jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第24章

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he　grass　like　seabirds　running　from　ocean　waves；　but　Mariel　never　got　enough　of　a　look　to　identify　them。　Soon　the　bobbing　heads　vanished。
　Mariel　fell　asleep　late　in　the　morning；　exhausted　from　the　previous　night。　When　she　woke　it　was　with　a　start；　to　another　blast　from　that　air　horn。　She　looked　out　the　window　in　time　tp　see　three　big…headed　dinosaurs　running　through　the　grass；　leaning　forward　on　two　legs　with　their　tails　held　straight　out　behind　them。　The　three　ran　in　formation　with　one　in　the　front　and　the　other　two　behind　on　either　side；　in　a　triangle。　When　they　disappeared　into　the　distance　quickly；　Mariel　chided　herself　for　her　weakness　in　falling　asleep。　Flipping　through　her　dinosaur　book　again；　now　familiar　with　the　pages；　she　found　their　picture　right　away。　They　were　deinonychus。　The　book　described　them　as　hunters；　probably　in　packs；　and　pictured　them　around　the　body　of　a　much　larger　dinosaur；　with　blood　on　their　huge　jaws　and　with　hunks　of　red　meat　hanging　from　their　mouths。　It　made　Mariel　glad　these　carnivorous　dinosaurs　had　been　chased　away；　and　she　worried　the　deinonychus　might　attack　her　friend。
　Though　she　munched　on　crackers　and　drank　fruit　juice；　she　was　about　asleep　again　when　she　heard　someone　turning　her　doorknob。　Instantly　she　was　awake。　She　watched　the　knob　turn　back　and　forth；　and　then　she　heard　voices　in　the　hall。　Mariel　knew　friends　would　have　knocked　first；　so　she　yelled　to　let　them　know　the　apartment　wasn't　empty。
　〃Get　away　from　my　door！　I've　got　a　gun　and　I　know　how　to　use　it。〃　She　never　heard　the　voices　again　and　her　doorknob　didn't　move　after　that。
　Later　she　thought　she　heard　the　sound　of　splintering　wood　somewhere。　Now；　she　suspected　thieves　were　loose　in　her　building　but　knew　she　was　too　old　to　do　anything　about　it　alone。　So　she　sat　by　the　window　watching　for　the　dinosaur　with　the　sweet　tooth　to　e　back。
　A　new　dinosaur　appeared　after　noon；　a　funny…looking；　dome…headed　dinosaur　with　small　spikes　sticking　up　on　its　snout　and　ugly　green　bumps　along　the　back　of　its　head。　It　ate　its　way　through　the　meadow；　its　rounded　head　ing　up　frequently　to　sniff　the　air　and　scan　the　horizon。　This　dinosaur　was　nothing　like　the　iguanodon。　It　was　much　smaller　and　obviously　much　less　intelligent。　Mariel　could　tell　because　it　didn't　seem　surprised　by　the　building…too　dumb　to　know　her　building　wasn't　some　big　rock　or　cliff。　No；　this　Dome…head　had　no　curiosity　like　her　dinosaur。　Dome…head　worked　through　the　meadow　along　the　length　of　Mariel's　building；　and　shortly　after　it　disappeared　from　her　view　she　heard　the　sound　of　the　air　horn　plus　car　horns。　A　minute　later　Mariel　saw　Dome…head　emerge　and　then　disappear　into　the　trees　in　the　distance。　Flipping　through　the　pages　of　her　book　again；　Mariel　saw　similar　dinosaurs　but　only　one　with　spikes　on　its　nose。　She　had　trouble　pronouncing　the　name；　pachycephalosaurus；　but　didn't　care。　It　was　an　ugly；　dumb　dinosaur　anyway。
　It　was　midaftemoon　when　Mariel's　iguanodon　reappeared。　He　was　grazing　through　the　clearing　again；　but　at　a　much　faster　rate。　Every　time　he　stopped　to　eat　he　reared　up　on　his　hind　legs　and　surveyed　the　surroundings；　watchful　for　danger。　Mariel　hoped　the　deinonychus　were　well　gone。
　Soon　the　iguanodon　forgot　all　about　the　grass　and　fixated　his　eyes　on　the　window　where　Mariel　stood。　The　dinosaur　swung　his　head　looking　left　and　right。　When　he　was　sure　there　were　no　lurking　predators；　he　lifted　his　head　and　opened　his　mouth　wide　making　a　low　〃aaaaah〃　sound。　When　the　sound　died；　Mariel　dropped　a　paper　bag　of　sugar　into　his　mouth；　which　immediately　snapped　shut。
　Now　the　beast　made　loud　smacking　sounds　and　licked　his　lips。　Opening　his　mouth　he　started　〃aaaahing〃　again。　Once　more　she　dropped　a　bag　of　sugar　into　his　mouth。　When　the　explosion　of　sweet　faded；　the　dinosaur　raised　his　head　and　opened　his　mouth　a　third　time；　Mariel　scolded　him。
