There's a big black shape looking up at me.
He says, 'I know where you want to be.'
He says, 'Come with me, and I'll give you desire.
But first you've got to burn, burn, burn, burn in fire!'—

"Heaven and Hell"—Black Sabbath

Seuche in Deutschland

Chapter VI

Lysander and Alcander left Rachel's bedroom, and were followed by Rabbi Herschel and Moses Sherwin.

"Just what the hell's going on?" asked Sherwin.

"Yes, explain?" added the rabbi.

"What's going on's the satan my brother and I discussed earlier with you, Rabbi," replied Lysander.

"So…you're saying that a person did this?"

"Yes…if you want to still call them that," responded Alcander.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that Rachel's been infected by what's referred to as a 'nosferatu'—or 'vampire,' which's a being that was once human, but has returned to life after their death. To survive, the vampire must feed on the blood of those who're living."

Rabbi Herschel and Moses Sherwin looked at each other in stunned silence. Certainly they had heard of vampires. But vampires were only a myth.

Lysander, who recognized their puzzled faces, was quick to respond. "I realize that what my brother has told you violates everything the scholars of the Enlightenment proclaim. Nevertheless, your enlightened scholars'd have a difficult time explaining why there's an imprint of a Star of David on Rachel's hand."

Both men nodded.

"So…how can we stop this?" asked Sherwin.

"The vampire has infused its blood with Rachel's, which explains why she reacted to the Star of David like she did. To cure her, we'll have to keep this vampire away from her. At night her windows must be closed—as must all windows in the house…"

"That's not a problem, it's cold," interjected her father.

"In her room, place a Star of David over her bed—and one outside her bedroom window. My brother and I'll track down this vampire. And once Rachel receives more of her strength back, she'll receive the Blessed Sacrament; and it'll eliminate any trace of the vampire's blood from her body."

Rabbi Herschel and Moses Sherwin's body language changed when Lysander uttered the two words, 'Blessed Sacrament.'

"When you say, 'Blessed Sacrament,' you're referring to the Eucharist, are you not?" asked Sherwin.

"Yes."

"So…what you're saying is…is that my daughter'll have to become a Christian?"

"No, I'm not saying that."

"But to receive the Eucharist, hasn't one first to've been baptized?"

"Yes, that's usually the procedure. I've never encountered this kind of situation before, where one of the people involved isn't Christian…Well, that's usually the procedure."

"Which means you want my daughter to become a Christian?"

"No, I'm not trying to persuade your daughter to convert to Christianity. But, as a Christian, I only know the Christian worldview of handling such a problem. If there's a Jewish method to solve this problem then by all means use it. I can't say that it'll work, but I can't say that it won't work either."

"So in other words, Christian methods work; but Jewish methods might fail?"

"My brother's not saying that! All he's saying's that he knows our Christian method works."

"Well, Lysander and Alcander…we're a Jewish community. We've been around since the beginning of time. And we handle things the Jewish way."

Lysander and Alcander understood that message perfectly clear. So for that matter did Rabbi Herschel, as he motioned the brothers outside.

"That went over well, didn't it Cander?"

"Truly…do you suppose part of the problem was the fact that we're Christians?"

"It's not as much that," began Rabbi Herschel. "Moses was right about one thing. We're a Jewish community, and we handle problems the Jewish way—not the Christian way."

The brothers nodded, and Lysander replied, "I think we both understand that."

"Good, I'm going to read through the Talmud. I'm certain there's something there."

"The Talmud?" asked Alcander.

"It's a list of Jewish midrashes—that's various Jewish traditions. I'm sure there's something there on vampirism."

Lysander and Alcander nodded.

"As for you two boys, it'd probably be wise if you left the ghetto. After all, strangers aren't liked by most people. Take care, and God bless both of you."

While Rabbi Herschel walked away, Alcander turned to his brother.

"So…what do we do now?"

"Well, regardless of what the rabbi said, we can't be forced to leave the ghetto. And even if they try, I've a few friends in the government that'll think otherwise. But from what I can tell it's approaching the time that the festivities're about to happen on the streets."

"Oh, that's right!"

"Here's what I want to do. I want you to remain here and watch Rachel's home…"

Alcander frowned.

"Don't give me that look, Cander. I'm doing this for a reason."

"Then explain?"

"It's simple. Cander, you drink. You drink too much…"

"Shut up, 'Mom!'"

"No, you shut up and listen to what I've to say! If you get drunk on the streets and a vampire encounters you, you'll—to put it bluntly—you'll be fucked! I need you here, Cander. And if you encounter anything take action, and then come and find me; or we'll rendezvous back at my apartment."

Alcander nodded. "All right, Sander."

Lysander smiled, and placed his hands on his brother's shoulders. "Good, I'll see you later this evening then. Take care of yourself, Cander."

"Same to you."

Lysander prepared to walk away until his brother called him back.

"Sander, I'm confused about something. How did you know that using the Star of David'd work?"

"I didn't. I merely guessed…I remembered something Dad and Uncle Richter told me. They said it's not the cross or crucifix that repels a vampire, because crosses and crucifixes are merely symbols; but that it's actually God who performs the act, with the cross or crucifix as His instrument. Since the Christian God is the same God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—I assumed that it'd work. I'm glad that it did, because otherwise I would've had to've used my crucifix; and you can imagine what kind of reaction that would've had."