jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第58章

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　Luis　sat　up　slowly。　When　he　was　sure　he　wasn't　going　to　faint　he　walked　to　the　kitchen　and　leaned　against　the　door　frame。　Mrs。　Weatherby；　wearing　a　red　and　white　checked　apron；　was　cooking　a　pan　of　eggs　and　bacon　over　a　propane　stove。　When　she　saw　him　she　flashed　him　a　grandmother's　smile　and　motioned　to　the　table。
　〃Sit　down；　Luis。　You're　just　in　time。　I'm　afraid　there's　no　　toast　this　morning。　The　toaster　is　out；　you　see。　I　do　hope　the　electricity　es　on　again　soon。　I　know；　I'll　toast　a　piece　of　bread　over　the　flames　of　the　stove。　That　just　might　work　you　know。〃
　〃No；　Mrs；　Weatherby。　This　is　fine。　More　than　I　ever　hoped　for。〃
　〃I'd　be　happy　to　try　toasting　the　bread。〃
　〃I'm　fine；　really。〃
　Luis　sat　down　at　the　table　and　ate　greedily。　When　he　was　about　halfway　through；　Mrs。　Weatherby　clucked　her　tongue　and　began　frying　the　last　two　eggs　in　the　carton。　He　felt　guilty。　〃Mrs。　Weatherby；　you're　feeding　me　the　last　of　your　eggs。　There　won't　be　anymore；　you　know。　At　least　not　for　a　while。　There's　no　law　out　there。　Take　a　look　at　my　face　if　you　don't　believe　me。　Let　me　take　you　to　Melinda's　brother's　place。　The　kids　are　there。　You　could　really　help　us　out。　You　know；　you　watch　the　kids　while　Melinda　and　I　look　for　a　new　place。　The　kids　would　love　it。　Especially　Katrina。　You　know　she　loves　you。〃
　〃Katrina　is　a　dear；　Luis；　and　you　give　her　a　hug　from　me。　But　this　is　my　home　and　I　see　no　reason　to　leave　it；　I　can　do　without　a　few　eggs。　As　for　food；　I　have　everything　I　need　to　last　me　a　month　right　here　in　this　apartment；　and　when　that　runs　out　I've　got　lots　of　neighbors　to　borrow　from。　I've　been　through　blackouts　before；　Luis；　and　they're　no　problem　if　you're　prepared。〃
　〃But；　Mrs。　Weatherby；　there's　a　dinosaur　out　there。〃
　〃Many　dinosaurs；　Luis。　It's　been　a　constant　parade。　Some　of　them　I　haven't　learned　the　names　for　yet；　but　I　know　I　saw　a　polacanthus　and　a　pachycephalosaurus　and　those　awful　deinonychus。　They're　terrible　killers！　And。of　course　there's　my　iguanodon　friend。　A　vegetarian；　you　know。　He　has　a　sweet　tooth。〃
　She　scooped　the　eggs　onto　Luis's　plate；　then　took　apple　juice　from　the　refrigerator　and　filled　a　glass　for　Luis。　〃I　don't　know　why　I　keep　the　apple　juice　in　the　refrigerator。　It　isn't　working；　of　course。　I　guess　it's　just　habit。〃
　Luis　sighed。　〃That　big　dinosaur；　he　doesn't　have　to　eat　you；　you　know。　Stepping　on　you　would　turn　you　into　a　pancake。〃
　〃He's　really　quite　careful。〃　Then　Mrs。　Weatherby　looked　thoughtful。　〃Would　you　like　some　pancakes；　Luis？　I　could　whip　them　up　real　easy。　I've　got　lots　of　syrup。　I've　got　one　of　those　mixes　that　doesn't　use　any　eggs。　Of　course…〃
　〃No；　please　no。　This　is　fine。　I'm　already　full。　I　said　that　dinosaur　will　turn　you　into　a　pancake；　I　didn't　mean　I　wanted　any。　He's　not　smart　enough　to　be　careful。　He's　going　to　hurt　you。　He　won't　mean　it　but　it　will　happen。〃
　〃He　is　so　smart；〃　Mrs。　Weatherby　replied　defensively。　〃You　should　see　how　quickly　he　learned　that　sugar　trick。　Now　I'm　teaching　him　to　stay　away　from　my　garden。　Why　I　think　I　could…〃
　Mrs。　Weatherby　was　interrupted　by　the　now　familiar　〃aaaah〃　sound　drifting　in　from　the　living　room　window。　She　immediately　took　two　paper　bags　from　the　kitchen　counter　and　walked　through　the　door；　calling　back　over　her　shoulder　as　she　left；　〃Finish　your　eggs；　Luis。　I've　got　to　see　to　the　iguanodon's　sweet　tooth　or　he'll　never　leave　us　alone。〃
　When　she　walked　out　the　apartment　door；　he　realized　she　was　going　down　to　feed　her　dinosaur　by　hand。　She　was　impossible。　Luis　had　nearly　lost　his　life　trying　to　rescue　her　from　something　she　didn't　want　to　be　rescued　from。　He　couldn't　drag　her　all　the　way　back　to　Steve　and　Tanya's　apartment。　He　was　going　to　have　to　leave　her　here；　and　if　that　dinosaur　got　her　it　wouldn't　be　his　fault。　He　had　tried。
　When　he　looked　out　the　living　room　window；　the　dinosaur　was　there　with　Mrs。　Weatherby。　He　was　down　on　all　fours　getting　seconds；　his　massive　mouth　wide　open　as　little　Mrs；　Weatherby　poured　sugar　inside。　It　was　a　strange　and　wonderful　relationship；　but　Luis　knew　it　couldn't　last。　Mrs。　Weatherby　would　have　to　leave　eventually。　The　electricity　wasn't　ing　back　easily　this　time；　and　even　if　it　did　it　wouldn't　matter。　The　police　would　evacuate　these　buildings　when　the　looting　ended；　and　they　would　seal　off　the　dinosaur　meadow。
