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And Callahan's mouth was pressed…against the reeking flesh of the vampire's cold throat； where an open vein pulsed。 He held his breath for what seemed like aeons； twisting his head wildly and to no avail； smearing the blood across his cheeks and forehead and chin like war paint。
Yet at last； he drank。
21
Ann Norton got out of her car without bothering to take the keys； and began to walk across the hospital parking lot toward the bright lights of the lobby。 Overhead； clouds had blotted out the stars and soon it would begin to rain。 She didn't look up to see the clouds。 She walked stolidly； looking straight in front of her。
She was a very different…looking woman from the lady Ben Mears had met On that first evening Susan had invited him to take dinner with her family。 That lady had been medium…tall； dressed in a green wool dress that did not scream of money but spoke of material fort。 That lady had not been beautiful but she bad been well groomed and pleasant to look at； her graying hair had been permed not long since。
This woman wore only carpet slippers on her feet。 Her legs were bare； and with no Supp…hose to mask them； the varicose veins bulged prominently （although not as prominently as before； some of the pressure had been taken off them）。 She was wearing a ragged yellow dressing gown over her negligee； her hair was blown in errant sheafs by the rising wind。 Her face was pallid； and heavy brown circles lay beneath her eyes。
She had told Susan； had warned her about that man Mears and his friends； had warned her about the man who had murdered her。 Matt Burke had put him up to it。 They had been in cahoots。 Oh yes。 She knew。 He had told her。
She had been sick all day； sick and sleepy and nearly unable to get out of bed。 And when she had fallen into a heavy slumber after noon； while her husband was off answering questions for a silly missing persons report； he had e to her in a dream。 His face was handsome and manding and arrogant and pelling。 His nose was hawklike； his hair swept back from his brow； and his heavy； fascinating mouth masked strangely exciting white teeth that showed when he smiled。 And his eyes 。 。 。 they were red and hypnotic。 When he looked at you with those eyes； you could not look away 。 。 。 and you didn't want to。
He had told her everything； and what she must do … and how she could be with her daughter when it was done； and with so many others 。 。 。 and with him。 Despite Susan； it was him she wanted to please； so he would give her the thing she craved and needed： the touch； the penetration。
Her husband's 。38 was in her pocket。
She entered the lobby and looked toward the reception desk。 If anyone tried to stop her； she would take care of them。 Not by shooting； no。 No shot must be fired until she was in Burke's room。 He had told her so。 If they got to her and stopped her before she had done the job； he would not e to her； to give her burning kisses in the night。
There was a young girl at the desk in a white cap and uniform； working a crossword in the soft glow of the lamp over her main console。 An orderly was just going down the hall； his back to them。
The duty nurse looked up with a trained smile when she heard Ann's footsteps； but it faded when she saw the hollow…eyed woman who was approaching her in night clothes。 Her eyes were blank yet oddly shiny； as if she were a wind…up toy someone had set in motion。 A patient； perhaps； who had gone wandering。
'Ma'am； if you…'
Ann Norton drew the 。38 from the pocket of her wrapper like some creaky gunslinger from beyond time。 She pointed it at the duty nurse's head and told her； 'Turn around。' The nurse's mouth worked silently。 She drew in breath with a convulsive heave。
'Don't scream。 I'll kill you if you do。'
The air wheezed out。 The nurse had gone very pale。
'Turn around now。'
The nurse got up slowly and turned around。 Ann Norton reversed the。38 and prepared to bring the butt down on the nurse's head with all the strength she had。
At that precise moment； her feet were kicked out from under her。
22
The gun went flying。
The woman in the ragged yellow dressing gown did not scream but began to make a high whining noise in her throat； almost keening。 She scrambled after it like a crab； and the man who was behind her； looking bewildered and frightened； also darted after it。 When he saw that she would get to it first； he kicked it across the lobby rug。
'Hey！' he yelled。 'Hey； help！'
Ann Norton looked over her shoulder and hissed at him； her faced pulled into a cheated scrawl of hate； and then scrambled after the gun again。 The orderly had e back； on the run。 He looked at the scene with blank amazement for a moment； and then picked up the gun that lay almost at his feet。
'For Christ's sake；' he said。 'This thing is load…'
She attacked him。 Her hands； hooked into claws； pin…wheeled across his face； dragging red stripes across the surprised orderly's forehead and right cheek。 He held the gun up out of her reach。 Still keening； she clawed for it。
The bewildered man came up from behind and grabbed her。 He would say later that it was like grabbing a bag of snakes。 The body beneath the dressing gown was hot and repulsive； every muscle twitching and writhing。
As she struggled to get free； the orderly popped her one flush on the jaw。 Her eyes rolled up to the whites and she collapsed。
The orderly and the bewildered man looked at each other。
The nurse at the reception desk was screaming。 Her hands were clapped to her mouth； giving the screams a unique foghorn effect。
'What kind of a hospital do you people run here； anyhow？' the bewildered man asked。
'Christ if I know；' the orderly said。 'What the hell happened？'
'I was just ing in to visit my sister。 She had a baby。 And this kid walks up to me and says a woman just went in with a gun。 And…'
'What kid？'
The bewildered man who had e to visit his sister looked around。 The lobby was filling with people； but all of them were above drinking age。
'I don't see him now。 But he was here。 That gun loaded？'
'It sure is；' the orderly said。
'What kind of a hospital do you people run here； anyhow？' the bewildered man asked again。
23
They had seen two nurses run past the door toward the elevators and heard a vague shout down the stairwell。 Ben glanced at Jimmy and Jimmy shrugged imperceptibly。 Matt was dozing with his mouth open。
Ben closed the door and turned off the lights。 Jimmy crouched by the foot of Matt's bed； and when they heard footsteps hesitate outside the door； Ben stood beside it； ready。 When it opened and a head poked through； he grabbed it in a half nelson and jammed the cross he held in the other hand into the face。
'Let me go！'
A hand reached up and beat futilely at his chest。 A moment later the overhead light went on。 Matt was sitting up in bed； blinking at Mark Petrie； who was struggling in Ben's arms。
Jimmy came out of his crouch and ran across the room。 He seemed almost ready to embrace the boy when he hesitated。 'Lift your chin。'
Mark did； showing all three of them his