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〃Wake up； wake up！ But be quiet。 Mom says we're in trouble。〃
He started to sit up but Rosa held him down。
〃Move very slowly。〃
Ron was confused。 Why move slowly？ Had another lizard scrambled aboard？ He lifted his head and chest gradually。 The sun was finally cutting through the gloom and Ron could see the sea around him a little more clearly now。 Rosa whispered in his ear again。
〃Mom says to look forward。〃
Carmen was in front of Rosa； and Chris was sitting between Carmen's legs。 Ron looked past them to the sea。 Something was rippling the water。 In the weak light Ron saw a thick snake…like form emerging。 On top of the snake shape was a head。 It looked like a sea serpent to Ron and it took him a few seconds to realize the head was connected to the mound they were on。 They were on the back of some kind of animal。
31。 Luis
Some have said the age of dinosaurs ended because it had all been a mistake in the first place。 Perhaps someday the same will be said of us。
…Robert Winston； On Things Gone By
New York City
POSTQUILT： MONDAY； 12：02 P。M。 EST
Luis woke in darkness。 His eyes were heavy and blurred。 He felt terrible； his head ached and he found blood crusted in his hair。 Melinda would be angry。 He had broken his promise； he was injured。 Luis's eyes wouldn't focus but he could see a soft glow。 He felt around。 Touching a wall behind him； he sat up and leaned back。 He didn't need a mirror to know his face was swollen and purple。
Luis pushed himself up； keeping his back against the wall。 The light got brighter as he stood and found himself in a diner behind the counter。 Smashed dishes and silverware were everywhere； and the cash register was upside down in the middle of the floor。 The light was ing through the…window？ Luis shook his head and tried focusing again。 The light was ing through the empty frame where the window had been。 He stumbled out through the broken dishes to the street； looking around to get his bearings。 It was too far back to his brother…in…law's； and he didn't want to return looking like this。 His own building was close； so he turned toward home and staggered down the sidewalk。 He didn't bother calling for help he knew would never e。
When Luis neared his building he suddenly encountered people。 Some looked at him curiously but no one offered to help。 They were standing behind cars parked three deep in the intersection at his corner。 Luis realized the cars were parked fender to fender on the sidewalks as well as the street。 Finally； he understood： The cars provided a barrier between the buildings to keep the dinosaurs out。
Silently； Luis walked up the stairs to his building； feeling for his keys and then his wallet。 Both were gone。 When he realized the lock had been jimmied； he pushed open the door and went up the stairs。 Weak and exhausted he paused often to rest。 At the third floor he sat down again； his head hanging； but suddenly he heard a voice。
〃Luis？ Is that you？〃
Luis looked up to see Mrs。 Weatherby holding a bag of sugar。
〃Oh； Luis； you better e back to my apartment with me。 Whatever happened to you？〃
〃Diablos；〃 Luis managed to mutter。
〃Those horrid young men。 What their mothers must think of them！〃
Mrs。 Weatherby took Luis by the arm； helped him to his feet； and then guided him down the hall。
〃Are Melinda and the kids safe？ Oh； thank goodness。 What are you doing back here？ You didn't e back for me； did you？ I told you I would be fine and now look at what's happened。〃
Mrs。 Weatherby scolded Luis all the way down the hall to her apartment； but Luis was forted by it。 She directed Luis to her couch and then removed his shoes and covered him with a crocheted bedspread。
Luis and Melinda slept under a larger； similar bedspread… crocheting incessantly； Mrs。 Weatherby had turned out a queen…size bedspread for the Ibarra family in less than a year； made up of squares of intricate yellow flowers and green leaves。 Mrs。 Weatherby had beamed when she saw it in their home and then promised spreads for the girls' beds too。
