73.
   The swarm of nasty little green things poured over the balcony and onto the floor. Their manicured nails clicked on the wood as they flitted toward us mewing and squeaking. They circled us in a slow-motion dance, smiling through their teeth. Their foul breath threatened to overwhelm us. Their red eyes glowed with insatiable craving. We were back to back waiting for their onslaught.   “Get angry!”, ordered Boris. He glared at the creatures. “You dirty little pieces of shit! There is nothing worse in all creation than a parasite!”

   They threw themselves on us in a crazed fury. They pulled a hood over Boris’ head and ripped at our skin and clothing. Boris flailed his arms blindly. “Kill them!”, they rasped. “Cut them up and sell them!”
   Nanette flew at the politicians holding the hood over Boris. She snapped at their limbs and bit at their heads. Pat was knocked off his feet and into the arms of three of them. I struggled to get to him as he tore at their arms and faces.
   Claudia and I and stabbed and cut with our knives. I grabbed one by the neck and sunk a stiletto into its eye. I felt my shirt being ripped and fingernails scratching my back. I turned to see Claudia stab my attacker in the back of the neck as her own clothes were ripped from her. Our knives sunk into their bodies like wet clay. If we hit them right, they let loose a high-pitched scream and crumpled into shapeless blobs. But there were so many of them.