Mything Persons

ously happy. Now, it only seemed to complicate things.

"But Chumley was just saying that there's a chance

they might hurt her if they find out she helped us," I ex-

plained desperately. "Can't we just let them all go?"

"Not a chance, partner," Aahz said firmly. "In addi-

tion to our original reasons, you've just mentioned the

new one. Your girlfriend could be in trouble, and the

only way to be sure she's safe is to remove her partners

.. .Fast."

"Believe him, Skeeve," Tananda urged. "It may not

be nice, but it's the best way."

"Really, Boss," Guido said quietly. "Unless we fin-

ish this thing here and now, you're never goin' to know

if she's safe, know what I mean?"

That almost made sense, but I was still worried. "I

don't know, Aahz. ..."

"Well I do," my partner snapped. "And the longer

we stand down here, the more chance there is that

they'll either get away or set up a trap. If you're uncer-

tain, stay down here ... in fact, that's not a bad idea.

Massha, you stay down here with him in case they try to

bolt out this way. While you're waiting, watch for the

witnesses that Vilhelm's supposed to be sending along.

Tananda, you and Chumley and Guido come along with

me. This is a job for experienced hard-cases. Pepe, we

appreciate your help, but this isn't really your fight."

"But of course." The werewolf grinned. "Besides, I

am a lo-var, not a figh-tar. I will wait here to see the

finale, eh?"

"But Aahz.. .."

"Really, partner, you'll be more help down here. This

isn't your kind of fight, and we need someone to deal

with the witnesses. You're good at that kind of thing."

"I was going to ask if you had given the signal to

Vilhelm."

152 Robert Asprin

"S'ignal?" Aahz blinked. "How's this for a signal?!"

With that, he tore off his wig and threw it on the

ground, followed closely by his dress.

"Think he'll get the message? Besides, no way am I

going to try to fight in that get-up."

"Now you're talkin'!" Guido crowed.

In a flash he had discarded his cloak and was pulling

on his now-familiar trench coat.

"Where did that come from?" I demanded.

"Had it with me all the time," the bodyguard said

smugly. "It would have been like leaving an old friend

behind."

"Well, if you and your old friend are ready," Ta-

nanda murmured, "we'd better get started.

"Itching for action?" Aahz grinned.

"No. More like eager to get off the street," she said.

"Since you boys have shown your true colors, we're

starting to draw a crowd."

Sure enough, the vampires on the street had ceased

whatever they had been doing before and were gathering

in knots, whispering together and pointing at our group.

"Umm... we'd better finish this fast," Aahz said,

shooting a nervous glance around. "All right, gang.

Let's go for the gusto!"

"Go for the what?" I asked, but they were already on

their way into the building.

I noticed they were all moving faster than normal. I

also noticed that Massha, Pepe, and I were the only

ones left on the street... and now the crowd was point-

ing at us!

Chapter Eighteen:

"I didn't come all this way to sit out the

fight!"

—R. BALBOA

"WHAT'S going on?"

I looked around to find that one of the vampires had

detached himself from his group of friends and was ad-

dressing me directly.

"Beats me," Massha interceded. "A bunch of off-

worlder types just took off into that building with blood

in their eyes. I'm waiting to see what happens next."

"Far out," the vampire breathed, peering toward the

structure. "I haven't seen that many off-worlders in one

place except in the flickers. Wasn't one of them that

escaped murderer, Aahz?"

I really didn't want this character to join our little

group. While our disguises seemed to be holding up

under casual inspection, I was pretty sure that pro-

longed close scrutiny would reveal not only the non-

local nature of Massha and myself, but also the fact that

we were trying to hide it.

"You may be right," I said, playing a hunch. "If so,

153

Robert Asprin

154

it's a good thing you happened along. We're going to

need all the help we can get."

"Help? Help for what?"

"Why to catch the murderer, of course. We can't let

him get away again. I figure it's our duty to stop him

ourselves or at least slow him up until the authorities ar-

rive."

"We? You mean the three of you? You're going to

try to stop a murderer all by yourselves?"

"Four of us now that you're here."

The vampire started backing away.

"Ummm... actually I've got to get back to my

friends. We're on our way to a party. Sorry I can't help,

but I'll spread the word that you're looking for vol-

unteers, okay?"

"Hey, thanks," I called as if I believed him. "We'll

be right here."

By the time I had finished speaking, he had disap-

peared into the crowd. Mission accomplished.

"Nicely done, my friend," Pepe murmured. "He

does not, how you say, want to get involved, no?"

"That's right," I said, my eyes "on the building again.

"And to tell you the truth, I'm not too wild about the

idea either. What do you think, Massha? It's awfully

quiet in there."

"I'll say," my apprentice agreed. "I'm just trying to