As they paid their check and headed for the door, Claire overheard one of the vampires saying to another, Did you understand what she said?
And the other vampire said, She was screaming that it was all wrong.
What was all wrong?
I dont know, he said, and shrugged. The world? Shes off her head.
And once again, Claire felt that shiver.
Something wasnt right in Morganville.
She just knew it.
She woke up early the next morning, and felt as if she couldve slept for a dozen more days. Nobody else was stirring, and Claire decided not to wake them up; she showered and dressed as quietly as possible, and sneaked out the front door while the mist was still on the ground outside, and the sun was just coming up.
Morganville was pretty at this time of daystill, quiet, cleaner somehow than it seemed in full light. Shed always liked early mornings here better than any other time.
Mostly, though, she liked the fact that sunrise signaled most vampires to head for their beds. Except Myrnin, who hardly ever seemed to rest at all.
She walked the streets as lights came on in houses, cars began to move again, and people started their usual days. A construction crew had gotten busy early, lots of guys in flannel shirts, jeans, and work boots hammering and sawing in the clean morning light. It felt . . . new. And good.
There was a car parked in the middle of the street up ahead. Claire frowned and slowed, watching itit wasnt pulled to the curb; it was just sitting there, blocking whatever traffic might eventually come by. As she watched, a girl only a little older than she wasmaybe nineteen or twentyopened the drivers-side door and got out. She stood there next to the car, looking around.
It was eerily familiar. It was like Alex, sitting by the side of the road, seeming so lost.
But this girl had clearly been heading somewhere. She was dressed for an office. Claire could see a laptop and a purse in the passenger seat. And there was a sealed cup steaming the scent of coffee into the air from the cup holder in the door.
The girl caught sight of Claire, and waved her over. Claire hesitated, remembering what kind of reception shed had from Alex, but finally went. She stopped out of grabbing range and said, Are you having car trouble? Because that made the most sense, obviously.
The girl looked at her and said, I cant find my moms office.
I . . . Excuse me?
I know its around here somewhere. My God, I go there all the time! Its ridiculous! Look, can you help me?
Uh . . . sure, Claire said cautiously. Whats the name of the office?
Landau Realty.
Claire had never heard of it. Youre sure its around here?
Im sure. It was right there. But the signs gone, and theres nobody inside. Ive been up and down the street. Theres not even a note. Its ridiculous! I was there yesterday!
A man came out of another building down the street, carrying a briefcase. The girl yelled at him. Hey, mister! Wheres Landau Realty? Did they move?
He hesitated, frowning, and then walked over, tucking his newspaper under his arm. Excuse me?
Landau Realty, the girl repeated. God, really? Has everybody gone crazy?
Youre . . . Laura, right? Iriss daughter?
Yes! Yes, Iris is my mom. Laura breathed a huge sigh of relief. Now were getting somewhere. Look, her office was right here, and I dont understand. . . .
The man was looking at her very oddly. He also looked at Claire, as if she ought to be doing something. She had no clue. Finally, he cleared his throat and said, Laura, lookI dont know what happened, but you know where your mom is. She . . . she died last year. The office was closed up. I attended the funeral. So did you.
Laura stared at him, wide-eyed, and shook her head. No. No, thats not true. Id remember
She stopped. Just . . . stopped. It was like someone hit a reset button in her head, because all of a sudden she looked older, and her face just crumpled with the weight of misery. Oh, God, she said, and put both hands to her mouth. Oh, God, I remember that. I rememberWhat was I thinking? Why did I . . . ? Oh, God, Mom . . . She burst into tears and got back into her car, slamming the door as she fumbled for a tissue out of her purse.
The man hesitated, then decided he really didnt want to hang around to be a shoulder to cry on. He walked away quickly, like whatever had gotten into Laura might be contagious.
Claire hesitated. She felt like she ought to do something, but suddenly getting to Myrnins lab seemed much more important.
Her conscience was cleared by Laura Laudau blowing her nose, wiping her eyes, putting her car in drive, and heading off down the street, still crying.
