jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第53节

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at　the　empty　streets。　Then　gunfire　sounded　again　up　the　street　somewhere　near　his　building。　Luis　thought　again　of　Mrs。　Weatherby；　and　how　he'd　eaten　her　eggs；　and　felt　guilty。
　He　ducked　down　and　crawled　across　the　floor　to　the　Choi's　kitchen。　There　was　an　old…fashioned　white　refrigerator　against　the　wall；　with　rounded　edges　and　a　huge　handle。　He　opened　the　refrigerator　and　felt　a　soft　rush　of　cool　air…not　cold　air；　but　cooler　than　the　room　temperature。　The　light　was　out　of。　course；　but　on　a　middle　rack　Luis　found　two　cartons　of　eggs。　One　carton　was　full　and　one　half　full。　Luis　took　the　eggs　and　dug　deeper　into　the　shelves。　He　found　a　quart　of　orange　juice；　which　he　placed　with　the　eggs。　If　he'd　taken　anything　from　downstairs　he　would　have　felt　like　a　looter；　but　up　here　it　was　borrowing。　He　and　the　Chois　hadn't　exactly　been　friends；　but　they　were　at　least　acquaintances。
　In　the　cabinets　he　found　two　six…packs　of　juice　boxes　and　canned　fruit；　including　peaches　and　pineapple　tidbits。　In　the　last　one　he　found　an　unopened　ten…pound　bag　of　sugar。　He　was　loading　a　box　when　the　sound　of　the　shooting　changed。
　Now　the　burping　of　automatic　weapons　met　his　ears。　Luis　crawled　to　the　window　and　inched　up；　peering　out。　The　street　was　empty；　but　the　sounds　of　battle　were　ing　closer　again。　He　watched　the　soldiers　appear。　They　were　retreating；　running　from　cover　to　cover；　spraying　the　streets　with　automatic　fire　from　their　M…16s。　Then　they　were　gone　and　the　street　was　empty　again。　Luis　waited；　knowing　what　was　to　e。　Soon　a　red…coated　Zombie　came　into　view；　carrying　a　weapon　whose　rapid　fire　told　Luis　it　was　a　machine　gun。　Another　Zombie　appeared；　firing　with　a　machine　pistol。　More　automatic　fire　sounded。　Still　another　Zombie　shot　up　the　far　side　of　the　street；　and　Luis　could　hear　weapon　fire　surrounding　the　Chois'　store。
　Luis　shrank　back；　despairing。　He　knew　the　soldiers　would　be　back　eventually；　armed　to　handle　the　Zombies；　but　it　could　take　days。
　As　the　gunfire　faded　into　the　distance　again；　Luis　realized　most　of　the　Zombies　and　their　allies　were　busy　driving　the　Guard　off　of　their　turf。　Figuring　the　odds；　he　decided　now　might　be　a　good　time　to　risk　it。　The　box　of　groceries　he　had　gathered　for　Mrs。　Weatherby　would　make　him　look　like　a　looter　scurrying　home　with　a　few　extra　spoils。　If　anyone　stopped　him　he　could　offer　the　food　to　buy　passage。
　The　streets　looked　empty；　but　Luis　could　feel　eyes　on　him。　He　didn't　mind　as　long　as　the　eyes　stayed　in　the　buildings。　Heading　away　from　the　gunfight；　he　kept　a　close　watch　on　the　barrier　of　cars　between　his　building　and　that　across　the　street。　He　couldn't　see　anyone　near　the　cars　now。　But　ing　down　the　street　was　a　small　group　with　two　men　wearing　red。　Luis　turned　to　go　the　other　way　but　spotted　men　in　doorways　a　half　a　block　off。　They　looked　at　him；　and　Luis　felt　panic。　He　had　only　one　choice…to　turn　and　walk　between　the　cars　and　down　the　street　to　dinosaur　land。
