Amish Vampires in Space (57 page)

On the floor near the pens were other creatures. Some seemed more human, with traces of clothing and walking upright. Others seemed less so, moving primarily on all fours. These latter creatures could be the transformed livestock. He could only speculate.

There was a definite odor to the place too. An acidic fecal smell. He didn’t know how the prisoners managed it.

His task seemed impossible now. Singer was right: They should all try to escape while they could. Destroy the ship somehow. This was undefeatable evil.

His eyes returned to the pens of humans. Friends, neighbors. Their children and grandchildren.

He had to try.

He contacted Singer and she directed him to a small cabinet at the far end of the overlook. Inside was the clothing she suggested. There was nothing about it that was Ordnung-approved. “What is this for?”

“It will help with what you have to do,” she said. “Just put it all on.”

He decided not to argue. Nothing was normal anymore and he was already shunned. After he was done, he described what he saw. He even held the com unit up so she and the others could see. His father had once told him stories of monsters. He now knew what those were.

“Okay,” Singer said. “Don’t look at all that. Ignore it. Can you see the control room? Look at the ceiling near the middle of the room. Above the loading slides.”

Jeb looked up at the crisscross of lines. Traces of refinement in a world of chaos. Long, narrow blue pathways. In the exact center he saw a small windowed cube. He described it to her.

“That’s it. Now if you climb out on the rail in front of you…”

“Dear lady?”

“You can do it. Those shoes you put on will help. Above the rail is a short ladder, it leads to the bay’s slide lattice. The conveyors that help load and unload the bay. They are smaller versions of the slides that we use to get around the ship, really, except they aren’t active. You need to get up there. On them.”

Jeb followed Singer’s instructions, reaching first the ladder, and then slowly ascending to the nearest slide. He was now dozens of feet above the ground. Higher than the highest barn he’d ever helped raise. He stepped carefully off onto the slide itself.

It was hard not to focus on the activity in the air around him. Most of the airborne vampire clumps were a fair distance away, but occasionally a creature would flutter his direction. The clothing he wore seemed to reduce their odor somehow, though. For that, he was grateful.

He crawled along the surface of the slide, wishing the sides were higher. Wishing he were a little less exposed. Not far above now was the actual ceiling of the bay. It was a darker blue. Not surprisingly.

A vampire left the large mass to his right, flapped for a few moments, and then swooped past his slide before reaching another mass on the opposite side. Jeb pressed his body low, prayed, and watched that mass for any signs of alarm. There weren’t any, so he continued.

After about twenty feet of crawling, he saw an obstacle in front of him. A three-by-four box. Sealed in white. He put a hand on it, tilted it toward him. It was light enough to move. The space between the slide and the ceiling was tight now, but it was enough to get the box up and around behind him. He gritted his teeth as he lowered it into place. Looking down, he saw the human prison far below. He shook his head. Continued on.

Finally, he saw the control room directly ahead and below. He relaxed a little. He would just have to step forward and drop onto it. He raised himself up. Tried to position himself.

A creature appeared to his right. It hovered, flapping its wings with long strokes. It was looking to avoid the slide, but when it saw him, it screamed. The sound seemed to pound through him. Jeb rolled back, felt the edge of the slide in his side, and tried to push back the other way. He instead slipped off the slide completely, managing to stop himself only by catching the edge with a hand.

Another, smaller creature appeared to his left. It hovered. Wild eyes in a semi-human face examined him. Widened.

Jeb realized that he recognized the face. It belonged to a young girl with blond curls. One Samuel had once questioned about darkness. One who had rightly answered, “None.” Jeb gasped.

Her fanged mouth opened to scream.

Jeb fell.

• • •

Seal felt terrible. Jeb shouldn’t have to do this alone. What he showed them in the bay…it was an impossible task. Even with the little bit of help they’d given him. The directions and supplies. It would never be enough.

Just when it seemed they’d found a solution, another challenge. Another shortcoming. How many miracles did they have to perform?

The company policy said to clear the books on this one. Let insurers and lawyers figure it out. He needed to be here, though. As did Singer. He was glad the boy had gone. Hoped he’d found the others in time.

