But a path was made for the rapidly accelerating meat delivery truck. The cops looked at the driver and his helper as they passed. The two white men looked back, exchanging white looks. The cops went ahead, looking for colored criminals. The white machine-gunners got away.

The two black guards climbed into the front seat of the armored truck. The two colored detectives jumped on the running-boards, pistols in their hands. Deke came out from underneath the table and climbed into the back, beside the empty safe. The motor came instantly to life, sounding for all the world like a big Cadillac engine with four hundred horsepower. The armored truck backed, filled, pointed towards the gate, then hesitated.

"You want I should follow them?" the driver asked.

"Get 'em, goddammit. Run 'em down!" one of the colored detectives grated.

The driver hesitated a moment longer. "They're armed for bear."

"Bear ass!" the detective shouted. "They're getting away, mother!"

There was a glimpse of gray paint as the meat delivery truck went past a taxi on Lexington Avenue, headed north.

The big engine of the armored truck roared; the truck jumped. The police cruiser wheeled to head it off. A woman wild with fright ran in front of it. The car slewed to miss her and ran head-on into the barbecue pit. Steam rose from the bursted radiator pouring on to the hot coals. A sudden flash of lightning lit the wild stampede of running people, seen through the cloud of steam.

"Great Godamighty, the earth's busted open," a voice cried.

"An' let out all hell," came the reply.

"Halt or I'll shoot," a cop cried, climbing from the smoking ruins.

It was the same as talking to the lightning.