Her Vampyrrhic Heart by Simon Clark Page B

dropped off a fighter.’ Jez groaned with disappointment. ‘Something interesting.’
    â€˜This is interesting … very interesting.’ Kit smiled as if ready to spring an exciting surprise. ‘You should see what’s been filmed by the camera.’
    â€˜A manky squirrel?’ suggested Jez.
    â€˜A one-legged dormouse,’ added Owen.
    â€˜Better than that. In fact, something you’d never guess in a million years.’
    Jez became interested again. ‘Naked people getting rumpy-pumpy in the woods?’
    â€˜Just you wait and see. All I have to do is connect the cable to the television; then I use this chopstick to press a tiny play-button inside the pod.’
    Owen and Jez stared hopefully at the blank television screen.
    Jez grinned. ‘I bet it’s people. Stark naked.’
    â€˜You’ve got a dirty mind,’ Kit told him. ‘In fact, it’s a lot more interesting than bare flesh.’
    Kit poked the chopstick into the pod’s casing. He poked again.
    Jez slapped the arm of the sofa. ‘C’mon, Kit. This suspense is killing me.’
    Kit grunted. ‘Battery’s flat.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜No power.’
    â€˜You mean, you can’t show us what’s been recorded by the camera?’
    â€˜I’m going home.’ Jez stood up.
    Kit disconnected the lead from the pod. ‘The battery’s been damaged. For some reason it discharges even when the camera’s switched off. It’ll only take me twenty minutes to put some juice back into it.’
    â€˜This secret film better be worth the wait,’ grumbled Jez.
    â€˜It is, guys. Believe me: it most definitely is. You’re not going to believe your eyes.’

SIXTEEN
    â€˜T om, you said it couldn’t hurt me … well, it went and hurt you.’
    Tom Westonby looked up at the beautiful woman who spoke to him. The dark skin contrasted so strikingly with the blue eyes.
    â€˜Tom, can you understand what I’m telling you?’
    He nodded. A ferocious ache in his neck made him flinch.
    â€˜Do you remember? You said the man wouldn’t do anything to us if we kept walking. You were so wrong. He knocked you clean across the path. After that, he pushed your face into the river and half-drowned you. If I hadn’t been there you’d be dead now.’
    Tom rubbed his aching head. His hair was damp. A towel lay on the arm of the chair. Had she dried his hair? Evidently so. He saw half a cup of coffee on the table beside him, and though he could taste coffee on his lips he didn’t remember drinking any.
    â€˜Nearly drowned?’ he echoed as her words sank in. ‘Were you hurt?’
    â€˜I’m fine. But I had to yell and fight the guy who tried to murder you. Finally, I got him to scoot.’
    â€˜Bravo.’ OK, maybe not the perfect response. This groggy feeling made thinking difficult. He tried again. ‘Thanks. You saved my life.’
    â€˜The cottage was closer than my car, so I decided to get you back here.’
    He groaned as he sat up straight in the armchair. This felt like the meanest of hangovers.
    â€˜Try not to move. You’ve been unconscious for the last ten minutes.’
    â€˜Did you get a clear look at who attacked me?’
    June Valko shook her head. ‘When he pounced, the torch went flying away into the bushes. I decided to fight the monster off before getting the light back, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to give the police a description. It was too dark to see much.’
    â€˜Monster? You said monster?’
    â€˜Figure of speech. Monster, psycho, weirdo, nut-job. He must be one of those to just dive on you like that. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he’d gone totally berserk.’
    â€˜He didn’t try and attack you?’
    She gave a grim smile. ‘No, it was your blood he wanted.’
    â€˜Thank God you know how to fight.’
    â€˜Or