She knows, said Merrick sadly.She's a powerful and crafty spirit. But no one could determine whether or not either victim had survived the blows long enough to be drowned. The skull bones of both showed severe and potentially life-threatening fractures. Enough remained of the corpses to ascertain that two women had been in the vehicle at the time that it sank. I only know that we did not discuss them in detail when we took stock of the whole event.Īpparently Merrick had led them to a portion of the swamp where the vehicle had been submerged years before. Perhaps we had exchanged confidences about my visions when I was feverish. Now that I look back on these things, I'm not sure why I didn't tell Merrick all about the spirit with the oval face and how he had continued to appear to me throughout my illness, and especially when I was close to death. In the spring, I got a call from America, from Aaron, telling me that investigators in the area of Lafayette, Louisiana, had found the wreck of Cold Sandra's car. Insofar as I ever knew, Merrick was faithful to her vow. And as he drained my blood to the very point of death, it was the bronze-skinned spirit of the cave whom I glimpsed as my eyes closed. I don't know if my prayers were heard by my orisha, but the room was suddenly assailed by small spirits, none of whom could frighten or hinder Lestat in any way. I've put the mask into the vault, in a sealed box, under my name, Merrick told me.I suggest we leave it there. By then, I saw only Lestat and I knew my soul was entering on yet another adventure, one which would carry me forward beyond my most appalling dreams. I remember nothing until the moment when Lestat's supernatural blood flooded my mouth. I'm too weak to do you any harm.Īs a matter of fact, I did see this spirit again. I'll never ask you to do such a thing, I said quickly.Come, sit beside me here. When it was clear that he meant to force me, I fought him with all I had. I felt invincible in my new young body and I had no thought to ask Lestat for eternal life.

It was after our dreadful ordeal with the Body Thief. I called on my orisha, Oxalá, in the old Portuguese Candomble tongue.Īs you well know, I was no longer the elder David. I had done it fiercely and selfishly, and though the illness had burnt away much of my desire to explore the mystery of the cave, I feared the spirit's return.Īt some point in this vain attempt to save myself from the vampiric blood, I called on God, the angels, anyone who might help me. I had robbed a place that was precious to him. It seemed to me, as I was losing the battle to live, let alone the battle to be mortal, that I saw the cave spirit standing near me with his arms out, and I saw pain in his face.Īs for my personal reaction to the spirit, I was afraid of him.

There is not a great deal more to be said.

Echo of war best way to make