He turned again to look at Jack Crow.
It’s simply that this man is a movie. A walking, talking, bleeding, cussing, bigger-than-life bear of a man. He’s a movie, just being alive.
But movies aren’t real, are they? he asked himself.
Neither is the priesthood. Isn’t that why you’re here?
He started to ignore himself. But then he decided he no longer had to. He was here now and into it. He was no longer some lanky, dark-curled kid too pretty for his own good hiding out from girls in seminary and from the meat-eaters’ man’s world in his black-and-white king’s X uniform.
He looked again around the cabin. It wasn’t the real world of this plane, perhaps. Of men striving to earn first-class seats or pilot’s stripes. It wasn’t the real world of men at all.
But it was the real world of man.
Of man and God.
And he, Adam the schoolyard trembler, had grown up and come here to fight for them both. At last.
To the last.
He slept.
I don’t know who else to get, thought Jack Crow. And I’m tired of getting them. We need the best kind of person around. No one less will do.
But they will die. And that means I have to find the best men I know and condemn them to a certain violent end just
Shit.
And they always said yes. That was the worst part of it. The good ones, once they knew it was being done, had to be doing it.
So they did it and they died.
Doubleshit.
Oh, God! Please don’t call us now! There’s only four of us left and this kid-priest and one of ’em’s a middle-aged woman and another is pushing sixty and fat and damn well not scared enough for me and another is the finest man I’ve ever known.
And, tripleshit, the last one is me.
Please, phone, don’t ring!
The plane landed and Jack Crow shook himself hard and reminded himself that he was supposed to be a leader of some kind so: Rock and roll, goddammit! Off your butt and off this plane and here we go again! Come
Don’t think about the phone.
They knew the priest was coming but they didn’t know anything about him. Jack strode through the gate to Annabelle with Adam close behind. He leaned down and kissed her and said, “Folks, this is Adam.”
“
“I’m her Royal Highness Annabelle.”
“Lord High-Muck-a-muck Carl Joplin.”
Adam blinked, stared at them. Cat, grinning, stepped forward and shook his hand.
“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain,” said Cat. “I am the Great and Powerful Oz.”
And then they were all walking rapidly toward baggage claim without further explanation. Adam found himself offered Annabelle’s arm. He took it and shut up and walked.
“I need a vampire,” began Carl.
Jack barely glanced at him. “Is it working?”
“It was working last night.”
Jack stopped. They all stopped and stared at Carl.
“Well, to tell the truth, I don’t know what made it beep then.” They resumed walking. “But it should work,” Carl persisted. “And it’s gotta be tested.”
“How does it work?” Jack wanted to know.
“You wouldn’t understand it, Jack, and you know it.”
“Hmm. Possibly. Then how are we supposed to test it?”
Jack sighed, shook his head. “Oh, great. Here we go again with your—”
“Goddammit, Jack! There ain’t anybody else!”
“How do you figure that?”
They had reached the baggage claim area. They stopped. Carl took a deep breath and hitched up his pants. He began counting off fingers.
“Well, Annabelle can’t do it ’cause she watches the soaps during the day. You’re supposed to be guarding my ass while I’m doing it. Cat…”
“I could do it,” Cat offered with a sly grin.
Carl gave him a dirty look. “What do you know about the electromagnetic spectrum?”
“I’m for it.”
“What do you know about EEGs? Brain waves?” Cat frowned. “Is this a surfing question?”
Carl snarled. “As I was saying: Annabelle is out, you and Cat have your own little trick to do. That leaves me.” He paused, stepped up to Jack. His face was dead serious. “Look, Jack. You’ll be able to operate it after I get it right. But I must be there to twitch it until it’s on.”
Jack stared at him but did not speak.
Carl grimaced. “I’m telling you straight.”
But Jack had never doubted that. All he could think of was: Here I go again. I’m going to have to risk you, too. Dammit, am I going to lose everyone?
He stepped closer to Annabelle and hugged her without realizing why.
“I’ll think about it” was all he said, but it was already done and everyone but Adam knew it.
There was an awkward pause while they stood about. No bags appeared from the chute, though they heard the usual destructive noises from somewhere beneath them.
Cat’s voice sparkled into the silence. He slapped Adam on the shoulder. “Don’t know about you guys, but it’s great to have a father, huh, folks?”
Adam smiled uncertainly in reply. Annabelle grinned widely.
“Now,” continued Cat. “If we only had a mother…”
Annabelle looked offended. “What’s wrong with me? Besides being far too young?”
“Well,” he replied, rubbing his jaw and eyeing her immaculately tasteful dove-gray pants suit, “now that we’ve got a priest and all for a father… For a mother we need someone a little less… slutty.”
Adam stared wide-eyed. But Annabelle only nodded soberly.
“I suppose you’re right,” she replied thoughtfully.
Only then did Adam notice the grins around him.
But Cat was still talking. “…nominate Davette for the job,” he said with a gentle leer.
“Who’s that?” Jack asked.
Carl growled, “Investigative journalism come to save the world from the scam of Vampires$ Inc. What else?”
“
“They all like us. So what.”
“You mean a reporter?” Adam asked.
“That’s what they mean,” Annabelle told them.
“You didn’t talk to them, did you?” cried the priest.
“All day yesterday,” Annabelle replied sweetly. “And some of last night. Interviewed everybody but Jack.” She paused. “And now you, dear.”
Adam looked flabbergasted. Frozen.
Again Team Crow exchanged rolled eyes.
Adam finally spoke. “You didn’t tell them anything…? Did you?”
