jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第25章

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　〃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；　of　course　we　want　to　study　it；〃　Dr。　Pilteher　said。　〃But　what　do　we　do　with　it？〃
　Without　a　better　idea　they　led　Colter　to　the　RV；　the　creature　struggling　every　step　of　the　way。　Then　they　decided　to　put　the　psittacosaurus　in　the　back；　where　the　beds　were；　and　block　off　the　front。　They　used　the　mattresses　to　create　a　wall；　and　then　Colter　leaned　over　and　dropped　the　psittacosaurus　on　the　other　side。　As　soon　as　it　hit　the　floor　it　stopped　squealing　and　came　up　running。　The　little　beast　ran　through　the　back　of　the　RV　on　its　two　back　legs；　leaning　forward　with　forelegs　outstretched；　looking　for　an　escape　route。　The　only　way　out；　however；　was　past　the　mattresses；　and　the　four　heads　peering　over　them。　Still；　the　beast　would　not　give　up　and　its　panic　grew。
　〃The　poor　thing's　scared；〃　Petra　said。　〃Maybe　we　better　let　it　go。〃
　〃No；　not　yet；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　pleaded。　〃I　want　to　study　it。　Just　for　tonight。　We　can　let　it　go　in　the　morning。〃
　Petra's　conscience　pricked　her　because　the　little　animal　was　suffering。　〃Maybe　we　should　give　it　something　to　eat；〃　Petra　suggested。
　Dr。　Coombs　suggested　fruit　or　eggs；　and　Colter　came　up　with　a　peach。　They　rolled　it　across　the　floor　to　the　psittacosaurus；　but　it　ignored　the　fruit　and　continued　to　search　for　an　escape　route。
　〃What　did　you　call　this　thing　again？〃　Colter　asked。
　〃Psittacosaurus；〃　Dr。　Coombs　replied。
　〃Let's　just　call　it　Sid；〃　Colter　suggested。　〃How　e　I've　never　seen　anything　like　Sid　before？〃
　〃Because；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　began　with　forced　slowness；　〃they've　been　extinct　since　the　Cretaceous　age；〃
　〃Wasn't　that　prehistoric　times？〃　Colter　asked　Dr。　Piltcher。　〃Then　what's　it　doing　here？〃
　With　that　one　question　Colter　cut　right　through　the　fog　of　excitement　that　had　clouded　their　thinking。　What　was　it　doing　here？
　Dr。　Coombs　and　Dr。　Piltcher　retreated　to　the　front　of　the　RV　and　sat　in　the　bucket　seats。　Colter　and　Petra　followed；　Colter　a　little　put　out　that　they　hadn't　answered　his　question　directly。　Despite　his　naivete；　however；　he　had　learned　how　to　fit　into　the　group；　and　knew　it　was　time　for　him　to　fade　into　the　background。
　The　others　assumed　their　reflective　poses　and　took　turns　looking　at　each　other；　waiting　for　someone　to　say　what　they　were　all　thinking。　All　except　Colter；　who　stood　impatiently　waiting。　As　usual　Dr。　Piltcher　finger…bed　his　hair；　and　then　spoke　first。
　〃Well；　we　knew　something　was　going　to　happen；　but　I　admit　I　hadn't　considered　this。〃
　〃What　has　happened？〃　Petra　asked。
　Dr。　Piltcher　turned　and　smiled　at　Petra。　In　Dr。　Piltcher's　eyes　she　could　do　no　wrong；　and　he　treated　even　her　simplest　questions　with　the　same　consideration　that　he　gave　to　scholarly　discussions。
　〃We　must　investigate　further；　of　course。　But　from　the　primitive　nature　of　the　flowering　plants　in　the　meadow；　and　of　course　our　friend　the　psittacosaurus；　we　seem　to　be　sitting　in　a　piece　of　the　Cretaceous　period。　We　anticipated　some　temporal　dislocation；　that　fits　with　the　theory；　but　I　rather　expected　massive　amounts　of　material　falling　out　of　the　sky。　Instead；　we　seem　to　have　sitting　all　around　us　a　piece　of　the　past　somehow　transported　to　the　present。〃
　〃There　is　another　possibility；〃　Dr。　Coombs　added。　〃We　could　be　in　a　section　of　our　present　that　has　been　transported　to　the　past。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　raised　his　eyebrows　but　didn't　say　anything　for　a　full　minute。　Then　he　spoke　with　thoughtful　deliberation。
