"Weirdest damn thing I ever saw," said Stanley.

They were watching a steady procession of thaumagenetically engineered animals streaming from the

plaza and scattering in all directions. The streets below were filled with people, many of them attracted by

this phenomenon, yet kept at a distance by the police barricades and the mounted officers. Many of the

onlookers, in town for the fiesta, apparently believed this was an early part of the festivities, some sort of

"animal parade," and they were enjoying the show.

"Thaumagene vigilantes," Megan said.

"What?" said Rosowitz.

"Something that Loomis and Ramirez apparently cooked up," said Megan. "Half the adepts and pet

owners in town are screaming about it, the other half think it's a great idea. Sending thaumagenes out to

patrol the streets as auxiliaries to the police."

"You've gotta be kidding," Stanley said.

"Nope. It's a ludicrous idea, but at least it makes them look as if they're doing something." She held up

her portable radio and spoke into it. "Is everybody in position?"

One by one, the other agents checked in from various locales in the downtown area.

"What makes you so sure it'll be downtown?" asked Rosowitz.

"This is where all the people are," she said. "The fiesta doesn't start until tomorrow night, but there's

already plenty of people out celebrating and it's my guess they'll make their move tonight."

"Why tonight?" asked Stanley.

"Because they know we're onto them and they'll make their move tonight instead of waiting for the fiesta

to get rolling. Grabbing Ramirez today was the tip-off."

"Only theydid take him to the eye doctor," Rosowitz said. "And when Stein called the guy up and

checked, he said that Ramirez had been blinded in some sort of thaumaturgic accident, a spell he was