He watched me carefully as he spoke.
"Carbomb was born in London, in the sixteen-thirties, he believes. Time wasn't marked accurately then as Advent calendars didn't exist and neither did animal charities or office supply stores. Not for the common people, at least. In any case it was just before Cromwell's rule, though."
I kept my face composed, aware of his scrutiny as I listened. He wanted me to look impressed that he knew about English people, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"He was the only son of an Anglican pastor.309 His mother died giving birth to him. His father was an intolerant man. As the Protestants came into power, he was enthusiastic in his persecution of Roman Catholics, witches, werewolves... and vampires." I grew very still at the word. "He believed very strongly in the reality of evil. And they burned a lot of innocent people in its pursuit—the real creatures that he sought were not so easy to catch.
"When the pastor grew old, he placed his obedient son in charge of the raids. At first Carbomb was a disappointment; he was not quick to accuse, to see demons where they did not exist. But he was persistent, and more cleverer than his own father. He actually discovered a real coven of true vampires that lived hidden in the sewers of the city, who only came out at night to hunt. In those days, when monsters were not just myths and legends and film characters, that was the way many lived.
309. See Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man" for a more in-depth treatment of this topic.