　〃If　we　were　transported；　then　a　huge　portion　of　land　was　transported　with　us。　We　drove　through　miles　of　it；　not　to　mention　the　radio　reports　from　afar。　If　that　much　has　heen　transported　to　the　past；　then　it　makes　little　difference　to　us　practically。　The　same　would　be　true　if　this　piece　of　the　Cretaceous　period　is　extensive；　but　again　the　radio　reports　suggest　otherwise。〃
　〃True　enough；　Chester；　but　it　raises　other　interesting　questions。　If　we　are　sitting　on　a　piece　of　the　Cretaceous　period；　plete　with　wildlife；　then　where　is　the　land　that　it　replaced？　In　the　Cretaceous　period？　And　more　important；　where　are　Mrs。　Wayne　and　Ernie　Powell？〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　was　about　to　respond　when　a　loud　crunching　sound　broke　up　the　conversation。　Petra　immediately　turned　and　ran　to　the　mattress　barrier；　motioning　for　the　others　to　join　her。　They　crowded　together　just　in　time　to　see　the　psittacosau…rus　bite　down　again　on　the　peach　pit。　Nothing　else　of　the　peach　remained。　The　pit　broke　in　two。
　〃Sid's　got　quite　a　bite；〃　Colter　noted。
　〃Good　thing　he　didn't　get　hold　of　one　of　your　fingers；〃　Petra　said　and　then　retrieved　another　peach　from　the　refrigerator。　〃Here；　Sid；　knock　yourself　out；〃　she　said；　and　tossed　it　to　him。
　Sid　ran　from　the　peach；　trying　to　hide　in　a　corner。　He　looked　around　fearfully；　then　defecated；　leaving　a　wet　gray　pile　of　solids　on　the　floor；　then　ran　over　to　the　peach。　Sid　sank　his　jaws　into　it　and　then　carried　it　to　a　clean　corner　and　began　systematically　biting　off　chunks　while　leaning　back　on　his　tail　and　holding　the　peach　with　his　forearms。　Deftly　he　rotated　it　between　bites；　working　efficiently　to　pick　the　pit　clean。　Then；　as　before；　used　his　jaws　to　break　the　pit　in　two。　After　breaking　the　pit　into　smaller　pieces　Sid　tasted　two；　then　ignored　them。　Though　he　remained　in　his　corner　he　seemed　less　fearful　now　and　watched　his　captors　with　his　black　eyes。　Colter　pulled　a　piece　of　bread　from　the　bag；　tore　off　the　crust；　and　threw　it　to　Sid；　but　the　animal　hesitated；　looking　around　fearfully。　Seeing　no　sudden　movement　in　his　captors　he　snatched　up　the　crust；　opened　his　beak　and　snapped　it　up。　He　didn't　hesitate　to　snatch　up　the　second　piece　Colter　gave　him。
　〃See　there；　Chester；〃　Dr。　Coombs　said；　〃he's　blending　into　the　brown　of　the　background。〃
　〃I　do　believe　you're　right；　George。　I　wonder　how　many　species　of　the　Cretaceous　period　had　this　ability？〃
　〃Man；　those　turds　stink；〃　Colter　plained。　〃We　should've　put　some　paper　down。〃
　Flinching；　Dr。　Piltcher　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　but　Petra　cut　him　off。
　〃Outside！　Something　just　ran　by。〃
　They　all　piled　out　of　the　RV；　scanning　the　meadow。
　〃There；　that　way！〃　Dr。　Coombs　shouted；　pointing　toward　the　hedge　in　the　distance。
　Bobbing　up　and　down　in　the　grass　was　a　greenish；　dome…shaped；　seemingly　disembodied　head。　They　watched　it　moving　closer　to　the　tall　bushes　in　the　distance；　when　suddenly　something　ran　between　Dr。　Coombs's　legs。　It　was　Sid。　Colter　started　after　him　but　Dr。　Piltcher　called　him　back。
　〃Never　mind；　Colter。　I　wasn't　thinking　clearly　before。　This　isn't　about　one　psittacosaurus。　This　is　about　a　whole　new　world。〃　Dr。　Piltcher　waved　his　arm　at　the　jungle　before　him。　〃We　need　to　explore　it　systematically。〃
　〃And　look　for　Mrs。　Wayne　and　Ernie？〃　Petra　asked；　timidly。
　〃Of　course；　Petra。　I　didn't　mean　to　sound　insensitive。〃
　Petra　hugged　his　arm　in　response。　Reddening；　he　quickly　changed　the　subject。　〃Let's　make　camp　here。　It's　not　safe　to　move　into　the　jungle　until　we　know　more　about　what's　out　there；　and　there　seem　to　be　animals　much　larger　than　Sid。〃
　
　They　jockeyed　the　RV　around　until　it　was　level；　and　set　up　the　canopy；　a　portable　picnic　table　and　lawn　chairs。　For　shade　they　set　up　a　tarp　on　poles　and　anchored　it　securely　with　ropes　and　stakes。　Colter　and　Petra　spread　out　looking　for　a　supply　of　firewood；　there　was　little　wood　in　the　desert；　so　they　walked　through　the　tall　jungle　grasses　picking　up　branches。
