jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第47章

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work　on　a　way　of　reversing　what　has　happened。　Let's　get　our　people　back。〃
　As　the　President　broke　up　the　meeting　he　whispered　to　Elizabeth；　who　moved　to　Nick　and　held　him　back　until　the　others　left。　This　time　the　President　spoke　without　waiting　for　a　whisper　from　Elizabeth。
　〃Nick；　when　time　displacement　takes　place；　what　happens　to　the　people　displaced？　Where　do　they　go？〃
　〃I'm　not　sure；　sir。　1　believe　they　are　displaced　into　the　future　or　the　past。〃
　〃The　past？　I　thought　everything　was　pushed　forward。　We　don't　have　any　reports　of　people　from　the　future　appearing；　do　we？〃
　〃No；　sir。　But　if　we　assume　that　the　sections　of　land　displaced　are　swapped　with　sections　of　land　in　the　past　or　the　future；　and　this　happens　in　a　predictable　way；　then　in　the　future　we　would　avoid　building　on　these　sites。　We　should　be　able　to　determine　this　by　examining　the　flora　and　fauna；　but　it　hasn't　been　done　yet。〃
　〃So　one　of　our　cities　could　have　ended　up　in　a　prehistoric　period？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Nick　wanted　to　add　there　was　a　seventy　percent　chance　the　city　had　ended　up　in　an　ocean；　but　the　President　seemed　pained　enough。
　The　President　thanked　Nick　and　urged　him　to　get　to　work　on　a　solution。　Nick　didn't　bother　to　protest。　As　they　were　leaving；　Elizabeth　turned　and　slipped　Nick　another　worried　look。
　
　40。　　　FIRST　KILLS
　
　The　extinction　of　the　Cretaceous　terrestrial　vertebrates　was　one　of　the　five　greatest　extinctions　in　history。　The　cause　of　such　a　mass　extinction；　and　its　nature；　has　long　been　debated；　yet　remains　a　mystery。
　…K。　Carmen　Sontag；　Nature's　Lost　Species
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　TUESDAY；　7：03　A。M。　PST
　
　　The　sun　was　peeking　through　the　trees　when　something　moving　through　the　ferns　woke　John。　He　bolted　upright　and　carne　face…to…face　with　a　dinosaur；　its　head　about　half　the　size　of　John's　and　its　mouth　full　of　greens。　When　John　screamed　with　the　shock；　the　dinosaur's　mouth　dropped　open　and　the　half　chewed　ferns　dropped　in　John's　lap。　Spinning　around；　it　took　off　in　the　opposite　direction；　its　long　tail　whipping　around　behind　and　toward　John's　head。　He　rolled　with　the　blow；　but　even　so　the　tail　knocked　him　sideways　and　out　of　the　fern　patch。　He　jumped　to　his　feet　and　looked　around　wildly；　scanning　for　other　dinosaurs；　but　saw　only　the　tail　of　the　little　one　disappearing　into　the　underbrush。　Then　he　heard　Cubby　laughing。
　〃Jeez；　John。　You　kill　a　tyrannosaurus　one　minute　and　then　you're　running　from　a　baby　the　next。　My　hero！〃
　〃I　was　just　surprised；　that's　all；〃　John　argued　lamely。　Then　trying　to　hide　his　embarrassment　said；　〃Anyway；　I　don't　think　that　was　a　tyrannosaurus　last　night。　It　was　too　small　and　its　front　legs　were　too　long。　Besides；　I　didn't　kill　that　dinosaur；　I　just　made　it　mad。〃
　〃Maybe。　But　a　needle　in　the　eye　ain't　bad。　Maybe　it'll　die　of　infection？　Maybe　it's　on　its　way　for　a　tetanus　shot　right　now；〃
　Cubby　laughed　at　his　own　joke　and　John　joined　in。
　〃Wait'll　its　mom　finds　out　what　happened；　I　can　hear　its　mama　now。　'I　told　you　not　to　play　with　sticks；　and　if　I've　told　you　once　I've　told　you　a　hundred　times　you'll　put　your　eye　out。'　〃
　Cubby　and　John　laughed　together。　It　was　the　first　time　John　had　felt　good　since　Ripman　disappeared。　Sitting　in　this　weird　forest；　and　laughing　at　stupid　jokes；　John　understood　why　he　was　friends　with　Cubby　and　Ripman。　This　was　the　feeling　they　had　shared　riding　in　Cubby's　van；　sipping　Big　Gulps；　and　insulting　each　other。　They　were　too　different　to　be　lifelong　friends；　John　had　always　known　that。　Someday　Cubby　would　follow　his　dad　into　the　ministry；　John　would　go　off　to　college；　and　Ripman　。　。　。　well；　Ripman　would　be　Ripman。　They　would　keep　in　touch　for　a　while；　but　eventually；　John　thought　to　himself；　we'll　be　so　different　that　we'll　even　stop　sending　Christmas　cards。　Knowing　that　made　John　even　more　determined　to　enjoy　the　feeling　while　he　could。
