jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第3章

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as　average　physically　as　a　person　can　get　in　height；　weight；　speed；　and　strength。　Only　Terry's　intellect　was　exceptional；　but　even　there　he　didn't　quite　qualify　as　truly　brilliant。　A　guidance　counselor　had　once　referred　to　him　as　〃marginally　gifted。〃
　A　short；　stocky　young　woman　dressed　in　a　park　ranger's　uniform　walked　through　the　people　milling　around　the　entrance　to　the　caves。　With　a　serious　look　on　her　face　she　announced　in　a　businesslike　manner　that　all　those　holding　tickets　for　the　ten…thirty　tour　should　gather　together。　As　Terry　and　Ellen　joined　the　group；　the　guide　gave　directions。
　〃Please　enter　the　caves　single　file　and　wait　for　me　inside　the　entrance。　Have　your　tickets　ready。〃
　Ellen　went　first　and　Terry　handed　theirs　to　the　guide。　She　tore　it　neatly　in　half　and　then　handed　it　back。　Terry　and　Ellen　joined　the　group　inside　the　mouth　of　the　cave　and　waited　for　the　guide　to　start　her　spiel。　Terry　was　surprised　to　find　himself　excited　about　the　tour；　and　whispered　in　Ellen's　ear；　〃Ready　for　an　adventure？〃　Ellen　didn't　answer；　she　just　shrugged　her　shoulders。
　
　Kenny　hung　back　from　the　group　gathering　for　the　tour。　He　didn't　want　his　sister　to　see　him　or　she　might　call　security。　With　his　ticket　in　hand　he　went　over　what　he　would　say　to　her。　He　had　tried　to　convince　her　before；　but　he　had　been　clumsy　and　unsure　of　himself。　Now　he　had　proof。　He　had　Dr。　Piltcher's　pages　from　the　Apocrypha　of　Zorastrus；　and　Kenny　could　tell　her　about　the　puter　simulation；　and　how　it　was　all　leading　to　something　big；　and　something　soon。　That　should　convince　her；　he　assured　himself；　he　didn't　want　to　use　his　other　plan。
　Kenny　unzipped　the　top　of　his　pack　and　pushed　the　towel　aside；　exposing　the　gun。　He　fingered　the　weapon　and　wondered　if　he　could　actually　use　it。　He　decided　he　could。　He　couldn't　save　himself　and　leave　his　sister　to　go　through　it　alone。　She　might　hate　him　now；　but　soon　she　would　understand。
　Kenny　put　on　his　pack　and　joined　the　group。　His　sister　didn't　notice　him　until　she　took　his　ticket。
　〃Get　away　from　me；　Kenny。〃
　〃I've　got　proof；　let　me　show　you；〃　Kenny　began。
　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　it。〃
　〃There　was　this　prophet　Zorastrus；　and　everyone　thought　he　was　crazy　but　it　turns　out　he　was　right…〃
　〃I've　got　a　tour　to　lead；　Kenny。　Go　tell　it　to　a　priest。〃
　〃Please；　Jill…〃
　〃No；　Kenny；〃　she　said；　and　then　turned　to　go。
　〃I've　got　a　ticket；　Jill。〃
　〃You　don't　want　a　tour；　you　just　want　to　harass　me。〃
　〃I　won't　say　a　word。　I　just　want　to　be　with　you。〃
　　〃I　can't　stop　you；　but　if　you　start　preaching　that　end…of…the…world　nonsense；　I'll　have　you　arrested。〃
　Kenny　nodded　agreement　and　then　joined　the　tourists。
　
　Terry　stood　behind　Ellen　with　his　hands　on　her　shoulders。　Their　group　was　mostly　couples。　One　couple　had　to　be　newlyweds；　young；　and　pretty；　they　never　let　go　of　each　other's　hands。　Another　young　couple　had　two　boys；　about　eight　and　ten；　who　whispered　and　giggled　to　each　other。　There　was　a　prosperous…looking　older　couple　that　seemed　to　be　retired　and　enjoying　it。　Terry　suspected　that　a　Silver　Stream　trailer　was　waiting　for　them　in　the　parking　lot。
　Another　man　came　through　the　cave　opening　carrying　in　a　backpack　a　baby　wearing　a　hat　with　Mickey　and　Minnie　Mouse　designs。　Her　mother　followed；　trying　to　wipe　the　baby's　face　while　the　baby　kept　turning　her　head；　gurgling。　The　wife　was　wearing　a　Mickey　Mouse　T…shirt　and　the　husband's　shirt　advertised　KNOTT's　BERRY　FARM。　Terry　imagined　their　car's　bumper　stickers　said　TREES　OF　MYSTERY　and　VISIT　DRIVE　THRU　TREE。
