Free The Frenzy War by Gregory Lamberson Page A

around the curtain. Tim had assigned Kyle to watch the backyard from the kitchen.
    â€œFive hundred channels and what do we get? Infomercials and cartoons. What kids stay up until 2:00 A M on a school night?”
    â€œThere are different time zones,” Samuel said. “They gotta entertain kids all over the country. All over the
world
”
    â€œYou telling me they’re watching
Scooby-Doo
in China and Nicaragua? In English?”
    â€œHow should I know what language they’re watching” it in?”
    Sighing, Tim returned to Manhattan Minute News and Cheryl Mace’s report on the murder and kidnappingat Synful Reading. “Doesn’t she ever get tired of saying the same thing over and over?”
    â€œYou don’t seem to get tired of listening to her.”
    â€œI’m just waiting for new developments.”
    â€œBe glad there aren’t any. That’s the problem with people today: everyone’s watching the cable news networks, waiting for new developments, so the networks have to frame trivial events to seem like new developments.”
    â€œThis isn’t trivial.”
    â€œNo, it isn’t.”
    â€œYou think Gabriel and Raphael will shut down the store?”
    Samuel shrugged. “It’s not good for the store to be in the spotlight, but something like this could turn it into a real hot spot for tourists.”
    â€œCommerce versus survival of the species. I wonder how Angela’s doing.”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œShe was hot. I’d have mated with her.”
    â€œSure you would have. And gotten yourself a little closer to Gabriel’s inner circle.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with that?”
    â€œNothing, I guess. Too bad she mated with one of them.”
    â€œYeah. How do you think that happened? I mean, I know we’re all the same on the outside, but it isn’t natural.”
    â€œI check out fine-looking women every day, and I think, ‘You could be a Wolf and not even know it.’ It’s tempting to see if I can bring it out of them. I guess that’s how it happens.”
    Tim yawned. “It must have been an embarrassment to Gabriel, though.”
    Samuel looked out the window. “I don’t think Gabriel can
be
embarrassed.”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?”
    â€œHe’s too thoughtful, too willing to listen to dissenting voices. He’s a peacemaker more than a leader. I wish Raphael was in charge.”
    Tim sat up. “Gabriel’s the eldest. That’s all there is to it. Besides, he runs things the way Angus did.”
    â€œAngus’s way was fine for the previous generation. The world’s changed. We need to change with it.”
    â€œI don’t want to talk politics. Tell me about some of those fine women you check out.”
    â€œNot now. I see a van. Turn off the TV and warn Kyle.”

    Angelo steered the black passenger van along the quiet residential street with Michael sitting beside him. Except for lights flickering in one or two picture windows, the houses in the neighborhood were dark inside, their exteriors illuminated by colorful, flashing Christmas decorations. As they neared their destination, Angelo killed the headlights and slowed down, allowing the van to coast.
    â€œRight on schedule, 0336 hours,” Michael said.
    Behind them, bodies shifted in the darkness. All the team members wore loose-fitting black garments beneath their long dusters, which were unbuttoned.
    Michael unrolled his black mask over his head and affixed his headset. Then he pulled on his night vision goggles, and everyone but Angelo did the same. The world before himturned bright green. Finally, he put on his black leather gloves.
    â€œOpen the door,” Michael said.
    Someone did, allowing cold air to flow inside.
    â€œNow.”
    One at a time, the Torquemadans jumped out of the moving van and landed on the pavement with precision and in