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           "Notahair!"

           HecameandstoodbyDouglas.

           "Boy,thisistheonlywaytodoit,"hesaid.

           Douglaslookedoffatthetwilightsky.

           "Frozenstatues,everysingleoneofyou,thenextthreeminutes!"saidJohn.

           DouglasfeltJohnwalkingaroundhimevenashehadwalkedaroundJohnamomentago.HefeltJohnsockhimonthearmonce,nottoohard."Solong,"hesaid.

           Thentherewasarushingsoundandheknewwithoutlookingthattherewasnobodybehindhimnow.

           Faraway,atrainwhistlesounded.

           Douglasstoodthatwayforafullminute,waitingforthesoundoftherunningtofade,butitdidnotstop.He’sstillrunningaway,buthedoesn’tsoundanyfurtheroff,thoughtDouglas.Whydoesn’thestoprunning?

           Andthenherealizeditwasonlythesoundofhisheartinhisbody.

           Stop!Hejerkedhishandtohischest.Stoprunning!Idon’tlikethatsound!

           Andthenhefelthimselfwalkingacrossthelawnsamongalltheotherstatuesnow,andwhetherthey,too,werecomingtolifehedidnotknow.Theydidnotseemtobemovingatall.Forthatmatterhehimselfwasonlymovingfromthekneesdown.Therestofhimwascoldstone,andveryheavy.

           Goingupthefrontporchofhishouse,heturnedsuddenlytolookatthelawnsbehindhim.Thelawnswereempty.

           Aseriesofrifleshots.Screendoorsbangedoneafterthe.other,asunsetvolley,alongthestreet.

           Statuesarebest,hethought.They’retheonlythingsyoucankeeponyourlawn.Don’teverletthemmove.Onceyoudo,youcan’tdoathingwiththem.