jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第1章

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　I　would　like　to　thank　everyone　who　encouraged　or　tolerated　me　during　this　project。　Thanks　to　Mark；　who　gave　me　the　initial　push　to　get　started；　Carol　McCleary　for　seeing　the　potential；　Bob　Gleason　and　Greg　Cox　for　many　good　suggestions　and　for　pushing　me　to　a　new　level；　and　to　my　wife；　Gale；　for　hours　of　reading　and　rereading。
　Abby；　Katie；　and　Bethany…this　is　why　Dad　sat　at　the　puter　all　those　hours。
　
　DRAMATIS　PERSONAE
　
　OREGON
　
　Kenny　Randall…Student　at　Oregon　Institute　of　Technology；　and　a　member　of　the　group。
　Dr。　George　Coombs…Former　professor　of　anthropology；　now　a　chiropractor。
　Dr。　Chester　Piltcher…Professor　of　system　science　at　Oregon　Institute　of　Technology；　and　the　leader　of　the　group。
　Phar　Nyang…A　student　at　Oregon　Institute　of　Technology；　puter　programmer；　and　a　member　of　the　group。
　Mrs。　Wayne…Member　of　the　group　and　New　Age　believer　who　municates　with　a　spirit　guide　by　the　name　of
　Shontel。
　Petra　Zalewski…Student　at　Oregon　Institute　of　Technology；　and　a　member　of　the　group。
　Colter　Swenson…Student　at　Southern　Oregon　State　College；　and　a　member　of　the　group。
　Ernie　Powell…Friend　of　Mrs。　Wayne；　and　a　member　of　the　group。
　Robin　Kyle…Deputy　sheriff；　Jackson　County　Sheriffs　Department。
　Jill　Randall…Kenny　Randall's　sister；　and　tour　guide　at　the　Oregon　Caves。
　Robert　Jenkins…FBI　Special　Agent。
　Shirley；　Jay；　and　Kimberly…Rangers　at　the　Oregon　Caves　National　Monument。
　Bill　Conrad…Colonel　in　the　U。S。　Air　Force。
　Angie　Conrad…Wife　of　Bill。
　Dr。　Terry　Roberts…Psychologist。
　Ellen　Roberts…Wife　of　Terry。
　John　Roberts…Son　of　Terry　and　Ellen。
　Ripman　and　Cubby…Friends　of　John。
　Carl；　Bobby；　Kishton；　Butler；　and　Miller…Motorcyclists　from　Carlton；　Oregon。
　Vince　Peters…Chief　of　Police；　Carlton；　Oregon。
　Stanley　〃Coop〃　Cooper…Reserve　officer；　Carlton；　Oregon。
　Rita　Watkins…Stranded　motorist。
　Chrissy　Watkins…Rita's　daughter。
　Matt　Watkins…Rita's　son。
　
　FLORIDA
　
　Ron　Tubman…Owner　and　captain　of　the　deep…water　sailboat　Entrepreneur。
　Carmen　Perez…Tubman…Wife　of　Ron　Tubman。
　Rosa　Perez…Carmen's　daughter。　
　Chris　Tubman…Ron's　son。
　
　NEW　YORK
　
　Mariel　Weatherby…Resident　of　apartment　bordering　the　New　York　time　quilt。
　Luis　Ibarra…Resident　of　apartment　bordering　the　New　York　time　quilt。
　Melinda　Ibarra…Wife　of　Luis。
　Gene　Diamond…Host　of　radio　show　Night　Talk。
　
　HAWAII
　
　Emmett　Puglisi…Assistant　professor　of　astrophysics；　University　of　Hawaii。
　Carrollee　Chen…Slater…Assistant　professor　of　botany；　University　of　Hawaii。
　
　WASHINGTON；　D。C。
　
　Elizabeth　Hawthorne…White　House　chief　of　staff。
　Scott　McIntyre…President　of　the　United　States。
　Dr。　Nick　Paulson…Science　advisor　to　the　President。
　Dr。　Arnold　Gogh…Former　science　advisor　to　the　President。
　Samuel　Cannon…Director　of　the　CIA。
　Phil　Yamamoto…Sergeant；　U。S。　Air　Force。
　Natalie　Matsuda…Secretary　of　Defense。
　
　
　
　PROLOGUE：　CORN　FALL
　
　
　The　pickup　sped　through　the　forest　past　the　marker　indicating　the　border　of　the　Indian　Reservation。　Unnoticed　by　the　passengers；　the　forest　changed。　Hardy　pines　replaced　the　water…loving　firs；　the　mountains　melted　into　hills；　and　the　highway　convolutions　became　mere　curves。　The　truck　was　moving　down　the　eastern　slope　of　the　Cascades　into　the　rain　shadow　that　was　the　high　desert　of　eastern　Oregon。
　It　was　opening　day　of　deer　season；　at　least　it　would　be　at　daybreak；　and　the　pickup　was　loaded　with　essentials。　In　the　back　were　a　tent；　three　sleeping　bags；　fishing　rods　and　tackle；　two　cast…iron　frying　pans；　a　propane　lantern；　three　30。06　rifles；　and　two　cases　of　beer。　In　the　cab　three　eager　college　students　kept　themselves　awake　by　talking　sports　and　sex。　Few　cars　were　on　the　road；　and　only　an　occasional　sign　advertising　the　reservation　resort；　Kah…Nee…Tah。
