Chapter 11

Harry Redwolf had waited for Barnabas all day, and it showed.

"What's the problem?" Barnabas asked.

"Quentin, Damn fool is about to get himself bushwhacked. Not that it would be a bad idea, mind you."

"He's been preaching to the tribe." Barnabas nodded. George had told him that Carolyn was involved. The problem was how to solve it without Quentin screaming religious persecution. "He's stirring up Old Munsungan's followers, I take it?"

"They got a right to be angry. Look, I don't mind Christianity, but the born-again kind is a different story I will tell you what their party line is : Man is a sinner. He cannot save himself. You can only be saved through Jesus Chris. Or rather, the nearest white man you can find."

"Not bad" Barnabas smiled "rather a caricature, but I see your point."

"So what do you plan to do about it?"

"Me? It is you who can ask for a restraining order against Quentin."

"Will the people in town stand for it?"

"If you raise your quota of town workers, they will."

"You are a horse trader!" Harry laughed "I knew you had something up your sleeve."

"Of course, that restraining order is only a temporary measure. You need something more permanent."

"What do you suggest?"

"That speech you gave me about Christianity, are you the only one?"

"No. There are several who agree with me."

"So organize them into a debating team. Or several. Get them ready to meet any missionaries that Quentin sends. Make sure that all the missionaries meet are the debating teams. This way, the missionaries get to preach as much as they want, and are kept away from Munsungan's followers."

Harry laughed "It is a good idea. How much is Davenport paying you? I bet that it is not enough."

"I am doing it for free."

Joe Haskell fidgeted in his seat. Why did Megan ask him to come? had she found his part with the gulls? Barnabas had promised to keep the secret. Yet Megan had ways to find out everything...

Angelique led him into Megan's office. He couldn't repress a shudder as he walked along her.

"Why did you ask me to come?" He tried to keep as much distance as possible between himself and Megan.

"I have a business proposition." Megan could feel the fear and hostility in Joe.

"What is it?"

"At this moment, I am the owner of the agency. This creates some problems. Suppose I had to disappear. What would happen to the Agency? Angelique is out of the question, and Chris does not want the job."

"So you want me to be your front?"

"In a way of speaking, yes."

"Why me? Because no one else would be crazy enough to accept?"

"There are advantages for you." Megan said soothingly "I would pay more than what you are making now. You could learn the business. Your social status would be improved. The waitresses at the Blue Whale would flock around you to hear about your adventures, instead of giving you the kind of looks they give you now."

"They have a right to look at me that way."

"I can change all that."

"You can send me back to Wyncliffe?"

"I can prove to you that you are not going back there."

"You can't."

"If I prove it to you., will you consider my proposition?"

"How do you plan to prove it?" In spite of himself he sounded eager.

"As you said, being attacked by a vampire was part of it. That and Chris changing shape."

"So?"

"So if you were to repeat the experience, but in a controlled environment, where you could stop it if it got too hard, they you'd feel better."

"It won't work."

"Don't you want to give it a try?"

"If you want to go for my throat, say so."

"It is not your throat that I want, but your cooperation. But if I were to do it, I want you to understand that it won't be anything like the last time. I would take my time and be as gentle as you need me to be." She smiled. "And you know by now that with me, you also get laid."

Joe said nothing, studying Megan.

"Think of it, Joe" Megan glanced out of the window...Phillip wasn't coming yet. "If you did it, you'd never have to worry about the guys in the white coats again..."

Phillip opened the door. He would be able to convince Megan not to go through the divorce action. As he might have, then other night if Barnabas hadn't interrupted.

"Where's my wife?" He asked Angelique.

"She's..." the black girl talking to Chris began to say, but Angelique cut her off.

"She's in her office."

He opened the door and looked.

...Megan and Joe were embracing, half-naked, across the desk.

Phillip collapsed on the bed, moaning.

"You saw Megan?" Barnabas asked gently.

"She...she and Joe Haskell.."

"So she did it. I didn't think she'd have the guts."

Phillip sobbed. Barnabas knew that he wouldn't want to be touched now. Specially by him.

"I am sorry." then added softly "but she herself told you how it was with her. Told you at the hospital."

" I didn't think it...it would be like that."

"What did you expect it to be like?"

Phillip made a strangled sound.

"That's what it is like for her. If you cannot face it, then you should give her the divorce she asked for."

"This is your fault" Phillip said. If it wasn't for you we'd be married, have children..."

"I wish I could do something about that. I wish I could make it easier for you. But all I can do is offer you some advice you don't care about, and a shoulder to cry on."

"Phillip saw us?" Megan asked Angelique.

'Yes. I had to put my hand over his mouth, or he would have screamed his head off."

"So..." there were tears in her eyes "He has no illusions left about me. He will get that divorce now."

"I...I am sorry."

"Don't be" Megan snapped " I hate it when people feel sorry for me." She turned to Tammy and snarled "what are you staring at? This isn't the zoo."

"What about Joe Haskell?" Angelique asked anxiously.

"He'll come around. When he found himself sane after my biting him, he was so grateful that he'd give me the moon if I asked for it."

Elsa looked at Barnabas somewhat smugly.

"You really didn't have to buy me a present." Barnabas said to her.

"But I wanted to! And it is my money!" She said, firmly. "I made it by selling worms!"

"You should use the money for something else." He said, reasonably.

"I wanted to. I like you!"

"I like you too." he hugged her. "But you should use your money differently."

She snuggled herself in his arms. "All right, I will. But will you keep it this time?"

"If it makes you happy, I will."

Nearby, Alma and Iris exchanged uncomfortable looks. "I don't like it" said Iris. "He doesn't know what he's setting himself up for."

When Barnabas let Elsa go, Iris pulled him gently to a side.

"Do you know what the penalty for statutory rape is in this state?"

"Statutory rape? but Elsa is just a kid."

"I know that, and you know that. But does Lolita know that."

"It is pleasant here, isn't it, honey?" Frances led Louella into the garden. Summer is getting here, finally. Soon the tourists will be here."

Louella nodded absentmindedly. it was strange to be out of the hospital. Strange to wear something that wasn't a hospital gown.

But Jenny was still there. Jenny and Charity.

"What is it, dear?" Frances was alarmed at the change of expression.

"Nothing." She pulled herself up slowly "What is the construction over there?"

"The Davenport hydroelectric center. It is going to be finished soon. They say that it will employ many people."

"That is good."

"Barnabas Collins was the one who brought it."

...Barnabas...

"How did you do at court?" Carolyn asked Quentin.

"Very well, I think that they are going to call Redwolf's restraining order unconstitutional Soon we will be able to preach to the tribe again."

"Praise the Lord!" Sister Kira said "the forces of darkness couldn't prevail against the Lord."

"Maybe you could do the same thing at the hospital, Sister."

Kira was silent. Dr. Anderson wouldn't be as easy to deal with as Redwolf had been. In her opinion, there was something fishy about the way Redwolf hadn't fought them. As if he had something else up his sleeve.

Well, the Indian tribe had been Carolyn's idea, not hers. She had her own plans concerning Dr. Anderson.