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Oskar's self-preservation instinct kicks in. "Eli, if you have to kill an innocent person even though you don't like to, wouldn't you find it easier to kill a total stranger instead of killing me?"
"Håkan wasn't a stranger."
"But he had already lived most of his natural life and he had grown too old for you to have any more feelings for him. I'm only twelve years old and I have a long life ahead of me. Besides, I'm your boyfriend! I saved your life and you saved mine - because we love each other!"
Eli's look softens as she takes Oskar's face between her hands. "Oskar, I can hold out one more day without blood, but that's all. If you can't bring me any by sunset tomorrow, I'll have to go hunting myself until I can find a replacement for you and then we'll have to part. Don't you want to take Håkan's tools?"
Oskar examines the tools: a flashlight, a gas container, a rope, a knife, a funnel and a big bottle. "I'll take the flashlight and the bottle," he says, "but I have an idea how I can manage without the rest of them if you give me a thousand kronor. I can spare you a litre of my own blood now to tide you over in case I'm not back by sunset. Tomorrow I'll either come back with a supply or spend the money on a train ticket back home."
The next evening, Oskar returns with four litres of blood. "I bought some hypodermic syringes, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, some cotton batten and some bandages. Then I wandered around the neighbourhood, offering people I met on the street to buy a half litre of their blood for a hundred kronor. Eight people took me up on my offer. If I have to spend a thousand kronor on blood each time you get hungry, how long will your money and treasures last?"
"Counting our other expenses, at least six years, maybe eight if we're frugal."
"That'll be enough time for me to graduate from middle school and high school and get a job, and then I'll be able to provide for you like any normal man. Just think, Eli, you'll never have to hunt again!"
After Eli has satisfied her hunger, she and Oskar do a lot of kissing and cuddling. After a while, Oskar says, "Eli, could you do me a favour? I want you to give me one of those long, open-mouthed kisses like they do in the movies."
Eli smiles and says, "Only one?"