Greels, Darly…

They needed something beyond themselves. He, Seal, needed that too. Structure brought him only so far.

He felt anger too. No man should have to bear another’s sins. Not like this.

He had more to do. He swiped the desk. Tried to communicate with Greels.

No answer.

• • •

The smell was much more pronounced now. It was like Jeb had accidentally fallen into a pig stall. But worse.

His eyes were squeezed shut. He was trying to understand how he was still alive. The last he remembered, he was falling. But the distance had been dozens of feet. There was no way he could’ve survived. He was sore, though, he realized.

“Jebediah Miller,” a raspy voice said. “You’ve returned. You’ve
found
us.”

He felt a push on his side, but it was strange. Little pain, more momentum. Cushioned. Muted.

He opened his eyes and found one of the vampires standing over him. It was large, with a tattered bright yellow shirt covering a portion of its otherwise hairy chest. The face was leathery but smiling, with bright eyes and mouth hanging open. Long, sharp incisors. There was a familiarity there too. It was someone he had known. Someone from Alabaster.

Jeb sat up, looked his body over. His shoes, cap, gloves—all still in place. Singer said there was something special about the items together. They produced a
field
? The word seemed ambiguous when Englishers used it.

“Are you looking for this?” the creature asked. It held up Jeb’s crossbow, then dangled it by the strap. “Did you make it?”

Jeb squinted. “Abraham?” he said. “Is that you?”

The creature smiled. “Yes, and you know my sons.”

More creatures approached, and each kicked at Jeb with their feet. He felt the impact, but again, it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. As it should’ve been.

The floor around him was littered with refuse. Apparently he’d landed on a great spongy pile of it, he realized. He could see the prisoner pen ahead and to his left. There were some people standing at the fence there. Watching. All looking helpless. Sad.

More vampires encircled him. All seemed remotely recognizable. Abraham’s son, David, was among them. No longer as in charge as he was when last Jeb had seen him. No longer as handsome. Leathery and hairy.

There were females too, barely covered. Slinking and dancing around him. All put out hands or feet. All attempted to scratch or claw, hit, or kick. They growled and screamed.

But few of the attacks got through. He almost laughed. It was like a game. A fight with down pillows.

Eventually the games would end, though. And he doubted the suit’s effects were permanent. Nothing in life was.

Another vampire rushed straight at him, jumped on his back, and attempted to bury its face in his neck. He felt a pinch, but no skin was broken. No blood. The vampire screamed.

“He has something protecting him,” one said. “It is like a feed sack all around him.”

“A device,” someone—no, it was Deacon James—said. “An Englisher device. They have lots of devices.”

“We have devices too,” another said. That one brandished one of the Englisher weapons. Fired it.

Jeb fell to the floor. It hurt, the shot. Hurt a lot. But he was still breathing. Singer’s shield suit protected him again.

“We have a community here, Jebediah,” James said. “One anyone can be a part of. One you’ll never be shunned from. Can never fail.”

“And we’re powerful.” Abraham brought up a hairy fist. “Strong. Better.”

“Don’t you want to join us?” David asked. “There is no Ordnung, few rules. We survive. Multiply. Feast.”

“Join us,” others echoed. “We found you.”

The weapon bolt hit him again. Jeb was thrown forward. He smashed to the floor, a few dozen feet from where the shelters used to be. Next to what was now the largest refuse pile. His knees and back ached. He got up on all fours, then remembered the com unit. He checked that it was still attached to his waist. It was.

“What is the smell?” James asked. “Outside? The one that makes us want to flee? We hate it.”

Jeb managed a smile. “You wouldn’t believe me if told you.”

“We will survive. We will grow. Endure.”

Jeb had a hard time arguing. “Dear Lord…” he breathed.

Another gun rose.

• • •

The door to the shuttle hanger opened, and before them were four of the three-legged landing shuttles. All looked unmolested. There were a couple of uniformed bodies on the floor, though. Security or crewmember types. Not part of the loading team. Not union. That was little comfort, though. Greels didn’t want the Amish kids to see that either. Even if they were Amish.

