Free Mana in the Modern World non illustrated version by R. McCullough

attacked.
    He had a large can open in front of him for
donations, well ok, handouts to be tossed. The 911 callers were
saying that various birds attacked people that failed to toss money
into the open bag as they walked by and, in at least two cases,
actually appeared to ‘herd’ couples back to the bag. Once they
tossed money in the bag the birds left them alone.
    Three Police Officers arrived and were
similarly attacked until the officers also tossed change into the
can at which point the birds flew into trees to roost. When
questioned, the man said the birds were friends and maybe thought
that he needed money to buy more food for them. The man was
questioned but not arrested as no known law was broken; although
several of those attacked felt the birds should somehow be
destroyed.
    Interesting note: When one man that ‘donated’
money demanded his money back two large birds, beside the old man
on the bench, made loud cries and the birds in the trees again took
flight and flew circles over the man. He quickly changed his mind,
putting more money in the bag and hurriedly left. One of the female
officers later told this reporter that the old man seemed to have a
very faint greenish glow around him. However no one else
interviewed in the park saw a glow of any kind. Several people shot
pictures and video but none show a glow around the man. Police are
mystified at the incident and the three police officers refused
further comment. When asked about why the police did not detain or
charge the man (name withheld at his request) the DA also had no
comment. And yes I donated.
***
Danger Will Robinson!!!!
    Seemed to echo in Jack’s head.
    Jack jerks upright, now wide awake, heart
pounding, sweating from a nightmare – a woman is terrified and
about to be raped and murdered. He saw an image of an old, very
rundown, house that he recognized as being nearby.
    In fact, he recalls taking a picture of the
place.
    ***
    Pic here of the rundown home
    ***
    Feeling an intense sense of alarm that he
simply cannot ignore, he quickly throws on his clothes. Putting his
automatic in his belt at the back of his pants as he heads for the
door, and then pauses; after a moment’s reflection; he also sticks
Baby in his pocket. Then, grabbing phone and cane, heads for his
jeep. Driving quickly but carefully, he soon arrives at the
house.
    Turning off his headlights as he approaches,
he eases the jeep close to the house and flips a hidden switch to
keep the interior light from coming on and exits the jeep. As he
quietly eases the jeep’s door closed he notices a county sheriffs
car behind the house. ‘Huh,’ thinks Jack, ‘guess this is all for
nothing but……’ With automatic in the left hand, cane in the right,
he cautiously advanced. He thought he heard a muffled cry and a
thump inside but all is quiet again. There does appear to be a
stationary light inside. Maybe a homeless person?
    Deciding on caution; just in case; he is very
careful where places his feet and cane, thankful for the moons
light. Entering the house he stays close to the wall, hopefully to
keep from making the floor creak. Once at the room he sees two
portable electric lanterns illuminating a naked young woman,
apparently unconscious, lying on a torn dirty mattress but nothing
else is in view. Stepping into the room he gets a glimpse of a
figure to his left and swings to cover the figure shouting
“Freeze!” He now recognizes Deputy Benson. Benson is sweaty and
dirty, looking a bit rumpled as if he had been in a scuffle.
    “I interrupted a rapist but he managed to
clip me with a pipe or something. Did you see anyone?” asks Benson.
Moving closer to the woman, who seems to be reviving, Jack answers,
“No”, and begins lowering his automatic. “How long you been here?”
“Four or 5 minutes I think, thought you might be him coming back,”
Benson answers. Placing his cane on the mattress by the woman, Jack
begins to take a knee by the woman to check her pulse and,