Now she returned with a plastic tub of warm soapy water and began washing the blood from his face with a washcloth。
〃How did you heat the water； Mrs。 Weatherby？〃
〃Don't talk； Luis； until I get you cleaned up。 When you talk your face wrinkles。〃
Luis lay quiet while Mrs。 Weatherby cleaned his wounds。 While she worked she talked。
〃I heated the water with a propane stove I found in the Santinis' apartment。 I know you think I stole it； but I didn't。 I was looking for some sugar to borrow when I found it。 Besides； someone had already broken in anyway。 All the apartments have been； even yours I'm afraid； Luis。 I don't know what else they took； but your TV and stereo are gone。〃
Luis grimaced and groaned but Mrs。 Weatherby ignored him。
〃By the way； I borrowed the sugar out of your apartment。 I left a note for you 。and Melinda。 I'll repay you when I can get to a store。〃
〃Don't go near a store； Mrs。 Weatherby。 They've all been looted anyway…〃 Mrs。 Weatherby hushed him。
〃You lie still。 I'll go up to your apartment and get you a change of clothes。〃
Luis didn't bother to protest。 Too tired and sore to manage an argument； he lay on Mrs。 Weatherby's couch with his eyes closed and was soon sound asleep。
When he woke； his mouth was dry。 When he was sure he could stand without fainting； Luis walked to the kitchen sink； took a glass from the cabinet； and turned on the faucet。 Nothing came out。 Then he remembered Mrs。 Weatherby and the pan of soapy water。 Where had she gotten it？ And where was she now？
Luis went back to the living room and spotted a neat pile of his clothes on an end table。 Mrs。 Weatherby had picked out a pair of blue slacks and a white dress shirt。 Luis smiled at her choice and decided to use the bathroom to change； in case Mrs。 Weatherby came in。 He found the bathroom down the hall and closed the door behind him。 When he turned； he noticed the top of the toilet tank had been removed and was sitting on the floor。 There was a cup on the countertop next to the toilet tank； which was only half full。 Luis said out loud； 〃Very clever。〃 Convincing himself it was clean water； he took the cup； scooped up some； and quenched his thirst。
When he was finished changing； the apartment was still empty。 He was about to start searching the building when he heard a strange sound。 〃Aaaaah；〃 loud and hoarse。 He followed it to the living room window。 When he looked out he couldn't believe what he was seeing。 Mrs。 Weatherby was on her knees in her garden； working with her flowers。 Luis had seen this a thousand times but never seen it in this setting。 The dinosaur that had scared the Ibarras out of their apartment was walking toward Mrs。 Weatherby with its head down and its mouth open。 〃Run； Mrs。 Weatherby！ The dinosaur； run！〃 Luis yelled out the window。
Mrs。 Weatherby looked up and waved。 Then she stood and turned toward the approaching dinosaur； which went down on all fours； its huge head still ing directly at her。 Luis yelled again but to no avail。 Then； the head stopped with its mouth open wide； 〃aaaahing〃 louder as Mrs。 Weatherby dug in a big satchel。 Then she pulled out a bag and stepped forward and dumped the contents in the dinosaur's mouth。 The mouth immediately snapped closed and the jaw began to grind。 Next the lips smacked and its massive tongue slipped between the lips； first cleaning the lower lip and then the upper。 Then the mouth opened again and the 〃aaaahing〃 started all over。
With another bag； Mrs。 Weatherby produced the performance again。 When the dinosaur opened its mouth a third time Mrs。 Weatherby spoke to it sternly。 Luis couldn't make out the words over the 〃aaaahing〃 sound。 Then to his surprise Mrs。 Weatherby put her hands on the animal's huge jaw and pushed the head away from her。 The head barely moved。 Mrs。 Weatherby slapped the jaw with her hand and pushed again。 This time the dinosaur pulled its head up and stood； then turned and walked into the clearing； pausing twice to turn around and 〃aaaah〃 softly at Mrs； Weatherby。 Then it pulled up a mouthful of grass and walked off chewing into the distance。 Behind the retreating monster Luis saw a misty shimmering cityscape。 It was an