Anyway, it reminded him of how quick they needed to be. The vampires appeared to be gone now, but he had no confidence that they would stay that way. Better to be off the ship. Safe. He gripped Tenra’s hand, smiled at her. Looked back at the group of Amish that remained. Mostly women and children. And older men.

They’d lost some along the way. A boy had shown up and there had been a conversation. Lots of Lord-this, scripture-that, and Ordnung-whatever. Then some of the more able-bodied had abandoned them. They’d seemed reluctant to leave the ship without knowing where the monsters had gone. Or being certain about the rest of their group. Something.

Greels frowned. The Amish were crazy. Now was not the time for sightseeing.

“Okay, we’re going to make this quick,” he said. “Going to use the first shuttle here. I’m going to open the back door and check that it is clear.” He grinned halfheartedly. “I’ve seen enough horror vids to always check the shuttle first, right?”

The Amish only stared at him.

He snorted, glanced at Tenra. “Look who I’m talking to here…” A shake of his head. “Anyway, when I’m done looking inside, you’re all going to hustle on. Then we’re leaving. No waiting for nothing, understand?”

No one said anything.

Greels nodded. “Good.” No questions was a good sign. He looked at Tenra again. Such a beautiful thing. He could love her forever.

She smiled.

• • •

The abuse seemed to go on forever. He was prodded, kicked, shot, and cajoled. And with every gunshot, the “field” around him seemed to be weakened. Every hit thereafter seemed to be harder. More painful. They had somehow worked their way nearly all the way around the refuse heap—the dwelling area. He could see the doors that left the bay, but they might as well be a mile away. There were dozens of angry vampires between him and the doors.

He also saw a glowing control board there. Wondered if that was what he needed to operate. A few times he felt the com unit move at his hip, but always another attack would come. He thought of Sarah. Of how he hoped she was getting away. She should be safe. And the child. His child.

Funny how the child’s presence had already changed things. Would that it would ever be so.

• • •

Samuel eased himself onto the flying carriage floor. His knees seemed to have worsened while on the leviathan. Even the weapon he’d turned into a walking stick didn’t seem to be much help. And all the running. He wasn’t sure how he’d made it. He wondered if his wife’s aches had gone away with the coming of the fever. With her change. Probably they had. Sin always had its benefits. Its pleasures. All end in death.

Women and children gathered around him. Samuel tipped his head, tried to make room for more on the floor. This was what the Lord had left him with: a smaller flock. Nearly fatherless and lost. Would they even have a home now?

Oh Lord, for even a leaf to keep the sun from my head.
Samuel shook his head. He missed his hat.

This Greels man was already in the front driver’s seat. Samuel could see him through the still open doorway. His illicit female friend was standing near that same door, watching them all. Samuel didn’t approve of her either. Someone who had been frozen and then thawed out? Suspicious.

And also worthy of pity. In need of God’s mercy and justice.

She looked his direction. He made a motion with his hand. Smiled.

She stepped closer. “Yes?”

“Young miss, where will you be taking us?”

Her eyes brightened. “Oh, there’s a nice blue planet not far from here. Lots of people. Clothing, shelter, food. Obelisk. I really like it.” She glanced toward the front, tipped her head thoughtfully. “But mostly we’re getting out of here. Surviving. It is all about survival, right?”

Samuel narrowed his eyes. Didn’t answer, only acknowledged with a nod and a muted thank you.

He felt strange. He bowed his head.

• • •

The com unit fell from his body. It was kicked and then crushed. Jeb hurt all over. He could barely stand.

And the smell was overpowering. Rot and death. Pain and fear. Lust and greed.

“I think your shield is gone now.” Abraham struck him and then bent over him when he fell. Smiled. “And now it is time for you to join us.” He grabbed Jebediah’s right arm. Pulled him up to bring his head near Jeb’s shoulder and neck.

“It should be me first,” James said. “I’m your Deacon.”

“No, me,” David said. “I started all this. Made us a real community.”