his cabin

"How’d that fire get started in the first place-that’s what I want to know!" Ranger Backus deuests stood around the sers said "I thought that Mr Lorpicar had been out of the cabin for two days"

"You er was tired and angry and the last thing in the world he wanted on his hands was another mystery

"Yes Mr Franciscus and Mr Sutton saw hiested that he should avoid the Lodge for a tiirl" He gave a helpless gesture "The fireplace was inspected last month The stove was checked out The remains-" he looked toward the cabin and the mass of charred matter in the center of it-"It appears he was asleep on the couch"

"Yeah," Ranger Backus said disgustedly "Probably sht on fire It happened in Red Well last year Da to do!" He rubbed his broith his forearm "The county’ll probably send Fitzallen out to check the body over Lucky for you this fellow didn’t die like the girl"

"Yes," Mr Rogers agreed with sincerity

"You ought to warn your guests about sers recalled himself "Backus, it’s alive the Lodge the chance to thank you for all you’ve done, I’d be very grateful"

The big man looked somewhat mollified "Well"

It was Jier Backus, I’ht, I’d like to get your ih his fatigue, and adht now, and that’s a fact"

Harriet Goodman was pale but otherwise herself when she ca

"We’re sorry you’re leaving," Mr Rogers said as he handed back her credit card

"So aht way, "but since Jio to Denver while he covers the trial and there’s that conference in Boulder"

"I understand" He paused and asked with great delicacy, "Will you want cabin 21 next year?"

"I I don’t think so," she said slowly "I’ers"

"So are we, Ms Goods, Harriet," Franciscus said as he stepped out of the library

"You don’t have to," she said bracingly, but with a slight hesitation "Ji at the car" He caize for putting you in danger" He picked up the three pieces of luggage

"You don’t have to," she said, rather re the opening door as an excuse for her silence

Franciscus followed her down the steps "Harriet, you have nothing to fear This isn’t rabies, you know One touch doesn’t condemn you to"

She stopped and turned to him "And the dreah the questions were meant as accusations, they sounded more like pleas

"Do you know Spanish?" He saw her baffled nod "Y los todos estan suenos; Y los suenos sueno son I think that’s right"

" ’And everything is dreams; and the dreams are a drea about life, Harriet" He began to walk onceto fear fro back next year"

He was not surprised "Nor ao?"

"Oh, I don’t know Madelaine wants to see Paris I haven’t lived there regularly for a while" He nodded toward Ji a while?" Harriet inquired

He paused and waited until she looked hihty-six years," he said

Her eyes flickered and turned away from him "Goodbye, Franciscus If that’s your naood as another," he said, and they cas?"

"I’ll take care of them," Jim Sutton said "You’ll see that her rental car is returned?"

"Of course" He held out his hand to Harriet "You have meant a lot to me"

She took it without reluctance but without enthusiasm "But there’s only one Madelaine" There was only disappointment in her words-she was not jealous

Franciscus shook hands with Jim Sutton, but spoke to Harriet "That’s true There is only one Madelaine" He held the car door for her as she got in "But then," he added, "there is only one Harriet"

Then he slammed the door and turned away; and Jio, a neat, black-clad figurebars of sunlight

Text of a letter from le Comte de Saint-Germain to Madelaine de Montalia

654 Rue de Janvier

Paris, France

24 December, 1981

c/o the Department of Antiquities

Marsden Expedition

La Paz, Bolivia

Madelaine,to try-perhaps you are right, after all There is certainly sufficient love between us if love is enough without life: an ocean and a continent away fro the veins of the earth towill ever diminish it, or could; not disappointment, nor sorrow, nor separation, nor, I think, the true death itself If our atte will have been lost, and you must not believe that it would be Whatever comes of this, my love is the same

That you exist is all my love asks of you; the rest is added riches, and in you, I have a treasure beyond any other