"Kim Newman - Castle In The Desert-Anno Dracula 1977" - читать интересную книгу автора (Newman Kim)

Racquel Ohlrig (who had wanted to call herself Amber Valentine) act, and she was on the Sonny
Tufts side of plain rotten.


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"Khorda," I said, more to myself than Junior. "That's a start. I'll do what I can."




·····

Mojave Wells could hardly claim to come to life after dark, but when the blonde viper slid out of
the desert dusk, all four living people in the diner—Mom and Pop behind the counter, a trucker and
me on stools—turned to look. She smiled as if used to the attention but deeming herself unworthy
of it, and walked between the empty tables.

The girl wore a white silk minidress belted on her hips with interlocking steel rings, a blue
scarf that kept her hair out of the way, and square black sunglasses. Passing from purple twilight
to fizzing blue-white neon, her skin was white to the point of colorlessness, her lips naturally
scarlet, her hair pale blonde. She might have been Racquel's age or God's.

I had come to the desert to find vampires. Here was one.

She sat at the end of the counter, by herself. I sneaked a look. She was framed against the "No
Vipers" sign lettered on the window. Mom and Pop—probably younger than me, I admit—made no move to
throw her out on her behind, but also didn't ask for her order.

"Get the little lady whatever she wants and put it on my check," said the trucker. The few square
inches of his face not covered by salt-and-pepper beard were worn leather, the texture and color
of his cowboy hat.

"Thank you very much, but I'll pay for myself."

Her voice was soft and clear, with a long-ago ghost of an accent. Italian or Spanish or French.

"R.D., you know we don't accommodate vipers," said Mom. "No offense, ma'am, you look nice enough,
but we've had bad ones through here. And out at the castle."

Mom nodded at the sign and the girl swivelled on her stool. She genuinely noticed it for the first
time and the tiniest flush came to her cheeks.

Almost apologetically, she suggested, "You probably don't have the fare I need?"

"No, ma'am, we don't."

She slipped off her stool and stood up. Relief poured out of Mom like sweat.