the four paws on the ground are as broad as dinner plates and tipped with curving claws . but it is dangerous to wait too long . '' he whipped the phone to his ear . i want her to know that she has a great purpose to fulfill , and incredible power ! he smiled gingerly at the captive audience , his face breaking into a spider web of wrinkles . beginning to lose her nerve , jasmine wondered what she was doing standing in the middle of a swamp bothering a man who 'd already suffered enough . 