CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

The important thing now was not to pass out. Griffin was tumbling toward the water. Damn, the Deacons were treating them all like rag dolls. No, make that had been treating them that way. Carl had managed to take out the third Deacon. Griffin hoped he had survived the effort. He would check on him as soon as he could, but there were still five of the rotting vampires in action and they were closing on Carter Decamp, who still lay where he had been thrown.

Griffin took a slow breath, feeling his damaged ribs grinding. He pushed the pain aside, the way he had been taught, and got to his feet. For a moment the world swam in his view, but he managed not to keel over. He spotted the ax and limped toward it. Grunting, he stooped and retrieved the weapon. It seemed to weigh about twice as much as it had earlier in the evening.

He stumbled forward, hefting the ax. One of the vampires was far too close to Decamp, and Griffin knew he wasn’t moving fast enough to head him off. At the same moment he realized this he also spotted Decamp’s sword a few feet away. Griffin took a deep, painful breath, lifted the ax above his head, and with an explosive grunt of effort, hurled it end over end. It struck the vampire in the back of the head, cleaving the skull and sending the creature sprawling. Even as he released the ax, Griffin caught up Decamp’s sword and used it to run through another of the creatures who had its back to Griffin.

Two down, but the other three had abandoned Decamp and were heading Griffin’s way. He angled to the right of the closest of the trio, trying not to let them surround him. But his movements were hampered by pain and exhaustion.

The closest vampire, a thin balding man, stopped moving forward and stared at Griffin. He said, “You’re Wade Griffin, aren’t you?”

Griffin nodded. The other two vampires had stopped, perhaps wondering how their companion knew him.

“I’m Ron Phelps. You used to keep the other football players from beating me senseless when we were in high school.”

Griffin had thought the guy looked familiar. He said, “I don’t suppose you’d care to repay the favor.” Anything to buy a little time.

“I would, Wade. I truly would. But the reverend says you’re evil. A tool of the devil.”

Griffin shook his head. “Reverend Cotton thinks anyone who isn’t one of his flock is evil, Ron.” The other two vampires were getting restless. Griffin could see them looking at each other, wondering if they should just run right over their comrade.

“He’s not like that. Reverend Cotton is a good man. He wants to do the Lord’s will.”

Griffin said, “It’s his interpretation of the Lord’s will I have issues with.” Behind the three vampires, Carter Decamp was sitting up and looking directly at Griffin. Griffin was careful not to let his expression change.

“I’m sorry, Wade,” said Ron. “I really am. You were good to me when everyone else treated me like shit, but Reverend Cotton, he saved my soul.”

“Saved? Ron, you’re a fucking vampire.”

One of the other vampires hissed. Ron said, “It’s not like that. Reverend Cotton said some people would think that. We’re not undead. We have eternal life. We’re part of God’s kingdom right here on Earth.”

“Enough,” one of the other vampires said. He was a big one. Had probably been a weightlifter when he was alive. It was hard to tell because most of the flesh had melted from his bones.

Ron said, “I can’t kill this man, Henry. You and Alice will have to do it.”

Henry nodded and one of his eyes slid down his cheek. “We’ll take this burden from you, Ron.” Henry had a slight limp, but seemed otherwise unharmed. The vampire had picked up the ax and though he couldn’t use it as easily, Griffin knew the wiry man was stronger than he looked.

Griffin took a slow breath in through his nose and blew it out and downward through his mouth. Classic martial arts breathing. A way to push back pain and nervousness. The few moments of rest had allowed him to regain a little strength. He said, “Goodbye, Ron.”

“Huh?” Ron said.

Griffin lunged forward and drove the sword through Ron’s heart. He spun as he cleared the blade, shooting between Henry and Alice so that he was behind them. The sword sang again and Henry’s head went flying even as he turned. Decamp struck Alice with the ax before she realized he was there.

Griffin looked at Decamp. “Is that all of them?”

“For the moment,” Decamp said. “Where’s the Sheriff?” Griffin felt a stab of concern. He had forgotten Carl during the fight. “Down near the water. Let’s go check on him.”

Decamp said, “Let’s trade weapons. This thing weighs a ton.”

Not without some reluctance, Griffin handed over the exquisitely balanced sword.