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On their third swing toward my side； I punch out the window in front of me and open fire。 I take out the machine gunner first； I don't like his looks。 The searchlight goes next。 I take aim on the fuel tank。 As I said； I enjoy fireworks； wicked explosions。 When I pull the trigger on the shotgun； the chopper detonates in a huge fireball。 The pilot screams； the flames engulfing his body。 The other man is blown out the side door； in pieces。 The life goes out of the machine and it sinks to the ground。 Far below I hear people crying。 Far above； to my right； I hear the other two helicopters veer away。 They have lost enthusiasm for the fight。
On the way to the elevator； I pass a custodian。 He hardly looks up。 Despite my blood and artillery； he wishes me a good evening。 I smile at him。
〃You have a good night；〃 I say。
The elevator takes me to the top floor； and from there it is not hard to find a private access ladder onto the roof。 Not one but two helicopters wait to fly us to freedom。 Both are jet powered and I am pleased。 They will at least be as fast as the cops' choppers； if not faster。 Unfortunately there's a security guard on duty。 An old guy； obviously working the night shift to supplement a meager retirement； he takes one look at me and hurries over。 He has a handgun but doesn't draw it。 His glasses are remarkably thick； he squints through the lenses as he looks me up and down。
〃Are you a cop？〃 he asks。
I don't have the heart to lie to him。 〃No。 I'm the bad guy。 I'm the one who just blew that chopper out of the sky。〃
He is awestruck。 〃I watched you jumping from building to building。 How do you do that？〃
〃Steroids。〃
He slaps his leg。 〃I knew it！ The drugs young people are taking these days。 What do you want？ One of these choppers？〃
I point my shotgun at him。 〃Yes。 Please give me the keys。 I don't want to have to kill you。〃
He quickly raises his hands。 〃You don't have to do that。 The keys are in the ignitions。 Do you know how to fly a helicopter？〃
I turn my weapon aside。 〃Yes。 I've been taking lessons。 Don't worry about me。〃
He walks me to the closest chopper； a Bell 230。 〃This baby has a range of over three hundred miles。 You want to get far out of town。 The radio and TV are babbling about you； calling you a band of Arab terrorists。〃
I laugh as I climb into the cockpit。 〃You do nothing to destroy their illusions。 Just tell them you were overwhelmed by superior forces。 You don't want people to know a young woman stole a helicopter out from under your nose。〃
〃And a blond one at that；〃 he agrees。 〃You take care！〃
He closes the door for me and I'm off。
Picking up Joel proves to be the easiest part of the night。 The police helicopters are holding back…over a mile away。 They aren't used to being blown out of the sky。 The fire from the last downed chopper spreads over the front of the skyscraper。 In the distance I see smoke from the first chopper。 Joel shakes his head as he climbs in。
〃They'll never stop hunting us after this；〃 he says。
〃I don't know；〃 I jest。 〃They might be afraid to e after me。〃
We head northeast。 I'm anxious to get out of the suburban sprawl and into the wild； somewhere we can disappear。 The nearby mountains are a possibility。 Our chopper is fast； capable of going two hundred miles an hour。 To my surprise； the police helicopters don't really pursue us。 It's not just because we're faster than they are…a fact I have to question。 They allow the gap to grow between us to at least twenty miles。 The length of the space doesn't reassure me because I know they still have us under visual observation。
Nothing will be gained by plunging low to the ground； below the radar。 They are waiting for something； biding their time。
〃Reinforcements；〃 I mutter as we swoop over the sleeping city at an elevation of a thousand feet。
Joel nods。 〃They've called for bigger guns。〃
〃Army helicopters？〃
〃Probably。〃
〃Which direction will they e from？〃
〃There is a large base south of here。 You might want to head north。〃
〃I was planning to do so after I reached the Cajon Pass。〃 The pass cuts into the desert； also a nice place to hide。 Highway IS runs through the pass； and if followed far enough； leads to Las Vegas。
〃You might not want to wait that long；〃 Joel advises。
〃I understand。〃 Yet the temptation to put more distance between us and our pursuers is great。 It gives me the illusion of safety； a dangerous illusion。 But the farther we go； the more the desert beckons me。 Being winter； the mountains are covered with snow； and even though I am highly resistant to cold； I don't like it。 At our present speed Cajon Pass is not far ahead。 Once over it； we will be clear of the city； able to roam free。
I ask the question I have been waiting to ask。
〃Are you thirsty？〃
He is guarded。 〃What do you mean？〃
I glance over。 〃How do you feel？〃
He takes a deep breath。 〃Feverish。 Cramping。〃
I nod。 〃You need blood。〃
He takes time to absorb my words。 〃Do you really drink people's blood？ Like in the stories？〃
〃The stories have germs of truth in them； but can't be taken literally。 As a vampire； you do need blood to survive。 Yet you do not need to kill the person you drink from； and your contact with them will not change them into vampires。 You can also live off the blood of animals； although you will find it unsatisfying。〃
〃Do I need blood every day？〃
〃No。 Every few days。 But at first； you will crave it every day。〃
〃What happens if I don't drink it？〃
〃You will die horribly；〃 I say。
〃Oh。 Do I still need to eat regular food？〃
〃Yes。 You will get hungry as before。 But if need be； you will be able to survive for a long time without food。 You will also be able to hold your breath for incredible lengths of time。〃
〃But what about the sun？ You sat out in the sun with me。〃
