Vampire Hunter D Volume 18- Fortress of the Elder God Read online

  “You suggesting we cross the Playground without a car?” Jan jeered. “I’m sure you’re a big man back in the Capital, but do you have any idea what kind of place the Nobility made this Playground of theirs? You know, I’m surprised we’ve lasted this long. They’re already wise to us. If they wanted to, they could tear us to pieces right now. When you think about it, staying or going is pretty much the same.”

  The young policeman decided to meet the mobster head on. Eyes squinting angrily, he said, “I’d expect a lousy thug like you to be that ignorant. This is known as the E3 Playground, and aerial photos of this region are taken on a regular basis. According to them, no life forms exist out here.”

  “Can they tell from the sky what’s underground, buddy?” Jan snapped back. “Legend has it these things will wait thousands of years without moving a muscle, just biding their time until some stupid prey like us come into their domain. Aerial photos? Don’t make me laugh!”

  “You lousy smartass!”

  The policeman used his uninjured left hand to go for the pistol on his weapons belt, while Jan said, “Hey, now,” and reached for his broadsword. Tension coalesced around the two of them.

  “That’ll be enough of that,” a rusty voice interrupted, and it sounded like a fitting arbitrator.

  Everyone turned in unison toward the speaker, relieved expressions on their faces. At last, they thought.

  “Until we get out of here, we need everyone we can get,” the warrior said. His crimson scarf danced in the breeze.

  The policeman twisted his lips as if to say, Is this guy against me, too? “This region is safe. There’s nothing here. You’re all frightened by unfounded legends.”

  “Those same legends will keep rescuers from coming,” the warrior said.

  This silenced the policeman.

  Entry into the Playground for any reason was prohibited—parents weren’t even allowed to run out there in search of a child who’d wandered into it. Going in to rescue a skybus that had made an emergency landing was out of the question. They could send a distress signal, shoot off flares, or even spell out help on the ground with their bodies, but still no one would come.

  “The Playground is laid out as an almost-perfect circle three hundred miles in diameter. To cross it on foot, taking into account the speed of women and children, would take a good twenty days. And with the number of people we’ve got here, our food and water won’t last two days, no matter how we ration it. That’s why we can’t afford to lose anyone to a stupid scuffle.”

  “Why not?” Maria asked, sounding slightly unsettled.

  The answer was perfectly simple.

  “We might have to eat them.”

  At this, everyone’s expression became one of horror. No one could say a word.

  Looking overhead, the warrior said, “The sun will be going down soon, and the temperature will drop below freezing. You lose a lot of strength then, too. So I’ll thank you to see that we don’t lose any possibly vital sources of nutrition.”

  “Guess we’ll be camping out today,” the sheriff groaned, looking up at the sky.

  Nodding, the warrior said, “Yes, and there’s one thing we have to take care of before we set out. You must know what that is. Why did our skybus go down?”

  Up until this point, the elderly couple had been intently listening to what the warrior had to say, but as their eyes burned with curiosity, their expressions froze.

  “What do you think, Ms. Maria?”

  As the warrior singled her out, the woman turned away in a snit.

  “I don’t care to have people use my name so freely. What’s yours, anyway?”

  “Begging your pardon. I’m Bierce—a warrior.”

  It was unclear if his response improved Maria’s mood any, because she continued to look away from him as she said, “I get the feeling I saw something, but I can’t remember anything about it. All I know is what I felt. And that was fear itself.”

  That caused a stir in the group. Everyone—except the boy and the suckling—agreed with her.

  “That’s right. That’s exactly what killed the pilot and made the skybus crash. But how did it happen?”

  This time silence tightened around the group. At that moment, they once again felt the same “fear itself” that Maria had mentioned. Letting out an inhuman cry, the old woman clung to her husband. The mobster and the policeman closed their eyes and quaked as if fighting great pain, and beads of sweat rose on the sheriff’s face.

  A terror that could smash through even the strongest mind. Where did such a thing come from?