　It　was　nearly　2：00　A。M。　when　the　pickup　pulled　itself　free　from　the　forest　and　into　the　expanse　of　the　plains。　The　passengers　fell　silent；　their　eyes　no　longer　confined　by　the　evergreen　walls。　They　were　forest　dwellers　who　found　thick　stands　of　evergreens；　mountains；　and　waterfalls　monplace；　so　the　browns；　grays；　and　muted　greens　of　the　arid　plains　were　seductive。　There　were　no　clouds　in　the　sky；　and　when　the　passengers　tired　of　wide　open　plains；　they　savored　the　wide　open　sky。　To　enhance　its　splendor；　they　turned　off　the　lights　of　the　pickup；　and　the　vehicle　moved　across　the　plain　with　only　the　moon　to　light　its　way。　At　a　wide　spot　in　the　road；　it　stopped；　and　two　of　the　passengers　got　out；　stretching　their　legs；　arching　their　backs；　and　staring　at　the　sky。　The　driver　lay　down　on　the　seat　of　the　cab；　stretching　his　legs　out　the　driver's　door　and　his　arms　out　the　other。
　After　a　catlike　stretch；　he　moved　to　the　doorway　of　the　cab　and　leaned　across　the　top　of　the　pickup；　looking　across　the　desert。　The　cool　autumn　air　sent　goose　bumps　up　his　arms；　invigorating　him　and　clearing　his　brain。　Then　something　bounced　off　the　top　of　the　cab　in　front　of　his　face。　It　was　a　dried　piece　of　corn。
　〃All　right；　who's　the　wise　guy？〃
　The　other　two　were　staring　at　him　blankly　when　another　piece　of　corn　landed　on　the　ground　between　them。　Then　another；　and　another；　joined　the　first。　They　looked　up　to　see　where　it　came　from；　but　there　was　nothing　to　see　but　stars。　More　corn　fell；　sprinkling　the　ground　and　people；　stinging　them　where　it　hit。　When　the　corn　began　to　fall　harder；　they　climbed　into　the　safety　of　the　pickup。　Still　the　corn　fell　in　torrents；　sounding　like　hail　as　it　pounded　the　vehicle。
　The　passengers　stared　out　the　windshield　as　the　ground　quickly　covered　itself　with　the　brownish　yellow　kernels。　Then；　just　as　suddenly　as　it　had　started；　the　corn　fall　stopped。
　The　young　men　opened　the　door　tentatively　and　slowly　climbed　out。　There　was　still　nothing　in　the　sky　but　stars；　but　the　evidence　of　the　strange　shower　was　all　around　them。　The　driver　kicked　at　the　corn　on　the　ground　and　then　cleaned　it　off　his　pickup　to　look　for　damage。
　〃That's　the　strangest　damn　thing　I've　ever　seen；〃　the　driver　said。　〃Where　do　you　think　it　came　from；　Jack？〃
　〃How　should　I　know？〃　Jack　replied。　〃I　don't　think　they　even　grow　corn　around　here。　Hey；　where　did　Kenny　go？〃　They　both　looked　around；　and　then　called　out　Kenny's　name。
　〃I'm　back　here。〃　They　found　Kenny　Randall　kneeling　down　behind　the　pickup。　He　was　dumping　a　jar　of　Tang　onto　the　ground。
　〃What　are　you　doing；　man？　That's　my　Tang！〃
　Kenny　ignored　the　driver；　finished　dumping　out　the　powder；　and　then　filled　the　jar　with　corn　from　the　ground。　He　didn't　say　much　after　that；　and　he　wasn't　much　fun。　Even　in　camp；　he　just　sat　and　stared　at　the　jar　of　。
　Jack　got　a　three…point　buck　on　Saturday　and　he　and　Robbie　skinned　it。　Robbie　caught　half　a　dozen　trout　Sunday　morning；　but　Kenny　didn't　have　much　of　an　appetite。　When　they　broke　camp　Sunday　afternoon　Kenny；　still　absorbed　by　the　corn；　said　very　little　all　the　way　back。
　
　
　PREQUILT
　
　I。　　　RESIDENCE　HALL
　
　。。。　and　there　shall　e　a　time　when　the　present　shall　be　joined　together　with　the　past。。。
　…Zorastrus；　Prophet　of　Babylon
　
　Oregon　Institute　of　Technology；　Klamath　Falls；　Oregon
　PREQUILT：　SATURDAY；　2：00　A。M。　PST
　
　Kenny　Randall　looked　doubtfully　at　the　pile　of　belongings　on　his　bed。　They　would　never　fit　into　his　pack。　Pulling　out　his　essentials；　he　finished　stuffing　his　yellow　backpack。　The　gun　was　last；　he　wanted　it　accessible。　But　its　outline　showed　clearly　through　the　thin　yellow　nylon。　When　he　wedged　the　gun　on　the　inside　it　rubbed　against　his　spine　through　the　pack。　Finally　he　wrapped　the　weapon　loosely　in　a　towel　to　help　hide　the　deadly　shape。
