President Johnson delivered a short and vigorous speech about the importance of education for everyone in American society and the responsibilities to pass that education along for the betterment of self, family and community.

Afterwards, he shook a few hands and had some pictures taken of himself with the locals.

Pretty soon, many of those photos were display in a showcase window at the front of Crossland Senior High School, decorated in American flags.

Centered full in the middle is a glossy eight by ten photo of President Lyndon Johnson and Principal Croydon Canthorpe shaking hands and grinning white toothed smiles like long-lost political brothers.

Just before he took his helicopter flight back to the White House I found on of his great big hands draped around my shoulder.

"Rebecca Williams," said President Lyndon Baines Johnson.

"Yes sir?"

"It's Lyndon, remember?" He smiled. "I'm getting one of my staff to get your address and phone number. Please give it them, ya hear? Why don't you come on over sometime to meet mah girls. I'm sure you'd get along just fine."

"I'd like that, Lyndon," I said. "Sure."

He wrapped his long arms around me and gave me a big Texas hug.

"Master of the Senate, huh? Yeah, I like that. I like that a lot."

When he was gone, I turned around.

There was Principal Canthorpe, towering over me menacingly.

But suddenly a smile moved over the menace in his features.

"I knew I saw something in you, Rebecca," he said. "Looks like I can smell out talent very well indeed."

"Yes sir," I said, for the first time truly noticing just how sharp his teeth were.

"But mark my words, Rebecca. I'll be watching you!"

"Yes sir. I'm sure you will."

He turned to leave.

"Oh," I said. "Just one for thing, sir."

He swiveled around, annoyance and menace all asnarl on him again.

"What!"

"I hope you'll come and see our school play!"

He smiled. "I'll be there, Rebecca. Dracula, eh? I love that line...'Listen. The Children of the Night! What glorious music they make!'"

"It is glorious, isn't it sir!" I said.

He smiled mischievously.

"It will be in our version, Rebecca!"

EPILOGUE.

THE CAPE SNAPPED.

Soon I found it draped over me as the vampire leaned close.

I could hear ...no, sense... the audience react.

The show was going well indeed.

This was our second performance of Dracula and already there was excited talk about drama competitions. Tonight, my family was in the audience. Even my brother Donald had come.

For my dear friend Harold it was the second time he'd seen us. Harold swore he was going to see every show.

Harold had started borrowing my gothic paperbacks.

Which was fine, because I'd gotten tired of them.

I was borrowing his science fiction paperbacks.

And I was also getting the taste for a political novel here and there.

Now, the land of gothics and science fiction and even politics seemed very far, far away.

I felt Emory Clarke lean close to me.

"Uh uh," I said. "Stay away from the neck!"

He chuckled.

"Extremely difficult. But okay."

He whispered into my ear most delightfully.

"You coming over to see Daddy tomorrow?"

"Sure," I whispered. "It's nice to have a guilty Vampire Senator as a ....patron."

"Again, Rebecca," he said, with pure Southern gentleman sincerity. "I am sorry."

"Silly!" I said.

And then, Dear Reader, I kissed him!

THE END.

OTHER BOOKS BY DAVID BISCHOFF.

Dragonstar:.

Dragonstar (with Thomas F. Monteleone).

Day of the Dragonstar (with Thomas F. Monteleone).

Night of the Dragonstar (with Thomas F. Monteleone).

Dragonstar Destiny (with Thomas F. Monteleone).

Gaming Magi:.

The Destiny Dice Wraith Board The Unicorn Gambit Nightworld: Nightworld Vampires of Nightworld Star Fall: Star Fall Star Spring Star Hounds: The Infinite Battle Galactic Warriors The Macrocosmic Conflict The UFO Conspiracy: Abduction Deception Revelation Other Books: The Seeker (with Christopher Lampton) The Phantom of the Opera Forbidden World (with Ted White) Tin Woodman (with Dennis R. Bailey) The Selkie (with Charles Sheffield) Mandala Wargames The Crunch Bunch A Personal Demon (with Rich Brown and Linda Richardson) The Manhattan Project The Blob The Judas Cross (with Charles Sheffield) Hackers.

Philip K. Dick High.

The Diplomatic Touch.

The H.P. Lovecraft Institute.