A heatwave
had come to Belport. The mercury climbed nearly to 100 degrees; combined with
the humidity from the ocean, this mean life was miserable for all involved. Everyone
tried to use their air conditioners at the same time, which the power grid
wasn’t prepared to handle, so the utilities instituted brownouts.
I sweltered
in my house, desperately wishing the bags of frozen peas distributed on my body
wouldn’t thaw so quickly. Every movement produced sweat, and I had already
taken two showers today.
I sipped
again at the lemonade the Gershman boys had provided me. They had gone beyond,
giving me a gallon of lemonade. They held it back specially for me as they had
the entire neighborhood buying from them this week. It was the only drink that
provided some measure of relief.
My doorbell
rang, and I groaned, lamenting that each movement would bring fresh sweat.
I opened
the door to see Nikki in a blue and white gown. For once she took it easy on
the slits in the skirt, though the dress still had plenty of slink to it.
She wasn’t
sweating. Vampires didn’t sweat. I hated her for that.
“Hey,
Nikki. What is it?”
“Matthew,
you smell quite ripe. You need to bathe and change. We are going dancing.”
“Nikki,
it’s a zillion degrees out there. I try and go dancing in that and I’ll turn
into a puddle of sweat.”
“The
establishment has its own generators and is promising temperatures no greater
than 60 degrees.”
I stared at
her for a moment. “I’ll go get ready.”
“I knew
you’d see reason,” she smirked.