Nightly News (Asa)

Asa had awakened at dusk, only a few minutes earlier. His nightly ritual - Olivette cuttng his hair, grown long while he slept, while he watched television - was underway, but during a commercial break in his favorite local news broadcast, she held up a VCR tape. "This was broadcast at noon today, on a different station, Mr. Clarke, and it is the sort of thing you have asked me to watch for."

She put the tape into the VCR. After a few seconds of snow, Asa saw the image of an attractive blonde reporter standing in front of a rail fence in some rural area, holding a microphone decorated with the logo for a Sacramento station. The banner "Channel 9 Noontime News" was visible at the lower left corner of the screen.

"Earlier today, law enforcement officers were called to the scene of an unusual and rather disturbing crime. During the early morning hours, unidentified parties killed a number of animals at an area petting zoo and drained them of blood.

"Workers at the Happy Pony Petting Zoo in Robbins, a small community northwest of Sacramento, phoned police after discovering evidence of a break-in which is estimated to have occurred during the early morning hours today. In a public statement, Happy Pony proprietor Walt Hickman confirmed that several of the zoo's animals, including cows, goats and a horse, were completely drained of blood and left for dead."

The image switches to that of a middle-aged man with weathered, tanned skin, dressed in a cowboy hat and blue cotton workshirt. "It was am awful sight. We ain't had nothin' like this happen before, and I hope we never do again. Makes me sick to think someone could do something like this to helpless animals in a business catering to children."

The image shifts back to that of the woman reporter. "Sheriff's Department sources state they suspect the crime might be the work of satanists or pagans who sometimes hold rituals in nearby parks and forests this time of year.

"Channel 9 reporters contacted a spokesperson for the Children of Gaea, a local pagan organization. Elaine Hunter told reporters that none of the members or organizations associated with the Children of Gaea would condone or engage in such practices, and called the crimes 'very unfortunate' while also pointing out that Wicca and other pagan faiths have nothing whatsoever to do with satanism and stating they do not engage in animal sacrifice. She opined that the crime was most likely the work of 'troubled teens or disturbed individuals.'

"Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact the Sheriff's Department.

"This is Rebecca Souter reporting from Robbins, California for Channel 9 News. Back to you, Robin."

Olivette uses the remote to turn off the VCR and turn back to the channel Asa had been watching.

She bows her head and replies. "I have already done so, Mr. Clarke. I was told by a very helpful clerk with the Sheriff's office that while they were not sure this incident at this petting zoo is related, there have been several incidents of animal mutilations this spring. They were described as being part of occult rituals. I was told the investigations had stopped for lack of leads, until this morning's incident."

She nodded silently in response to his order to avoid the word Sheriff.

"All I was able to find out about these other incidents was a bit available on the websites of area small-town newspapers. I was unable to find any mention in Sacramento media prior to today. The stories I found did not include much detail, but did mention multiple incidents in which animals were killed and their blood drained. 'Multiple' was not defined, but at least three separate incidents are noted in the coverage. There was mention of "occult symbols", but these were not specified or described. The different incidents were reported to have involved cats, a dog and a rabbit. All were domestic animals, lost or taken from homes."

"I will be glad to do that, Mr. Clarke," Olivette says, as she goes back to cutting Asa's hair. He knows she can be counted on to make the calls as soon as she has finished helping him prepare for the evening ahead.