.to the door of the mobile home, he knocked once,
.three ‘times, then once again, and let himself in.
He stayed in there for half an hour, emerged
caytng an axe, laid it on the Corvette’s passenger
seat, and got behind the Wheel.
I waited ten minutes after he’d driven away before
walking to thedoor and imitating his knock.
When there was no response, I repeated it. The
door opened. I looked into wide-set eyes the color of
midnight.
“Back so soo–” The straight wide mouth froze
in surprise. She tried to slam the door shut. I put
my foot in and pressed. She pushed back. I got in
and. she edged away from me.
“You!” The girl was wild-eyed and beautiful.
Her flaming hair had been tied up and pinn. ed. A
few fine strands had come loose, haloing the long
supple neck. Two thin hoops pierced each ear. She
wore cut-offs and a white midriff Mouse. Her belly
was tan and flat, her legs smooth and miles-10ng,
tapering to bare feet, She’d painted her fingernails
and toenails hunter green.
-The trailer was partitioned into rooms. We were
in a cramped yellow kitchen that smelled of-mil-dew.
One of the shopping bags had already been
emptied. The other three sat ont.the counter. She
fumbled, in the dish drainer, came up with a plastic-handled
bread knife. ,
. f’Get out of here or I’ll cut you. I swear it!”
“Put it down, Nona,” I said softly. “I’m not here
to hurt you.”
“Bullshit! Just like the others-.” She held the
knife with beth hands. The serrated blade made a
wobbly arc. “Get out!”
“I know what was done to you. Hear me out.”
She went slack and looked puzzled. For a moment
I-thought I’d calmed her. I took a step closer.
Her young’ face contorted with hurt and rage.
She took a deep breath and lunged at me, knife
held high.
I stepped away from the thrust. She plunged the
blade where my thorax had been, sbbed air, and
pitched forward awkwardly, I caught her wrist,
squeezed and shook.
The knife fell, clicking oinst grubby linoleum.
She went for my eyes with long green nails, but I
got hold of both of her arms. She was delicately
built, the bones fragile under smooth soft skin, but
strengthened by anger. She kicked and coiled and
spat, managed to gouge my Cheek. On my bad side.
I felt a warm trail flow ticklishly down the Side of
BLOOD TEST 297
-my face, then a ‘sharp sting.:Burgundy
dotted the floor.
I pinioned her arms to her sides. She went stiff,
Staring at me with the terror of a wounded animal.
Suddenly she darted her face forward. I jerked
back to avoid being bitten. Her tongue snaked out
and caught a droplet of blood on its tip. She ran it
over her lips, rouging them wetly. Forced a smile.
“I’ll drink you,” she said huskily, “Do anything
you want. If you leave afterwards.”
“That’s not what I’m after.”
“It would be if you knew. I can’ make you feel
things you’ve never imagined.” It was a line from a
low:budget skinflick, but she took it seriously, grinding
her pelvis against mine. She licked me once
more ad made a show of swallowing the blood.
“Stop’ it,” I said, arching away.
“Aw, c’mon.” She wriggled. “You’re a hunk. Those
nice blue eyes and all of those thick dark curls. I
bet your cock is just as pretty, huh?”
“Enough, Nona.”
She pouted and kept rubbing against me. Her
skin was saturated with musky dimestore cologne.
“Don’t be angry, Blue Eyes. There’s nothing wrong
with being a big healthy guy with a big gnarly cock.
I can feel it now. Bight there. Oh yeah, it’s big. I’d
love. to play with it. Put it in my mouth. Swallow
you. Drink you.” She batted her lashes. “I’ll take off
my clothes and let you play with me while I do
yOU.”‘
She tried to lick me again. I freed one hand and
slapped her hard across the face.
She reeled backward, stunned, and looked at me
with littlgirl surprise.
298 .lothan Kellenum
I s
ou re a human being,” aid. Not a piece o£