jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第32章

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tarted　cussing。　Sid　and　three　of　his　friends　were　waiting　under　the　RV　and　darted　out　when　Colter　stepped　down；　nearly　making　him　wet　his　pants。　Still　cussing　over　the　scare；　he　placed　his　bare　foot　in　psittacosaurus　droppings。　Colter　loosed　another　barrage　of　profanity　while　wiping　his　foot　on　the　grass。　When　he　finally　got　far　enough　away　to　urinate；　Sid　and　friends　ran　around　harassing　him。　Colter　pissed　at　them　as　they　ran　by　but　missed　them　and　sprinkled　his　foot　by　mistake。　He　cussed　some　more　and　began　wiping　his　foot　again。　His　cussing　was　so　loud　and　long；　the　others　were　up　when　he　got　back。　Colter　intended　to　climb　back　into　his　sleeping　bag；　but　someone　had　rolled　it　up　while　he　was　gone。
　Dr。　Coombs　cooked　bacon　and　eggs　and　sour　dough　biscuits　while　the　others　cleaned　up　the　RV　and　prepared　for　the　morning　activities。
　The　morning　was　cool　but　fortable；　so　they　ate　outside　under　the　tarp。　Sid　and　two　other　psittacosauri　circled　around　the　table；　darting　in　and　out；　snatching　up　any　scraps　as　soon　as　they　hit　the　ground。　The　animals　were　being　a　nuisance；　but　the　group；　despite　their　better　judgment；　couldn't　help　but　feed　the　unusual　little　creatures。　Partway　through　the　meal　Petra　remembered　Moose　and　took　him　some　eggs　and　part　of　a　biscuit。
　After　breakfast　they　started　their　study　by　examining　the　edge　of　the　meadow。　Dr。　Piltcher　had　Colter　dig　down　where　the　green　meadow　met　the　desert。　The　edge　of　the　turf　came　up　easily；　and　soon　Dr。　Piltcher　was　finger…bing　his　hair。　Dr。　Coombs　spoke　first。
　〃Everything　is　intact。　There　is　not　a　root　broken。　And　look　along　the　edge　here。　There　isn't　a　broken　blade　of　grass　anywhere　along　the　edge。〃
　〃Yes；　I　see；〃　said　Dr。　Piltcher。　〃Somewhere　a　hundred　million　years　in　the　past　is　a　piece　of　turf　that　would　match　up　perfectly　with　this　edge。　Very　odd。　I　would　have　expected　something　violent。　But　this　seems　tender。　Not　a　blade　of　grass　torn　or　uprooted。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Dr。　Coombs　agreed；　〃gentle　but　perhaps　too　gentle。　Look　at　how　easily　the　roots　were　exposed。　They　weren't　embedded　in　the　soil。　They　need　to　take　root　again　or　these　grasses　will　not　survive；　not　to　mention　the　bushes　or　trees；〃
　Petra　had　been　listening　silently；　absorbing　each　word。　Since　she　rarely　broke　into　their　discussions；　they　listened　when　she　did。
　〃They　won't　live　anyway。　This　is　tropical　vegetation；　or　at　least　subtropical。　This　climate　won't　even　support　a　pine　forest；　let　alone　a　jungle。　These　grasses　are　going　to　start　drying　up　soon；　and　when　the　vegetation　dies；　so　will　Sid　and　his　friends；　and　any　other　animals　we　might　find　in　here。〃
　〃She's　right；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　said。　〃We　need　to　identify　as　many　species　as　we　can　as　quickly　as　possible。　Once　we　know　what　we　are　dealing　with　we　need　to　get　help　to　relocate　the　plant　and　animal　life。〃
　〃What？〃　Colter　cut　in。　〃Moose　is　okay；　we　can't　seem　to　get　him　out；　but　if　you're　thinking　of　carrying　Sid　and　his　friends　along；　think　again。　Did　you　smell　that　mess　he　made　in　the　RV？〃
　Petra　quickly　stepped　in　to　smooth　things　over。
　〃It　may　happen　again。　You　know　how　badly　Sid　reacts　when　he　feels　trapped。〃
　〃One　way　or　another　they　will　move；〃　Dr。　Coombs　said。　〃When　the　vegetation　dries　up　they　will　start　searching　for　another　food　source。　This　land　barely　supports　the　little　livestock　we've　seen。　When　these　animals　start　to　move；　they　won't　survive　long。　If　the　local　vegetation　doesn't　kill　them；　the　local　ranchers　will。〃
　〃Well　then；〃　Dr。　Coombs　said。　〃Let's　see　what　we're　dealing　with。〃
