Kim sensed a moment coming on and quickly intervened. “Hello? Still lots of vampires all around you, and the blood is rising! Get away, you. Shoo.”

A vampire snapped at her foot, dangling directly above the blood, and its jaws slammed harmlessly together.

JC glared about him, thinking hard. The vampire sharks were still circling, though at a slightly wider radius, made wary by their failures. Why were they so determined to attack?

“Happy, these vampires are swimming in blood. Any idea why they’re so keen to taste ours?”

“Apparently there’s nothing like the real thing,” said Happy. “The need to hunt and feed from the source is built into them at the genetic level. I really think we need to get out of here, JC.”

“I’m working on it!”

JC’s gaze fell upon the far tunnel-mouth, three-quarters full of blood. No way out that way . . . but it did give him a sudden inspiration.

“Listen,” he said urgently. “I fought and banished a whole army of demons on a hell train, and once it was empty, the train let Kim and me off at this station. The train then disappeared. Vanished. It could still be out there, somewhere in the Underground system . . . If we could summon it back here, maybe we could use it to escape!”

There was a pause, as everyone considered that.

“Have you got any other ideas?” said Happy.

“It could work!” said JC.

“Yeah, and monkeys could fly out of my butt writing Shakespeare’s plays as they went!” said Natasha.

“It’s our only chance to get out of here,” said JC.

“It’s a great idea!” said Erik. “I love this idea! I want to marry this idea and have its babies! But could we please get a move on because the blood really is getting very close to my chin now!”

“Serves you right for being such a short-arse,” said Melody. “JC, how the hell are we supposed to control a hell train? One that presumably works for, and takes its instructions from, the same Intruder that’s trying to drown us all in blood?”

“I’d bet Happy’s and Natasha’s minds against a hell train any day,” said JC.

The two telepaths looked at each other.

“Might work,” said Happy.

“Agents of the Institute and the Project, working together in common cause, against a common enemy?” said Natasha. “If word of this ever gets out, I’ll never hear the end of it. Still, needs must when the Devil vomits in your shoes. Let’s do it. But I want a piece of the Intruder just as badly as you do. If we get out of this alive, we go after it together. Fair shares for all. Yes?”

“Works for me,” said JC.