“What?”
“The chupacabras’s bite has left her unclean. Any mourning will have to take place outside the church.”
Mildred felt her posture tighten as she struggled to contain any outburst. “You believe that crap? Evil or not, the chupacabras is definitely of this earth.”
“What I believe does not matter. The community believes, her own mother believes, and their wishes override my own.”
Mildred continued her examination of the body. There were twin puncture marks at the front of Rosa’s fragile neck, on line with the jugular vein. The tiny wounds were perfect, and almost seemed to have been cauterized. There was no evidence of the usual tearing or mauling that the fangs of a normal predator would have left behind in the child’s flesh.
“Enough. I need some air,” the physician finally said, walking out of the classroom, out of the school, and onto the playground.
“You have examined the body.” Jorge looked down at Mildred who sat and swayed in an old metal child’s swing.
“I have.”
“And…?”
“And I have to say there are oddities here I can’t explain,” Mildred admitted.
“Such as the chupacabras’s bite and the condition of the body.”
“That’s right.”
“My ancestors, they also battled El Chupacabras,” Jorge said easily. “Distant relatives have told me the stories of those who came before, who shared my name and blood.”
“Yet, these bastards didn’t start giving you hell now until a few years ago.”
“That is true, yes.”
“Have you ever wondered what triggered their reappearance?”
“There have been some terrible storms to sweep the island. Perhaps a door-a passageway into our world-was blown open, allowing them access to Puerto Rico once more.”
“And you want Ryan to lead an expedition to close this ‘door.'”
“Close it? I hope with his help to nail it shut and melt the hinges,” Jorge replied.
“All we have is your word on what has been happening here.”
“My word is my word. Soto and me, we do not lie. Question others here in Old San Juan. They will tell you.”
“Oh, I have. I talked with the one person I could get to speak to me. She wouldn’t even say the word chupacabras for fear of bringing one swooping down on her head, but she had a high opinion of you. Not so much of Soto. She thinks he is slightly mad.”
“Aren’t we all, senorital Aren’t we all?”
THE GROUP OF SEVEN FRIENDS gathered that night in the back garden of El Morro, standing and sitting among the lush flowers and bushes. The sky above San Juan Bay was as clear as any the companions had ever seen before and the stars looked down on them impassively, watching, waiting, their starlight having traveled for millions of miles to this last point, burning in time for an eternity over their heads.
“There’s no getting past what’s been said and what’s been shown to us. There are some kind of mutie killers around here. Jamaisvous isn’t worried. He’s hiding up here in his own little world, safe in a fortress. The native Puerto Ricans-the ones still alive in the city and the villes around here-they aren’t so lucky,” Ryan said.
Krysty picked up the discussion. “Soto said the chupacabras started giving them problems about six months after Silas Jamaisvous appeared out of nowhere. They went to the new arrival to ask for help, since Jamaisvous had previously offered food and supplies to any men wanting to work in exchange for assistance.”
“Assistance?” Mildred asked. “I must’ve missed that part.”
Ryan gave the woman a look of grim amusement. “He needed strong backs to do some heavy lifting. Needed wags for transport. Ended up using some gas-powered trucks and-”
The sound of leisurely footsteps alerted them, and they turned their heads to see Jamaisvous stepping down the small maze of steps and into the garden. He was alone, although Ryan had spied movement farther up the walk, indicating that one of the sec men who always seemed to dog the doctor’s heels was close at hand if needed. “Good evening, all.”
“Thanks for the fine meal,” J.B. said. “Really appreciated it.”
“You are more than welcome, Mr. Dix,” Jamaisvous replied, sipping from one of the orange mugs of coffee. “Still, I couldn’t help but overhear you talking as I approached.”