Something was very, very wrong.
Its the machine, Claire thought.
It had to be the machine.
When she went to see Myrnin about it, though, things didnt go as shed planned. Not at all.
First, as she descended the stairs, she found that the lights were all off. That wasnt like him; Myrnin had no real concept of energy conservation, and he couldnt be bothered to turn things off if they were already on. Power failure, Claire thought, but when she located a switch on the wall and threw it, all the sconces on the walls lit up with a reassuring golden glow, spilling color and life through the room.
Myrnin was lying stretched out on one of the lab tables, wearing a crimson dressing gown that had seen better daysat least fifty years ago. His eyes were closed, and he seemed . . . dead. Asleep? But Myrnin didnt sleep, not really. Shed seen him nap occasionally, but hed wake at the slightest sound.
Shed just clomped down the steps and switched on the lights, and he hadnt moved.
Myrnin? She said it reasonably loudly, but he didnt stir. Myrnin, are you okay? She was getting a sick, strange feeling about this. He looked . . . posed, almost. Like a corpse laid out for burial.
After what seemed like an eternity, his eyelids slowly raised, and he stared blankly at the roof of the lab. I think I was dreaming, he said. His voice sounded drugged and slow. Was I dreaming? He turned his head and looked at her with strange, luminous eyes. I thought you were gone.
I went home, she said, and her uneasiness intensified to a prickling all over her skin. Dont you remember?
No, he said softly. No, I dont remember. Ive been feeling . . . tired. I wish I could sleep. Sleep must be a very nice thing. In the same distant, contemplative voice, he said, I loved her, you know.
Claire opened her mouth, then closed it without saying anything. Myrnin didnt seem to care either way. I loved her and I destroyed her. Dont you ever wish you could take something back, Claire? Something terrible that you wish never happened?
He really wasnt well. She just knew it. She could feel it. Maybe I should call Dr. Mills, Claire said. Or Theo. You like Theo. You can talk to him.
I dont need a doctor. Im perfectly fine. I checked my blood for any signs of degeneration, and Im free of any sign of the disease that afflicted us before. He shut his eyes again. Im just tired, Claire. Tired and . . . tired of everything. Its a mood. It will pass. To prove it, he sat up and hopped off the lab tablefrom depressed to manic in one leap. His heart wasnt in it, but he rubbed his hands together and smiled at her. Now. What do you have for me, my little mechanic?
She hated to say it now, because she knew it was absolutely the worst time to try to talk to him, but she had no real choice. I think theres something wrong with the machine, she said. I think maybe we did something wrong.
His eyes opened very wide. And why would you say such a thing? Ive run all the tests, I tell you. Theres nothing wrong.
Its not something thats obvious; its just that She couldnt quite think how to phrase it, so she just blurted it out. People are acting crazy. I think its the machine.
Dont be ridiculous. Its not the machine; it cant be, Myrnin said. Dont be so overdramatic, Claire. People in Morganville regularly go around the twist, normally in fairly spectacular ways. Its really not all that unusual. Perhaps its unusual to see so many acting oddly at once, but odder things have happened here. He smiled and spread his hands. There. All explained. No cause for alarm.
Wellbut there was this boy, Alex. I saw him yesterday morning. He didnt know where he was. It was really weird, and he was really upset.
Dont young men these days constantly seek new ways to obliterate their brains? They certainly did in my day, although the most they had to work with were fermented beverages and exotic herbs. Young Alex almost certainly had a blackout that can be perfectly explained by drugs and alcohol. Myrnin turned away to pick up his Ben Franklin spectacles, balanced them on his nose, and looked over them to say, Dont do drugs. I feel I ought to say that.
I dont, Claire said, exasperated, and sat down across from him on a pile of boxes. Okay, then, never mind Alex. Michael actually thought I was his mother! How weird is that?
Hmm. Less explainable, but when did this happen?
Yesterday morning.
Dont you ever wake up and think yourself in a different place, a different time? It happens to vampires fairly often, actually. It even happens to me occasionally, when I manage to sleep. Myrnin studied her for a few long seconds. Hes fine now, I assume.
