[Ganzfield 2] Adversary by Kate Kaynak Page A

around us. Most were sparks from Ganzfield. A few older McFees filled out the group. People began to badger Rachel—as the only RV—for information about the whereabouts and welfare of people who were missing.
    Hannah went to the lodge to treat the wounded. No other healers had made it out and five people had sustained gunshot wounds that would’ve drawn unwanted attention at an emergency room. Word spread that Hannah had a list of the dead and people approached her somberly as she moved between patients.
    At the far end of a low stone bench, a brown-haired woman watched silently. The light from the windows caught the edges of the tears that streaked her cheeks, and something in her earnest thoughts held my attention. Dear Lord, deliver us from evil. May your protecting hand be over us. Father, send your angels to keep watch over us. Yea, though we walk through the valley of death, we will fear no evil, for you are with us—
    Mel touched her arm. “Aunt Leah? My mom’s looking for you.”
    Trevor and I moved away from the others. Their thoughts filled my head with taut emotions and urgent babble, and the pain of the injured ate at the edges of my mind. I couldn’t deal with it all.
    Overload.
    Our feet crunched through the crusty snow as we left the shoveled walk and took the path that seemed to lead in Seth’s direction, away from other people. Around the field’s edge, small cottages formed three sides of a square. Shoveled paths linked them together like beads strung on a necklace. The night closed around us, swallowing the noise of all those jangling thoughts.
    Seth, what happened? I didn’t want to know the details but I had to ask. Next to me, Trevor sensed the connection. I’d broadcast to him again without thinking about it. Through Seth’s thoughts, I saw his little campsite in the woods. He’d pitched a small tent next to a bright fire, as far as he could get from the other people on the property. Was it far enough to keep their thoughts from pressing in on him?
    Helicopters. Seth’s mind filled with vivid images and suddenly it was as though I was there.
    Four helicopters swept over the hills just after midnight. The sound of their rotors chopped into the night. They dropped something on the little power station up by the wind turbines. A bright flash then the lights had all gone out as a low, rolling boom—like thunder—came across the lake.
    I’d just finished bedcheck among the sparks. I’d…I was just about to go home. Rotor wash kicked up a hiss of snow that stung his face. They…they…so much hate. They wanted to kill us all. I…I couldn’t warn them. Seth had been the only minder at Ganzfield and he couldn’t project his thoughts to non-telepaths. He’d had no way to use his ability to alert the people in the houses.
    He started yelling.
    The helicopters landed in front of the main building. Silver-hooded attackers immediately spread out to the various dormitories, pulling the people out of bed at gunpoint, herding them out into the cold night. Seth felt each person wake. He sensed their confusion—their fear. Each time one of the charms tried to stop them, their abilities had been useless.
    Seth’s yells woke the sparks. Several started across the field to join the fight. Someone opened the weapons locker at the firing range so they were doubly armed.
    Then the first shots rang out. Frank grabbed the two invaders who’d dragged him out of his room. He bashed their heads together and they collapsed in a pile. A man hauled Frank out by the neck. Frank gripped his arm and flipped him so he took the first shot intended for Frank. Then two of the silver-suits emptied several rounds into Frank’s chest, killing him.
    The invaders opened fire on the assembled crowd and Seth, with his strong telepathic ability and huge range, felt the pain of every shot as it ripped into them.
    No!
    —pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of—
    Stop them!
    This isn’t happening. This can’t be