　Luis　finally　conceded　defeat。　He　had　to　leave。　He　had　a　family　worrying　about　him　and　he　should　have　been　home　long　ago。
　Mrs。　Weatherby　had　finished　feeding　her　dinosaur；　who　was　walking　off　into　the　meadow　chewing　a　mouthful　of　grass。
　Luis　called　out　the　window　to　her。　〃Mrs。　Weatherby；　I've　got　to　go　to　my　family。　Won't　you　e　with　me？〃
　She　smiled　up　at　him。　〃Go　take　care　of　your　babies；　Luis。　Stop　worrying　about　an　old　woman。　Please　don't　worry　about　me。　I　haven't　been　this　happy　in　years。〃
　Luis　nodded　and　waved　good…bye。　She　might　die；　he　thought；　but　she　would　die　happy。　Could　anyone　hope　for　more　than　a　long　life　and　to　die　happy？　Then　he　stepped　out　the　door。
　The　streets　were　worse　than　Luis　remembered。　He　figured　that　earlier　the　pain　in　his　head　helped　blank　out　his　memory。　The　area　near　the　dinosaur　field　was　nearly　a　total　loss。　They　hadn't　burned　the　buildings　yet；　but　every　window　was　broken；　and　anything　of　value　had　been　hauled　away。　The　leftovers　from　the　looting　filled　the　streets；　which　were　haunted　by　the　scavengers；　who　were　mostly　male。　The　families　were　long　gone　and　the　elderly　were　holed　up　like　Mrs。　Weatherby。
　Luis　stood　in　the　doorway　of　his　building　studying　the　passersby…young　and　male；　and　a　mixture　of　races。　The　whites　had　been　moving　out　of　Luis's　neighborhood　for　the　last　few　years；　but　it　wasn't　clear　yet　whether　the　neighborhood　would　go　Latino　or　black。　That　was　partly　why　the　gang　problems　were　worse　here。　The　white　gang　called　Zombies　was　losing　control　over　their　turf　and　being　increasingly　violent。　The　Zombies　were　on　their　way　out；　but　they　were　taking　some　of　the　Diablos　and　Kimbos　with　them。　Still；　Luis　couldn't　spot　any　gang　colors　among　the　crowd。　But　something　else　about　the　crowd　bothered　him。　Why　was　the　crowd　still　here？　Why　weren't　they　where　the　pickings　were　better？　What　kept　them　here？　The　dinosaurs　surely　kept　them　penned　in　on　one　side；　but　what　about　the　other　sides？　Luis　wondered　if　the　police　weren't　slowly　taking　back　the　streets。
　Luis　started　out　cautiously。　When　he　first　heard　the　feint　popping　sound　in　the　distance　he　instantly　knew　it　was　gunfire。　The　sounds　came　closer；　more　furious。　He　looked。left　and　right；　but　the　firing　was　ing　down　from　the　street；　so　he　melted　into　a　doorway　and　waited；　peeking　out　occasionally。　Men　were　running　down　the　street　toward　him；　and　Luis　recognized　the　red　jackets　of　the　Zombies。　They　slowed　and　then　spread　out；　hiding　behind　cars　and　in　doorways。　A　minute　later　they　began　firing　down　the　street　at　something　Luis　couldn't　see。　Then　they　began　running　toward　him　again。　It　was　time　for　Luis　to　hide。
　Luis　looked　around　and　found　he　was　in　front　of　Mr。　Choi's　grocery　store；　he　shopped　there　occasionally　and　he　knew　the　old　man　who　owned　it。　Mr。　Choi　and　his　wife　lived　above　the　market。　When　Luis　first　moved　to　the　neighborhood　Mr。　Choi　had　two　sons　who　worked　in　the　store　with　him。　They　were　gone　to　college　now　and　Mr。　Choi　used　neighborhood　kids　in　the　store。　He　was　a　gruff　old　man；　but　his　wife　was　as　sweet　as　Mrs。　Weatherby。
　The　store's　windows　were　gone　like　every　other　window　nearby。　Because　the　glass　doors　were　smashed；　Luis　stepped　through　the　frame。　The　store　shelves　were　empty　and　many　overturned。　Luis　walked　toward　the　back；　looking　for　a　good　place　to　hide。　Only　a　few　cans　of　beets　were　scattered　on　the　floor…and　Luis　kicked　at　them；　realizing　there　were　some　things　not　even　looters　would　steal。
　Gunfire　sounded　outside；　closer　now；　and　Luis　hurried　toward　the　back　of　the　store。　As　he　passed　the　last　of　the　overturned　shelves　he　saw　a　foot　sticking　out　from　under　the　case。　He　kicked　it　but　got　no　reaction。　It　was　a　brown　work　shoe　like　so　many　others；　except　that　it　was　small。　Luis　lifted　the　fallen　shelf　until　be　could　see　the　face　of　the　man　underneath。　It　was　Mr。　Choi。　He　was　on　his　back；　his　eyes　wide　open　in　a　dead　man's　stare。　A　pool　o