Claire hesitated, then had to nod. Michael had been absolutely normal ever since. So maybe she was putting things together that didnt belong. It might even explain the vamp in the diner, if vampires were prone to sleepwalking. . . . There was another one at the hospital, Claire said. He said he was a doctor, but he wasnt. Michael said later that he used to be a doctor, before he had a breakdown.
Aha, a breakdown. I believe that might be called a clue.
It was so frustrating. She just knew . . . but Myrnins arguments were so logical and practical that she felt stupid. And this morning, she said. Laura Landau. She was looking for her moms office. But her moms been dead for a year. And Laura went to the funeral and everything. It was like she just woke up and . . . forgot.
That made Myrnin pause for a moment, considering. He touched his earlobe, tugged it, and finally said, I acknowledge that I have no explanation for that. Ill run another set of diagnostics and review the logs, I promise you, but I cant see any way that these incidents could be connected with our efforts. The machine is designed to have an effect outside of town, not inside. I can assure you that, strange as this may seem, it could be complete coincidence.
Are you sure? she asked. Are you really, totally sure?
Yes, he said. I am sure. I double-checked everything after you went home yesterday. I even made a few improvements, just in case.
The first part of that reassured her. The second part . . . not so much. What kind of improvements?
Oh, nothing, really. Mostly just streamlining. You really did very well; I certainly dont want you to think that I am one of those people who has to be in control all theOh, well, I suppose thats actually trueI do have to be in control all the time. But only because I am in charge, of course. His manic chatter wasnt fooling her; there was a strange look in his eyes, and something was off about his behavior, too. Its all fine, Claire. You should just leave it to me.
She swallowed a mouthful of dread. Can I take a look? Not that I dont trust you. Only because Im really worried about my friends.
Arent I your friend? he asked, very softly. There was a cold light in his eyes, something that seemed so alien to her, it was like seeing him possessed. Friends trust each other. Theres nothing wrong with the machine. In fact, for the first time in years, I actually feel . . . rested. I feel better.
But five minutes ago hed said he was tired. This was scaring her. Myrnin, you are my friend, but theres something not right about this. Please. Let me see it.
He debated it for a moment, and then nodded. The cold light was gone from his eyes when he blinked, and his body language shifted back, subtly, to the Myrnin she knew. Of course you can. Im sorry. I dont know what I was thinking. Well, I moved it downstairs and installed it below, he said. Ill show it to you just this once. I put in safety protocols to protect it against any unauthorized tampering, so be warned. I dont want you down there alone, all right?
All right, she said. The safety protocols were, no doubt, something that would eat her or burn her face off. She wasnt eager to go poking around downstairs. I just wont feel good about it until I check for myself.
He tapped his pen on his lips. I heard your father is unwell.
Hes in the hospital. They . . . they were moving him and my mom today to Dallas, to a heart hospital.
And yet youre here, talking to me about all these vague suspicions, he said. I would have thought that youd be at his side, still.
She felt terrible the instant he said it; shed been feeling guilty about it all morning, but her dad had texted her at four a.m. and said, No need to come, theyre already getting me ready. Love you, sweetheart. And shed texted him back first thing when she woke up, but the ambulance had already left.
Hes already gone, she said. And I want to make sure this thing didnt make him sick in the first place. That was a little more of an attack than shed planned, but she did mean it.
He stood there watching her in silence, and then bowed his head. Perhaps I deserved that, he said. I havent been myself; I know that. But I know the machine is working correctly. I can feel it. Cant you?
I cant feel anything, Claire said. I wish I could.
He led the way to the trapdoor in the back of the lab, and she stood back while he entered the code and pressed his hand to the plate. The hatch popped open with a hiss of escaping cool air.
Right, down you go, Myrnin said, and, without any warning at all, grabbed hold of her, wrapped his arms around her, and jumped into the dark.
