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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 there。
19。 SECURITY COUNCIL
If there is a mon denominator among these strange falls from the sky； it is the disruption of electric power。 Such failures have not been explained by engineers。
…Constance Jones； Fortiology and the Modern Age
Washington； DX。 POSTQUILT： SUNDAY； 7：50 A。M。 EST
The Security Council met in the basement of the White House in the Situation Room； brightly lit with banks of fluorescent bulbs built into the ceiling。 Nick had seen operating rooms with less light。 A table held doughnuts； coffee； and orange juice。 The orange juice was untouched； but the coffee pots had already been refilled once。 Nick helped himself to a cup。
Elizabeth's chair was next to the President's but pushed back so that she had to lean forward to whisper in his ear； which she did frequently。 Nick did not have a regular seat； but Elizabeth motioned him to a chair near the far end of the rectangular table。
The meeting was about to begin when Dr。 Gogh arrived。 Under his arm he held a f