For a while they were both silent, then Megan said, "So tell me... you said there was something about vampires I didn't know, something that would make coexistence impossible."

David nodded. "Yes." He considered how to explain. "When I... when I died, I had a choice. I was offered a chance to go to heaven. To go into something happy, and warm, and wonderful. Or I could stay in the darkness, where it was cold, and miserable, but I would live, if you can call it life. Vampirism is a choice. And that's why vampires are always evil, or at least always selfish. A friend told me that there used to be a few good vampires, but these days... what kind of good person would choose to be a vampire, rather than go to heaven?"

"But what about you, then? Why did you choose it?"

"Because I was tired of being helpless. Because as you said, the cities are doomed. The current balance can't last forever, and the humans aren't doing anything to swing it their way. But the vampires might. They're capable of working together, if it benefits them enough. They band together now for safety from my hunting, and to take down caravans. They could someday band together in large enough numbers and take down a city. The defenses aren't perfect. So... somebody had to do something. Maybe it's not much of a something, I know there are a lot of people I can't save, but I wanted to do what I could. And no human can fight them. You saw my battle earlier." He smiled. "Your rock was very helpful, but I don't think you could have fought even one of them alone."

"No..."

"I was tired of being unable to do anything. I found that I could choose to become like them, and so I did. And now I fight them, and kill as many of them as I can, and save as many humans as I can."

"It still seems to me like there ought to be a way, somehow, for us to not be at war with the vampires..." She shook her head. "I don't know. I guess I have a lot to think about now."

David nodded, then yawned. "Sunrise is almost here. You can go out a bit once the sun is up if you like, but I suggest you don't stray far. Particularly you don't want to dehydrate yourself any more than you have to. I'm sorry I don't have any supplies, but there is food and water once we get where we're going."

He stretched out on his back, sensing the sun beginning to peek above the horizon. He closed his eyes against a light that even around the corner built into all bolt holes was still growing rapidly too bright. The warmth of it was uncomfortable, but he soon was asleep anyway.