jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第52部分

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　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　of　blood　made　a　red　halo　around　his　head。　Luis　set　the　shelf　back　down　gently。　Mr；　Choi　had　died　trying　to　defend　his　store。　Luis　knew　it　was　all　Mr。　Choi　had…　his　livelihood；　providing　for　his　family　and　his　children's　college　education；　Luis　guessed　if　he　were　Mr。　Choi　he　would　have　died　trying　to　save　it　too。　Then　Luis　remembered　Mrs。　Choi。
　Luis　forgot　about　the　gunfire　and　found　a　stairway　in　the　storeroom　to　the　apartment　above；　which　looked　untouched。　The　television　and　VCR　were　still　there；　as　were　the　Oriental　trinkets　and　paintings　that　decorated　the　apartment。　Luis　searched　quickly；　afraid　of　what　he　would　find　in　each　room；　but　it　was　empty。　Filled　with　relief；　he　sighed。　Mrs。　Choi　could　still　be　downstairs　somewhere　under　one　of　the　overturned　shelves；　but　he　didn't　have　the　heart　to　look　for　her。
　More　gunfire　sounded；　this　time　much　closer。　Luis　dropped　to　the　floor　and　kept　his　head　down　until　he　was　sure　he　wasn't　the　target。　He　crawled　to　the　windowsill　in　the　living　room　and　stood　slowly　with　his　back　firm　against　the　wall　and　peeked　out　into　the　street。　At　first　he　saw　nothing。　Then　he　heard　the　pop　pop　pop　of　a　handgun。　Someone　ran　by　below；　him　on　the　sidewalk　wearing　a　red　jacket。　More　firing　sounded。　This　time　Luis　was　sure　it　was　rifle　fire。　Two　more　Zombies　ran　by　and　then　men　not　wearing　colors…the　street　was　silent　for　a　minute　and　then　another　figure；　wearing　a　uniform　arid　carrying　a　rifle；　ran　up　the　sidewalk　and　crouched　behind　a　car。　He　stood；　leaning　the　rifle　on　the　roof　of　the　car；　and　fired　up　the　street。　From　the　distance　Luis　heard　the　pop　of　small　arms　fire。　The　soldier　fired　twice　more　and　then　another　soldier　ran　past　the　first　and　up　the　street。
　Luis　pulled　back　and　leaned　against　the　wall。　Elated　and　scared；　he　realized　it　had　to　be　the　National　Guard　taking　back　the　streets。　Soon　Luis　could　stop　worrying　about　Mrs。　Weatherby…the　Guard　would　make　her　move；　or　at　least　protect　her。　It　also　meant　Luis　would　make　it　home　to　Melinda　and　the　kids。
　
　Mariel　missed　Luis。　He　had　been　gone　only　a　short　time　and　already　she　missed　having　someone　to　care　for　and　someone　to　talk　with。　Luis　would　never　take　the　place　of　Gertie　or　any　of　her　friends　from　her　early　and　middle　years；　but　he　was　nice　and　so　polite；　not　like　most　young　men　today。　He　was　one　of　the　few　people　in　the　building　ever　to　visit　her；　and　the　only　one　to　check　in　on　her　to　see　if　she　needed　anything。　She　had　been　touched　by　his　concern　for　her　over　the　years；　and　now　ing　back　for　her　like　that　made　him　someone　special。　That　was　something　a　son　would　do　for　a　mother。　Yes；　Mariel　would　miss　Luis。
　The　gunfire　started　a　few　minutes　after　Luis　left。　Mariel　had　heard　it　before；　of　course；　but　not　this　close　and　not　this　loud。　She　wasn't　really　frightened　by　it；　really　just　annoyed。　All　that　racket　would　scare　away　the　dinosaurs。　Worse；　it　might　keep　the　iguanodon　from　ing　for　his　treat。
　Finally；　the　sounds　were　so　faint　Mariel　became　hopeful　that　the　meadow　dinosaurs　would　return。　But　although　she　watched　diligently；　she　could　only　spot　fleeting　movements　in　the　grass；　nothing　she　could　identify。　Then　it　happened　again。　Mariel　looked　down　at　her　crocheting　for　a　minute　to　check　a　stitch　and　then　out　the　window　to　see　the　city　was　back。　More　distant　this　time；　and　shimmery　and　pale　like　some　reflection　in　a　pond。　Leaning　out　her　window；　Mariel　looked　down。　She　could　see　the　neat　line　where　the　meadow　met　the　asphalt；　but　when　she　looked　into　the　distance　she　saw　the　shimmering　city。　Mariel　took　off　her　glasses　and　cleaned　them　on　her　apron。　When　she　put　them　back　on　the　city　was　gone。
　〃Well　I'll　be。　I　must　get　my　prescription　checked。〃　Mariel　looked　again　to　make　sure　and　then　decided　it　was　time　for　a　cup　of　the　orange　spice　tea　she'd　found　in　the　McGregors'　apartment　when　she　was　looking　for　sugar。
　Luis　listened　as　the　gunfire　slowly　moved　up　the　street　and　faded　into　the　distance。　He　stood　and　peered　out　at　the　empty　streets。　Then　gunfire　sounded　again　up　the　street　somewhere　near　his　building。　L