Zoie turned toward her cousin. “Abigail, do you think it would be all right to tell the boys, Lance and Jinx, I mean, why we’re carrying these guns?”

Abigail dropped one of her carrots and pointed out at the moon. “Nenuphars!” she exclaimed.

“Yes. That’s exactly why...” Zoie didn’t finish. Her eyes followed Abigail’s finger, and she saw ominous silhouettes against the moon. Large creatures of all descriptions were flying in from the south.

Without thinking, she jerked the gun from her back and levered a live round into the chamber. The entire group stood with their gaze fixed on the moon and the approaching silhouettes.

Zoie leaned against the rail and yelled down to Sheriff Fitzpatrick, who was near the barn entrance. “Sheriff! Look at the moon!”

Sheriff Fitzpatrick looked up and grabbed the small handheld microphone mounted on his shoulder and spoke into it.

A moment later, the loudspeaker on the patrol cruiser at the main gate came to life. “This is an emergency order from the sheriff. Everyone outdoors must go immediately into Exhibit Barn A. Again! Go into Exhibit Barn A. Carnival personnel, turn off your rides. Turn off all lights except the spotlight truck where the light is pointed toward the sky. Turn off all music."