It wasnt a long fall, but it was way longer than shed ever like to jump by herself. Myrnin landed with hardly a jolt. For a second, he held on to her, which made her feel . . . weird, in a lot of wrong ways. And then all of a sudden he let go and was across the room, turning on overhead lights with the flip of a switch. I really ought to install one of those marvelous things. You know, the ones that turn the lights on when you clap?
You could get motion sensors.
Where would the fun be in that? This way. Stay close. There are a few new things lying around that it wouldnt be good for you to, ah, encounter.
Right. Myrnin was the master of understatement, because from what Claire had seen of his downstairs playhouse, it was full of things that no sane person would want to run into. And now there were new things.
Claire stayed so close she might as well have been grafted to him. He seemed back to normal now, which was a relief.
At the end of a long, rough-hewn tunnel studded at not-very-regular intervals with lights lay a big, open cave that held the remains of the computer Claire had once known as Ada. Ada had been mostly machine, but partly vampire: Myrnins former vampire lab assistant, andalthough Myrnin never quite got around to telling the detailsalmost certainly his girlfriend, too, at some point. But Ada, like the rest of the vampires in Morganville, had contracted a disease that had made her slowly go insaneand unlike the rest of the vampires, they hadnt been able to treat her. It hadnt been so much the disease, Claire thought, as being stuck inside that mechanical thing without a body that had finally driven her completely crazy.
Ada was gone now, but the whole idea of her still scared Claire.
Her instant impression, when Myrnin turned on the overhead lights in the cave, was that Ada was back. The tangle of pipes, wires, hoses, screens, and keyboards that sprawled over half the cave was working again, hissing steam, clanking as its gears turned.
The screens on the sides of it were all dark. The one in the middle showed Claires custom graphic interface, the one that had been hooked up to the parts on the lab table.
As she studied it, she realized that the parts she and Myrnin had developed and tested were actually welded into the machine, just below the big, clumsy typewriter-style keyboard. Liquid bubbled. Steam escaped in wisps of mist. She could see the clockworks turning.
Its working just fine, Myrnin said, and walked to the screen. It was a bizarrely out-of-place touch of high tech among all the retro brass and tubes. Here, Ill show you. He deftly brought up the system logs and dials, and just as he said, there was nothing odd about how it was performing. Well, for a machine that killed car engines on command, and changed the memories of those who drove past the borders of town.
Changed the memories. Alex had forgotten where he was. Michael had called her his mom. Laura had thought her own mother was still alive.
Claire knew she was looking at the core of the problem, whatever the problem really meant. But until she had proof, solid proof, there was no way Myrnin would believe her. He was feeling too fragile.
Can you show me what improvements you made to it? she asked. He gave her a frowning look, and she forced a smile. I just want to learn. You know, understand what it was I left out.
That soothed him a little. He started to touch the mechanism under the keyboard, then pulled his hand back with a snap. Ah, he said. Must deactivate the security. . . . Turn around, please.
What?
Turn around, Claire. Its a secure password!
You have got to be kidding.
Why ever would I joke about that? Please turn.
It was stupid, because she could always figure out Myrnins passwords; she didnt think he ever used more than three, and they were all ridiculously simple. He didnt remember his own birth date, so he didnt use that, but he either used his name, Amelies name, or Adas.
She tried to count key clicks, but vampires typed really fast.
Done, he said. She turned; nothing looked any different. He pointed at a tiny LED diode on the corner of the keyboard. Green means its off. Red means its armed. Dont get them confused.
She sighed and shook her head, then got on her hands and knees and crawled under the keyboard with him. It was murky underneath, but she could just make out what he was touching. It occurred to me that we could control the reaction in our departing guests more finely, he said. I installed a variable switch. Should you wish to take more of their memories, you simply turn it up. It can be targeted to an individual, you see, or set as the general field around the town. But only outside of the borders.
Whats it set on right now?
Three years. According to my research, most who leave Morganville do it within three years. We can, of course, exempt certain people from the effects if we choose.
Claires mouth went dry. What about my mom and dad? Did you
Oliver brought me the waivers last night, and I programmed in their exceptions, he said, and met her eyes in the dim, flickering light. Your parents will remember everything. Thats a risk, a great risk. It would be safer, and kinder, if I had been allowed to take their burdens away.
