jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第28章

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　man　who　had　been　arrested　in　front　of　the　Capitol　Building　for　taking　off　his　clothes　and　masturbating。　He　later　explained　that　the　masturbation　symbolized　what　was　soon　to　happen　to　the　world。　Nick　thought　about　it　but　could　see　no　connection　between　a　public　orgasm　and　time　displacement。　The　last　person　on　the　list　was　a　college　kid　who　had　been　arrested　for　holding　tourists　hostage　in　a　cave　put　in　Oregon。　He　too　had　anticipated　the　end　of　the　world。
　Each　of　Elizabeth's　rogues'　gallery　had　an　individual　file。　Nick　thumbed　through　them　and　whistled　silently　through　his　teeth。　The　psychics　each　had　a　thick　bundle　of　papers；　including　faxed　air　force　reports。　〃Why　would　the　air　force　keep　files　on　psychics？〃　Nick　wondered。　The　religious　fanatics　had　FBI　files　and　the　masturbator　a　thick　police　record。　The　college　kid's　file　was　empty　except　for　a　note　saying　an　air　force　colonel　and　a　psychologist　were　bringing　him　out　from　Oregon。　Now　that　was　curious；　Nick　thought。　A　psychologist　and　a　colonel；　not　a　lieutenant；　or　a　sergeant；　but　a　colonel！　Nick　put　the　kid's　file　to　the　bottom　and　prepared　himself　to　meet　〃Madame　Sylvia。〃
　Madame　Sylvia　was　large　but　not　fat…instead；　what　Nick's　mother　liked　to　call　〃big　boned。〃　Her　hair　was　a　mass　of　dyed　brown　ringlets。　Fond　of　makeup；　Madame　Sylvia　used　it　generously。　She　was　also　delighted　at　being　called　to　the　White　House。　Madame　Sylvia's　file　noted　she　had　a　contract　with　a　supermarket　tabloid。　Nick　could　only　guess　what　a　White　House　summons　would　do　for　its　circulation。
　〃I　understand　you　predicted　the　world　would　end？〃　Nick　probed　gently。
　〃I　predicted　catastrophe；　not　an　end。〃
　〃An　end　to　the　world　as　we　know　it。〃
　〃The　world　as　you　know　it。　I　am　part　of　a　greater　world；〃　Madame　Sylvia　announced　loftily。
　〃A　different　world　than　this？〃　Nick　inquired。
　〃This　world　is　part　of　a　greater　world。　The　essence　of　my　being　is　part　of　the　greater　consciousness　that　is　the　spiritual　fabric　of　the　universe。〃
　〃Is　that　what　allows　you　to　see　the　future？〃
　〃It　is　an　explanation　your　mind　can　grasp？〃
　〃But　not　all　of　your　predictions　have　e　true；　have　they？〃
　〃True。　My　physical　self　clouds　my　vision。　Once　I　am　released　from　my　body　I　will　see　with　perfect　clarity。〃
　Nick　thumbed　through　the　file　and　pulled　out　a　three…month'old　tabloid　clipping　listing　Madame　Sylvia's　predictions　for　the　next　six　months。　Elizabeth；　or　someone；　had　circled　one　in　red：　〃Earthquakes；　floods；　and　storms　will　wreak　unprecedented　havoc。〃
　〃Can　you　tell　me　more　about　this？〃　Nick　asked　politely。
　〃New　York　is　gone。　There　are　floods；　landslides；　hurricanes；　tornadoes。　These　are　the　catastrophes　I　predicted　and　they　have　e　true。〃
　Nick　was　surprised　to　hear　her　say　New　York　was　gone。　The　last　Nick　had　heard　the　media　people　were　still　calling　it　a　blackout。　He　made　a　mental　note　to　check　Cable　Network　News。
　〃What　is　the　source　of　these　catastrophes？　Why　did　they　happen　all　at　once　and　why　now？〃
　〃It　is　part　of　a　larger　plan。　A　plan　I　cannot　explain　in　terms　you　could　understand。〃
　Nick　dug　deeper　into　the　pile。
　〃I　see　you　predicted　cataclysms　six　。　。　。　no；　seven　times　in　the　past　three　years。　In　the　last　five　years　you　also　predicted　contact　with　aliens　three　times；　two　presidential　assassinations；　that　California　would　slide　into　the　sea；　and　that　cancer　would　be　cured　。　。　。　you　predicted　that　four　times。〃
　〃As　I　told　you；　my　vision　is　sometimes　clouded。〃
　〃That　physical…self　problem？〃
　〃Exactly。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　ing。〃
　
　The　religious　fanatic　was　next；　painfully　thin　with　a　pinched；　lined　face　and　dark　emotionless　eyes。
　〃Mr。　Love？　Is　that　your　real　name？〃