　When　the　street　ended　abruptly　and　the　meadow　began；　Luis　hesitated。　It　was　too　unnatural；　too　surreal。　The　sound　of　voices　behind　him　forced　him　forward。　He　carried　his　box　around　the　corner　of　the　building。　Afraid　to　step　on　the　meadow　grass；　he　set　the　box　down　and　peeked　back　around　the　corner。　Three　men　were　standing　by　the　cars　talking。　When　one　of　them　pointed　between　the　buildings　where　Luis　had　gone；　Luis　folded　back　around　the　corner；　pressing　his　back　against　the　wall。
　He　stood　staring　at　the　meadow　and　thought　of　the　dinosaurs　Mrs。　Weatherby　had　described；　How　many　were　there；　he　wondered？　What　had　she　called　the　ones？　Terrible　killers。
　He　stood　undecided。　He　had　killers　on　all　sides　of　him　and　wasn't　sure　which　were　the　most　dangerous。
　Now　he　peeked　back　around　the　corner。　Six　men　stood　by　the　cars　now；　seemingly　content　to　wait　Luis　out。　They're　afraid　of　the　meadow；　Luis　realized。　Afraid　of　the　dinosaurs；　just　like　me。
　Looking　back　across　the　meadow；　he　saw　something　moving　in　the　distance…something　big；　walking　on　all　fours　with　a　huge　frilly　spiked　collar；　moving　parallel　to　the　buildings。　Soon　it　disappeared　into　the　grass。
　Luis　quickly　scanned　the　meadow　looking　for　other　dinosaurs。　There　were　none；　but　in　the　distance　he　saw　the　faint；　image　of　buildings。　Hadn't　he　stood　in　Mrs。　Weatherby's　win…dow；　seeing　similar　buildings？　Then；　just　as　before；　the　shimmering　image　faded　away。　He　shook　his　head　in　confusion。　His　cracked　skull　must　have　scrambled　his　brains。　It　was　too　much　for　Luis。　He　wanted　out　of　there　and　could　think　of　only　one　way　to　do　it。
　Luis　dug　the　bag　of　sugar　out　of　his　box；　walked　to　Mrs。　Weatherby's　garden　and　then　into　the　meadow…Luis　walked　gingerly；　expecting　the　meadow　grass　to　disappear　like　a　mirage　at　any　second。　When　he　saw　movement　ahead　he　froze　in　his　tracks…the　tops　of　the　grass　were　moving。　Luis　watched　carefully；　and　when　he　was　sure　it　was　gone；　he　ripped　open　the　top　of　the　bag　and　poured　a　pile　of　sugar　in　the　grass。　Then　he　retreated　quickly　out　of　the　meadow；　poured　another　pile　by　Mrs。　Weatherby's　garden　and　three　more　piles　leading　to　the　corner　of　the　building。　At　the　corner；　with　part　of　the　bag　still　left；　Luis　sat　down　to　wait。
　
　Mariel　rocked　in　her　chair；　occasionally　sipping　her　tea。　The　meadow　was　still；　and　she　made　good　progress　on　her　crocheting；　quickly　finishing　one　square　and　starting　another。　Time　passed　pleasantly　and　soon　a　familiar　figure　appeared　in　the　distance。
　The　iguanodon　was　ing　straight　toward　her　window；　and　it　was　time　to　get　his　treat　ready。　Mariel　walked　to　the　kitchen　and　measured　out　two　sacks　of　sugar；　reminding　herself　to　search　the　rest　of　the　apartments　for　more。　Still；　she　had　quite　a　supply　now；　brown　sugar；　powdered　sugar；　Karo　syrup；　and　molasses；　anything　she　thought　might　please　a　dinosaur's　sweet　tooth。
