Vampire a Go-Go

FIFTY-FOUR

When the grenade went off, I saw the whole thing. A pretty good show.

The small explosion only damaged the dam a little at first, rocks and dust flying. But Allen had put the grenade in just the right spot. Never underestimate dumb luck. Geysers spouted from the dam, opening fissures. Jackson Fay had a front-row seat when the dam finally broke, tons and tons of water and rock tumbling down on him.

The water swept through the caverns, wrecking Roderick’s machine, smashing lenses, washing away bodies.

The rush of water was so powerful that it even sent the lead box with the philosopher’s stone rolling and tumbling along deep underground caverns, through a shaft that emptied itself into the Vlatva. The box sank into the mud at the bottom of the river.

What happened to it after that, I can’t say. I’ve come to the end of my part in the story.

I didn’t know that at first, but I know it now. I can feel it. I’m going someplace. Events have come to fruition, and I’ve been released. I know now that I’ve waited centuries to finish this, to witness, to tell you about it. I don’t know what happens next.

I see the big, deep gray loom before me, and I’m afraid. I don’t want to go. For hundreds of years I’ve prayed for release, but now I don’t want to go.

I can help you.

Who is this?

You know who this is.

You’re me, aren’t you?

I’m you an hour from now. You know how funny time works here.

What are you doing here?

It was difficult, so I’ve come back to help you.

How can you help?

You need to start thinking. You need to face up to some things. It’ll go quicker if you start now. I resisted, and it took longer. It was… uncomfortable.

What do you mean?

Think about what you’re doing here. Why are you a ghost? What happened?

Nothing happened. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Yes, you do.

Go away. I don’t need your help.

Remember Roderick. Remember how he died, the agony. From exposing himself to the stone.

Is it because of the emperor’s cousin? Am I being punished for that? He died just like the vampire. Because I smudged the lens. Is that it? It was worth it. Rudolph sealed up the caverns after that. He didn’t think the machine worked. It was a good thing. I’m sorry about the emperor’s cousin, but it was good he thought the machine a failure.

You know that’s not what I’m talking about.

I don’t want to speak to you anymore.

Remember Roderick’s agony. How he withered away. You were exposed to the stone too.

Shut up.

You didn’t want to die like that, did you? So much pain.

Shut up!

So what did you do?

I didn’t do anything. Go away.