　〃That　is　the　name　I　received　upon　sanctification。　Jesus　gave　it　to　me；〃　Mr。　Love　intoned。
　〃It's　a　good　name。　Why　did　you　think　the　world　was　going　to　end？〃
　〃Jesus　told　me。　In　a　vision。〃
　〃Something　has　happened；　but　the　world　did　not　end；〃　Nick　countered。
　〃God　has　only　begun。〃
　〃What　will　happen　next？〃
　〃I　see　hellfire　and　brimstone。　I　see　the　wrath　of　God　poured　out　from　the　heavens。　Not　a　stone　will　be　left　standing。　Not　a　being　left　living。〃　Mr。　Love　stood　up；　eyes　burning。
　〃Thank　you　for　ing。〃
　〃Vengeance　is　mine；　sayeth　the　Lord　。　。　。〃　The　man　leaned　forward；　gesturing　wildly；
　〃Guard？〃　Nick　turned。
　Mr。　Love　was　still　speaking　as　the　marine　led　him　away。
　〃。　。　。　turn　to　Jesus　while　there　is　still　time。〃
　
　The　masturbator　was　nothing　like　Madame　Sylvia　or　Mr。　Love。　Mr。　Gauthier　did　not　seem　to　take　himself；　or　anything　else；　seriously。　He　was　a　short　pudgy　man；　with　a　round　cherubic　face；　a　ready　grin；　and　long　wisps　of　golden　hair　bed　across　a　balding　head。
　〃I　understand　you　predicted　the　end　of　the　world。〃　As　soon　as　Nick　said　it　Mr。　Gauthier　began　to　laugh。　
　〃That's　good。　That's　good。　I　pre…dick…ted　it　all　right。　Right　there　on　the　Capitol　steps。〃　
　Nick　flushed　as　he　pressed　on。　〃I　mean　you　anticipated　that　something　was　going　to　happen　to　the　world。〃
　〃I　never　said　the　world　was　going　to　end。　I　jerked　off　to　symbolize　what　is　happening。〃
　〃And　what's　that？〃
　〃We're　all　getting　screwed　by　the　government。　Here；　let　me　show　you。〃
　Mr。　Gauthier　unzipped　his　pants　and　began　fumbling　inside。
　〃I　get　the　point；　Mr。　Gauthier；　you　don't　have　to　show　me。　Thanks　for　ing。〃
　Mr。　Gauthier　looked　up　and　chuckled　again。
　〃Well；　I　haven't　e　yet　but　just　give　me　a　minute。〃
　He　was　laughing　and　masturbating　when　Nick　left　the　room。　After　closing　the　door　Nick　turned　to　the　marine　guard。
　〃Tell　Elizabeth　Hawthorne　she　needs　to　see　Mr。　Gauthier　immediately。〃
　
　25。　　CUBBY　AND　JOHN
　
　So　the　Lord　scattered　them　from　there　over　all　the　earth；　and　they　stopped　building　the　city。　That　is　why　it　was　called　Babel…because　there　the　Lord　confused　the　language　of　the　whole　world。　From　there　the　Lord　scattered　them　over　the　face　of　the　whole　earth。
　…Genesis　11：8…9
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　SUNDAY；　4：40　P。M。　PST
　
　　Cubby　and　John　backtracked　until　they　came　to　the　spot　where　Ripman　disappeared。　They　called　out　softly；　afraid　to　shout。　They　searched　fruitlessly　until　they　found　themselves　deep　in　a　darkening　forest。
　〃Cubby；　you　think　the　dinosaurs　got　him？〃
　〃No　way！　Not　Ripman。　Besides；　they　were　following　us。〃
　〃Then　where　did　he　go？　Wouldn't　he　be　looking　for　us？〃
　Cubby　didn't　answer；　he　just　flopped　down　on　a　clump　of　grass　and　took　off　his　pack　and　bow。　John　thought　Cubby；　like　him；　was　worried　about　Ripman。
　〃What's　going　on；　Cubby？　Those　were　dinosaurs　。。。　I　mean　I've　never　seen　one　。。。　a　real　one；　but　I　know　that's　what　those　were。　What　else　could　they　have　been？〃
　〃Noah's　Ravens；〃　Cubby　answered。　〃That's　what　they　used　to　be　called；　that's　what　a　lot　of　people　in　our　church　still　call　them。　It's　an　old　name。　It　used　to　be　all　the　evidence　of　dinosaurs　they　had　were　footprints。　They　make　a　three…toed　track　that　looks　like　the　footprint　of　a　big　bird。　Since　there　were　no　birds　around　that　make　a　track　like　that　people　thought　Noah's　flood　had　killed　off　all　the　giant　birds；　so　they　called　them　Noah's　Ravens。　Even　when　they　started　finding　bones；　many　believers　refused　to　accept　the　idea　of　dinosaurs。　A　lot　of　people　still　don't　accept　the　idea。　Man；　what　are　they　gonna　say　now？〃
　Cubby　picked　up　a　stick　and　broke　it　into　pieces；　flicking　them　into　the　grass；　lost　in　his　own　thoughts。　John's　mind　jumped　from　the　impossibility　of　the　dinosaurs；　to　his　family；　to　his　missing　friend。
