There was a thunderstorm inside John’s head again as he looked out across the empty park. It was rumbling inside him and he could feel the words pushing at him, and whispering to him. He shook his head to get rid of them and felt dizzy for a second. Where was James? Where was that scheming little weasel? James sidled up to John and took up position at his shoulder. John spat a great white phlegmy gobbet of spittle onto the ground and motioned to James to move in. James smiled nervously, and trotted off into the darkness. He would hang back until the angel was in the net and then make sure that the route back to the Shoals was clear. But John thought something felt different tonight. He could sense a presence out there. No matter. Just get the angel, make it talk, then open the box and let
