Vamparazzi by Laura Resnick

Author:Laura Resnick
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-08-17T22:00:00+00:00

Opening graves and desecrating corpses was grisly, disturbing, and exhausting work. And, as usual, it was accompanied by an unwanted audience of protesting relatives and wailing women. Predictably, an angry Orthodox priest was also there, arguing that Max and his helpers were violating the repose of the faithful whom the church had buried.

“Not a very practical objection, considering the situation,” Max said, his rebellious stomach churning while the stench of decay gradually permeated his nostrils, hair, and clothing.

The more obvious it became that prayer and religious rituals weren’t protecting their flocks or preventing vampire attacks, the more defensive and rigid the village priests tended to become. They were usually men of humble background who had very little education and no previous experience with such matters. Max was sympathetic to the terrified panic he could see in their eyes, but increasingly impatient with their obstreperous behavior.

Among the local volunteers helping with the work this afternoon, there were also, as was often the case, one or two young men who seemed to enjoy these distasteful tasks more than Max thought was seemly.

As night fell and darkness crept across the graveyard, the work continued; but, fortunately, the distractions diminished. Whether the locals were interested in watching the vampire hunter at work or just wanted to shriek at him in protest when he beheaded or staked the bodies of their former neighbors and relatives, the villagers were emphatically not willing to remain at the cemetery after dark. They departed, fleeing to their homes before the creatures of the night emerged, leaving an eerily ominous silence in their wake.

When only two sturdy local volunteers remained, Bosko said, “It’s very dark, Dr. Zadok. Perhaps we should go now.”

“Yes, of course,” Max said absently, noticing some disturbed earth on yet another grave. “By all means. Be vigilant on your way home.”

“I meant that you and your companions should come, too,” Bosko said.

Three of the soldiers were still digging. Hoffman and another soldier were patrolling the graveyard alertly, their weapons ready, their pace measured.

“No, we must remain and work.” Max was still examining the grave which had attracted his attention. “Before you leave, may I ask when the burial in this plot occurred?”

“It’s not safe for you to remain outside after dark,” Bosko warned.

“Based on the elders’ account, being inside isn’t safe in Medvegia anymore, either.”

“That’s true,” Bosko said sadly. “Still . . .”

“I’ve come to your village to hunt vampires,” Max reminded him. “Therefore, it is advantageous for me to remain where I am likely to encounter them.”

“Oh. Yes, of course. Well, then.” Bosko cleared his throat. “I must remain here, too, in that case.”

Max glanced at him. “That’s brave, but very dangerous. I don’t advise it. You would be wise to go home, sir.”

“No, I will remain.”

“He is a brave man,” said one of the two local diggers, setting aside his shovel and making preparations to leave. “He has even slain one of the vampires.”

“Have you?” Max said with interest, well able by now to follow Serbian phrases about killing vampires.

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