　〃Two　is　all　you　get。　Now　you　get　back　out　there　and　eat　some　more　of　that　grass。　You'll　get　sick　if　you　eat　nothing　but　sugar。〃　She　had　raised　three　children　and　knew　better　than　to　give　in。　This　dinosaur　had　to　learn　that　two　treats　was　all　and　that　was　final。
　The　dinosaur　stood　outside　her　window　〃aaaahing〃　over　and　over　again。　But　Mariel　held　firm；　and　finally　the　dinosaur　dropped　his　head　and　walked　back　into　the　meadow　toward　the　distant　treeline。　Smiling；　Mariel　prepared　two　more　bags　of　sugar　and　put　them　by　the　window；　then　picked　up　her　crocheting　and　waited。
　Toward　dusk；　her　iguanodon　came　back。
　This　time　he　wasn't　wasting　any　time　eating　grass。　He　walked　through　the　meadow　on　his　two　rear　legs；　headed　straight　for　Mrs。　Weatherby's　window；　lifting　his　head　and　〃aaahing。〃　Mariel　waited　again　for　quiet　and　then　dropped　the　sugar　bomb　into　the　dinosaur's　gaping　mouth。　After　a　second　helping　the　dinosaur　put　his　head　down；　turned　away；　and　walked　out　into　the　meadow。
　〃I　knew　you　were　smart；　Mr。　Iguanodon。〃
　Mariel　beamed。　Back　in　the　kitchen　she　filled　two　more　paper　bags　with　sugar。　She　was　running　low；　but　it　wouldn't　be　safe　to　go　to　a　store　for　more。　If　her　neighbors　were　home　she　could　borrow　some　sugar。　Then　Mariel　remembered　the　splintering　wood。　〃Well；　I　guess　it　wouldn't　exactly　be　stealing；〃　she　said　to　herself；　and　then　started　down　the　hall　to　do　her　shopping。
　
　22。　　LITTLE　ONES
　
　Near　Yorkshire；　England；　eighty　feet　above　the　valley　floor；　we　found　a　cave。　If　the　remains　in　that　cave　were　to　be　believed；　then　reindeer；　hippopotamus；　lions；　and　grizzly　bear　all　lived　together　once　in　England。　What　a　strange　England　that　would　have　been。
　…WilliamBuckland；1823
　
　North　of　Bend；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　SUNDAY；　9：45　A。M。　PST
　
　　Petra　and　Colter　met　the　rest　of　the　group　in　Bend　and　they　traveled　north　in　Dr。　Coombs's　RV；　toward　Warm　Springs。　Petra　tried　to　contact　Mrs。　Wayne　and　Ernie；　but　the　airwaves　were　filled　with　the　curious　and　the　panicky。　In　the　back；　Colter　drifted　in　and　out　of　sleep；　still　hung　over　from　the　night　before。
　The　road　to　Warm　Springs　was　clogged　with　confused　travelers；　so　Dr。　Coombs　backtracked　and　found　a　dirt　road　angling　across　the　Indian　reservation。　They　drove　through　arid　lands；　treeless　and　covered　with　sagebrush。　Small　houses　in　poor　repair　sprinkled　the　low　hills。　Barbed　wire　lined　the　road；　the　fence　held　up　by　a　variety　of　wooden　posts。　Most　posts　were　well…weathered　split　rails；　but　a　bewildering　variety　of　replacement　posts　mingled　with　the　originals。　Metal　posts　were　most　mon；　but　also　axe　handles；　an　oar；　a　two…by…four；　some　four…by…fours；　and　what　looked　to　be　the　legs　of　chairs　could　be　seen。　Horses　gazed　near　some　fences；　but　there　were　no　cows　or　sheep。
　The　dirt　road　ended　in　a　branch。　Dr。　Piltcher　pointed　left　and　they　followed　the　ruts　that　led　north。　Shortly；　the　road　declined　sharply；　leading　to　a　valley。　Dr。　Coombs　braked　to　a　jolting　stop　as　their　mouths　fell　open　in　surprise。
　They　had　expected　something　to　happen。　They　had　predicted　it…Zorastrus　had　predicted　it；　but　even　he　wasn't　specific　about　what　would　happen。　The　road　zigzagged　down　the　hill　and　then　straight　into　the　valley　below；　which　was　bisected　by　a　green　line。　On　one　side　was　the　arid　land　they　had　been　driving　through。　On　the　other　side　was　a　lush　green　landscape；　thick　with　bushes　and　undergrowth。　In　the　distance　they　could　see　a　lake；　and　behind　that　a　forest。　They　sat　in　silence；　trying　to　understand　what　they　were　seeing。　Only　Colter　seemed　unimpressed。
　〃Let's　get　going；　it　looks　cool　down　there；〃　Colter　said　impatiently。
　Dr。　Piltcher；　sitting　in　the　front　passenger　seat；　turned　to　look　at　Colter；　irritation　in　his　voice。
