jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第23节

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oever　it　was　to　go　away；　but　the　pounding　only　sounded　louder。
　Luis　was　at　the　door；　and　she　opened　it　to　find　him　carrying　his　little　girl；　Melinda　holding　the　baby；　and　the　other　three　kids　hanging　on　to　Mom；　sleepy　and　confused。
　〃Mrs。　Weatherby；　it's　time　to　go。　I'm　getting　my　family　out。　You　e　with　us！〃
　〃Luis；　I　told　you…〃
　〃Mrs。　Weatherby；　have　you　seen　what's　out　your　window？〃
　〃Yes；　Luis。　I　know　what's　out　there。　That's　another　good　reason　to　stay。〃
　Melinda　stepped　forward　and　pleaded。　〃Mrs。　Weatherby；　it's　too　dangerous　to　stay。　We　should've　gotten　out　when　the　buildings　disappeared。　I　mean；　that　shouldn't　happen。　Everyone's　getting　out。　The　Kaplans　and　Greccos　are　gone。　Mr。　Moreno　left　an　hour　ago。〃
　〃The　McGregors？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Melinda　replied。　〃I　think　so。〃
　Mariel　didn't　like　the　idea　of　being　in　the　building　alone。　If　the　gangs　knew　her　building　was　empty　they　might　see　it　as　an　irresistible　opportunity。　She　wavered　but　then　shored　up　her　resolve。　She　hadn't　felt　so　alive　in　years　and　wasn't　going　to　be　scared　out　of　that　feeling。
　But　Melinda　wasn't　ready　to　give　up。　〃That's　a　dinosaur；　Mrs。　Weatherby。　It　could　eat　you。〃
　〃It's　eating　grass；　dear。　Thanks　so　much　for　your　concern。　I'm　just　fine　here　in　my　home。〃
　Luis　started　to　argue　with　her　again　but　Melinda　cut　him　off。
　〃Luis；　the　kids。　We've　got　to　get　them　out　of　here。〃
　Luis　looked　down　and　then　nodded　his　head。
　〃We're　going；　Mrs。　Weatherby。　I've　got　to　for　my　kids。　If　I　can；　I'll　be　back　for　you。〃
　〃Luis；　really；　I'll　be　all　right。〃
　〃If　I　can；　I'm　ing　back。〃
　Mariel　watched　the　Ibarra　family　go　down　the　hall　to　the　stairs　and　then　they　were　gone。　She　listened　to　the　building。　It　sounded　empty　and　unfamiliar。
　Mariel　talked　to　herself　on　the　way　back　to　the　window　to　fill　the　emptiness。　〃Ask　me　to　leave　my　home？　Well；　thank　you　very　much　but　I'll　leave　when　they　carry　me　out。〃　When　Mariel　reached　the　window　she　immediately　forgot　her　fears；　for　the　dinosaur　was　much　closer　now；　and　it　was　magnificent。
　It　was　as　tall　as　the　McGregors'　window　below　her。　It　walked　on　its　two　massive　hind　legs　and　had　two　powerful　forelegs。　Its　three…toed　feet　were　each　tipped　with　long　curving　claws。　Its　forepaws　resembled　human　hands　with　four　massive　fingers　and　a　thumb　on　each　hand。　The　fingers　ended　in　curved　claws；　but　the　thumb　was　tipped　by　a　large　spike。　The　skin　looked　thick　and　leathery；　mottled　green　and　brown。　The　dinosaur's　shoulders　were　wide；　and　its　thick　neck　narrowed　toward　the　head；　which　was　mostly　jaw。　Its　dark；　deep…set　eyes　blinked；　and　two　nostrils　were　set　in　the　tip　of　its　nose。　Ridges　ran　the　length　of　its　spine　and　down　its　tail　which　dragged　behind。
　What　kind　of　dinosaur　was　this？　Mariel　wondered。　Then　she　remembered　a　book　she　must　still　have。　Looking　out　the　window　again　to　make　sure　the　dinosaur　was　content　eating　grass；　she　took　her　flashlight　down　the　hall　to　the　bedroom　she　used　for　storage。　In　the　closet　were　old　toys　and　books　from　when　the　kids　were　little。　When　the　grandkids　visited　she　pulled　out　the　old　toys　and　watched　them；　recalling　her　own　children；　spinning　the　top；　cranking　the　jack…in…the…box；　and　building　with　blocks。
