"Robert Weinberg - Logical Magician 01 - A Logical Magician" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weinberg Robert)

"There's only one way to find out," said Jack, pulling off his clothes. Naked, he slid
into the pool of hot water at his feet. "We have to gamble I'm right. Unless you prefer
trying to drive a stake through his heart?"
"Not tonight," said Simon. "I was never very good at that sort of stuff. You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," said Jack. "Better turn on the jets. The switch is in the
coach's office."
"Yeah, I know the spot. The staff worries that some enterprising students might
otherwise use the equipment as a hot tub." The changeling leered. "As if a lock or two
could stop me."
Another door slammed, this time on their floor.
"Hurry up," said Jack. "If that water isn't running by the time he arrives, I'm
vampire chow."
"I'm gone," said Simon, and he was. Thirty seconds later, the whirlpool tub roared
into life.
Sighing with relief, Jack immersed himself in the swirling water up to his neck. The
massaging effects of the whirlpool worked wonders on his sore muscles. The humming of
the motor soothed his jangled nerves. Closing his eyes for a second, Jack relaxed and let
the tension drain out of his body. It felt terrific.
 The door to the training room crashed open, destroying Jack's moment of serenity.
Walsh strode into the chamber, head held high, lips curled back in a snarl of rage.
"It's the end of the line for you, Collins," declared the vampire. Gnashing his teeth
together, he approached the huge whirlpool tub. "You think taking a bath will protect you
from me? I'm a vampire, fool, not a dust devil."
Trying to stay calm, Jack watched the monster draw close. Walsh looked terrible.
A hundred tiny puncture marks dotted his face and hands. It looked like he had been on
the losing end of a fight with a sewing machine. The garlic salt had hurt the vampire, but
not enough. The trick had merely enraged the monster. Walsh was hungry for
bloodтАФJack's blood.
Jack prayed that his memory of the legends concerning the undead was accurate. If
not, he was in big trouble. And the world was doomed.
Mouth open to reveal his immense fangs, Walsh reached out with both hands to pull
Jack out of the tub. Then stopped abruptly, as if encountering an invisible shield rising up
from the bath.
"What the hell?" said Walsh angrily and tried furiously to push his hands forward.
They didn't budge. Snarling with rage, the vampire flung himself at the whirlpool. And
bounced back as he smashed into the same transparent barrier.
"Running water," said Jack, releasing the breath he hadn't realized he had been
holding. "Vampires can't cross it. In the legends and folk tales it means streams and rivers
and such. But, I guess the definition includes whirlpools as well. Even ones in a bath or
pool."
"Stupid trickery," said Walsh angrily. As if testing the power of the spell, the
vampire lunged savagely at Jack. With the same lack of success.
"Stalemate," said Jack. A flicker of movement behind Walsh caught his attention for
a second. Making not a sound, Simon was setting up a row of lights behind the vampire.
"You can't touch me, but I can't leave the whirlpool. We're deadlocked."
"I'll tear out one of these lockers and smash you flat," declared Walsh. "Maybe it
won't be as much fun, but it'll get the job done."
Jack licked his lips. He hadn't thought of that. "I'm sure your boss would be thrilled
by the publicity," said Jack. "Especially with the plans he has for those kidnapped
women."