Free Fiends of the Rising Sun by David Bishop Page B

the daylight, be among your people," the vampyr advised. "All being well, you will remember this day for a long, long time to come. Savour your humanity while you still have it. Most vampyrs have their souls torn from them by hungry predators. Few are given the choice about whether or not they wish to embrace immortality. Consider yourself fortunate."
    Hitori did as he was told, walking out from the Ministry of War's building into Tokyo, letting himself mingle with the throngs of ordinary people, all of them hurrying to complete the rituals and minutiae of their daily lives. He found a square set aside as parkland and lay down on the moist grass, savouring the autumn sun on his skin and the soft, gentle breeze that wafted through the air. Last but not least, he found a small stationery store and bought paper, pen and ink to write a letter to his beloved wife. Hitori could not conceive ever forgetting how much he adored her, how much she meant to him, but nor could he imagine what effect sacrificing his soul to a vampyr would have upon that love. He wanted to express all the feelings in his heart but could not find the words, the eloquence to say them. Let no hint of my sadness, my loss creep into my words, Hitori decided. Let her have this last, happy letter to treasure, and leave it at that.
    He returned to the park and wrote four pages, his hand hurried by the knowledge that the sun was sinking towards the horizon and his last moments of humanity were accompanying it into the darkness. As people in apartments overlooking the square of park lit lanterns for the evening ahead, he walked back to the ministry building, his feet trudging every step of the way. Suzuki was waiting at the door to let him in, the other workers having already gone home for the evening. "Zenji, what is it? What's going on? The general told me to wait down here for you, but has forbidden me to ask any questions."
    Hitori could not help smiling, despite the hollow numbness he felt deep inside his chest. "The general forbade you, and still you ask your questions."
    Suzuki shrugged. "You know me; I've always been the curious one."
    "Be careful it does not get you killed one day." He handed his oldest friend the envelope, addressed to Aiko. "This has to be sent to my wife from Manchuria, she has to believe I died there. Can you do that for me, Shiro?"
    "Of course, but-"
    "No more questions, please." Hitori pushed past his friend into the building, but Suzuki followed him inside.
    "Okay, okay, I won't ask you any more questions."
    "Good."
    "But that doesn't mean I can't speculate. If I guess right, I'll see the truth in your face. You always were a terrible liar when we were young, and even worse at bluffing." Hitori walked on, doing his best to ignore Suzuki. "Obviously, this has something to do with that Rumanian. If your wife has to believe you died in Manchuria, it means you're going on some kind of covert operation, and you're not expected to make it back alive. Am I right?"
    "I thought you weren't going to ask any more questions?"
    "Hmm, good point." Suzuki peered at Hitori's face as they walked along a corridor towards Tojo's private office. "I am right! But what kind of suicide mission would the general send you to undertake that involved a Rumanian officer? I mean, I screen all the intelligence reports that come in and the only mentions I've seen made about a Rumanian are those wild stories about-" Suzuki stopped, realisation and horror competing for dominion over his face. "Constanta, he's one of those creatures, isn't he? Red Army troops on the eastern front have been telling Moscow for weeks about a cadre of bloodsucking fiends fighting alongside the Wehrmacht. Lord Constanta, he's one of them, isn't he?" Suzuki's mind was racing, putting together the pieces far faster than Hitori had done. "The general's ordered you to form an alliance with this monster."
    "Keep your voice down," Hitori hissed. They were standing outside the general's office and