"Elrod, P N - Quincy Morris, Vampire e-txt" - читать интересную книгу автора (Elrod P N)

"But what you did to herЧ"

"As with Lucy, that which has passed between Mrs. Harker and myself is none of your business, Mr. Morris," he rumbled, his brows lowering.

"But that poor womanЧ"

"Is quite capable of making her own decisions. If you live long enough, you may come to see that women are far more formidable than you think. Like the rest of you gentlemen, I found myself quite enchanted by Madam Harker's grace, charm, heart, and mind. Unlike you, I decided to act upon my desires. I've lived long enough to have certain . . . perspectives on a few things, and so took the chance, knowing I'd regret passing it by. However, I came to see that which was once acceptableЧor at least ignorableЧbehavior in my youth, was not so for an English lady in these times. All was sealed when the lot of you burst in on us, and I knew then it must end."

For a seducing adulterer he sounded quite smooth.

"I have since tendered my admittedly inadequate apologies to her, mind-to-mind, and severed all links between us. I would have also apologized to her husband, but given the circumstances it struck me as being inappropriate. Besides, he thinks he has killed me. That should be sufficient recompense for his wounded honor."

"What about the blood exchange you made with her?"

"That cannot be reversed."

"Then when she dies, she'll become like you."

"And to you that is yet a bad thing. Worry not. When her time comes she will have a . . . decision before her."

"Decision?"

"ItЧit is not an easy thing to make into words. My own memory of it is clear, but to describe in a way that you may understand is difficult. Let it suffice that she will have the choice to live as I live or to go to God. At death, each similarly touched soul has a moment of decision. I have told her as much, so did I tell Lucy, whose choice was to tarry on the earth."

"But I had no choice. I went to sleep and awoke toЧ" I spread my hands to indicate my situation.

"Another point of difference between us, between our kinds. And another question I have no adequate answer for. Why some of you rise and others do not is a mystery to me."

"Van Helsing said nothing of this choice of yours. Neither did Mrs. Harker."

"He may not know of it, and you can hardly blame the lady for such an omission. It is a most personal thing. But she has a noble heart, a great spirit, and her faith is so strong as to have done such to herЧ" again he lightly touched the scar on his forehead. "I have no doubt when her time comes she will fly to the angels to seek her rest."

"Are you sure of that?"

"Wait twenty or thirty years and see for yourself. For now, the subject of Mrs. Harker and myself is closed." By the finality of his tone I knew that to pursue the matter would result in unhappy consequences to myself. And he was right. It was none of my business. Besides, to be sincerely selfish about it, I had problems of my own to face. To judge by the miraculous healing of the burn she'd taken from the touch of the Host, Mina Harker was well recovered from her ordeal, and Dracula planned to leave her alone; I felt I could move forward with a fairly clear conscience.

Now that my eyes were opened a little wider than before, I looked out into the night. Though all would have been murky blacks and grays to my friends, it was as day to me. The faint moonlight put a silver gleam upon everything it touched, beautiful, but marred in my perception by my many troubling questions.

"Must I do as youЧas NoraЧto . . . to . . ." The words refused to emerge.

"Sustain yourself? Hardly. To drink from a lover is one matter, but you'll find that the blood of animals is your real food. One may live upon love alone for awhile, but sooner or later one must come down from the clouds and take more practical nourishment. This is as true for vampires as it is for humans."

That was a great relief. If it was true.

"Do you hunger yet?"

I continued to stare out at nothing in particular, giving no reply.

He shrugged. "When you're ready, then tell me. Your first feeding should be a pleasing experience."