jdavid.footprintsofthunder-µÚ19ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
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¡¡in¡¡and¡¡out¡£¡¡The¡¡dinosaur¡¡put¡¡its¡¡head¡¡down¡¡and¡¡sniffed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡and¡¡the¡¡pillow£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡its¡¡head¡¡came¡¡up¡¡and¡¡it¡¡sniffed¡¡at¡¡Mariel¡£¡¡As¡¡she¡¡watched£»¡¡its¡¡mouth¡¡came¡¡open¡¡and¡¡it¡¡hissed¡¡again¡£¡¡The¡¡dinosaur¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡want¡¡more¡¡sugar¡£¡¡Its¡¡hiss¡¡was¡¡turning¡¡into¡¡an¡¡¡¨aaaahhh¡¨¡¡sound¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡cute¡£¡¡Mariel¡¡went¡¡to¡¡her¡¡pantry¡¡and¡¡dug¡¡out¡¡the¡¡sugar¡¡she¡¡had¡¡opened¡¡yesterday¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Sugar¡¡cookies¡¡the¡¡Ibarras¡¡were¡¡now¡¡enjoying¡£¡¡Back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡the¡¡dinosaur¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡around£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡it¡¡saw¡¡Mariel¡¡its¡¡head¡¡went¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡its¡¡mouth¡¡came¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡emitted¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡¡¨aaaaah¡£¡¨¡¡Mariel¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡bag¡¡upside¡¡down¡¡and¡¡poured¡¡the¡¡sugar¡¡into¡¡the¡¡dinosaur's¡¡mouth¡£¡¡Swallowing£»¡¡it¡¡snapped¡¡its¡¡jaws¡¡closed¡¡and¡¡began¡¡smacking¡¡its¡¡lips¡£¡¡It¡¡looked¡¡around¡¡again¡¡and¡¡then¡¡opened¡¡its¡¡mouth¡¡and¡¡made¡¡its¡¡sound¡£
¡¡¡¨Oh¡¡my£»¡¡what¡¡have¡¡I¡¡done£¿¡¨¡¡Mariel¡¡asked¡¡herself¡¡¡¨I¡¡never¡¡thought¡¡you¡¡would¡¡have¡¡a¡¡sweet¡¡tooth¡£¡¨
¡¡Mariel¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡She¡¡couldn't¡¡keep¡¡feeding¡¡it¡¡sugar£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡didn't¡¡want¡¡it¡¡to¡¡go¡¡away¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡get¡¡another¡¡bag¡¡of¡¡sugar¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡an¡¡air¡¡horn¡¡split¡¡the¡¡meadow¡£¡¡The¡¡dinosaur¡¡spun£»¡¡its¡¡tail¡¡slamming¡¡into¡¡Mariel's¡¡building¡£¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡vibrations¡£¡¡The¡¡horn¡¡sounded¡¡again£»¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sounds¡¡of¡¡gunfire¡£
¡¡Now¡¡the¡¡iguanodon¡¡trotted¡¡back¡¡across¡¡the¡¡meadow£»¡¡watching¡¡for¡¡the¡¡source¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡as¡¡it¡¡went¡£¡¡Again¡¡the¡¡horn¡¡sounded¡£¡¡More¡¡gunfire¡¡popped¡£¡¡Mariel¡¡looked¡¡left¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡another¡¡dinosaur¡¡running¡¡on¡¡four¡¡legs¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡too¡¡far¡¡away¡¡for¡¡her¡¡to¡¡see¡¡clearly¡£¡¡The¡¡iguanodon¡¡receded¡¡into¡¡the¡¡meadow¡£
¡¡Mariel¡¡sat¡¡back¡¡in¡¡her¡¡chair£»¡¡feeling¡¡sad¡¡and¡¡lonely¡¡again¡£¡¡Her¡¡life¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡from¡¡dull¡¡routine¡¡to¡¡exciting¡¡and¡¡frightening¡¡and¡¡back¡¡to¡¡dull¡¡in¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡hours¡£¡¡She¡¡rocked¡¡in¡¡her¡¡chair¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡her¡¡window¡£¡¡She¡¡craved¡¡excitement¡¡like¡¡the¡¡dinosaur¡¡craved¡¡sugar¡£¡¡Reaching¡¡over£»¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡on¡¡her¡¡radio¡¡and¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡her¡¡crocheting¡£¡¡She¡¡smiled¡¡to¡¡herself¡£¡¡Mr£»¡¡Iguan¡odon¡¡would¡¡remember¡¡the¡¡sugar£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡its¡¡sweet¡¡tooth¡¡started¡¡calling¡¡it¡¡would¡¡e¡¡home¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡would¡¡be¡¡ther