　Kenny　checked　his　watch　and　then　sat　down　at　his　puter　and　ran　the　simulation　again。　He　tried　feeding　in　more　of　the　Zorastrus　data；　but　the　oute　was　the　same。　After　a　dozen　runs　he　gave　up。　Kenny　envied　the　long　dead　prophet。　He　had　only　predicted　what　Kenny　would　have　to　live　through。
　He　took　one　last　look　around　his　littered　dorm　room。　Textbooks；　mostly　dealing　with　industrial　management；　papers；　notebooks；　pens　and　pencils；　were　in　apparent　disarray；　but　Kenny　had　his　own　system　of　organization。　One　pile　was　for　his　puter　programming　class；　the　one　next　to　it　was　for　his　systems　management　class；　and　the　pile　sticking　out　from　under　the　bed　contained　last　year's　work。　There　was　another　year's　worth　of　work　deeper　under　the　bed。　More　books　and　papers　were　piled　on　the　closet　floor；　with　a　seldom…used　typewriter。
　The　puter　on　Kenny's　desk　was　surrounded　by　its　own　peculiar　debris…boxes　of　discs；　disc　holders；　a　mouse　and　mouse　pad；　a　printer；　and　stacks　of　puter　paper。　Next　to　the　puter　was　a　pile　of　newspaper　clippings。　On　the　shelf　above　the　puter　was　a　rack　of　books　with　titles　like　Stranger　Than　Fiction；　Strange　Facts；　and　The　Unexplainable。　At　the　end　of　the　shelf　was　a　jar　of　dried　corn。
　There　wasn't　anything　Kenny　particularly　valued　in　the　room；　but　he　felt　a　sense　of　loss　anyway；　knowing　he　would　not　see　any　of　it　again。　He　checked　his　pack　one　more　time；　to　make　sure　the　gun　didn't　show；　and　then　he　closed　and　locked　the　door。
　The　dorm　hall　was　quiet；　and　all　the　doors　were　shut。　The　last　of　the　late…nighters　had　drifted　off　to　bed　about　half　an　hour　ago。　On　this　Saturday　morning　no　one　was　likely　to　stir　until　nine　or　ten。　It　was　better　this　way；　Kenny　knew。　He　was　weary　of　talking　to　people　who　were　deaf　to　what　he　had　to　say；　though　it　was　unlikely　anyone　would　talk　to　him　now　anyway。　He　had　bee　genuinely　unpopular　in　the　last　few　months。　Ever　since　his　discovery　he　had　tried　to　tell　them；　to　show　them；　but　they　treated　him　as　a　joke。　For　their　sake　he　hoped　they　were　right；　but　for　his　sake　he　was　going　to　do　something　about　it。
　An　empty　elevator　was　waiting　for　him；　and　he　left　the　building　without　looking　back…even　though　the　dorm　had　been　his　home　for　the　last　three　years　he　had　always　disliked　it。　Even　the　name　of　the　dorm　was　ridiculous：　Residence　Hall。　One　night　after　a　few　too　many　beers；　he；　Jack；　and　Robbie　had　printed　out　official…looking　signs　on　Kenny's　puter　and　posted　them　around　the　building。　RESIDENCE　HALL　FLOOR；　one　said；　RESIDENCE　HALL　HALL；　another　said。　Even　RESIDENCE　HALL　WALL；　and　RESIDENCE　HALL　TOILET。　It　was　the　kind　of　thing　that　was　funny　when　you're　drunk　but　seemed　dumb　the　next　morning。　Still；　none　of　the　other　residents　tore　the　signs　down　for　months。
　He　found　his　dark　blue　Toyota　in　the　parking　lot。　The　odometer　had　twenty…eight　thousand　miles　on　it；　but　it　had　rolled　over　two　years　ago。　The　upholstery　was　shot；　and　the　passenger　win'　dow　was　stuck　closed；　but　the　car　would　not　quit。　He　was　briefly　apprehensive…in　all　his　careful　planning　he　had　never　considered　the　possibility　that　his　ten…year…old　Toyota　might　be　the　weak　link；　trapping　him　with　the　unbelievers。　Now　he　pumped　it　twice；　relieved　when　as　usual　it　started　the　second　time。
　As　he　was　pulling　out　of　the　parking　slot；　he　noticed　a　yellow　bumper　sticker　on　the　Escort　parked　next　to　him。　Written　in　calligraphy；　it　read　simply　Shit　Happens。　Kenny　forced　a　nervous　laugh。　〃You　got　that　right；〃　he　said　out　loud。　〃You　sure　got　that　right。〃　Then　Kenny　left　the　parking　lot　for　the　last　time。
　When　he　reached　Dr。　Piltcher's　house；　Phat；　Colter；　and　Petra　were　already　there；　packing