Chapter 19 - Page 281 - Louisiana Law

   All the officers suddenly jerked their heads around, trying to locate the source of a humming sound that got louder and louder until the air throbbed with its power. After a few seconds, it faded away. The officers, including the arresting officer, lowered their weapons and looked around in confusion. The room grew dim and totally silent.

   Jim stopped praying. All the officers had moved away from him and Rhasha. Suddenly there was a flicker, like a warp in time. When the flicker died, Shanha was standing between them, holding her teddy bear.

   Jim and Rhasha put their hands on Shanha's shoulders and waited to see what else would happen. Shanha was calm, having already figured out what was going on. Rhasha and Shanha waited for God to turn all the officers into donkeys.

   The humming sound returned, sounding as if it was gearing up for more action. Suddenly everything went into high-speed motion. One by one, each object in the room winked out of existence. Finally nothing was left but the people. Even the guns were gone. Confused, the officers stood with their jaws hanging open, their faces sagging in disbelief. They stood with their arms out before them, as though they were still holding weapons.

   There was another flash and everyone in the room, except Jim, Rhasha, and Shanha, froze. They looked like wax statues with confused looks etched onto their faces. Their arms were still pointing outward. Jim, Rhasha, and Shanha stared. Suddenly the officers disappeared, one by one. They were there, then poof, they were gone. Finally nothing remained in the room except Jim, Rhasha, and Shanha. Jim knew the event wasn't over; he remained motionless. Rhasha and Shanha wondered if there was a new herd of donkeys at the zoo.

   The humming sound started up again, but quickly faded away. Inanimate objects began to reappear. First desks popped in, one after another, and then chairs. The desks were bare, then poof, computers reappeared, one by one. Pens, coffee mugs, papers-everything-popped instantly into being, one at a time. Everything that is, except people. When the room looked as it had before, silence reigned.

   Suddenly there was a loud click and a flash.