Two Vampires

by Pil Lee

Lawrence hadn’t seen Canis for a hundred years. They passed within a mile of each other on the Rue de Marle one winter’s evening, and each felt the other pause. Lawrence toyed with the idea of reacquaintance with his old friend, but the night was young and he had business to attend to. Besides, there would be other nights.

The next time he felt Canis nearby there had been a revolution, four wars and the great synchronicity. It was a very different world from their last crossing and Lawrence thought perhaps it would be nice to while away some time in the comfort of his old off-sider, but by the time he turned in his direction, Canis had slipped away. Lawrence smiled and shrugged. Obviously Canis had his own busy night planned this time.

Another hundred years had passed and Lawrence was back in the same city. The bad times, when the world was run by bloodless human minds in metal shells was fifty years behind, and the suprise arrival of new flesh had since softened the trauma of confusion and starvation. Lawrence found himself wondering how Canis had fared, and, as if his thought had summoned him, he saw his old friend approaching through the mist. He shook his head in wonder that Canis had come so close without his knowledge, and realised that the bad times had taken more of a toll than he had thought.

He shook off the painful memories and knelt his cold knee to the cobbles. Canis sank his teeth gently into the pale neck and Lawrence stroked his thin hair. “It has been too long, my friend,” he said. “Shall we hunt together again?”

And Canis raised his head and happily licked his master’s face, and man and dog melted swiftly side by side into the dark shadows.