Page 91 of Tin God

He might have looked young, but the vampire’s amnis was strong.

“Good luck.” Clovis slapped Carwyn’s shoulder. “You want a life vest before you get in there?”

“I can’t drown.”

“Nah, but it’s plenty cold if you sink to the bottom.” Clovis’s grin showed two missing teeth. “Anyway, Gus’ll take care of yeh.”

Carwyn climbed down to the canoe, surprised by how steady it was under his feet. Gus was waiting in the middle of the vessel and quickly directed him to a broad bench a little forward of center.

“You’re heavy,” Gus said. “That’s good. Nothin’ worse than light cargo in winter water.”

“Glad to help.” He turned to look at the distant blue lights of the converted barge. “Have you seen this boat before?”

“Here and there.” Gus stuck his hand in the water again, and the boat started moving as if propelled by unseen oars. “I keep to myself though. Don’t want anything to do with the Russians.”

“This boat is owned by a Danish vampire.”

“Russian,” Gus muttered. “Dane. American. Whatever.” He shrugged. “Not our people.”

Carwyn was curious. “Do you mind? Katya’s the regional power here, and she’s Russian.”

The corner of his mouth turned up. “Katya deals with the Americans and the Russians. She’s good at paperwork.”

“And she leaves you and Jennie and the rest of the vampires up here alone.”

He nodded. “Exactly.”

“What about Oleg?”

“Eh, most Russians aren’t too bad,” Gus said. “Don’t like hearing about that elder though.”

“There might be rumors that Oleg’s people are responsible for that, but I don’t think that’s right.” Carwyn leaned to the right to look around the bow. “For what it’s worth.”

“You’re old,” Gus said. “I can tell. You probably know some stuff.”

The canoe approached the barge, and as Gus and Carwyn stopped talking, the heavy weight of silence fell over them. The wind hushed through the trees and the slow creak of the forest occasionally broke through the night, but the only sounds of humanity came from the long barge with the three glowing portholes.

Carwyn glanced back at Gus, but the vampire said nothing, piloting the vessel close and silent around the flat ship tucked back in the cove.

Where was Ben?

Carwyn listened for voices, but they were speaking rapidly in accents that weren’t familiar. Occasionally a snippet would break through.

“…thinks we don’t know.”

“…the plan? Because from what I’ve heard…”

“…the point. Nothing is clear and that’s where?—”

“Do you hear something?”

Carwyn held his breath, and Gus pulled his hand from the water, letting the canoe drift.

“…nothing. Probably crew.”

“You’re right… human…”

He let out his breath.

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