They wont remember that Im here if you do that. Theyll think I She could hardly bear to say it out loud. Theyll think I ran away. Or that Im dead.
He kept staring into her eyes. She couldnt read his expression at all. And you dont think that would be kinder, in the end?
No, she snapped. Why would you?
He didnt answer, just slithered out from under the console. Before she could get out, hed tapped his password in again. The LED on the keyboard glowed red.
Dont touch it, Myrnin said, and there was a certain chill in his voice she hardly recognized. Only I can alter the machine from this point on. I dont want you down here. Do you understand?
Yes.
From now on, the machine is my responsibility, Myrnin said. Only mine.
That did not make her feel any better. Claire swore to herself that she was going to figure out the password. She had to understand what was going on, and somehow, this machine was the key.
Everything seemed quiet the rest of the morning. Claire walked home, after promising Myrnin shed deliver doughnuts the next day. She didnt see any crazy people, or even confused people. Everyone seemed to have a purpose and understand where they were going.
Was it possible that shed really just blown it all out of proportion because she was so scared by the fate of poor, doomed Kyle, and so tired from the brutal repair session on the machine? Things looked different today. Better, somehow. She felt a little foolish, really, after shed stopped in a couple of stores and talked to perfectly normal (for Morganville) people, who didnt seem to have noticed anything odd at all.
Outside of the used bookstore, she ran into another familiarand unwelcomeface. He stepped out of the mouth of an alley in front of her, keeping to the shadows, and she pulled herself to a sudden halt as she realized that she was facing Frank Collins.
Shanes dad looked just the same as beforepale, with that scar disfiguring his face. She couldnt tell what he was thinking or feeling, but he looked menacing as hell. It was his default expression.
Stay away from me, Claire said, and started to walk around him. He stepped in her path. She went off the curb into the sunlight, and that stopped him. Just leave us alone, okay?
I need to talk to my son, Frank said. I need to explain some things. He trusts you.
Yeah, and I dont trust you. Why should I?
I saved your life, Frank said. That ought to buy me a few minutes of your time.
Well, it doesnt, Claire said, and kept on walking. Dont follow me anymore.
He stood there watching her go, and when she finally looked back at the corner, he was gone. She shivered. There was something feral about Frank Collins now, something that made her hope she never ran into him in the dark.
She decided not to tell Shane about any of it.
She got a call from her mother just as she entered the swinging gate in the picket fence around the Glass House, and sat down on the steps in the warm sun to talk. Her dad was in the hands of some of the most expert heart doctors in the world, Mom assured her. He was resting comfortably, and shed checked into a hotel nearby. Oliver had sent money to allow them to get an apartment until her father was well enough, and then hed promised to refund the money theyd spent on the house in Morganville, although Mom was still hell-bent on coming back as soon as Dad was out of the woods.
It seemed very out of character for Oliver to do something that nice; Claire thought it had probably been an order, a pointed one, from Amelie, and shed made Oliver do it because she wanted him to remember who was in charge. She and Oliver were often like thatOliver wasnt a comfortable choice for her second in command, but he was good at it. He just didnt think he deserved to be only second, and Amelie had to watch her back with him, always.
It felt good to hear her mothers voice sound so strong and confident for a change. Her parents hadnt been right, here. The stress had hurt her dad, and her mom had . . . withered, somehow. Shed always been strong out there, but in here shed seemed weak and lost.
This was better. Claire had to believe that it was better.
Should I come this weekend? she asked. To see Dad?
Maybe give it another week, honey; hes still going through a lot of tests with these new doctors. Im sure hed like to wait and see you once hes not being pulled away for new adventures in science every few minutes.
Are you doing okay?
Of course I am, Claire. This isnt the first time hes been in the hospital, and Im booked in a very nice hotel. They even have a spa. I might just go get a massage later.
You should, Claire said. You really should. You deserve it, Mom.
