"All right, I've had about enough!" said Wyrdrune.

'Take it easy, kid," said Makepeace.

"Damn it, we haven't-got time to take it easy!" Wyrdrune shouted in reply.

"And

we haven't got the time to waste trying to convince a stupid cop who can't

see

his own damn nose in front of his face! People are dying!"

"'E's got a point, y'know," said Billy. He went over to where the astonished

Blood sat on the floor, holding his chest and staring at them. "Look, Mick,

what's it gonna be, 'ey? You in or out?"

Blood looked at them, shifting his gaze quickly from one face to another.

They

were all watching him intently. At first they had seemed like some sort of

thaumaturgical bohemians. a gang of colorful dropouts who had banded together

like magic-using Gypsies, not above bending the truth or breaking the law.

Who

could take such an assemblage seriously? He looked down at his chest again.

It

was if he had been shot at close range, only without having a bullet actually

penetrate. The fabric of his shirt was smoking slightly, and he realized that

Wyrdrune just as easily could have killed him.

"You don't understand, Michael," Kira said gently. "I've been trying to

explain

it to you. What you're up against is something more powerful than you could

possibly imagine. Something that isn't even human. It's a nightmare. You

haven't

seen anything yet. It's only getting started. Believe me, without us, you

haven't got a prayer."

CHAPTER EIGHT

You really ought to come, old boy," Hastings had y told him. "A night out

would

do you a world of good. Take your mind off your troubles."

"I don't know, Jeremy," he'd said, "but I'm not really up to it, especially

after what's happened. Besides, I've never really gone in for these society

things. Word is this Carfax chap is rather on the young and energetic side.

Wild

parties, loud music, young girls, all that sort of thing. Not really my cup

of

tea, you know. A bit too old for that. I don't think I'd quite fit in."

'Too old? Good Lord, Royce, you're the same age as I am! Anyway, it's all in

the

attitude, old boy! All in the attitude! What's the matter, don't you like

young

girls?" Hastings had said half jokingly.

"Oh, Jeremy, honestly..."

"You make it sound as if I'm inviting you to some damn orgy, for God's sake.