Holly, J Hunter, Vogeler

children within the group of irate people had been eyeing the ground, noticing the stones there in a new light. Drastic measures would have to be taken with them.

Nik scooted around block after block, trying to locate the Peace Squad. It must be an exciting day for them. They had few duties in this New Society. Once in a while someone got drunk, or there was the inevitable family argument or neighborhood squabble to disturb the peace, but now they had something real on their hands. Nik sped through a crossing, and out of the corner of his eye, saw the retreating blue color of a Peace Squad Tri-Wheel, far down on a side street. Maneuvering a quick U turn, he took off after it. When his little scooter screeched to a stop, he found the Tri-Wheel empty. The men were spread out through the area on foot, searching for the child. Nik pivoted, but saw nothing. All he could do was wait for some news of the direction of the chase. Then the harsh jangle of glass echoed throughout the houses from two blocks East. Shouts blasted out and the high, incoherent cries of a young voice. Nik ran. With one block behind him, he could see what had happened. Another house had gone the way of the previous one, only more so. Two of its outer walls were gone. Peace Men were leaping back and forth over the glass, running in circles around the house and its neighbors, while one man stood still, shouting directions.

As Nik came up to him, the shouted direction was, "Reform, men. He's given us the slip again."

"Didn't you catch him?" Nik panted.

"Can't," was the answer. "He darts and runs right out of our grasp. It's easy for him because no one wants to hurt him. Then somehow, he manages to disappear. Don't ask me where he hides. The only way we know where he is is by the glass."

"How many so far?" Nik was afraid of the answer.

"Five houses and two neighborhood stores. He's a little monster."

"You could circle him and close in."

"We've tried that. All we get is a barrage of stones. He's cut three of my men and damaged two of the houses that way."

"Well, maybe I can help you," Nik offered. "I'm from the University and I brought a translator with me. If you can corner him long enough for me to talk to him in his own language, maybe he'll see reason."

"It's worth a try," the Peace Man nodded, "but I don't think that child has any reason. He's just a bundle of instinct. Why, my dog is more civilized than he is."

The Peace Squad moved off slowly, searching under every bush, into every hole, anywhere big enough to hold a ten year old boy. Nik crept with them, cradling the translator in his hand. They covered two blocks, creeping and aâ€&#x; hunting, when three blocks to their left, a new crash of glass punctured the silence of the neighborhood. Another Peace Squad was contacted and ordered to move in from the North. Nik's squad went in from South and West. A second jangle of glass told them they had the boy in the circle and they moved faster, narrowing the gaps between each man as they narrowed the circle in the middle.

They came upon him and forced him into the open at the worst possible place. Theyâ€&#x;d squeezed the circle down close to the intersection of two streets, when, suddenly, the child screamed in a voice that was clearly a threat, and scurried into some bushes. He darted back and forth until realizing he was surrounded, and then took his stand in the open - smack in the middle of the intersection. From that point, he had clear aim at a minimum of four houses, and a clear aim at anyone who tried to rush him. The Peace Squad wasn't likely to chance being hit by stones.

The boy stood stiff-legged, fists clenched tightly about a large supply of stones. His hair was wild and damp from running and hiding in dewy places. He looked scared to death and Nik admired him for his courage, no matter how uncivilized he was. Nik jammed the translator into action, and summoning some courage of his own, he stepped out of the line toward the boy. The boy whirled on him instantly, focusing his attention, but casting wary 16