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Chapter 4
HesatdownnexttoRitawhereshewassquattinginahollowonthegroundandlookedupattheskyasthoughheweretryingtopickshapesoutoftheclouds.Rightinfrontthem,ajavelin,screamingitshigh-pitchedwail,shotintotheground.Thickblacksmokebillowedfromtheimpactcrater.ImagesofPittsfieldburningagainstaredskyfilledRita’sthoughts.
HendricksknewhehadtowalkRitabackfromwherevershewas."MymotheroncetoldmethatinpartsofChina,theymixanimalbloodwiththeirtea."
Ritacouldn’tspeak.Herthroatwassandpaper,andshedoubtedwhethershecouldevenmanagetoswallow.
Hendrickswenton."Thenomadstherecanallridehorses.Men,women,eventhechildren.IntheMiddleAges,itwastheirmobilitythatenabledthemtoconquerthebulkofEurasia.NotevenEuropewasspared.Theycamefromtheeast,movingthroughonecountryafteranother-savageforeignerswhosippedbloodfromteacups-drawingnearerandnearer.It’senoughtogiveyounightmares.SomepeoplethinkitwasactuallythoseChinesenomadswhogaverisetothevampirelegendsofEasternEurope."
"…Lieutenant?"
"Mylittlestoryboringyou?"
"I’mallrightnow,Lieutenant.I’msorry.Itwon’thappenagain."
"Hey,weallneedabreaksometimes.Especiallyinamarathonlikethis.Justalittlemore,it’llbetimetohittheshowers.Ipromise."Hefinishedspeakingandmovedontothenextsoldier.Ritarejoinedthefray.
Andthenshesawit.OneMimicthatstoodoutfromtherest.