  “Sheriff, is there some kind of illness going around that airport?”

  “An illness? No, nothing like that. Hell, not even plagues bother going to a dried-up hole in the wall like that.”

  “Then it would have to be someone’s doing.”

  Everyone stopped moving.

  The warrior continued in his stoic tone, saying, “Odds are the culprit is among us.”

  “Wait just a damn minute!” Jan interjected. “We have no way of knowing that. Any fool could picture what’d happen if you released a terror like that on a skybus in flight and the pilot went goofy. You’d go down too. You’d all be in the same boat!”

  “Maybe the one who did it was just going after one person and didn’t use the power right. Or it could be the person in question doesn’t even know when it’s gonna happen.”

  Everyone in the group turned their heads the same direction in unison. As always, the boy was staring down at the ground, and the suckling remained silent.

  “You don’t mean . . .”

  Maria’s groan was easily drowned out by the warrior as he asked, “Sheriff, does this suckling have a power like that?”

  “No, not so far as I know,” the sheriff stated flatly, but the way he looked at the prisoner was peculiar. “We didn’t hear any talk about anything like that from the area where he ran amuck. Nothing about infecting other people with fear.”

  “Not much is known about sucklings, on account of them always getting disposed of. Even if they did have a power like that, without the ability to control it, it wouldn’t do a fat lot of good. They’d be put down before they ever got to use it.”

  The sheriff had no response. But the people envisioned a number of scenarios involving the suckling.

  The policeman interrupted, saying, “Hey, don’t get any funny ideas! Some of the top researchers in the Capital are waiting to experiment on this guy.”

  “I’m not saying he’s the culprit,” the warrior replied, his blue eyes focusing on someone else.

  “Kid, can you talk?” he asked, but there was no reply. “Now, I’ve been watching everyone, but the only one who doesn’t seem to have been changed by that fear is you. Or could it be you didn’t even feel it in the first place?”

  Was the warrior trying to say the boy was responsible?

  “Answer me if you can. Because until we get this cleared up, there’s no way we can let you come with us.”

  “Hey, hold it right there,” the elderly man protested. “We don’t know for sure that child’s to blame. You just said so yourself, didn’t you? It’s not right, threatening a youngster like that!”

  A stern rock of a face stared intently at the old man. The old man winced but managed to stand his ground.

  “It seems to me you weren’t born out on the Frontier, were you?”

  The old man nodded. “Right, we hail from the Capital. We’re traveling around now, visiting our children who live on the Frontier.”

  “I see. If you’d lived a decade on the Frontier, you wouldn’t say something like that to save your own life. Male or female, young or old, it makes no difference. A kid’s just as likely to be a killer as anyone else. How many people you think die at the hands of children every year?”

  “But I’m telling you, that child’s—”

  “There’s no way around this, old-timer,” Jan interrupted. “From here on out, it’s sure to be a hell of a trip. I don�
��t care if he’s just a kid; we can’t bring anyone along that we’ve got any doubt about. What the warrior said is spot on. But there’s something to what you’re saying, too. Right now, there’s the same chance any of us is the one responsible. And with that in mind, I have a suggestion.”

  It must’ve been a really good idea, because the mobster was bursting with confidence.

  “Let’s try threatening the kid with a knife.”

  Jan whipped around in amazement to stare at Maria.

  Downing the contents of her cup, the woman responsible for the remark continued, “That’s what you were going to say, isn’t it? It’s not too hard to see what a guy like you is thinking. If the kid is to blame, you just might wind up getting us another taste of that fear. An insensitive clod like you might be able to take it, but how do you think those old folks would fare? Try using this for a change!”

  The way she tapped the index finger of her free hand against her head made Jan’s eyes widen.

  “You trying to say I’m not very smart?”

  “You trying to say you are?”

  “You—you bitch!” the mobster said, making a tight fist as he started toward Maria.

