Read Online Vampire Apocalypse: Fallout (Book 3) by Derek Gunn - Free Book Online Page B

figure out why he had done
nothing with the knowledge up till now. But he couldn’t find the
right words. Phelps’ accusations had hit him hard. There was just
enough truth in them to make Harris realise that he had been far
too reckless with the community’s safety. Maybe Phelps was right.
Maybe he should be sent away.
    The crowd began to chant, and it
took Harris a while to make out what they were saying and a cold
fear gripped his stomach. They were shouting for blood. Banishment
wasn’t going to be enough. They had been pushed too far, Phelps had
appealed to their basest fears and instincts, and now they were
responding in kind. Harris went pale as the chant grew louder in
some sections in the crowd. Others seemed to be shouting in anger
at other elements in the crowd and the whole room threatened to
blow.
    “That is enough.” Harris was
surprised to see Phelps step forward and calm the crowd. “We are
not here to kill one of our own like a rabid mob. We are here only
for justice. I will not condone such behaviour. This man,” he
pointed toward Harris, “may have acted rashly and against our
better judgement, but he did act the way he thought was right. If I
thought he could restrain himself from rescuing more people I would
happily keep him among us, but I know him too well.”
    The crowd cheered Phelps for his
charity and Harris began to wonder how much of this was staged and
how much was just blind luck and good crowd management.
    “Harris,” Phelps continued, “it
is with regret that I now pass sentence on you.” He looked over at
Regan as if daring him to interrupt, but Regan knew when a crowd
was beyond salvation and he remained quiet. “You will be removed
from this community this very night, never to return. May God have
mercy on your soul.”
    The crowd cheered and Phelps
began to move to the side, waving to the crowd as he lapped up
their applause. But not everything was to go as he had planned that
night.
    Sandra Harrington stepped
forward. “I will stand with Peter Harris.” The shouting stopped
suddenly and Phelps found himself halfway across the platform with
his hands still raised in triumph but with no applause to help him
on his way. Harris moved to her side and tried to speak but she
merely slid her hand into his and gave a tight squeeze, warning him
to remain quiet.
    “My dear,” Phelps began, “there
is no need…”
    “I too stand with Harris.”
Philip Warkowski pushed his way through the crowd and lumbered up
the steps with a snort of disgust and a baleful glare at the
crowd.
    “Mister Warkowski,” Phelps
assured him, “your part in Harris’ actions is not in question here.
You are a valued member …”
    Phelps suddenly stopped in
mid-sentence as he saw Warkowski looking at him with a quizzical
expression.
    “What are you looking at?” he
stammered and licked his lips nervously, uncomfortable with the big
man’s glare.
    The huge man merely shrugged and
replied. “I was trying to determine whose side you’re on, Mr.
Phelps, and the answer does not fill me with confidence. You are
sending this man alone into hell and I, for one, am happy to follow
him there rather than remain where travesties like this can be
allowed to happen.” Warkowski had never spoken more than a few
words at any time before and this speech surprised everyone. “It
has been his courage and passion which has allowed this community
to flourish in the first place and it is your brand of hatred which
will see it fall. You have twisted the truth tonight for your own
ends and these people will see through you at some point. I pray it
is before they live to regret it.”
    Silence descended over the
meeting room and then Phelps coughed nervously and licked at his
dry lips. “Surely you won’t subject your family to this, man. I
mean, it’s …”
    “Certain death,” Warkowski
interrupted with a raised eyebrow and Phelps lowered his eyes. No
one had actually talked about what banishment would actually