Downpour(II:3) The Seedier Parts of the City

3. The Seedier Parts of the City

     It amazed Nick that there were parts of the city where the golden light that seemed omnipresent did not touch. In between the tallest buildings, and huddled down by the river’s edge was the area that Mansen referred to as ‘the seedy part of town’. Nick had only been there for a few minutes, but was already starting to like it.

     The oppressive good cheer that permeated the upper levels of the city was not present there. The gold bricks were faded and cracked, looking as though they had not been touched up since their original construction. It looked to Nick what a temple was supposed to look like, rather than a false image of a utopian city.

     The river continued to flow between the buildings, blue as ever, and merchants with laden boats traversed it. One such boat was from the 1920s and powered by a diesel engine. The man inside wore large gauges in his ears, and had braided his hair full of various animal bones. As he passed Nick, he held up a fistful of shrunken heads, and waved his arm over a display of deadly-looking spear tips.

     In a dim corner, huddled by the river, a group of what looked like circus performers played calypso music and performed feats with their bodies that most would consider impossible. One of them stood with seven swords sticking out of his mouth, while the others laughed and goaded him on to swallow more. Another spit fire into the air which took the form of a giant snake and dove into the water.

     What is it with these people and snakes? The carvings by the river had also grown more grotesque, showing images of execution and the afterlife. Nick tried to ignore the number of giant serpent statues there as well. “Well, this looks like the right place boys. Wouldn’t you say?”

     Mansen looked horribly uncomfortable. Nick had berated him into coming along as payment for punching him in the face. Lopsang was wide-eyed, taking in everything happening around them.

     “Don’t look so shocked. It’s just like the black-market back home.”

     “A place I never would have gone if you didn’t make me.” Lopsang looked bitter, remembering that Nick had dragged him there at gun point. He had also been berated into following Nick after punching him in the face.

     “Oh, don’t be so sour about it. We had a good time, didn’t we?” Nick remembered being chased out of the market by an angry mob. “Well, let’s try not to get kicked out of this one, shall we? Now, I believe you were going to lead us to some weapons,” Nick said, motioning to Mansen. “Show us the way. You are such an excellent guide after all.” Nick beamed, Mansen grimaced.

     “Alright, but I really don’t like coming down to this area.” He led them down a flight of stone steps that brought them right to the river’s edge. A walkway ran alongside the water, wide enough that carts were moving down the center, and there was still room to walk. Recessed into the sides of the gold buildings were shops, dimly lit, and each showcasing oddities stranger than the last.

     As they continued to walk, Nick caught sight of the man selling shrunken heads again. His face was dark, and looked as though it had been badly burned. He stared at Nick through cataract eyes that made him feel uneasy. It was as if the man was staring straight through him. He held up the shrunken heads once more, whispered something to them, and then began to paddle away, laughing.

     I guess it attracts all types, thought Nick. His few encounters with voodoo priests had not been the most pleasant experiences. One had even ended with him almost having his own head shrunk. He grabbed at his neck, as if worried that even then it would begin to shrink away.

     Mansen continued to lead them along the walkway, passing what looked like perfectly reasonable weapons shops. “What’s wrong with these?” Nick asked pointing to a shelf filled with large tri-barreled hunting rifles. The idea of carrying a gun with him again was appealing, as it made him feel somewhat less afraid. Odds are that a gun wouldn’t help them much in the land of the dead, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt.

     “If you want a piece of trash that will backfire and kill you on the first shot, then feel free to browse there.”

     A man with very few teeth cursed Mansen from behind the counter.

     “Well I’m sorry Marco, but it’s the truth.” They quickened their pace. “Best not linger around him, he’s got quite a temper.” Marco had already begun to step out from behind the counter and looked to be carrying a large sword. “He might threaten you with that, but don’t worry, you’ll never be in any mortal danger.”

     “How do you figure that?”

     Marco walked out into the lane to shake his sword at them, but then walked back into his shop. They would have at least cut off a few fingers at the black market for talking bad about someone’s shop like that. Nick was surprised that Mansen wasn’t being hung over the edge of the river as they spoke.

     “I have already told you,” said Mansen, exasperated, and annoyed that Nick had not been paying attention earlier. “The city prevents it. No mortal harm can come to anyone while they are within its limits. Unless it is one of the sanctioned areas, such as the fighting pits, you will be safe.”

     “Right,” said Nick, feeling that he still didn’t want to try and press his luck.

     Before he could say more, they had turned into a shop that was somehow darker than the path otuside. It felt more like a tomb than a place of business. The walls were lit by torches in brackets, giving the whole place a flicker. Sitting in a darkened corner, behind a counter, was a large man with glowing red eyes. Nick backed away almost immediately.

“Paul, please tell me that you did not take us into the den of a god damned vampire.” Nick reached down at his side out of reflex, but remembered he had nothing with him. The stakes he had always made sure to have in his belt were likely floating downriver several miles away.