　Finally　a　middle…aged　interracial　couple　entered。　The　woman　was　white　and　carefully　groomed　and　coordinated　from　the　scarf　that　tied　up　her　blond　hair　to　her　color…matched　L。A。　Gear　shoes。　In　ten　years　she　would　be　〃fat；〃　but　today　she　still　qualified　for　〃voluptuous。〃　The　man…the　only　black　man　in　the　group…was　also　the　tallest；　at　least　six　feet　tall。　He　would　be　doing　some　ducking　on　this　tour。　While　Terry　hated　stereotypes　the　man's　short；　neatly　trimmed　hair　and　good　posture　made　Terry　suspect　the　man　was　in　the　military。
　The　last　member　of　the　group；　a　college…age　kid　with　a　yellow　backpack；　stood　out　because　only　he　was　unacpanied。　Terry　wondered　vaguely　about　the　bulging　pack；　deciding　he　had　taken　the　DON'T　LEAVE　VALUABLES　IN　YOUR　CAR　signs　seriously。
　〃My　name　is　Jill　and　I　will　be　your　guide　for　a　sixty…minute　tour　of　the　Oregon　Caves。　The　temperature　inside　the　caves　is　a　constant　fifty…six　degrees；　and　although　that　sounds　cool；　the　high　humidity　will　keep　you　quite　fortable。　Electric　lights　were　installed　in　the　cave　in　1956；　in　order　to　protect　both　visitors　to　the　caves　and　the　caves　themselves；　so　flashlights　and　lanterns　are　not　necessary。〃
　Terry　noticed　that　nearly　everyone　carried　a　portable　light。
　〃Smoking　is　not　allowed　in　the　caves；　and　we　ask　that　you　do　not　leave　litter　or　gum　in　the　caves。〃
　Ellen　dutifully　pulled　a　piece　of　tissue　out　of　her　pocket；　wrapped　up　the　piece　of　gum　she　had　been　chewing；　and　dropped　the　wad　back　in　her　pocket。
　After　some　instructions　to　〃not　straggle〃　and　〃stay　on　the　trails〃　she　led　them　into　the　caves。　The　air　was　cool　but　fortable；　and　as　they　hiked　along；　those　with　jackets　took　them　off　and　tied　them　around　their　waists。　The　electric　lights　along　the　trail　made　flashlights　unnecessary；　and　they　slowly　disappeared　into　pockets。　Periodically；　when　the　group　stopped；　the　guide　explained　some　feature　of　the　cave。
　〃If　you　look　through　this　opening；　which　was　made　in　1967；　you　can　see　the　natural　color　of　the　cave　walls。　The　original　explorers　of　these　caves　used　torches　to　light　their　way；　and；　as　you　can　see；　the　soot　from　the　torches　discolored　the　walls　and　ceiling。　Originally　the　caves　were　snowy　white　as　you　can　see　through　this　opening　。　。　。〃
　
　It　had　been　Ellen's　idea　to　stop　at　the　caves　on　the　way　back　from　a　convention…really　a　vacation…in　Los　Angeles　where　Terry　had　presented　a　paper　on　dysfunctional　families　but　skipped　most　of　the　other　sessions。　Cruising　up　I…5；　Ellen　had　studied　the　literature　she　picked　up　at　a　visitors'　information　rack　at　a　rest　stop。　Ellen　was　in　a　tourist　mood；　and　it　had　been　years　since　they'd　visited　the　Oregon　Caves；　so　they　cut　off　the　interstate　at　Medford　and　headed　west　to　the　caves。　After　a　morning　tour　they'd　still　make　it　back　to　Portland　that　night。　Vaguely　remembering　his　last　tour　through　the　caves；　Terry　was　anticipating　one　particular　part：　When　the　guide　turns　out　the　lights；　it's　the　first　and　only　time　most　people　experience　total　darkness。　Terry　recalled　feeling　the　darkness　around　his　face　as　his　eyes　vainly　struggled　to　detect　something。　In　retrospect；　it　seemed　unpleasant；　but；　strangely；　Terry　was　looking　forward　to　it　again。
　As　the　tour　progressed　members　developed　an　informal　understanding。　The　couple　with　the　baby　hung　back；　since　the　baby's　noises　distracted　the　guide。　Front　positions　were　reserved　for　the　older　couple　since　they　listened　more　attentively　than　the　rest。　The　little　boys　went　wherever　they　wanted；　and　the　parents　didn't　care。　The　young　man　with　the　yellow　backpack　was　always　in　the　rear；　staring　at　their　guide；　a　sad　determined　look　on　his　face。
　The　group　came　to　a　large　cave　with　several　branching　passages；　its　well…packed　trail　testimony　to　the　previous　thousands　of　tourists。　The　guide；　directing　them　into　a　side　passage　that　dead…ended　into　a　small　cave；　stood　by　the　entrance　and　let　the　group　pass。
