wasn't able to convince Clarisse, I doubt Blackjack will be able — "

 

A roar shook the ground. It sounded ven ? close.

 

"Rachel," I said, "get inside the building."

 

"I want to stay."

 

A shadow blotted out the sun. Across the street, the drakon slithered down the

side of a skyscraper. It roared, and a thousand windows shattered.

 

"On second thought," Rachel said in a small voice, "I'll be inside."

 

* * *

 

Let me explain: there are dragons, and then there are drakons.

 

Drakons are several millennia older than dragons, and much larger. They look

like giant serpents.

 

Most don't have wings. Most don't breathe fire (though some do). All are

poisonous. All are immensely strong, with scales harder than titanium. Their

eyes can paralyze you; not the turn-you~to-stone Medusa- type paralysis, but the

oh~my~gods-that~big~snake~is~going~to~eat~me type of paralysis, which is just as

bad.