　Mariel　took　her　bags　back　to　the　window　to　wait　for　the　dinosaur's　〃aaah〃　sound。　She　hadn't　been　able　to　break　him　of　the　noise　and　had　finally　given　up。　It　had　been　irritating　at　first；　but　now　she　thought　it　kind　of　cute…a　big　monster　like　the　iguanodon　singing　for　his　supper。　Mariel　thought　about　that　late…night　show　where　people　brought　their　dogs　on　TV　to　do　stupid　tricks。　What　would　they　think　of　the　iguanodon　and　his　〃aaahing〃？　She　chuckled　to　herself　while　she　pictured　the　look　on　the　host's　face　when　the　iguanodon　walked　out　onstage　and　chuckled　again　as　she　watched　the　dinosaur　striding　through　the　meadow。　He　would　scare　any　audience　to　death。　They　wouldn't　know　he　was　a　gentle　giant。
　Mariel　watched　the　iguanodon　approach　in　his　usual　way　until　he　neared　the　edge　of　the　meadow。　Suddenly　he　stopped　and　bent　to　sniff　the　meadow　grasses^　Then　he　backed　up　and　began　eating　something。　It　wasn't　grass；　because　when　he　ate　grass　he　ripped　it　up　and　then　stood　to　chew　it；　looking　around。　Then　he　did　something　strange　again。　The　iguanodon　sniffed　the　air　and　then　turned　away　from　Mariel's　window；　stopping　to　eat　something　off　the　asphalt；　Mariel　leaned　out　the　window　and　spotted　Luis　standing　by　the　corner　of　the　building。　What　was　Luis　doing　here？　Mariel　wondered。　Why　wasn't　he　home　with　his　family？　She　pulled　her　head　in；　picked　up　her　bags　of　sugar；　and　left　the　apartment。
　
　Luis　stood　with　his　back　to　the　wall；　watching　the　dinosaur　walk　to　the　next　sugar　pile；　which　it　devoured　eagerly。　From　the　window；　Luis　had　been　afraid　of　the　dinosaur；　but　up　close　it　was　terrifying。　Its　head　was　massive；　bigger　than　an　ele…phant's；　and　covered　with　thick　leathery　skin。　Its　mouth　contained　rows　of　huge　teeth；　its　back　legs　were　gigantic　and　its　front　legs　thick　and　powerful。　Worst　of　all　its　forelegs　carried　thumb　spikes　large　enough　to　skewer　a　human　being。　Luis　gained　a　new　respect　for　Mrs。　Weatherby。
　When　it　finished　the　sugar　it　stared　quizzically　at　Luis；　who　poured　another　pile　by　the　corner　of　the　building。　When　the　dinosaur　moved　toward　the　new　pile　Luis　ducked　around　the　corner　and　walked　toward　the　cars。
　
　Mariel　stepped　out　of　the　building　by　her　garden　just　in　time　to　see　Luis　disappear　around　the　end　of　the　building；　the　iguan…odon　following　him　toward　the　corner。　He　shouldn't　be　there；　Mariel　knew。　That's　where　all　the　horn　blowing　and　some　of　the　shooting　came　from。　She　hurried　down　the　side　of　the　building　toward　the　iguanodon；　who　was　busy　eating　something　off　of　the　ground　at　the　corner。　When　he　finished　he　lifted　his　head　and　sniffed　the　air。　Mariel　was　afraid　he　was　going　to　step　into　the　alley；　so　she　shouted　to　him。
　〃Wait；　wait！〃
　The　dinosaur　turned　its　head　and　looked　her　over。　Then　he　walked　toward　her；　his　head　lowered。　When　he　reached　her　his　mouth　opened　and　the　〃aahing〃　sound　began。　Mariel　poured　the　first　bag　of　sugar　into　his　mouth　and　then　waited　while　he　went　through　his　slurping　and　lip…licking　routine。　After　the　second　bag；　Mariel　pushed　on　his　jaw；　told　him　to　go　back　to　the　meadow；　then　left　him　and　walked　to　the　corner　to　find　Luis。
　
　Luis　poured　another　pile　of　sugar　halfway　down　the　street　and　then　walked　up　to　the　car　barrier。　The　men　behind　the　barrier…one　wearing　a　red　coat…were　staring　at　him。　Two　of　the　men　held　pistols。　One　man　spat　something　over　the　car　he　was　leaning　on　and　yelled　at　Luis。
　〃Whatcha　doin；　asshole？〃
　He　wasn't　wearing　a　re