i took off at a dead sprint and fairly flew down the alley , my duster flapping behind me . a penguin with a notebook sat cross-legged on a gargoyle , scratching its cheek with the eraser end of its pencil , while another , high above , dangled a magnet on a long piece of string in an effort to steal its thermos . was she trying to torment him ? i 'm anxious to see how the drawings turn out . i wanted what he was saying to be a lie , but his eyes showed the truth . 