　〃You　will　now　experience　something　that　few　of　you　have　had　the　chance　to　experience。　Total　darkness。〃
　Immediately　the　lights　went　out。　Several　people　gasped　as　their　eyes　became　useless。　Then　the　lights　were　back。　There　were　murmurs　of　relief　and　cheerful　kidding　among　the　members　of　the　group；　until　a　masculine　voice　ordered：　〃Stay　where　you　are　and　don't　move。〃
　〃Kenny；　what　are　you　doing？　Are　you　crazy？〃
　Terry　turned　with　the　group　toward　the　voices。　The　kid　with　the　backpack　was　standing　by　the　entrance　with　a　gun　in　his　hand；　the　guide　at　his　side；　her　mouth　and　eyes　open　in　disbelief。　More　murmurs　from　the　group　but　no　longer　cheerful。　The　little　boy　whispered　he　was　scared。　The　baby　gurgled　cheerfully　while　she　yanked　on　her　dad's　hair。　Terry　noticed　the　black　man　start　to　move　from　the　back　of　the　group　toward　the　kid。
　〃I　said　don't　move。〃　As　he　spoke　the　kid　turned　the　gun　toward　the　man；　who　froze　in　midstep；　his　face　determined…　while　Terry　felt　near　panic。
　〃I　want　everyone　to　sit　down　right　where　they　are。　Sit　down。　You　too；　Jill。　Now！〃
　Everyone　but　the　guide　sat　down。　Terry　noticed　the　military　man　sat　down　last；　his　eyes　never　leaving　the　gun　in　the　kid's　hand。
　〃Kenny；〃　the　guide　pleaded　softly。　〃Please　put　the　gun　down。　You're　scaring　everyone。　There　are　kids　here。　You're　scaring　the　kids。〃
　〃It's　your　fault；　Jill。　I　tried　to　get　you　to　listen。　It's　going　to　happen　。　。　。　happen　soon。　I　want　my　family　with　me　when　it　does。　At　least　you；　Jill。　Now；　sit　down！〃
　At　the　last　words；　the　kid　shoved　the　gun　in　the　guide's　face；　and　the　shock　sent　her　stumbling　back　a　few　steps　until　she　melted　into　the　group；　which　sat　in　stunned　silence。
　Terry　thought　about　the　guide's　reaction。　The　kid　called　her　family；　yet　the　guide　seemed　genuinely　frightened；　and　that　was　a　red　flag。　The　kid　had　strong　feelings　for　the　guide；　and　yet　she　was　afraid　he　would　use　the　gun　on　her。　Terry　didn't　need　his　professional　training　to　diagnose　Kenny　as　unstable　and　potentially　dangerous。
　The　group　sat　in　silence；　the　only　sound　the　collective　deep　breathing。　Finally；　the　old　lady　spoke。
　〃Son；〃　she　said；　attracting　his　attention。　〃I've　never　heard　of　anyone　hijacking　a　cave　tour　before。　What　is　it　that　you　want？〃
　〃You　won't　believe　me！　No　one　will　believe　me！　My　own　sister　won't　believe　me。〃　
　〃I　promise　to　listen　to　you　and　keep　my　mind　open。　Ask　Hank；　here；〃　the　old　woman　said；　indicating　her　husband。　〃He'll　tell　you　I'm　a　good　listener。　Have　to　be　when　you　live　with　Hank　for　forty　years。〃
　Hank　smiled　at　his　wife；　but　the　kid　with　the　gun　didn't。
　〃You　won't　believe　me；　but　if　you　want　to　know　。　。　。　I'm　going　to　save　you。　At　least　I　think　I　am。〃
　Nervous　conversation　spread　through　the　crowd。　The　old　woman　ignored　it　and　asked；　〃What　is　it　that　you　think　you're　saving　us　from？〃
　〃He's　crazy；〃　the　guide　responded。　〃He's　hooked　up　with　a　bunch　offtakes　that　think　the　sky　is　falling。〃
　Anxiety　washed　across　the　kid's　face；　and　he　reddened。　He　looked　away　from　the　old　woman　to　his　sister；　pain　in　his　eyes。　Then；　with　what　could　have　been　embarrassment；　he　said；　〃I'm　saving　you　from　the　end　of　the　world！〃
　
　4。　　OFFSHORE
　
　We　were　three　days　into　the　desert　when　the　flood　occurred。　Great　waves　washed　over　our　caravan。　Three　men　and　two　camels　of　great　value　were　lost。　When　the　waters　receded　we　were　surrounded　by　a　great　number　of　fishes。　The　water　was　of　no　use　because　it　tasted　of　salt。
　…Abu　al　Assad；　1413
　
　Off　Naples；　Florida
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　　Ron　was　so　obvious　about　trying　to　please　Rosa　that　even　Chris　noticed　it。　〃Geez；　Dad；〃　he　said　finally；　〃why　don't　you　just　kiss　her？〃　Ron　took　the　kidding　but　didn't　give　up　trying　to　get　Rosa　interested　in　sailing。　He　showed　her　how　to　mind　the　helm；　hoist　and　lower　th