〃Yes。 But that is not something you want to try yet。 The sun won't kill you； but it will irritate you； at least for the first few centuries。 Even now； after five thousand years； I'm not nearly so strong while the sun is up。 But forget everything else you've heard about vampires。 Crucifixes and white roses and running water…none of those will bother you。 Bram Stoker was just spicing up his novel when he wrote that stuff。〃 I pause。 〃Did you know I met him once？〃
〃Did you tell him you were a vampire？〃
〃No； but he knew there was something special about me。 He autographed my copy of Dracula and tried to get my address。 But I didn't give it to him。〃 I raise my wrist to my mouth。 〃I am going to open my vein。 I want you to suck my blood for a few minutes。〃
He fidgets。 〃Sounds kinky。〃
〃You'll enjoy it。 I taste wonderful。〃
A moment later Joel reluctantly accepts my bleeding wrist； but he is no Ray。 He has seen plenty of blood in his line of work and it doesn't make him sick to his stomach。 Indeed； after a couple of minutes he is sucking hungrily on my wrist。 I have to stop him before he is sated。 I cannot allow my strength to wane。
〃How do you feel？〃 I ask as I take back my arm。
〃Powerful。 Aroused。〃
I have to laugh。 〃Not every girl you meet will be able to do that for you。〃
〃Can we be killed with a stake through the heart？〃
The laughter dies in my throat。 His question brings back the agony of the wound I suffered when my house exploded and Yaksha supposedly died。 The chest pain is still there…yet； since drinking Yaksha's blood； it has receded。 I wonder what Yaksha would think of me now that I have broken Krishna's vow against creating more vampires。 After I have killed so many innocent people。 No doubt he would say I am damned。
I miss Yaksha。 And Ray。 And Krishna。
〃You can be killed that way；〃 I say quietly。
Ten minutes later we reach the gap in the mountains and I veer north； climbing in altitude。 The pass is almost a mile above sea level。 The police helicopters are now thirty miles behind us； blinking red and white dots in the night sky。 We have at most four hours of night left。 Before then； I must find shelter for Joel and a place to sit quietly and plot my next moves。 Scanning left and right； I consider dumping the helicopter。 The cliffs of the pass offer more hiding places than the desert will。 Yet I don't want to set down so soon。 Another idea has e to me； one that may throw our pursuers off。
What if I were to crash the helicopter into a lake？
It would sink and hopefully leave no sign behind。
The plan is a good one。 Fuel dictates I choose the closest lake； Big Bear or Arrowhead。 But once again I resist heading into the snowy mountains。 As a newborn； Joel will not fare well there。 I remember how sensitive I was to the cold after Yaksha changed me。 Vampires； serpents； the offspring of yakshinis…we prefer warmth。
I need a sand dune oasis with a lake in the center of it。
We plunge over the pass and into the desert。
The bleak landscape sweeps beneath us。
Time passes。 I cannot see anyone following。
〃We can't stay up here forever；〃 Joel says finally。
〃I know。〃
〃What are you waiting for？〃
〃Lake Mead。〃 Hoover Dam…it is only twenty minutes away； I estimate。
But I have waited too long。
Five minutes later I catch sight of two military helicopters； ing at us from the west； not the south。 Because my eyes are so sharp； I see them far off…sixty miles away。 I feel it is still possible to reach the lake。 Yet I know they have spotted us； that they are tracking us on their radar。 When I alter course slightly； they do likewise。 Joel sees my concern but doesn't understand it at first。 Even changed； his sight is no match for mine。
〃What is it？〃 he asks。
〃We have pany；〃 I say。
He looks around。 〃Can we reach the lake？〃
〃Possibly。〃 I ask in jest； 〃Can we fight two Apache helicopters？〃
〃No way。〃
I guess at the type of craft that pursues us； but a few minutes later I see that I was right。 My knowledge of the Apache isn't extensive； but I have read enough to know that we are facing the most lethal attack helicopter on earth。 The two choppers move close to each other； on a direct intercept course with us。 Black as the desert sky； with wide hypnotic propellers…they are clearly faster than we are。 Their machine…gun turret and rocket launchers hang from the sides like dangerous fists。 They sweep toward us for a knockout punch。 Joel sees them。
〃Maybe we should surrender；〃 he suggests。
〃I never surrender。〃
They catch us three miles short of the lake。 The wide flat expanse of water is clearly visible； but it could be on the other side of the moon for all the good it can do us now。 That's what I think at first。 Yet the Apaches do not immediately lock on their weapons。 They swoop above and below us； dangerously close； ordering us to land。
〃Somebody has told them to take us alive；〃 Joel observes。
〃Who？〃
Joel shrugs。 〃The order could have e from the President of the United States。 But I suspect the mander of the base where these helicopters originated has given the order。〃
〃We only need to get to the water；〃 I say。 〃They couldn't imagine that we'd try to vanish underwater。〃
〃I can't imagine it。 Can we really hold our breath a long time？〃
〃I can go an hour。〃
〃But what about me？〃
I pat his leg。 〃Have faith。 We should have died a dozen times tonight and we're still alive。 Maybe Krishna hasn't deserted us after all。〃
〃If they open fire in the next minute we might have a chance to ask him directly；〃 Joel says dryly。
The Apaches buzz us a couple of times more； then grow tired of the cat…and…mouse game。 They lay down a stream of bullets across our path and I have to slow sharply to avoid being torn to shreds。 Still； they could blow us out of the sky whenever they wish。 Yet they hold back； although they don't want me flying above the lake。 They try blocking our path and I have to go into a steep dive to stay on course。 We e within several feet of the ground and Joel almost has a heart attack。
〃You are one mean pilot；〃 he says when he catches his breath。
〃I'm pretty good in bed as well；〃 I reply。
〃Of that I have no doubt。〃
These military men are not like the LAPD。 They expect their orders to be obeyed。 They may have instruct