Her mother laughed a little. Oh, baby, you are the sweetest girl in the world. The laughter faded. I hate to see you stay there. You put yourself at so much risk. But I promise you we will come back for you. Im not leaving you alone there.
Im not alone; I have lots of friends. And Id risk a lot more right now if I tried to leave; you know that. Its better if I stick it out here for a while. I can learn a lot from Myrnin, anyway. Hes better than a whole roster of teachers at MIT. When hes sane, she thought but didnt say.
And MIT doesnt have Shane, her mother said dryly. Yes, I know. Believe me, I know. When I met your father I would have done anything to stay with him. Everyone thought I was crazy, too. But, sweetie, you have to promise me that youll call me every day.
Mom! Every day? How many minutes do you think I have on this cell phone?
Well, then, at least every few days. And absolutely once a week, no matter what. If I dont hear from you
I know, youll send the National Guard.
Thats my girl, her mom said, and made kissy noises. I love you, honey. Stay safe.
You, too, Claire said. I love you both very much.
She hung up and sat there in the sun for a little while longer, thinking. She felt alone in a way that she hadnt before; although shed worried about her parents, felt that they were a burden to her here, there had been something weirdly comforting about knowing they were only across town. That she wasnt on her own, not really.
She wondered if this was what it felt like to really, truly grow up.
Being alone.
Eventually, that feeling faded, mostly because the day felt wonderful sitting outsideit was deliciously warm in the sun. She thought about dragging out a lounge chair and reading in the glow, but that seemed like a lot of work. Instead, she leaned back against a pillar on the porch, closed her eyes, and took a nap.
When she woke up, she smelled tacos. Really smelled them, as if she was sleeping in a taco store. She came awake, stomach rumbling, and opened her eyes to see a plate being held right under her nose.
When she reached for it, Shane snatched it back. Nuh-uh. Mine.
Share! she demanded.
Man, you are one grabby girlfriend.
She grinned. It always made her feel so fiercely warm inside to hear him say thatthe girlfriend part, not the grabby part. If you love me, youll give me a taco.
Seriously? That all you got? What about youll do sexy, illegal things to me for a taco?
Not for a taco, she said. Im not cheap.
Theyre brisket tacos.
Now youre talking.
He held the plate out, and she took one. He took another, sank down next to her on the steps, and they munched in silence, enjoying the day. Hed brought cold Cokes, too. She popped the top on hers and tried to sneak a second tacohed brought six, after all. She managed, but just barely. When she went for the third one, Shane put down the plate and tackled her to the grass, and she used their momentum to keep them rolling until she came out on top.
He didnt fight, exactly. He looked surprised, but pleased. Well, he said. Thats new. Now what, cowgirl?
Now I get the rest of your tacos, she said, and leaned forward to brush her lips teasingly against his. And maybe your Coke. And maybe something else.
What else? Youve cleaned me out. I dont have dessert, he murmured. The words were coming from somewhere deep in his throat, a kind of growling purr that made her feel nuclear hot inside. Unless you were thinking
I dont know; what am I thinking? She smiled slowly at the look in his eyes, and felt absolutely wicked. Any guesses?
I think I just became psychic, he said. Holy crap.
Romantic.
You want romantic? Date
She put two fingers on his lips, hushed him, and then kissed him, long and warm, with tongue. When she was finished, she let him breathe. You were saying?
Not a damn thing, he said, and used both hands to hold her hair back from her face. Howd you get to be so good at this?
I had a good teacher.
Better not have been Myrnin or Ill have to kick his predatory ass.
I mean you, dummy.
Oh. He kissed her back, and somehow they rolled over again, and this time she was on the bottom. It could have felt like suffocation, but he was good at this. It just felt . . . sexy. How am I doing now?
Im learning all the time.
Well, youre a scholar. He trailed a finger down her neck, into the open part of her shirt, to where the first button held it closed. It felt like every nerve in her body paid attention to that, to the pressure, the slow speed at which his finger moved, the tug of fabric where he stopped. Oh, damn, sorry. The button slipped out of the hole. Youre undone.