"It took all I could do," Eva said, "not to scream."

Hi looked at her. Scream, he realized, was exactly what she should do. "Scream," he told her. She looked at him quizzically. "Scream as loud as you can."

Eva took a deep breath and screamed. "That's good," Hi said. "But louder."

Eva screamed more and louder. It was enough to wake the undead, and one by one they began arriving, aroused with alarm from their coffins. Kegel came first, and then Dorsch, who came holding his head in pain. Trying to get out of his coffin too hurriedly, Dorsch had tipped it over and landed on his forehead. Then in came Hitler, with the armed Schütze who guarded his upstairs quarters.

No one said a word before Hitler's arrival. Kegel and Dorsch, as usual, had been sleeping in uniform. Hitler wore a black silk robe over white pajamas that had little swastikas on them. Looking first down at Wolfgang, Hitler strode over to Eva, still recovering emotionally by the cabinet.

"I'm all right," she said whisperingly.

Hitler turned to Hi. "What has happened here?"

"I heard this lady scream," Hi said nervously, "and rushed right in. She was being attacked by this, uh--"

"Untersturmführer," Kegel said.

"Whatever. He came at me with his dagger."

Hitler looked at Eva. "This is true?"

"Yes," Eva said. She gestured toward Hi. "This man fought so bravely."

Hitler barely glanced at Hi. Looking down at the bloodsoaked corpse, Hitler began trembling with rage. "This despicable vermin," he said, shaking a finger toward dead Wolfgang, "is the same Untersturmführer who was assigned to protect you." Hitler turned to Eva and screamed, "Do you see, you Argentine firecracker, what happens when you go galavanting outside of this jungle?" Eva remained calm as he ranted. "This Untersturmführer had the uncontrollable hots!"

"So I have a new protector," Eva said quietly, with a glance toward Hi. "Who is he?"

Hitler was starting to calm down. He looked at Hi, then walked over to him. "Herr Hickenlooper," he said. Crossing his arms on his chest, Hitler looked Hi in the eye. Hi found that demonic gaze, at such close range, unsettling. Hitler asked him the question Hi had feared: "What were you doing in Gebäude Ein?"

"Yes," Kegel said, stepping close to Hitler's shoulder and looking Hi in the eye. "What is your explanation?"

Dorsch stepped close to Hitler's other shoulder, and looked Hi in the eye. "What were you doing in Gebäude Ein?"

Hitler looked at the two Obergruppenführers crowding his shoulders. "Dorsch," he said calmly, "go get some Schützes to clean up this mess."

Dorsch started to go, then asked, "Shall we save all the blood, sir?" Hitler gave him a disagreeable look and Dorsch left.

Hitler returned his attention to Hi.

"You were saying?" smiling Kegel said to Hi.

Hi looked almost ashamed. "To tell you the truth," he said reluctantly, "I was coming to see the Countess." Kegel looked at Hitler, who arched an eyebrow at Hi. Kegel did likewise. "But it's not what you think. I need her advice or something. I'm afraid that last night . . . well, it may not have taken."

Hitler's hard look became questioning. "You are still not a vampire?"

"What makes you think that?" Kegel asked.

Hi seemed disgusted with himself. "I've got this craving," he complained, "for a big plate of sauerkraut and a stein of cold beer."

Hitler and Kegel glanced at each other. They looked at Hi and nodded understandingly. "You had better see the Countess," Kegel said.

"I didn't want to tell you," Hi said remorsefully to Hitler. "I don't want to disappoint you. I--"

"Don't worry," Hitler said. He was pleased. It was refreshing to have an intelligent sycophant from outside the old guard. One with obvious mettle. And he still had a use for this Schütze. "Remember," Hitler assured him, "there can be a period of adjustment. Check with the Countess. But I'm sure there's no problem. And tonight you will dine in my quarters."

"Thank you, mein Führer," Hi said.

"We must show you our appreciation," Hitler said, gesturing toward the corpse, "for dispatching this . . . " No sufficient word seemed to come.

"We are very disappointed, mein Führer," Kegel said apologetically, "in the late Untersturmführer."