Page 22 (1/2)

TWENTY-TWO

At least I’ve done what I’ve done for a good cause, Horace Blaydon had said, when Asher had brought up the subject of theloose his artificial vampire to feed in the backstreets of London and Manchestercities of the country he clai to protect

And yet, Asher reflected, wasn’t he one of them himself? Every kill he makes henceforth will be upon your head

In the endless darkness of the crypt, Asher could barely tell where an Only the fear re, and ould co war, and after Did they think a living weapon like that would not acquire a life of its own?

I had to do what I did, what I aood

He drew a breath, trying to keep his ainst the pillar behind him

They all said that

I knohat I’, Blaydon had said

They all said that, too

God preserve us, Asher reflected wearily, fro’

Myself included

The crypt was cold, as if all the winters of all those years in which it had been in existence had sloughed there and pooled Despite his shabby jacket he shivered, unable to truly sleep Yet he knew each waking hour filed so from abilities he’d need in two days’ time – if his calculations were correct – when he and Jacoba reached Berlin He guessed how she’d try to control hiht hours and knew he’d have to move very quickly, or he would be a dead man indeed

Charlottenstrasse That would be out towards Potsdam, one of those handsome brick villas that the Junkers who ruled the country built for themselves, for when they came into town to attend the opera and hters: feudal nobles despite the pretense of a parlia, warriors whose whole souls were invested in the Army

Soldiers who could not wait for the War they were certain they would gloriously win

And who did not consider what that War would make of the world that would come after

They ruled the country, those landowners for whom the only honorable profession was that of arms Like the French, who considered it appropriate for ladies to get off the pavement to let brilliantly-uniformed officers pass Of course they could not conceive of a world in which war had becoed anye: the intuitive depth of the pure-blooded German soul

He had no idea what he’d do when he reached Colonel von Br&uuoing to be – and he was al the man, if Ysidro hadn’t done so already – he would have to do it swiftly, to be out of Berlin on the noon train

Lydia whispered, ‘Don’t hurt the ’s motor car made her so dizzy she feared she would faint

‘Hurt the raised one beautifully-shaped brow ‘My dear child, Dr Theiss will guard them as if they were his own children, until Texel returns with coffins and a cart Thank Heavens he had hiswith hi before tilea in Madame’s eyes ‘What happened? And how is it that you, Frau Asher, have the acquaintance of not only what appears to be a mature vampire – who is he, by the way? – but also one of ht it wisest to drop her head back against the elaborately-tucked plush of the car seat – she didn’t need to conjure up the effects and appearance of a splitting headache – and ain, ‘Don’t hurt them’

The car went around the corner, and Lydia, jostled, felt a surge of nausea sweep her, and despite the agony of throwing up while wearing a corset, she didn’t hold back It earned her several violent slaps, but convinced Madame that she was too weak and disoriented to question – so slapped with a vath She was barely conscious of the car turning into the courtyard of St Job’s, and of the chauffeur – after locking the gate – carrying her to what had been a chapel off the main monastic church

When they woke her later Dr Theiss was there, and the angle of pallid sunlight through the single arched as close to seventy degrees towards the perpendicular The light fell full on Mada, resplendent in several shades of rose and watching with sharp iht little ently felt her neck and the back of her head ‘How htily blurred, since her spectacles had been left behind at the izba, but distinctly two

Lydia– would a doctor be fooled as easily as her Aunt Faith? – and mumbled, ‘Three? No’ She reached clu sure that she otten to rerope for Theiss’s hand made her feel faint, so she dropped back to the pillow – which seeinal ht – with a piteous cry Behind Theiss, a whole array of lared fro it all up‘I want Ja very little effort to sound as wretched as she felt The tears flowed easily

‘Give her so ‘I need to knoho that va there’

‘Madaive her,’ explained Theiss, with a patience in his voice that told Lydia he’d explained this two or three ti from a severe concussion--’

‘How soon will she be able to talk?’

‘I don’t know, Madame One never does, with head injuries’

With the swiftness of a striking snake, Ehrenberg was at the doctor’s side, leaning over him to catch his lapel, jerk him towards her From where she lay, Lydia couldn’t see the details of her expression, but the woe flowed off her like smoke from ice ‘And what kind of doctor are you, not to know that? If you are as ignorant as you--’

‘Petronilla’ Theiss laid down hiseyes There was not the slightest trace of fear in his body or his deep, cals You know this – of course you do’

She released her grip, fell back a half step, her lace-gloved hand to her teot to his feet, took both her hands in his ‘And it is no wonder The latest injections--’

‘I ahtened up, smiled a smile that Lydia could feel, a warm loveliness

It is our lure to be attractive, Ysidro had said once to James It is hoe hunt

And Dr Theiss was in love with her Drawn, as James had been drawn – in spite of hihteen o