　But　the　grandkids　were　older　now；　and　seldom　visited。　Mariel　felt　a　twinge　of　sadness　as　she　pushed　the　toys　aside　and　dug　into　the　piles　of　books。　Near　the　bottom　of　the　corner　pile　she　found　The　Children's　Book　of　Dinosaurs。　Mariel　took　it　back　to　her　chair；　nearly　breathless　from　the　exertion　and　her　fear　that　the　dinosaur　might　have　left。
　Outside；　the　dinosaur　was　even　nearer　now；　still　eating；　it　seemed　to　have　an　endless　appetite　for　meadow　salad。　Mariel　flipped　through　the　pages　trying　to　identify　her　dinosaur。　She　found　pictures　of　the　three…horned　triceratops；　the　long…necked　apatosaurus；　and　heavily　armored　stegosaurus。　But　none　of　them　resembled　hers。　Mariel　paused　when　she　came　to　the　allosaurus。　The　picture　showed　it　walking　on　two　legs；　but　its　head　was　much　bigger　than　her　dinosaur；　and　it　didn't　have　the　thumb　spikes。　Mariel　also　rejected　the　tyrannosaurus。　Its　head　was　too　big　and　its　arms　too　small　and　shriveled　looking。　Besides；　the　allosaurus　and　the　tyrannosaurus　both　had　rows　of　long　pointed　teeth。　Mariel's　dinosaur　had　none　of　those。
　She　continued　to　flip　through　the　pages；　pausing　frequently　to　look　out　her　window。　Toward　the　back　of　the　book　she　found　a　picture　of　an　iguanodon　and　knew　instantly　this　was　her　dinosaur。　When　she　read　the　part　describing　its　flat　teeth　she　smiled　and　said；　〃I　knew　it；　I　knew　it。　You're　a　vegetarian。〃
　Mariel　sat　watching　the　dinosaur；　very　pleased　with　herself。　The　other　tenants　had　gone；　scared　of　an　overgrown　cow。　But　she　had　stayed　and　how　glad　she　was！　An　iguanodon。　What　a　nice　name　for　a　dinosaur。
　The　iguanodon　ate　its　way　closer　to　Mariel's　building；　clearly　curious　about　the　strange　structure。　She　could　see　even　more　details　now。　Its　skin　was　a　mass　of　wrinkles　and　reminded　her　of　the　hide　of　an　alligator；　except　thicker。　When　it　stood　to　eat　it　rose　eighteen　feet　into　the　air。
　Later　in　the　morning　Mariel　took　a　break。　She　didn't　each　much　anymore。　When　there　is　no　one　to　eat　with；　appetite　diminishes。　Mariel　was　in　the　kitchen　buttering　a　muffin　and　wishing　the　microwave　still　worked。　The　kitchen　window　was　too　small　for　a　good　view；　but　Mariel　kept　glancing　out。　She　was　putting　the　muffin　and　juice　on　a　tray　when　the　view　shocked　her。　The　city　was　back。
　Mariel　leaned　on　the　sink　to　stare　out　the　kitchen　window。　The　city　was　fuzzy　and　kind　of　shimmery；　but　it　was　there。　Disbelieving；　she　wiped　her　glasses　with　the　kitchen　towel；　but　when　she　put　them　back　on；　the　city　was　still　there。　But　why　was　it　so　fuzzy？　Then　Mariel　remembered　the　iguanodon　and　hurried　back　to　the　living　room　and　boldly　leaned　out。　It　was　there　eating　grass　only　a　few　steps　from　her　building。　Mariel　looked　into　the　distance。　The　city　was　there；　but　very　fuzzy　and　growing　dimmer。　In　a　few　minutes；　as　she　watched；　it　faded　away　before　her　eyes。