  Just then, a low gasp of surprise rang out. Actually, there were two of them, from the sheriff and the policeman. They were staring at the boy. And they’d seen that he’d finally looked up.

  “Someone’s coming,” the boy said in a dazed tone. Compared to other children his age, his voice was low and feeble. However, the fear it carried was hair-raisingly real.

  “Someone’s coming,” the boy said again, and then he stood up.

  Oblivious to the fact that the eyes of all were focused on him, he started to walk out of the rocky area.

  “Who’s coming?” the policeman asked, blinking his eyes like mad.

  “Is it them? The Playground’s dismantlers? Or is it—an overseer?”

  “Don’t talk nonsense!” the sheriff shouted. “There’s nothing like that out here. Those are just old wives’ tales.”

  “How about that, then?” the warrior asked.

  Halting about five yards from the group, the boy turned his face to the west. The warrior was behind him. Everyone but the suckling stood up and looked in the same direction.

  The area to the west was hidden by a yellow cloud of dust—whirling sand. Out of it, a black shape began to come into view, nearly five hundred yards away. In the depths of that sandy cloud, it was hard to tell if it was man or beast. Yet everyone there knew. It was a human being. A man. And one of unearthly beauty, at that.

  The figure first appeared as slim as a blade of grass. It soon took on a distinctly human form. The wide-brimmed traveler’s hat and pitch-black coat he wore and the saddlebags and elegant longsword over his shoulder became visible, and finally he halted before the group, all in less than ten minutes—and the whole time they simply stood there, unable to move a muscle. As if their bones had been fused together by the unearthly aura the figure emanated—by his beauty.

  Knocking the sand from his coat with his left hand, he said softly, “I’m D.” His whole form seemed swathed in glowing darkness.

  “As you can probably see from that skybus, we’re stranded survivors,” the sheriff said. As a representative of the group, he was probably just about the perfect age. “You know, we were just about to head east. I don’t know whether to consider you lucky or not. I’m the sheriff from the Valkin area. Shrive’s the name.”

  “I’m—Maria.” Though she was looking up, the woman’s gaze and voice were both vacant—but that couldn’t be helped when dealing with this young man.

  “I’m Jan—and, as you can see, I’m a drifter.”

  “I’m Franz Stow, and this is my wife, Bella,” the elderly man said. The old woman stared at the young man in black with a look in her eyes that suggested she was dreaming.

  D’s eyes fixed on the boy, who hung his head low.

  “What’s your name?” D inquired.

  This was a miraculous occurrence, and it caused another miracle to happen. Though still facing the ground, the boy began to move his lips. What they formed was clearly a word.

  “. . . Toto.”

  “I’ll be damned!” Jan said, throwing his arms up in celebration. “I figured he didn’t have a brain in his head, but he can talk and everything. Hell, I guess even another guy couldn’t resist answering someone as good looking as you. Pretty ones and crying kids have all the luck in this world.”

  “That’s a nice name,” D said before looking at the strangest member of the group—the hooded figure.

  “He’s a suckling,” the sheriff said disdainfully. There was probably no need to keep telling people that, but he did anyway. He didn’t even know that he did so out of fear. “We’re in the process of transferring him to a government research facility in the Capital. At any rate, he’s shot full of drugs. Keeps him quiet.”

  “Don’t give civilians more information than they need, sheriff,” the policeman said, stopping him. “This guy has a strange air about him. He’s no ordinary traveler. What are you, anyway? And what are you doing out here?”

  “My horse has expired. As for my line of work—”

  “He’s a Vampire Hunter.”

  The world was robbed of every last sound. As they all stared at D, not even the wind whispered in their ears. At that moment, they all thought, Yes, that’s exactly what he is.

  D’s eyes turned to the man who’d spoken.

  “Vampire Hunter D, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m—”

  “Bierce the warrior—I’ve heard of you.”

  “Then that’s an even greater honor,” Bierce said, a grin surfacing on his bearded face and then vanishing.

