ons　about　things　like　crosses　and　garlic　e　from。　Father　Marcus

used　them　so　successfully。

And　vampires　don't　trouble　Volterra；　so　they　must　work。〃　Her　smile　was

sardonic。　〃It's　bee　more　of

a　celebration　of　the　city；　and　recognition　for　the　police　force—after　all；

Volterra　is　an　amazingly　safe　city。

The　police　get　the　credit。〃

I　was　realizing　what　she　meant　when　she'd　said　ironic。　〃They're　not　going　to

be　very　happy　if　Edward

messes　things　up　for　them　on　St。　Marcus　Day；　are　they？〃

She　shook　her　head；　her　expression　grim。　〃No。　They'll　act　very　quickly。〃

I　looked　away；　fighting　against　my　teeth　as　they　tried　to　break　through　the

skin　of　my　lower　lip。　Bleeding

was　not　the　best　idea　right　now。

The　sun　was　terrifyingly　high　in　the　pale　blue　sky。

〃He's　still　planning　on　noon？〃　I　checked。

〃Yes。　He's　decided　to　wait。　And　they're　waiting　for　him。〃

〃Tell　me　what　I　have　to　do。〃

She　kept　her　eyes　on　the　winding　road—the　needle　on　the　speedometer　was

touching　the　far　right　on　the

dial。

〃You　don't　have　to　do　anything。　He　just　has　to　see　you　before　he　moves　into

the　light。　And　he　has　to　see

you　before　he　sees　me。〃

〃How　are　we　going　to　work　that？〃

A　small　red　car　seemed　to　be　racing　backward　as　Alice　zoomed　around　it。

〃I'm　going　to　get　you　as　close　as　possible；　and　then　you're　going　to　run　in

the　direction　I　point　you。〃

I　nodded。

〃Try　not　to　trip；〃　she　added。　〃We　don't　have　time　for　a　concussion　today。〃

I　groaned。　That　would　be　just　like　me—ruin　everything；　destroy　the　world；　in

a　moment　of　klutziness。

The　sun　continued　to　climb　in　the　sky　while　Alice　raced　against　i