Vampire Hunter D Volume 18- Fortress of the Elder God Read Online Free

him quiet.”
    “Don’t give civilians more information than they need, sheriff,” the policeman said, stopping him. “This guy has a strange air about him. He’s no ordinary traveler. What are you, anyway? And what are you doing out here?”
    “My horse has expired. As for my line of work—”
    “He’s a Vampire Hunter.”
    The world was robbed of every last sound. As they all stared at D, not even the wind whispered in their ears. At that moment, they all thought, Yes, that’s exactly what he is.
    D’s eyes turned to the man who’d spoken.
    “Vampire Hunter D, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m—”
    “Bierce the warrior—I’ve heard of you.”
    “Then that’s an even greater honor,” Bierce said, a grin surfacing on his bearded face and then vanishing.
    The Vampire Hunter’s meeting with the warrior ended there.
    D casually turned to the policeman, who backed away.
    “I—um, I’m Officer Weizmann, on prisoner-escort duty for the Ministry of Police.”
    “Get out of here quick,” D said. He was facing east. His tone suggested he didn’t have an iota of interest in anyone in the group. “The enemy will be here soon. Any talk of this place being safe is mistaken.”
    “Really?” the sheriff said, looking all around.
    “Don’t give us that crap. We don’t see anything here,” the squinting Weizmann protested, having circled around in front of the Hunter.
    “Have it your way.”
    And leaving them with this remark, D started to walk off.
    “Hold up—me and Maria are going with you!” Jan shouted, but D didn’t stop.
    “Just a minute. Don’t go speaking for me,” Maria said, her breath reeking of alcohol.
    “Hey, I know what I’m talking about here. I’ve been doing what I do for ten years now. When things get hairy, I know who you can count on. And without a doubt, it’s that guy. C’mon, kid. Come with us.”
    Toto didn’t move. The beauty that had brought back the boy’s humanity for a brief moment was now a good fifty yards ahead of them.
    Jan had no problem cutting him loose.
    “Okay, it’s your funeral. Someone look after this kid. He’s in your hands. Hey, anyone else coming?” he asked as he grabbed his simple travel case and got to his feet.
    After careful deliberation, the elderly Franz rose. “We’re going with you. Come along, dear,” he said, taking his wife by the hand.
    “Good idea,” Bierce chimed in, hefting a battered duffel bag.
    “Wait just a minute!” Weizmann cried, his face going pale. “We’re the ones who’ll keep you safe—not some mobster and a Hunter you don’t know from a hole in the ground. Don’t you get it? Splitting up out here is dangerous. How are we supposed to save you if—”
    Apparently Sheriff Shrive had grown tired of listening to the young lawman’s protestations, for in an effort to quiet him he told the man, “It’s no use.”
    “But—”
    “What are you gonna do? Stay here? I’ll help you if you do.”
    “I thought you just said we should go.”
    As he stared with a look of disgust at the backs of those who hurried ahead, Weizmann stomped his feet in place and checked the fit of his shoes.
    “Before we go, let’s bury the pilot,” the sheriff said, raining a little on the younger man’s parade.
    -
    Before long, the three figures walked off in pursuit of the others, who were already out of sight, and as stillness choked the rocky spot, something bizarre transpired. Though no one was aware of it, the voices of men and women, as well as the wind and various other sounds, could be heard in the deserted wasteland. Sure enough, they were the voices of the survivors who’d been there a scant hour earlier talking to each other, and also the exact same sounds they’d made moving around—it was a complete reenactment of the past.
    Then the sound of shoveling finished, a prayer chanted in the sheriff’s voice faded, and Officer Weizmann’s urged, “Okay, let’s go.” At the same time, another voice that the two