The man behind the counter sat and looked at Nick like a toad examining a fly.

“Nick would you please,” said Paul, but was interrupted.

“So what if this is the den of a vampire?” the man asked from behind the counter. He spoke in a deep voice with a slight American accent. If he had been offended, he did not betray it with his tone. “Is there something wrong with that?” He was calm, and collected. He wore a faded vest that looked as though it had been stained by blood, and his stomach protruded over a set of khaki pants.

     Nick had never been made to feel prejudice by a vampire before, and the feeling confused him. “I have never once met a vampire that hasn’t tried to kill me, so forgive me if I am not so inclined as to enter unprotected.” He looked around the walls stupidly for a cross, garlic, or something pointy and wood.

     Paul was steaming. “For the last time Nick, you are protected. The city won’t allow you to come to any harm.” His voice was raised. He turned to the vampire, embarrassed. “I’m really sorry about this William. He just survived an encounter with the Yacumama, and isn’t thinking straight.”

     The vampire’s red eyes widened in the darkness. “The Yacumama? Really? Now that is a story I would be interested in hearing.”

     “Well unfortunately, we’re not here to swap stories,” said Nick, still feeling quite on edge.

     The vampire waved his hands as if it did not bother him. “Then why have you come into my shop? I assume it isn’t to continue rudely insulting my kind, and looking for sharp implements with which to stake me.” The vampire grinned, and continued to sit, calmly.

     Nick moved his hand away from the shelf from which he was trying to pry anything so much as a splinter.

     “As you have nothing to fear from me, I have nothing to fear from you. There isn’t an item in this shop that is any more danger to me than a fly. I suggest you stop trying to think of ways to kill me before I become annoyed.” A flicker of something darker crossed the vampire’s face, but he smoothed it over, and looked calm once more. He waved his hand through the air, and three chairs rose from the floor before the counter he sat behind. “Come, sit, and tell me about your problem, or why it is you came here in the first place.”

     Nick stood rooted to the spot.

     Paul walked forward without fear and sat down.

     Fat chance I’m going to be shown up by him. Doing his best to fight the urge to flee from the creature, Nick walked forward and took a seat as well. A grimace crossed his face and the vampire grinned once more.

     “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

     Lopsang, who had been uncharacteristically quiet came to sit as well.

     The vampire sniffed the air. “You are from the mountains I take it.” Lopsang must have looked slightly alarmed, because William made a tutting noise. “Not to worry, it’s a gift my people have. We can smell things on the air.” His red eyes flitted momentarily to Nick. “For instance, I can smell that your friend there has had far too much to drink, and,” he paused, wafting the air towards his nostrils with pale fingers, “has been in the presence of no less than five deaths in the past day.”

     Nick shifted uncomfortably.

     “Accurate?” William asked, silky smooth.

     “Yes,” said Nick, not wanting to admit it, but also amazed. I did not know they could do that. I’ll have to write it down in the book for the next time we are contracted to kill one. It still felt entirely unnatural to be talking to what was usually his prey.

     “I do so love it when you do that,” said Paul, beaming. “Vampires have many tricks up their sleeves that the world doesn’t know about.”

     William made a motion to cut him off. “Maybe we do not share those things with a member of the group that hunts us so viciously.” His tone was icy.

     “Right, of course,” stammered Paul, feeling that he had tread on a nerve.

The room fell into an awkward silence. Nick stared at William, hatred burning barely below the surface.

William stared back, eyes aglow, regarding him with great interest. The darkened light caused the shadows to play havoc on their faces, making angry grimaces.

Sooner, we get out of here, the better, thought Nick.  

“We’re looking to go to the Land of the Dead,” said Lopsang, trying to break the quiet.

     This drew William’s attention. “Are you now? Well isn’t that interesting?” He clicked his fingernails together for what felt like ages, thinking it over. “Not a very nice place the Land of the Dead. What brings you out there?” He turned back to Nick.

     “We’re looking for a friend.”

     “Odd place to find a friend.”

     “Believe it or not, that’s not the first time I’ve heard that. Look, we’ve got someone who’s died, and we need to bring them back.”

     “Cheating death is no easy proposition. It has only been done on few occasions and with varying results.” The vampire stood and walked to the back of the shop. He parted a moth-eaten curtain and stepped behind it.

     “What the hell were you thinking bringing us to a vampire?” Nick seethed at Paul.

     “He’s very good. He’s got weapons, and the information you’re going to need to get out of there alive. So, if you’ll put away your petty prejudices for just a moment, you might learn a thing or two.”

     Once again Nick felt like Mansen was a school teacher handing down lessons, and loathed it. “You have no idea,” Nick stopped as William re-entered the room carrying a large black book. “What is that?” Nick asked, feeling an uncertain fear toward the object.

     “One of the many books of the dead of course.”