　〃I'm　gonna　go　on；　John；〃　Cubby　said　finally。　〃I　don't　know　what　happened　to　Ripman；　maybe　he　made　it　to　Portland　already；　but　I've　got　to　find　my　mom　and　dad。　My　dad　will　know　what's　happened　。。。　he　can　explain　this　。　。　。　Noah's　Ravens　。　。　。　everything。　He　has　the　gift　of　discernment。〃
　At　that　moment　John　realized　that　if　Ripman　had　wanted　to　go　on；　John　would　have　gone　with　him　right　away。　But　when　Cubby　said　the　same　thing；　John　lacked　confidence；　and　suddenly　Ripman's　idea　of　heading　to　the　cabin　sounded　better…　especially　since　the　incident　with　the　dinosaur。
　He　didn't　exactly　understand　what　Cubby　meant　by　the　〃gift　of　discernment；〃　but　John　already　knew　what　Cubby's　dad　would　say…using　words　like　judgment；　sin；　and　repentance；　he'd　spiritualize　what　had　happened　and　Cubby　would　e　away　feeling　better。　But　it　wouldn't　do　anything　for　John；　who　was　betting　that　Cubby　was　wrong　and　that　God　didn't　have　anything　to　do　with　this。　John　didn't　need　his　parents　in　the　same　way　Cubby　needed　his；　John　simply　wanted　them。
　In　the　end　the　prospect　of　walking　through　the　forest　by　himself　led　John　to　decide　to　stay　with　Cubby。　Besides；　John's　confusion　about　reality　scared　him。　Despite　all　the　evidence　of　a　new；　dramatically　changed　world；　John　couldn't　help　but　think　that　just　over　the　next　hill；　or　through　the　next　stand　of　trees；　they　would　run　into　a　Burger　King　or　a　McDonald's；　and　there　would　be　Ripman　with　a　Big　Mac　in　his　hand　asking　what　kept　them。
　Finally；　he　just　nodded　to　Cubby　and　suggested　they　rest　until　morning。　It　was　getting　dark；　so　they　began　looking　for　a　safe　place　to　spend　the　night。　Because　of　the　big　tree　lizards　they　were　afraid　of　sleeping　in　the　trees；　and　besides；　they　doubted　they　could　climb　high　enough　to　elude　the　big　dinosaur。　Instead　they　walked　until　they　found　an　area　where　several　trees　had　fallen　together　and　left　a　hollow　underneath。　After　digging　the　hollow　a　little　deeper　and　wider；　they　wedged　themselves　inside　it；　pulled　some　smaller　branches　over　the　opening　to　hide　themselves；　and　wrapped　themselves　up　in　their　stolen　space　blankets。
　Cubby　muttered　urgent　prayers　for　a　long　time　while　John　listened　respectfully。　But　finally　John　needed　to　talk；
　〃Hey；　Cubby；　did　you　ever　see　that　show　about　those　guys　who　dug　down　to　the　center　of　the　earth？〃
　〃I　read　the　Jules　Verne　book。〃
　〃That's　different。　In　the　Verne　book　they；　climbed　down　into　a　cave　to　get　there。　In　this　movie　some　scientist　builds　a　digging　machine　that's　supposed　to　be　used　for　mining　or　tunneling；　or　something；　but　once　they　start　digging　with　it　they　can't　stop　it。　They　end　up　digging　all　the　way　to　the　center　of　the　earth；　and　it　turns　out　it's　hollow　inside。〃
　〃I've　seen　a　couple　like　that。〃
　〃Me　too。　I　think　they　made　a　couple　of　sequels。　Anyway；　I　read　once　there's　a　bunch　of　people　that　really　believe　the　earth　is　hollow　and　that　there　may　be　a　whole　civilization　inside。　Some　of　them　even　think　that's　where　flying　saucers　e　from。〃
　〃The　saucers　e　from　the　middle　of　the　earth？　How　do　they　get　in　and　out？〃
　〃Caves　at　the　poles。　Anyway；　in　the　movie　they　got　down　inside　the　middle　of　the　earth　and　there　were　dinosaurs　inside　and　cave　people；　and　stuff。　Maybe　Ripman　was　right；　maybe　there　was　a　volcanic　eruption　or　something。　Maybe　this　place　used　to　be　inside　the　earth　and　somehow　it　got　blasted　up　to　the　surface。〃
　〃Jeez；　John。　Do　you　really　believe　that？　This　isn't　some　dumb　science…fiction　movie。　Besides；　why　are　you　so　hot　on　this　idea　but　you　don't　believe　me　when　I　tell　you　it's　the　second　ing　of　Christ？　Why　is　a　hollow　earth　turned　inside　out　more　believable　than　God's　judgment？〃
　John　didn't　answer　right　away。　He　didn't　know　how。　Ever　since　he　could　remember　he　had　always　preferred　to　believe　in　thin