　They　loaded　day　packs　with　lunch　and　water　and　then　spread　out　along　the　lush　clearing；　walking　through　the　knee…high　grass。　Sid　and　friends　circled　them；　chasing　ahead　and　then　dropping　behind　and　blending　into　the　bright　green　of　the　grasses　so　quickly　it　was　hard　to　spot　them。　Dr；　Piltcher's　frustration　grew　with　each　fleeting　glance　of　something　disappearing　into　the　grass；　and　he　began　whispering　about　setting　snares　and　traps　to　get　a　better　look　at　the　fauna。　They　were　near　the　taller　bushes　when　Colter　dove　into　the　grass　again；　wrestling　with　another　animal。
　〃Colter；　the　last　thing　we　need　is　another　psittacosaurus；〃　Df。　Piltcher　warned　while　he　stomped　through　the　turf。
　〃This　one's　different　。　。　。　bigger。　Hey；　ow；　ow；　ow！　You　little　bastard。〃
　〃Don't　hurt　it！〃　Petra　shouted。
　〃I'm　the　one　getting　hurt。　Now　I've　got　you！〃
　Colter　struggled　to　his　feet　with　something　wriggling　violently　in　his　arms。　This　time　Colter　stood　holding　an　animal　a　foot　longer　than　Sid。　The　animal　had　a　large　bony　collar　around　its　neck　and　a　head　that　was　a　third　of　its　body　size。　The　parrotlike　snout　curved　over　the　lower　jaw；　but　the　overhang　was　much　less　than　Sid's。　The　animal's　short；　stocky　legs　were　all　the　same　size；　clearly　indicating　a　quadriped。　Its　body…bulky　and　ending　in　a　thick　tail…was　covered　with　gray…green　skin。
　〃It　looks　like　a　baby　stegosaurus；〃　Petra　said；
　〃I　don't　think　so；　wrong　suborder。　More　likely　a　ceratopsian；〃　Dr。　Coombs　replied。　〃I　believe　this　is　full　grown。〃　Dr。　Coombs　paused；　looking　concerned。　〃We　better　hope　so；　I'd　hate　to　be　holding　a　baby　if　the　mother　showed　up。〃
　Colter　glanced　around　quickly；　and　then　looked　as　if　he　might　put　the　dinosaur　down。
　〃Don't　let　it　go　just　yet；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　said。　〃It's　beautiful。〃
　〃It's　heavy；〃　Colter　responded。
　〃It's　not　a　baby　stegosaur；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　corrected。　〃I　believe　it　is　a　microceratops。〃
　〃This　one's　not　much　bigger　than　Sid；〃　Petra　said。
　〃It's　heavy；〃　Colter　reminded　them。
　〃Put　it　in　the　RV；　Colter；〃　Dr。　Coombs　said。　〃We'll　look　at　it　later。〃
　As　Colter　walked　off　he　shouted　over　his　shoulder；　〃This　time　I'm　putting　down　some　papers。〃
　When　he　was　out　of　earshot　Dr。　Piltcher　turned　to　Dr。　Coombs　and　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　bet　he　names　it　Mike。〃
　Overhearing；　Petra　snickered　and　then　walked　off　toward　the　hedge；　Dr。　Coombs　and　Dr。　Piltcher　following。　Creatures　continued　to　dart　through　the　grass；　and　soon　Dr。　Piltcher's　frustration　returned。　Even　though　he　didn't　like　Colter；　he　found　himself　envying　him。　He　was　turning　out　to　be　a　crackerjack　dinosaur　catcher；　too　dumb　to　know　there　was　any　danger。
　The　tall　bushes　were　too　dense　to　pass　through；　but　soon　they　came　to　a　narrow　opening　and　prepared　to　walk　through　single　file。　Petra　was　about　to　enter　when　Dr。　Coombs　held　her　arm。
　〃What　do　you　think　made　this　path？〃
　As　Petra　looked　she　saw　the　branches　of　the　bushes　were　broken　and　the　grasses　trampled。　Dr。　Piltcher　knelt；　studying　the　grass。　Then　he　looked　up　at　the　others。
　〃Something　bigger　than　Sid；〃　he　said。
　Their　curiosity　was　greater　than　their　fears　and　Dr。　Coombs　led　the　way。　As　the　undergrowth　thinned；　the　movements　below　ended；　and　they　began　to　walk　more　casually。　The　doctors　paused　occasionally；　examining　various　bushes　and　arguing　over　classification。　Petra　continued　to　be　amazed　by　their　range　of　knowledge　but　wondered　if　a　real　specialist　would　quickly　spot　holes　in　it。
　Now　they　could　see　the　lake　shimmering　in　the　distance。　They　were　about　to　move　toward　it　when　Dr。　Coombs　motioned　them　into　the　shadows　of　an　overhanging　bush；　where　they　squatted　expectantly。　Something　about　six　feet　high　was　moving　ahead　of　them；　through　the　bush　and　across　their　path。　The　animal　was　hard　to　see　but　it　seemed　to　have　a　long　thin　neck　and　walked　upright。　It　moved　slowly；　apparently　unaware　of　their　presence。　As　it　drew　close；　the　explorers　involuntarily　held　their　breaths；　but　it　continued　its　easygoing　stride。　It　was　just　about　out　of　sight　when　the　bushes　behind　them　parted　and　something　came　through。　They　all　jumped　up；　spinning　to　meet　the　threat…Colter。
