Page 365 - Hunter - The Vigil

Humphrey nodded. “We’ve heard that their skin dissipates the force of bullets, much
like Kevlar. Also, their saliva contains a mild neurotoxin that causes temporary muscle
paralysis.” He shrugged. “We think that’s primarily a defensive weapon, because they
appear to be more interested in carrion than live prey.”
still alive.”
“One of them carried off a friend of mine,” Vince said. “Last I saw of him, he was
The news brought Humphrey up short. “Oh.” His gaze dropped to the van’s rusted fl oor.
“Well, it’s worth noting that many of our assumptions are secondhand at best.”
“You’re a shitty liar, Humphrey,” Gabreski said. “Why would they want Darnell alive?
You’ve at least got a theory, right?”
Humphrey considered the question for a moment. “The ghouls are in a strange land,
with strange customs. They may want what your friend has in his head.”
“They want to learn what he knows?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes,” Humphrey said. “Maxim Khaurov claimed that the
ghouls possessed tremendous knowledge and insight. We…well, we think they can glean
information from their victims by metabolizing living brain matter.”
Vince felt his knees turn to water. “Oh, Jesus,” he whispered.
“Listen, that’s just a theory,” Humphrey said quickly. “There’s an awful lot we don’t
know about these creatures. My team and I were tasked with capturing one of the ghouls
and bringing it back to Chicago for study.”
After what Vince had seen inside the warehouse, the idea that Humphrey was going to
went wrong?” he asked.
bag one of those monsters like a deer and drag it back to Chicago seemed absurd. “What
Humphrey shrugged. “The Russians were even more paranoid than we suspected,” he
said. “I was wearing a radio to keep in touch with my team. They must have picked it
up somehow.” His hand rose to the bruise on his forehead. “I didn’t even know I was in
my guys came in after me, huh?”
trouble ’til one of those goons walked up and hit me.” He looked up at Vince. “I guess
Gabreski nodded. “They tried. I don’t think any of them made it out.”
“Shit,” Humphrey said quietly. “Listen, we’re on the same side here. You want to hunt
these things down and rescue your friend. Fine. I want to help.”
“Really,” Vince said. “And how exactly do you plan on doing that?”
“I know more about these creatures than anyone else here,” he said. “And I’ve got
something that can counter their venom.”
“Okay,” Gabreski said. “I’m listening.”

For the fi rst time, Humphrey managed a weak smile. Once again, he held out his shackled
hands. “How about a show of good faith?”
tossing them over.
Vince sighed and dug his keys out of his pocket. “Knock yourself out,” he said,

Humphrey unlocked the cuffs and rubbed at his chafed wrists. “Before we left Chicago,
we were issued some autoinjectors containing a drug that would counteract the worst
with you and you can have them.”
effects of the ghoul toxin. We left eight spare injectors back at the hotel. Take me
Vince didn’t like it. He turned to Andrea. “What do you think?”
She scowled back. “When that fucker bit me, my arm locked up in seconds. If the
Kevlar hadn’t stopped most of the bite, who knows what might have happened?” She sighed.
“We need that stuff, Vince. Just in case.”
Gabreski tried to rub the weariness from his eyes. “Okay, Humphrey. You win. Since
with.”
you’re such an expert, maybe you can tell me how many of these bastards we’re dealing
“Six of them,” Humphrey replied. “No more. Plus the Russians, of course.”
“We know how to deal with the Russians,” Gabreski said in a cold voice. He reached
over his shoulder and tapped the back of the driver’s seat. “Raimundo, drive this van
down to the end of the block and back us into the alley by that boarded-up market. Then
I want you to call your hombres and get us some guns. Not any of that spray-and-pray
gangbanger bullshit, either; I’m talking assault rifl es.”