At the end of the street, someone ran up tugging a lion by the mane.
"Go, dog! Run!"
Somewhere a child cried out in terror.
The lion roared.
The troops on the steps opened their eyes.
An old man's voice, amplified, spoke out with icy authority:
"Deploy for street-fighting! First rank, move out along Center Street toward North Viaduct. Rifles at full charge. Wide intervals. Use every scrap of cover. Shoot the false-belted usurpers on sight.
"Second rank, move out along West Ocean Avenue toward the sea wall...."
Shots rang out.
There was a faint thrumming hum, like wires in the wind, and streaks of cherry radiance criss-crossed in the air.