by Alton Reich
[NRPG: I want to apologize for falling off the planet. It's alergy season here in the Northeastern US, and I'm a mess. This year is worse than most in recent memeory and the drugs I'm on aren't strong enough. Anyway, stuffy sinuses are tough on creativity. This post is short because I want to finish it before the approaching thunderstorm gets here.]
> Up ahead, they saw the strip mall, a large one by small town standards. A > few dozen cows were wandering around the parking lot, resisting the > attempts of the sheriff and deputy - and several civilian volunteers - to > move them along. Among the volunteers were a couple of teenage boys. In > the window of one of the stores and on the sidewalk, several more young > people stood transfixed, trance-like, watching the spectacle. The other > Swift was parked in the street, and Jordan and Vanessa were standing next > to it. Jim pulled up and parked alongside.
"What ya got Chief?" Leo asked as they clambered out of the Swift.
"More cows," Jordan replied with a wry grin.
"Have you noticed them?" Zenya asked pointing to the kids in the store.
Jordan nodded, "We did. Can you and Agent Jones check it out?"
"Sure," Leo replied for the two of them.
Jordan watched them walk away for a moment and then led the way over to the Sheriff. It was tough going, walking between the tightly packed cows. "Need any help Sheriff?" Jordan asked.
"You know anything about getting cows to move Agent Stern?"
"Sorry, Sheriff, I'm a city boy. All I know about cows is that they have 4 legs and moo," Jordan replied.
"I've heard a cattle prod works well," Jim Reaper suggested, "especially those new electric ones."
"I don't suppose you happen to have one?" Sheriff Dolan asked.
Jim patted himself down, "Nope, I think I left mine in my other pair of pants," he grinned.
Dolan shook his head, "I sent Prentice to get Doc Morton, he the local Vet. I'm hoping he has a clue."
"Not likely," Martin whispered.
Suddenly, the cows began to move. They all headed down the street and the agents had to sidestep quickly to avoid getting trampled. The cows picked up speed and turned left at the next intersection.
The crowd watched the cows with fascination, and a few kids chased after the heard to see where it was going.
The Agents regrouped on the sidewalk and Jordan said, "Keep your eyes open. Things seem to happen just after the cows leave."
NRPG:
NEXT!! Things will be a bit more normal for me over the next couple of weeks, I think, so try to keep this one going.