The Kingmakers(140)

Two airmen tried to shut the hatch, but a vampire shoved its way up, arms grasping for purchase on the deck. Growling and snapping. The marine sergeant rolled back to the hatchway and pointed Anhalt's revolver at the flailing vampire. He fired multiple shots into it. Anhalt slashed his saber against the thing's neck, and the head rolled loose onto the deck. The general kicked the twitching torso back through the hatch, and the heavy steel lid slammed shut.

“Well done, sir.” The marine extended the pistol by the barrel toward Anhalt. “And thanks for the use of your sidearm.”

“Quite welcome, Sergeant.” Anhalt slid his steaming saber into its scabbard.

“Good God!” Senator Clark exclaimed at the sight of the torn, bloody Anhalt. “You need to see the surgeon, but he's already dead. If this is light resistance, I'd hate to think what Greyfriar considers a full-on attack,” Clark snarled as he tugged on his spotless tunic. “We've already lost contact with the bomb deck and the engine room. We're dead in the air.”

Anhalt went to the fore windows. The sky was full of vampires, and many were crawling across the outside of the glass. The general gazed past them to the ground, which was growing nearer. There were no bombs falling now. Buckingham Palace stood largely unfazed.

He asked, “Any idea of casualties?”

Clark said, “What contact we've had with other decks report a slaughter. The dirigibles are damaged. I'm about to signal abandon ship. All hands will take to lifeboats.”

Anhalt turned over his shoulder. “They'll be cut to pieces in that melee out there.”

“Our lifeboats have some protection.” Clark threw up his hands. “What choice do we have? We're going down in enemy territory. Even if we managed to survive a crash, vampires don't take prisoners.”

Anhalt asked, “Can we maneuver at all?”

The young helmsman reported, “Slightly, sir. We have docking bursters. Limited fuel, good for a mile or two at most. So we can crash here, or we can crash a few miles south of London. Neither one sounds good.”

The sirdar stepped to the wheel. “I won't need much more than that.”

Clark paused from rolling up official papers in an oilskin bundle. “What are you talking about?”

“I came here on a mission,” Anhalt said, “and I intend to carry it out. I'm going to crash this ship into Buckingham Palace. Between the armed ordnance and the buoyancy gases and the engines, we should constitute a formidable bomb.”

“Are you insane?” The senator glared at the Equatorian. “You're talking about suicide.”

“Sacrifice, Senator. I believe this operation is our best chance to turn the war in our favor, to shorten it, and save the lives of many brave young men.”

The senator snapped, “You don't win wars by killing yourself.”

“Senator, sound abandon ship. Let everyone who can get off, do so.” Anhalt commanded calmly. His decision was made; his goal was something that could be accomplished. And if there was a chance that this action would mean safety for the empress, it was a small price to pay. “I'd like to borrow your ship, if I may.”

Captain Sandino stepped forward. “I'll stay with you, General, to fly the ship. If anyone is going to use Bolivar to kill vampires, it should be me. The rest of you, I want in the lifeboats. At least you'll have a chance to get home.”

“I'd like to stay with you, sir,” the young helmsman said in a clear voice.

“Count me in too,” the marine sergeant said from his bloody place propped against the bulkhead. “You'll need spotters so we can drop this thing right on top of them. And I won't survive a long trip in a lifeboat.”

Clark stared at Anhalt and shook his head. “I should've done this alone. You reek of failure. Always have.”

With a grim look on his face, the senator snatched open a small compartment on the wall and turned a handle inside. There was a slight hiss of steam, and a two-note alarm began to echo through the ship. The senator tucked the package of documents under his arm and climbed a short ladder to a hatch in the ceiling. “Anyone who would prefer to live to see victory, come with me.”

No one moved. Every officer, airman, and marine continued to study readouts, charts, and controls.

Clark snorted with sarcasm and lazily saluted Anhalt. “Sirdar, I'll give your regards to the empress. I'll tell her how you died needlessly. It's too bad you won't see my ultimate victory over the vampires.”

Anhalt replied icily. “I would sooner sacrifice myself here with these brave Americans than serve beside you for a single moment longer.”

“Damn you, sir.” With that, Clark disappeared up through the hatchway, which was soon closed and locked from above.