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In interviews, Mr Rohted by the power his movies had proven to have “Always knew there was a reason people didn’t like seeing the zombies win,” he’d said If anyone was surprised when he left his body to the govern end for aof bad horror to national hero practically overnight

“They better not da ain “Soet”

“They’re not going to daovernment, we’re journalists, and they knoe’d tell everyone in the whole daency” I leaned over to hit him in the back of the head “They just need toany bos,” said Shaun

“Actually,” said the senator, stepping into the roohtly disappointed by the lack of boht you folks were supposed to be reporters, but there wasn’t even any illicit booze”

“We’re clear?” I asked, ceasingShaun and Buffy were already on their feet, nearly vibrating I understood their anxiety; the senator’s security crew had their hands on all our servers, which had Buffy unhappy, and on Shaun’s zo equipment, which usuallyhiet solad of my role as the hard-nosed reporter in our little crew Maybe Buffy and Shaun call oons take away all our equip I, on the other hand, retain my MP3 recorder, cellular phone, notebook computer, and stylus They’re all too basic to require much examination

Of course, I can’t keep my hands on the vehicles, which had me almost as restless as my companions The van and my bike represent the most expensive articles we travel with, and most of our livelihood depends on their upkeep At the saood e, andas the feds didn’t bust up the van, we’d be fine

“You’re clear,” the senator said He didn’t bat an eye as Shaun and Buffy ran out of the rooood-bye I remained where I was, and after a moment, he turned toward me “I must admit, ere impressed by the structural reinforce?”

“We’ve considered it The security upgrades were our n We did the electrical work ourselves”

Senator Ry In a way, it did Stacy Mason has been the first na time “I have to admit, I don’t really understand most of your professional equipment, but the security systeive her your coestured toward the door “I should join the feeding frenzy Buffy’s going to want to start asseoes overboard withoutover her”

“I see” The senator paused for a moment His voice was uncharacteristically stiff as he continued, “I wondered if I ht ask you a small favor, Miss Mason”

Ah, the first de to owe Shaun ten bucks; I’d been betting that Senator Ryn trail before he started trying to control themy voice level, I said, “And that would be, Senator?”

“E at his lips “I know you’ll release whatever you want to, and I look forward to having the chance to read and watch it all I don’t figure we caught half the cameras and recorders you three had on you—so were barely in the range of our sensors, which leads me to believe that she had others we couldn’t see at all, and if she ever wishes to pursue a career in espionage, I only pray she offers her services to us first—so you’ve doubtless got soe And that’s fabulous But Emily, you see, well she’s not so comfortable with a lot of htfully “So you want me to minimize the use of your wife?” That was odd Eenic, and, except for the horses, just about the sanest politician’s wife I’d ever oing to have to feature in this cas, and she doesn’twritten about, but she’d rather her picture wasn’t used excessively,” he said He was clearly uncomfortable with the request That rant it “Please If it’s at all possible, I would see it as a great personal favor”

Lowering h to let him see my eyes, I asked, “Why?”

“Because she raises horses I know you don’t approve of keeping mammals that meet the size for Kellis-Amberlee amplification, but you’re polite about it You write articles and you lobby for stricter controls, and that’s fine, that’s your right as an American citizen Given your family connections, it’s even unavoidable Soressive”

“You’re talking about the bo of the news feeds for a while, because it was such a huge event: the world’s largest re zoo and wild animal conservatory, bombed by activists who believed Mason’s Law should be used to shut down every facility in the world that kept anie group, in other words, that supports lifting the bans on big-ga out North Aenous mammals They call theenocide Their proverbial panties get wet just thinking about the opportunity to go out and slaughter so the law Hundreds died in San Diego because of what they did, and I’ot a lot of firsts out of that stunt “First confiriraffe bite” wasn’t the weirdest