  The Vampire Hunter’s meeting with the warrior ended there.

  D casually turned to the policeman, who backed away.

  “I—um, I’m Officer Weizmann, on prisoner-escort duty for the Ministry of Police.”

  “Get out of here quick,” D said. He was facing east. His tone suggested he didn’t have an iota of interest in anyone in the group. “The enemy will be here soon. Any talk of this place being safe is mistaken.”

  “Really?” the sheriff said, looking all around.

  “Don’t give us that crap. We don’t see anything here,” the squinting Weizmann protested, having circled around in front of the Hunter.

  “Have it your way.”

  And leaving them with this remark, D started to walk off.

  “Hold up—me and Maria are going with you!” Jan shouted, but D didn’t stop.

  “Just a minute. Don’t go speaking for me,” Maria said, her breath reeking of alcohol.

  “Hey, I know what I’m talking about here. I’ve been doing what I do for ten years now. When things get hairy, I know who you can count on. And without a doubt, it’s that guy. C’mon, kid. Come with us.”

  Toto didn’t move. The beauty that had brought back the boy’s humanity for a brief moment was now a good fifty yards ahead of them.

  Jan had no problem cutting him loose.

  “Okay, it’s your funeral. Someone look after this kid. He’s in your hands. Hey, anyone else coming?” he asked as he grabbed his simple travel case and got to his feet.

  After careful deliberation, the elderly Franz rose. “We’re going with you. Come along, dear,” he said, taking his wife by the hand.

  “Good idea,” Bierce chimed in, hefting a battered duffel bag.

  “Wait just a minute!” Weizmann cried, his face going pale. “We’re the ones who’ll keep you safe—not some mobster and a Hunter you don’t know from a hole in the ground. Don’t you get it? Splitting up out here is dangerous. How are we supposed to save you if—”

  Apparently Sheriff Shrive had grown tired of listening to the young lawman’s protestations, for in an effort to quiet him he told the man, “It’s no use.”

  “But—”

  “What are you gonna do? Stay here? I’ll help you if you do.”

  “I thought you jus
t said we should go.”

  As he stared with a look of disgust at the backs of those who hurried ahead, Weizmann stomped his feet in place and checked the fit of his shoes.

  “Before we go, let’s bury the pilot,” the sheriff said, raining a little on the younger man’s parade.

  -

  Before long, the three figures walked off in pursuit of the others, who were already out of sight, and as stillness choked the rocky spot, something bizarre transpired. Though no one was aware of it, the voices of men and women, as well as the wind and various other sounds, could be heard in the deserted wasteland. Sure enough, they were the voices of the survivors who’d been there a scant hour earlier talking to each other, and also the exact same sounds they’d made moving around—it was a complete reenactment of the past.

  Then the sound of shoveling finished, a prayer chanted in the sheriff’s voice faded, and Officer Weizmann’s urged, “Okay, let’s go.” At the same time, another voice that the two lawmen hadn’t heard also replayed. It was a deep, deep, mocking sort of tone of pure delight. One thing alone was for certain: the source of that voice wasn’t human. No human being could laugh like that.

  Shortly thereafter, three sets of footsteps echoed from the ground as they started off across the wasteland.

  -

  “They’re following us, just like I thought, the lousy pests,” said a hoarse voice. It came from the vicinity of D’s left hip. There was nothing there but his left hand.

  The voice continued its harangue, saying, “This is partly your fault, you know. You’re the one who made that worthless bunch do it. You never should’ve told ’em it was dangerous out here. Talk about being completely out of luck. Those clowns think they were spared the hell of dying in a crash, and now they’re jumping into a different kind of hell. It’s a million times more dangerous out here.”

  D pressed ahead, not saying a word.

  As evening approached, the wind twined around the cooling light so it might sneak its chill into the people even through their eyes. That alone would’ve made it hard enough for a living creature to survive until morning, but this was no ordinary wasteland.

  Shortly after, the hoarse voice inquired, “You hear that?”