Сумерки

           "Hejustcelebratedhisthreehundredandsixty-secondbirthday,"Edwardsaid.Ilookedbackathim,amillionquestionsinmyeyes.

           Hewatchedmecarefullyashespoke.

           "CarlislewasborninLondon,inthesixteen-forties,hebelieves.Timewasn’tmarkedasaccuratelythen,forthecommonpeopleanyway.ItwasjustbeforeCromwell’srule,though."

           Ikeptmyfacecomposed,awareofhisscrutinyasIlistened.ItwaseasierifIdidn’ttrytobelieve.

           "HewastheonlysonofanAnglicanpastor.Hismotherdiedgivingbirthtohim.Hisfatherwasanintolerantman.AstheProtestantscameintopower,hewasenthusiasticinhispersecutionofRomanCatholicsandotherreligions.Healsobelievedverystronglyintherealityofevil.Heledhuntsforwitches,werewolves...andvampires."Igrewverystillattheword.I’msurehenoticed,buthewentonwithoutpausing.

           "Theyburnedalotofinnocentpeople-ofcoursetherealcreaturesthathesoughtwerenotsoeasytocatch.

           "Whenthepastorgrewold,heplacedhisobedientsoninchargeoftheraids.AtfirstCarlislewasadisappointment;hewasnotquicktoaccuse,toseedemonswheretheydidnotexist.Buthewaspersistent,andmorecleverthanhisfather.Heactuallydiscoveredacovenoftruevampiresthatlivedhiddeninthesewersofthecity,onlycomingoutby

           nighttohunt.Inthosedays,whenmonsterswerenotjustmythsandlegends,thatwasthewaymanylived.