　〃Hey；　Petra；　give　me　a　hand　with　this。〃
　Petra　turned　to　see　Colter　pushing　a　large　limb　up　out　of　the　grass。　It　seemed　to　be　attached　to　a　bigger　limb。　Colter　was　rocking　it　back　and　forth；　judging　its　weight。　If　the　two　of　them　could　move　it　back　to　camp；　it　would　supply　enough　wood　for　a　couple　of　days。　Colter　rocked　it　low　and　then　pulled　it　up　high　again；　putting　his　shoulder　under　the　limb。　When　he　pushed　up　hard；　they　heard　a　loud　cracking　sound；　and　Colter　dropped　the　limb　and　dove　into　the　grass。
　〃Colter？　What　are　you　doing？〃　Petra　shouted。
　〃Here；　look　at　this。〃
　Colter　stood　up　holding　something　by　its　tail。　Petra　approached　slowly。　It　was　some　kind　of　lizard；　dark　green　and　about　eight　inches　long。　Its　tail　was　a　third　of　the　body；　thick　and　stubby。　It　had　four　long　limbs；　the　front　and　back　pairs　about　the　same　length。　The　neck　looked　very　thin　and　insubstantial；　the　head　elongated　with　two　large　slits　at　the　tip　for　nostrils。　When　it　opened　its　mouth　it　revealed　no　teeth　but　white　ridges；　which　it　was　trying　to　use　on　Colter。
　〃Is　this　one　a　baby　or　what？〃
　〃Maybe　it's　just　a　small　dinosaur。　Let's　take　it　to　Dr。　Piltcher。〃
　Colter　carried　the　animal　by　its　tail　back　to　the　camp；　Petra　trotting　ahead　to　alert　the　others。　Excited　all　over　again；　Dr。　Piltcher　set　the　mattresses　back　up　to　trap　the　new　find　in　the　back　of　the　RV。　As　soon　as　Colter　gently　set　the　little　dinosaur　on　the　floor；　it　was　off　scampering　around　the　enclosure　looking　for　a　way　out。
　〃Well；　Chester；　this　one　has　me　beat。　It's　clearly　not　local　fauna　but　I　don't　recognize　it。〃
　〃Nor　I；　George。　You　don't　suppose　its　a　mussaurus？〃
　〃I　have　to　admit　I'm　not　familiar　with　the　species。　Would　this　be　a　full…grown　mussaurus？〃
　〃If　that's　what　it　is；　yes。　They　didn't　get　much　longer　than　eight　or　ten　inches。〃
　〃Moose；　kind　of　a　funny　name　for　a　lizard　this　small；〃　Colter　said。　〃I　like　it。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　shook　his　head；　taxed　almost　to　the　limit　by　Colter's　juvenile　attitude　and　his　need　to　nickname　each　new　species。　But　he　kept　silent。　The　mussaurus　continued　to　scramble　around　looking　for　a　way　out。　Then　it　stopped　and　turned　to　face　them。　Dr。　Piltcher　could　see　its　sides　heaving。　Suddenly　it　shot　forward　and　scrambled　up　the　mattresses　in　three　quick　leaps　and　onto　Petra's　jeans。　As　Petra　screamed；　Dr。　Coombs　and　Colter　grabbed　for　the　dinosaur。　But　it　was　too　quick　and　darted　under　and　up　Petra's　shirt。　Petra　gasped　as　the　clawed　feet　worked　its　way　up　her　stomach。　She　clamped　her　hand　down；　trying　to　stop　the　mussaurus；　but　gently　so　not　to　hurt　it。
　〃Aah！　It　hurts；　help　me　get　it　out！　It's　going　around　to　my　back！〃
　Dr。　Coombs　shoved　his　hand　up　the　back　of　Petra's　shirt；　embarrassed　by　the　feel　of　her　bare　skin　and　bra　strap。　Petra　kept　gasping　and　flinching　at　the　scratches　from　the　scrambling　claws。
　〃It's　going　up　to　my　shoulder！　Look　out　everyone！〃　Petra　shouted；　and　pushed　the　hands　away。　Then　she　reached　down；　pulling　the　shirt　up　and　over　her　head。　Suddenly　exposed；　the　lizard　froze；　and　then　darted　down　the　front。　Now　Dr。　Piltcher's　hand　shot　out　and　pinned　the　dinosaur　between　the　cups　of　Petra's　bra。　He　flushed　but　seized　the　animal。　Immediately；　Petra　pulled　her　shirt　back　over　her　head；　noticing　the　only　one　without　a　red　face　was　Colter。
　As　the　dinosaur　clamped　its　jaws　on　Dr。　Piltcher's　thumb；　the　professor　dropped　it。　Free　again；　the　dinosaur　scrambled　up　a　wall　and　onto　the　small　space　on　top　of　the　cabinets。
　〃Old　Moose　is　a　handful；〃　Colter　said。　〃Copped　〃a　feel　of　Petra　and　then　took　on　someone　a　hundred　times　his　size。　Want　me　to　get　him　down　out　of　there？〃
　〃No。〃　Dr。　Piltcher　said。　〃It's　not　worth　the　risk。　Let's　just　wait　outside　with　the　door　open。　He'll　le