　〃Colter；　doesn't　it　strike　you　as　strange　that　this。　。　。　this　tropical　forest　is　sitting　here　in　the　middle　of　this　desert？〃
　〃I　dunno。　Maybe　they　irrigate。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　rolled　his　eyes　and　then　turned　back　to　face　the　front；　speaking　over　his　shoulder　as　he　did。　〃They　irrigate　crops；　not　jungle。　Let's　get　closer；　George。〃
　Dr。　Coombs　drove　down　the　zigzag　road　toward　the　scene　below；　Petra　and　Colter　bouncing　from　side　to　side　in　the　back　of　the　RV。　Suddenly　Petra　cried　out。
　〃Look！　There　by　the　lake。　Something's　moving　out　there。　Something　big。〃　　　　〃I　don't　see　it；　Petra。　Do　you；　George？〃
　〃No；　I'm　watching　the　road。〃
　〃I　saw　it；　Dr。　Piltcher；〃　Colter　cut　in。　　　　　　　　　　　　
　Dr。　Piltcher　was　exasperated。　〃And　what　did　you　see；　Colter？〃
　〃It　was　big；　like　Petra　said。　I　think　it　was　a　tractor。　Maybe　this　is　an　irrigated　farm。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher's　only　answer　was　a　disgusted　snort。　At　the　end　of　the　ruts；　they　found　themselves　facing　a　small　meadow　against　a　wall　of　lush　greenery　seven　to　nine　feet　in　height；　concealing　the　lake　and　forest。　Dr。　Coombs　slowly　drove　up　onto　the　grass　to　park　the　RV。
　〃Petra；　try　the　radio　again；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　ordered。
　As　she　began　calling　Mrs。　Wayne　and　Ernie；　her　voice　was　flat；　devoid　of　hope。　She　wasn't　surprised　that　no　one　answered。
　Now　the　others　climbed　out　and　walked　into　the　meadow。　Dr。　Coombs　and　Dr。　Piltcher　began　examining　the　grasses　and　ferns。
　〃Extraordinary；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　muttered　over　and　over。
　〃Exactly　so；〃　concurred　Dr。　Coombs。
　The　noise　of　a　stream　distracted　them　and　they　turned　to　see　Colter　urinating　into　the　grass。　Dr。　Piltcher　began　to　stomp　toward　him；　but　Dr。　Coombs　grabbed　his　arm　and　began　pointing　out　more　of　his　observations　of　the　flora；　temporarily　subduing　his　friend。　Petra　came　out　of　the　RV　and　shook　her　head　before　anyone　could　ask　about　contact。　Suddenly　Colter　yelled；　〃Hey　you；　e　here！〃
　The　others　turned　to　see　Colter　running　in　circles　through　the　tall　grass；　yelling　and　chasing　something　through　the　meadow。　Occasionally　he　stopped　abruptly　and　leaned　down　with　his　arms　outstretched。　Petra　began　running　toward　him；　though　Dr。　Piltcher　called　after　her　to　wait。　Dr。　Coombs　trailed　after　her；　his　well…conditioned　body　carrying　him　like　a　younger　man　as　Dr。　Piltcher　stumbled　along　behind。　Colter　bent　down　again；　jerked　up　and　sprinted　ahead；　and　then　he　dove；　disappearing　in　the　grass　as　a　pigtike　squeal　erupted。　Then　Colter　came　up　on　one　knee；　and　then　stood　holding　a　squirming　animal　none　of　them　had　ever　seen　before。
　It　was　eighteen　inches　in　length；　its　skin　a　bright　green。　Colter　held　it　by　its　thick　tail…which　was　a　third　of　its　length…and　its　thick　neck。　Its　head　was　a　little　larger　than　the　neck；　and　the　face　resembled　a　parrot；　with　a　beak　that　curved　over　the　lower　jaw。　The　eyes　on　either　side　of　the　head　were　covered　with　thick　lids。　Its　two　oversized　back　legs　contrasted　with　two　thin　front　ones。　The　animal　was　using　its　clawed　front　feet　on　Colter's　hand；　and　from　Colter's　reaction　the　claws　were　sharp。
　The　others　jogged　up　to　Colter；　staring　openmouthed。
　〃What　is　that？〃　Petra　asked。
　〃It's　an　omithopod；〃　said　Dr。　Coombs；　his　voice　bubbling　with　excitement。
　〃Psittacosaurus；　I　believe；〃　Dr。　Pilteher　added；　just　as　excited。　〃But　the　color　seems　wrong。　I　wouldn't　have　expected　it　to　be　this　bright　green。〃
　〃Too　bright　by　far；　Chester；〃　Dr。　Coombs　agreed。　〃But　notice；　the　color　is　fading。　Like　a　chameleon　perhaps？〃
　〃I　do　believe　you're　right；　George。　It　seems　to　be　adapting　to　the　blue　of　Colter's　shirt。〃
　〃e　on；　you　guys！〃　Colter　hollered。　〃I　can't　hold　this　thing　forever。　Do　you　want　it　or　not？〃
　〃Yes；