　Petra　gasped；　and　then　pounded　her　fists　gently　on　his　chest。　〃Don't　do　that；〃　she　whispered。
　Dr。　Piltcher　and　Dr。　Coombs　were　as　relieved　as　Petra。
　〃Is　the　microceratops　secure？〃　Dr。　Piltcher　asked。
　〃Sarah　is　as　secure　as　I　could　make　her。　She　may　be　slower　than　Sid；　but　she's　a　lot　stronger。〃
　〃You　named　the　microceratops　Sarah？　Not　Mike？〃
　〃You　don't　call　a　girl　by　a　boy's　name。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　it's　female？〃　Dr。　Piltcher　asked。
　〃Because　when　it　peed　all　over　the　floor　of　the　RV；　it　squatted。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　shook　his　head　at　Colter's　logic；　but　didn't　argue。
　〃Did　you　give　the　poor　thing　something　to　eat？〃　Petra　asked。
　〃Two　apples；　and　a　pile　of　Ritz　crackers。　I　gave　Moose　some…〃　Colter　paused；　looking　over　their　shoulders。　〃And　who's　this？〃
　The　others　spun　around　to　see　a　six…foot　dinosaur　standing　thirty　yards　away。　It　wasn't　anything　like　the　other　dinosaurs　they　had　seen。　Much　larger；　it　had　a　huge　head　that　was　nearly　all　mouth。　Two　small　black　eyes　were　set　on。　either　side　of　its　face　and　large　nostril　holes　tipped　its　protruding　snout。　It　stood　on　two　large　back　legs；　leaning　forward　with　its　thick　tail　trailing　out　behind。　Two　thinner　forelegs　ended　in　three…fingered　hands。　The　body　was　covered　with　loose；　wrinkled；　gray…green　skin；　and　the　most　noticeable　feature　was　the　wicked…looking　curved　claws　on　each　finger　and　toe。　Colter　leaned　over　Dr。　Piltcher's　shoulder　and　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃If　you　want　me　to　wrestle　this　one　to　the　ground；　forget　it。〃
　Suddenly　the　dinosaur　cocked　its　head　to　the　side；　as　if　it　was　listening。　The　group　froze；　angry　at　Colter；　while　the　dinosaur　stared　at　them　curiously。　There　was　no　menace　in　its　eyes；　only　interest。　Then　it　turned；　leaned　forward　and　trotted　off　through　the　brush；　its　long　tail　held　straight　out　behind　it。　It　stopped　once　to　look　back　over　its　shoulder。　The　others　remained　silent　until　the　dinosaur　was　out　of　sight。
　〃Maybe　we　better　rethink　this；　Chester；〃　Dr。　Coombs　said。　〃That　was　a　deinonychus。〃
　〃No；　I　don't　think　so；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　said　too　quickly。　〃More　likely　a　stenonychosaurus；〃　He　didn't　say　it　with　any　conviction。
　〃What　aren't　you　telling　us？〃　Petra　asked。
　Dr。　Coombs　finally　spoke　reluctantly。
　〃Deinonychus　is　a　carnosaur。〃
　Petra　fell　silent　trying　to　think　through　the　implications；　but　Colter　spoke　up。
　〃What　the　hell's　a　carnosaur？〃
　The　others　remained　silent；　so　Petra　turned　to　Colter。
　〃It's　a　meat　eater。〃
　〃So？　I　mean　you　guys　didn't　expect　them　all　to　be　like　Moose　or　Sid；　did　you？〃
　Colter　seemed　unconcerned　by　their　close　encounter　with　the　predator；　and　in　many　ways　he　was　right。　Colter；　who　had　not　believed　this　was　a　piece　of　prehistoric　past　in　the　first　place；　now　accepted　the　reality　of　it　and　the　acpanying　dangers　the　others　had　been　denying。
　Dr。　Piltcher；　embarrassed；　defended　his　actions　and　his　ego。
　〃No；　I　didn't　think　they　would　all　be　like　Sid　。　。　。　the　little　dinosaurs。　But　there　was　no　reason　to　think　this　little　patch　of　the　past　would　contain　any　predators　at　all。　After　all；　there　were　no　more　predators　then　than　there　are　today。　Only　about　two　percent　of　the　dinosaurs　were　carnivores。　That's　about　the　same　ratio　as　modern　mammals。　How　often；　Colter；　when　you　walk　in　the　woods　do　you　meet　a　bear；　or　a　cougar？　I'd　wager　never。〃
　〃How　sure　are　you　about　the　two　percent？〃　Colter　asked。
　Dr。　Piltcher　looked　uncertain　and　Dr。　Coombs　stepped　in。
　〃The　two　percent　number　is　educated　guesswork；　although　based　on　what　we've　encountered　in　such　a　short　piece　of　time　。　。　。　I　suppose　it　could　be　inaccurate；〃
　〃Hey；　we　need　a