　She　sat　in　her　chair；　confused。　She　was　still　trying　to　understand　it　all　when　she　heard　something　hitting　the　side　of　her　building。　Mariel　looked　out　her　window　to　see　the　iguanodon　right　below　her。　It　had　crossed　the　last　of　the　meadow　and　was　now　sniffing　at　the　McGregors'　window。　She　smiled　with　delight。　It　was　so　ugly　it　was　beautiful。　She　kept　back　from　the　window；　peeking　over　the　edge；　not　wanting　to　scare　it　away。
　The　dinosaur's　head　ducked　and　rooted　around　and　came　up　with　a　mouthful　of　flowers。　Mariel　laughed　at　the　sight　of　the　colorful　meal；　and　then　her　face　fell。　It　was　eating　her　flower　garden。　The　flowers　were　already　half　gone。　Furious；　she　screamed　out　the　window；　〃You　get　out　of　my　garden！　I　mean　it。　Get　back　in　the　meadow　where　you　belong。〃
　The　iguanodon　turned　up　its　big　head；　looking　at　Mariel。　The　intelligent　eyes　showed　no　fear；　only　curiosity。　Mariel　screamed　at　the　dinosaur　again；　but　it　dropped　its　head　defiantly　and　pulled　up　another　third　of　the　flower　garden。　Mariel　pulled　back；　looking　for　something　to　drop　on　the　dinosaur。　She　couldn't　sacrifice　anything　precious　from　her　past；　so　she　grabbed　a　throw　pillow；　and　dropped　it。　The　pillow　fell　straight　and　bounced　off　the　dinosaur's　head；　landing　next　to　the　garden。　The　dinosaur　didn't　flinch　or　move。　It　just　sniffed　the　pillow　and　then　turned　away。
　Now　Marie！　was　even　angrier。　She　had　wasted　one　of　her　favorite　pillows　and　hadn't　even　got　the　animal's　attention。　She　needed　something　heavier。　Mariel　walked　through　her　apartment　looking　for　something　unimportant。　In　the　kitchen　she　picked　up　a　cast…iron　frying　pan；　then　put　it　down。　She　didn't　want　to　hurt　the　creature；　only　move　it。　For　that　reason；　she　also　rejected　the　idea　of　canned　goods；　or　jars。　Finally　Mariel　found　a　five…pound　bag　of　flour　in　her　pantry　and　carried　it　to　the　window。　Then　she　returned　for　a　five…pound　bag　of　sugar。　As　she　leaned　out　the　window；　she　saw　the　iguanodon　still　below　her；　ripping　out　more　of　her　flowers。　Mariel　picked　up　the　flour　in　both　hands；　leaned　out　the　window；　aimed　carefully；　and　dropped　it。　This　time　the　iguanodon　reacted；　flinching　when　the　bag　hit　and　then　cringing　when　the　flour　cloud　enveloped　its　head。　It　stood　frozen；　watching　the　flour　fall。　Mariel　held　her　ground　when　it　turned　its　flour…covered　head　up　and　stared　at　her；　then　stretched　itself　to　its　full　height。　When　its　mouth　opened　and　it　hissed　at　her；　Marie！　stepped　back…　it　sounded　like　a　giant　snake　and　Mariel　hated　snakes。　She　screwed　up　her　courage　again　and　picked　up　the　sugar。　The　dinosaur's　head　stretched　up　at　her；　its　mouth　opening　to　reveal　double　rows　of　grinding　molars。　When　another　hiss　started；　Mariel　held　the　sugar　out　the　window　and　let　it　go。　The　full　bag　fell　down　into　the　gaping　mouth；　hitting　the　thick　tongue　and　bursting　open；　the　sugar　spilling　over　the　tongue　and　pallet　and　down　the　throat。　Suddenly；　the　dinosaur　jerked　its　head　back　and　snapped　its　mouth　closed。　Mariel　could　see　surprise　in　its　eyes　and　congratulated　herself。　Yes；　surprise　was　another　sign　of　intelligence。
　The　dinosaur　shook　its　head；　then　opened　and　closed　its　mouth　a　few　times；　making　a　smacking　sound。　Mariel　could　see　the　tongue　moving