The Ancient One had left his companion on another mission and flew down to take care of something he had been working on for some time. In a western state far from his home he went to a mailbox, opened it, and withdrew its contents. He gave a deep sigh. He didn't really want to do this, but it had to be done. Taking on human form he made his way down the street, and approached a luxurious mansion. The security gate was no match for his skills, and he quickly made his way up the walk. The door was open before he even reached for it, and the bright eyes of a pretty little girl greeted him.
"It's that man again, mommy," she remarked, "the one who can open the gate without you putting in the codes."
"Oh!" came a woman's voice. "Go play, Sarah."
"Bye, magic man!" the little girl giggled.
"Bye!" The Ancient One answered.
A quite beautiful woman appeared. "Don't you ever give up?" she asked.
"Haven't been known to," The Ancient One answered. "People consider my persistance one of my redeeming qualities."
"I'm sure!" the woman answered, "but I'm not going to beliee those insane things you've been telling me about my husband. They couldn't POSSIBLY be true. I don't care what you are; angel, devil, whatever, it isn't true. My husband simply would NOT DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT!"
The Ancient One took the cassette from his pocket, walked over to the family VCR and popped it in. A few moments later scenes apeared on the screen of several men with a little girl. The little girl was screaming, begging, but the men wouldn't stop what they were doing. The woman watched in wide-eyed horror. FInally The Ancient One turned the tape off.
"You probably recognize the child," he remarked, "she used to come to your house. They don't usually take a victim from nearby for their little ceremony, but they were desperate this time. Something happened to their regular supplier and they had to have someone."
The Ancient One looked to the children playing in the yard. "What happens if they're desperate again," he inquired, "and take someone even closer to home?"
The woman looked in terror to her daughteres. "They WOULDN'T!" she screamed.
"If they'll do that," The Ancient One answered, "they'll do ANYTHING!"
"What can I do?" the woman pleaded. "If I got to the police they'll say I made it up. They know we're having problems. They'll say I'm just trying to get custody. He's got lawyers that are full of tricks."
"Yes," The Ancient One muttered, "probably end up another O.J. There's really only one solution, one way of putting an end to it."
The woman went to a cabinet and took out a gun. There was a noise in the hallway.
"Caroline!" a man called, "Come here! We've really got to talk. There's something I've got to tell you!"
"I'm in the den!" the woman cried.
The Ancient One nodded to her and disappeared. He didn't reappear until he was outside the gate. He heard the shots and nodded. Taking on his true form he winged homeward.
"If I'm not careful," he muttered, "they're going to have to import actors from other countries."
He pondered that thought for a moment then smiled. Another little band would soon be exposed. Not a bad day's work! Not a bad day's work at all!