be the only way to destroy them. Why not other injuries or even holy water and crucifixes?"
"That's what you were pondering, sir?"
"Yes. Do you know much about Native American culture, Bates?"
"Not much, sir, other than their warfare tactics."
93 "You know that many tribes scalped their enemies, yes?"
Bates nodded.
"Do you know why?"
"Trophies?"
"Partly. But also because they believed that a man's spirit resides in his brain. They didn't just take the hair, as portrayed in the movies. They took the top of the skull. They believed the soul resided in the head."
The seemingly lidless eyes stared at him, and Ramsey grew uncomfortable. It was the snake stare again. For a moment, he half expected a forked tongue to slither out from between Bates's lips.
"The head, Bates. Don't you see? Perhaps these creatures directly inhabit the head. Or more specifically, the brain."
"It would make sense, sir." Bates shrugged. "A head shot seems to bring them down permanently. It would also explain why the U.B.R.D. works so well on the birds."
Ramsey nodded, agreeing with Bates's assessment of the Ultrasonic Bird Repelling Device, which they'd obtained from an abandoned air base during a recon patrol. "I'd considered that as well. Birds do have a sensitivity to sound, and the mechanism physically damages them as a result. That was a stroke of luck, obtaining it. Dr. Stern's hypothesis proved correct, it would seem. If their ears were in their wings, then I suppose the device would be no more fatal to them than a rock 'n' roll concert."
He drained his glass and poured another.
"Are you familiar with acupuncture, Bates?"
"Yes, sir. It was very popular when I worked in Hollywood."
"I suppose it would have been. The Oriental
94
physicians found that the various functions of the body could be influenced by pressing upon specific points on the body's surface."
Bates set his glass on the desk. "You're talking about meridians, right? I studied them during my martial arts training."
"Correct. Each meridian is a pathway for specific energies-one of which is the head and brain."
Bates nodded. "An energy pathway. I see."
"Do you? It all comes back to the cranium-the brain." Ramsey pulled out the overstuffed leather chair from behind his desk and sat. He waved a hand at Bates to join him. "So, what's our status?"
Bates took a chair in front of him and checked his clipboard.
"We just finished inventory of our armory. I don't think we'll need to risk a raid on the National Guard or NYPD stockpiles after all. The federal armory raid netted us just over one hundred M-16 assault rifles and approximately one thousand rounds of ammunition apiece, plus magazines."
"I thought you didn't like M-16's?"
Bates nodded. "I don't. Personally, I prefer the M-l Garand, but beggars can't be choosers. The weapons were kept cleaned and serviced, and they should perform well enough. It doesn't matter what we defend ourselves with, as long as we have the ability to do so."
"I see. Go on."
"We obtained several Tec-9s and other assault weapons, as well as an assortment of shotguns and handguns, including an especially nice Kimber 1911, which I kept for myself. There are six M-60 machine guns, which Forrest is excited about, and ammunition for each one. We found twelve M-203 grenade-launchers that we
95
can install on the M-16's. We also counted five flamethrowers, and several cases of grenades. Add to this the varied weapons our community brought with them upon each person's arrival and the weapons that we've found inside the building's apartments: more handguns and rifles, knives, crossbows, et cetera, and secondary weapons like baseball bats and broom handles-"
"Broom handles?"
"We can make spears and pikes out of them, sir."
"Ah."
"In short, we should be able to withstand any assault for many months to come."
Ramsey smiled. "We can withstand it, and this building can withstand it as well."
He wrapped his leathery knuckles against the
"That's what you were pondering, sir?"
"Yes. Do you know much about Native American culture, Bates?"
"Not much, sir, other than their warfare tactics."
93 "You know that many tribes scalped their enemies, yes?"
Bates nodded.
"Do you know why?"
"Trophies?"
"Partly. But also because they believed that a man's spirit resides in his brain. They didn't just take the hair, as portrayed in the movies. They took the top of the skull. They believed the soul resided in the head."
The seemingly lidless eyes stared at him, and Ramsey grew uncomfortable. It was the snake stare again. For a moment, he half expected a forked tongue to slither out from between Bates's lips.
"The head, Bates. Don't you see? Perhaps these creatures directly inhabit the head. Or more specifically, the brain."
"It would make sense, sir." Bates shrugged. "A head shot seems to bring them down permanently. It would also explain why the U.B.R.D. works so well on the birds."
Ramsey nodded, agreeing with Bates's assessment of the Ultrasonic Bird Repelling Device, which they'd obtained from an abandoned air base during a recon patrol. "I'd considered that as well. Birds do have a sensitivity to sound, and the mechanism physically damages them as a result. That was a stroke of luck, obtaining it. Dr. Stern's hypothesis proved correct, it would seem. If their ears were in their wings, then I suppose the device would be no more fatal to them than a rock 'n' roll concert."
He drained his glass and poured another.
"Are you familiar with acupuncture, Bates?"
"Yes, sir. It was very popular when I worked in Hollywood."
"I suppose it would have been. The Oriental
94
physicians found that the various functions of the body could be influenced by pressing upon specific points on the body's surface."
Bates set his glass on the desk. "You're talking about meridians, right? I studied them during my martial arts training."
"Correct. Each meridian is a pathway for specific energies-one of which is the head and brain."
Bates nodded. "An energy pathway. I see."
"Do you? It all comes back to the cranium-the brain." Ramsey pulled out the overstuffed leather chair from behind his desk and sat. He waved a hand at Bates to join him. "So, what's our status?"
Bates took a chair in front of him and checked his clipboard.
"We just finished inventory of our armory. I don't think we'll need to risk a raid on the National Guard or NYPD stockpiles after all. The federal armory raid netted us just over one hundred M-16 assault rifles and approximately one thousand rounds of ammunition apiece, plus magazines."
"I thought you didn't like M-16's?"
Bates nodded. "I don't. Personally, I prefer the M-l Garand, but beggars can't be choosers. The weapons were kept cleaned and serviced, and they should perform well enough. It doesn't matter what we defend ourselves with, as long as we have the ability to do so."
"I see. Go on."
"We obtained several Tec-9s and other assault weapons, as well as an assortment of shotguns and handguns, including an especially nice Kimber 1911, which I kept for myself. There are six M-60 machine guns, which Forrest is excited about, and ammunition for each one. We found twelve M-203 grenade-launchers that we
95
can install on the M-16's. We also counted five flamethrowers, and several cases of grenades. Add to this the varied weapons our community brought with them upon each person's arrival and the weapons that we've found inside the building's apartments: more handguns and rifles, knives, crossbows, et cetera, and secondary weapons like baseball bats and broom handles-"
"Broom handles?"
"We can make spears and pikes out of them, sir."
"Ah."
"In short, we should be able to withstand any assault for many months to come."
Ramsey smiled. "We can withstand it, and this building can withstand it as well."
He wrapped his leathery knuckles against the
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