“Mankind has dumbed down to a level that is alarming. The Realm was not expecting this to happen so egregiously. It happened over time but at an acc...lerating rate becoming a landslide of stupidity. This level is knocking at the door of disaster and we have to act. Yes, we will be here for you for the foreseeable future in your time bound world. But we will also have to increase your powers. There will come a time when you will assume our powers and in affect be one of us.“So you see, your. All she could see was a stocky, well-built figure and the shape of a head that suggested a receding hairline. Then a smile. Oh God, she thought, who IS it?The scene on screen changed and there was suddenly more light. Katie gasped audibly: "Don!" It was Don Jeffries, their bank manager. Not only that, he was a lay preacher at their church and, although Katie and Gary were in their mid-twenties and Don and his wife Helen were in their early fifties, they had been friends since they had moved. Already a number of cars were parked in various locations around the large open area. Some were pulled into little cavities in the surrounding foliage."Those cars will be rocking by the time its dark," observed Kim as Pam pulled around and backed into a spot that afforded them a good view of the area."And some before then," pointed Pam as she indicated a blue station wagon that was already showing signs of some activity going on inside.Kim laughed along with her friend and opened the wine. The third had apparently been taken the same instant that the flier self-imploded, the flash clearly illuminating Asmedogh a short distance away manfully—well, Akulla-fully—making his way into the surrounding woods."Have you ever seen this creature?" asked the guy—he also gave me his name as Smith, none of them were apparently willing to own up to their actual identities.I gave each of the photos a second look. They were actually pretty good representations, either the hiker was a talented.