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uble reading because he kept thinking about the talk show。 Three of the callers had said something about things missing。 Portland； Oregon； a farm in Iowa； and what had that first caller said？ Something about a candle factory buried in snow？ What was going on？ Nick flipped through the reports。 None of them mentioned Portland or anything in Iowa； but there were reports of blackouts； landslides； and bridge collapses。 They were mostly from the East Coast and Midwest。
As he read Nick felt as if he had been jangled by an old…fashioned phone。 The pounding in his chest built and his breathing quickened。 He recognized the feeling fight away this time。 It was fear again。
18。 THE MEADOW
The wonders of this age cannot pare to the wonders of the age of no time。 In that age we will surely know from whence we came。
…Zorastrus； Prophet of Babylon
New York City
POSTQUILT： SUNDAY； 7：07 A。M。 EST
It was ing across the meadow slowly； pausing frequently to get down on all fours with its head in the grass。 Then it stood； rising on its two bigger back legs until it towered above the meadow； looking around defensively。 It was eating the grasses at a leisurely pace； more interested in food than speed。 Mariel was both afraid and excited when she realized it was eating its way toward her window。 She watched the huge beast e closer； and with each giant step； the beast loomed larger。 First she thought it was the size of an elephant； but now she could see it was bigger。 Much bigger。
Filled with new excitement； Mariel knew it was a dinosaur。 She was excited and scared at the same time。 Her old eyes could finally see it clearly。 Grass hung from both sides of its mouth； and it stared at Mariel's building and the other buildings bordering its meadow。 From the curiosity she saw in those eyes； she knew this was an intelligent animal。 You could tell intelligence by the eyes。 In people； too。
Mariel was watching it stuff its mouth with grass again when someone started pounding on the door。 She shouted for whoever 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 w