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"Have I lead you to believe so?" I asked. "With all I've said?"
"You've given me her picture in deep and enduring detail," he answered. "Don't you think she knows my misery? Don't you think she will feel it when we meet?" He hesitated, then continued, "She won't want to share our existence. Why should she when she can make herself appear to others, when she can look through a jade mask and see her sister's ghost. From all you've said, I've drawn the conclusion that she won't be at all eager to give up forever the sight of the Egyptian sand in the noonday sun. "
I smiled. I couldn't stop myself. I thought he was completely wrong.
"I don't know, old friend," I said, straining for courtesy. "I simply don't know. I know only I'm committed to our wretched purpose. And all that I've deliberately recalled has not taught me to be wary or kind. "
He rose from his chair slowly, silently, and walked to the door of the room. I realized it was time for him to go now and find his coffin, and that shortly I should do the same thing.
I followed him, and we went out of the town house together, down the back iron steps and through the wet garden and to the front gate.
I did see the black cat for one instant on the top of the rear wall, but I made no mention of it, determined that cats were simply common in New Orleans and I was being just a bit of a fool.
At last it came time for us to part.
"I'll spend the next few evenings with Lestat," Louis said quietly. "I want to read to him. He doesn't respond but he doesn't stop me. You'll know where to find me when Merrick returns. "
"Does he n
ever say anything to you?" I asked, regarding Lestat.
"Sometimes he speaks, just a little. He'll ask for Mozart perhaps, or that I read him some old poetry. But in the main, he's as you see him yourself, unchanged. " He paused, then looked directly at the sky. "I want to be alone with him for a few nights, I suppose, before Merrick comes back. "
His tone had a finality to it, and a sadness that touched me to the quick. He was saying farewell to Lestat, that's what he was doing, and I knew that Lestat's slumber was so deep and so troubled, that even such a dreadful message from Louis might not rouse him at all.
I watched Louis walk away as the sky grew ever more lighter. I could hear the morning birds singing. I thought of Merrick, and I wanted her. I wanted her purely as a man might want her. And as a vampire I wanted to drain her soul and have her eternally there for my visits, always safe. I was alone with her again for one precious instant in the tent in Santa Cruz del Flores, and I felt that mercurial pleasure connect my orgasmic body and brain.
It was a curse to bring too many mortal memories into vampiric existence. To have been old did mean sublime experience and knowledge. And the curse had richness to it, and a splendor I could not deny.
And it occurred to me, if Louis does end his life, if he does bring his supernatural journey to a conclusion, how will I ever answer for it to Lestat or Armand, or myself?
IT WAS A WEEK before I received a handwritten letter from Merrick. She was back in Louisiana.
Beloved David,
Come to my old house tomorrow evening as soon as you can. The caretaker will be safely off the property. And I will be alone in the front room.
It's my desire to meet Louis and hear from his own lips what he wants for me to do.
As to those items which once belonged to Claudia, I have the rosary, the diary, and the doll.
All the rest can be arranged.
I could scarce contain my exhilaration. Waiting till tomorrow would be a torment. I went at once to St. Elizabeth's, the building where Lestat spent his lonely hours sleeping on the old chapel floor.
Louis was there, seated on the marble beside Lestat, reading in a hushed voice from an old book of English poetry when I came in.
I read the letter to Louis.
There was no change whatsoever in Lestat's demeanor.
"I know where the house is," said Louis. He was extremely excited, though I think he struggled to conceal it. "I'll be there. I suppose I should have asked your permission. But I went to find it last night. "
"Perfect," I responded. "I'll meet you there tomorrow evening. But listen, you must¡ª. "
"Go on, say it," he coaxed me gently.
"You must remember, she's a powerful woman. We've vowed to protect her, but don't for a moment think of her as weak. "
