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Bloody Bones :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 83 из 272We would alldo our jobs. And come morning, some of us would be alive and some of us wouldn't. Of course, maybe there was just the one newly dead vampire to deal with. If so, we might all see the sunrise.
But I hadn't lived this long assuming the best. Assuming the worst was always safer. And usually truer.
15
I'd gotten used to the sawed-off shotgun that I had at home. Yeah, it is illegal, but it's easy to carry and makes mincemeat out of vampires. What more could a modern vampire hunter want? The Ithaca pump action 12 gauge was close.
"Why don't I get a shotgun?" Larry asked.
I just looked at him. He looked serious. I shook my head. "When you can handle the nine, we'll talk about shotguns."
"Great."
Oh, for the enthusiasm of youth. Larry was only four years younger than I was. Sometimes it seemed like a million.
"He's not going to shoot us in the back by accident, is he?" Deputy Coltrain asked.
I smiled, not sweetly. "He promised not to."
Coltrain looked at me like he wasn't sure I was kidding.
Sheriff St. John joined us at the edge of the woods. He had a shotgun, too. I had to trust that he knew how to use it. Wallace had the shotgun from their unit. His partner Granger had a wicked-looking rifle like something a sniper would carry. It looked like the wrong tool for tonight's job, and I had said so. Granger had just looked at me. I'd shrugged and let it go. It was his neck and his gun.
I looked around at them. They looked at me. Waiting for me to give the word.
"Everybody got their holy water?" I asked.
Larry patted his coverall pocket. Everyone else nodded, or mumbled yes.
"Remember the three rules of vampire hunting. One: Never, ever look them in the eyes. Two: Never, ever give up your cross. Three: Aim for the head and heart. Even with silver ammo, it won't be a killing blow anywhere else." I felt like a kindergarten teacher sending her kiddies off to a hostile playground. "Don't panic if you get bitten. The bite can be cleansed. As long as they don't mesmerize you with their eyes, you can still fight."
I looked at them, all silent, all taller than me, even Larry by an inch or two. They could all arm wrestle me and win. So why did I want to order them all into the house where'd they'd be safe? Heck, we could all go inside. Have a nice cup of hot cocoa. Tell the Quinlans their little girl would be fine. I mean, liquid diets are in with teens. Right?
I took a deep breath and let it out slow. "Let's do it, boys. We're wasting starlight.
But I hadn't lived this long assuming the best. Assuming the worst was always safer. And usually truer.
15
I'd gotten used to the sawed-off shotgun that I had at home. Yeah, it is illegal, but it's easy to carry and makes mincemeat out of vampires. What more could a modern vampire hunter want? The Ithaca pump action 12 gauge was close.
"Why don't I get a shotgun?" Larry asked.
I just looked at him. He looked serious. I shook my head. "When you can handle the nine, we'll talk about shotguns."
"Great."
Oh, for the enthusiasm of youth. Larry was only four years younger than I was. Sometimes it seemed like a million.
"He's not going to shoot us in the back by accident, is he?" Deputy Coltrain asked.
I smiled, not sweetly. "He promised not to."
Coltrain looked at me like he wasn't sure I was kidding.
Sheriff St. John joined us at the edge of the woods. He had a shotgun, too. I had to trust that he knew how to use it. Wallace had the shotgun from their unit. His partner Granger had a wicked-looking rifle like something a sniper would carry. It looked like the wrong tool for tonight's job, and I had said so. Granger had just looked at me. I'd shrugged and let it go. It was his neck and his gun.
I looked around at them. They looked at me. Waiting for me to give the word.
"Everybody got their holy water?" I asked.
Larry patted his coverall pocket. Everyone else nodded, or mumbled yes.
"Remember the three rules of vampire hunting. One: Never, ever look them in the eyes. Two: Never, ever give up your cross. Three: Aim for the head and heart. Even with silver ammo, it won't be a killing blow anywhere else." I felt like a kindergarten teacher sending her kiddies off to a hostile playground. "Don't panic if you get bitten. The bite can be cleansed. As long as they don't mesmerize you with their eyes, you can still fight."
I looked at them, all silent, all taller than me, even Larry by an inch or two. They could all arm wrestle me and win. So why did I want to order them all into the house where'd they'd be safe? Heck, we could all go inside. Have a nice cup of hot cocoa. Tell the Quinlans their little girl would be fine. I mean, liquid diets are in with teens. Right?
I took a deep breath and let it out slow. "Let's do it, boys. We're wasting starlight.