d crouched down and covered their

s reached for his walkie-

rest of you, barricade the hosp

speaking, a deafening

and saw something white flyin

, and the wind brought by it cut right through th

someone shout

pters hovered in the sky, surr

hey're battle choppers!

the others g

r seen such a

d the rest of the board all rus

roar deafeningly, circling ab

from the helicopters, and a dozen well

, while others smashed through win

ances and exits of the hospital were barricaded,

eadily on the cleared-out square

d, followed by severa

r men are on stand-by." The leader of the

hered-down face, but his eye

ssic tuxedo and even

uards behind him forme

t of the board hurried f

out Patrick. He wanted to ge

ou, sir?" the direct

d. Ignoring the director, he brushed past them

Percy hurried

cy shouted at the crowd,

temper flared up and he rushed up to them and barked, "I s

this. He strode forward and slapped Percy across

but the blow was enough to knoc

ooking at the blood-covered teeth scattered on the gro

dyguards behind him bowed deeply to Patrick and said in a booming voi

und were shock

red who Pa

atrick himself

ectful toward him? Was he dreaming? Or w

he armed soldiers whipped out a first-aid kit and

ured at Laura and barked, "

iers saluted promptly and c

noticed the muddy footp

ck Mr. Nelson?"