Space Vampires, The (Life Force) by Wilson Colin

Author:Wilson, Colin [Wilson, Colin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Vampires, Novel, Outer Space
Publisher: Unofficial e-book edition
Published: 1976-01-07T18:34:20+00:00

3

The sky was purple with dusk as the plane landed at London Airport. As he walked down the gangway, Carlsen was struck by the fragrant warmth of the air, mingled with the smell of jet fuel.

It was a strange feeling, to be back. It seemed incredible that it was only a day ago since he had left London. He felt as if he had returned from six months in space.

Fallada asked: “How are you feeling?”

“Glad to be back. But a little depressed.”

“About Selma?”

“Yes.”

“No point in feeling guilty. It wasn’t your fault. Besides, we couldn’t stay longer.”

He said: “It’s not that.”

“What, then?”

“I wanted to stay.”

Fallada looked at him quickly.

“Oh, not because I’m in love with her.” It seemed absurd, saying these ultimate things as they crossed to the waiting bus, surrounded by noise, but he persisted. “It was her vitality…” He stopped, unable to go on.

Fallada said quickly: “Don’t let it worry you.”

“It’s not myself I’m worried about.”

“I know. But you’ve got to remember that it’s just another instinctive response, like the sex drive. It can be controlled just as easily.”

But as the shuttle moved almost silently across the smooth concrete, Fallada tried to suppress his own disquiet. He understood why Carlsen should fear for his wife and children. He had seen the automatic telerecording of the death of Seth Adams; he retained an impression of instant deadly response, like a Venus flytrap closing on an insect.

In the terminal, they both made for telescreen booths. Carlsen rang Jelka; she appeared in a bathrobe. “I’m just washing my hair. Mandy and Tom said they’d be over about nine. Will you be back by then?”

“I don’t know yet. Fallada’s ringing Heseltine now. I’ll call you back.”

Fallada had spoken to the Duty Sergeant at the Yard; there was a message for him to ring Heseltine at home. Heseltine was chewing as he answered. Fallada said: “I’m sorry. Have I interrupted your dinner?”

“That’s all right — I was nearly finished. Where have you been?”

“I’ll tell you when I see you. Did you trace the two car licence numbers?”

“Yes.” Heseltine took a slip of paper from his pocket. “One was a foreign car — Danish couple over here on honeymoon. The other’s registered to a man called Pryce at Holmfirth.”

“Where’s that?”

“In Yorkshire.”

“Excellent! I think we’d better come over to see you immediately. Are you free?”

“Of course. I’m just going to have a brandy and a cigar. Come over and join me. Is Carlsen with you?”

“Yes.”

“Good. My wife’s longing to meet him. Come as soon as you can.”

On the way out of the airport, they stopped at the bookstall, and Fallada bought an atlas of the British Isles. In the helicab, he opened it, searched for a moment, then gave an exclamation of satisfaction. He handed it to Carlsen, his finger pressed on the page. “Look.”

Holmfirth, Carlsen saw, was a small town some five miles south of Huddersfield. The contour map showed high ground shaded in yellow and brown. Holmfirth was on the edge of a brown area.

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