　Cubby　and　John　still　had　their　packs；　so　they　ate　the　last　of　their　energy　bars　and　emptied　their　canteens；　then　took　stock　of　what　they　had　left。　There　was　still　a　little　trail　mix　but　it　wouldn't　last　the　day。　They　both　had　their　hunting　knives　and　packs　and　John　still　had　the　snake…bite　kit。　John　had　been　so　afraid　the　night　before；　his　hand　had　frozen　around　his　bow；　and　they　found　it　in　the　fern　patch。　Cubby's　bow　and　their　quivers　of　arrows；　however；　were　back　in　the　forest。
　〃I'll　tell　you　what；　John；〃　Cubby　said；　pulling　a　coin　out　his　pocket。　〃We'll　flip　to　see　who　goes　back　for　the　arrows。　Heads；　I　stay　here　and　you　go　back；　tails；　you　go　back　and　I　stay　here。〃
　〃Screw　you；　Cubby。　Maybe　we　can　make　some　arrows？〃　John　pulled　out　his　hunting　knife　and　started　looking　for　a　straight　branch。
　〃Maybe　Ripman　could；　but　you　and　I　will　be　lucky　to　keep　ourselves　off　some　dinosaur's　menu；〃　Cubby　said。　They　both　knew　it　was　true。　〃Even　if　we　could　make　some　arrows；　you　saw　how　much　good　my　arrow　did　with　that　one　last　night；　and　it　had　a　steel　tip。　What　do　you　think　a　sharpened　stick　would　do？　Besides；　do　you　want　to　sit　still　long　enough　to　make　some　arrows？　We're　almost　to　Portland；　and　I　say　we　keep　going。　Hey；　we　get　to　my　house　and　my　mom　will　cook　us　up　hash　browns　and　eggs；　and　some　of　that　thick　bacon　you　like。　Rip…man's　probably　already　there　laughing　at　us　because　we're　taking　so　long。〃
　Cubby　was　sniffing　at　a　make…believe　plate　and　rolling　his　eyes。　John　had　eaten　at　Cubby's　before　and　it　was　always　a　feast。　His　mother；　a　transplanted　southerner；　was　the　best　cook　in　Portland。　John's　mom　was　a　good　cook；　but　her　beans　tasted　like　beans。　Cubby's　mom's　beans　had　bacon　bits　and　two　or　three　spices；　making　them　a　full　meal。　Now　John's　stomach　was　doing　his　thinking　for　him。
　They　left　the　useless　bow　behind　and　started　off　through　the　jungle。　As　John　followed　Cubby　the　good　feeling　was　lost；　replaced　by　fear。　The　arrows　hadn't　been　much　more　than　a　security　blanket；　but　now　even　they　were　gone。　They　had　already　been　chased　by　dinosaurs　twice。　He　wondered　what　the　odds　were　of　getting　away　three　times。　They　walked　on　in　silence；　working　their　way　downhill　and　to　a　creek　bed　with　pools　in　it。　From　the　look　of　the　banks；　the　creek　was　once　a　foot　or　two　deep。
　〃Wonder　what　happened　to　the　water？〃　John　asked。
　〃Maybe　some　dino　got　thirsty　and　slurped　it　up。〃　Cubby　meant　it　as　a　joke；　but　that　started　both　of　them　looking　around　cautiously。
　They　found　a　clear　pool　and　dipped　their　canteens　in；　watching　the　bubbles　break　on　the　surface。　Cubby　ran　his　fingers　around　the　edge　of　the　pool　a　couple　of　times；　then　his　eyebrows　went　up　and　he　jerked　his　canteen　out　of　the　water　and　fumbled　the　cap　back　on。
　〃What's　up；　Cubby？〃
　〃Take　a　look　at　these　pools。　Notice　anything？〃
　To　John；　they　seemed　just　ordinary　water。　Then　it　hit　him。　The　pools　were　in　pairs；　two　straight　lines；　one　on　each　side　of　the　creek　bed。　He　saw　Cubby　disappearing　into　the　trees　and　followed；　nearly　running　into　him。　John　looked　down　and　saw　Cubby's　footprints…two　impressions　in　the　grass　side　by　side…　and　remembered　those　in　the　creek　bed。　The　boys　kept　running。
　
　Ellen　and　Angie　met　Coop's　〃off…road　recreational　enthusiasts〃　early　the　next　morning。　The　group　turned　out　to　look　like　a　backwoods　motorcycle　gang…the　five　men　besides　Coop　all　looked　as　if　they　made　their　living　with　their　hands。　Only　Coop　had　bothered　to　shave；　and　their　clothes　looked　as　if　they　had　never　been　washed。　All　of　them　were　wearing　leather　work　boots；　jeans；　and　flannel　shirts　topped　with　sweatshirts　or　down　vests。　When　the　women　approached　some　of　the　men　started　clapping　and　howling　at　Angie。　Even　in　a　coat　and　jeans　Angie　had　an　aura　of　sensuality。　Coop　stepped　forward　as　they　approached　and　introduced　them。
　〃These　are　the　ladies　I　was　telling　you　about。　This　is　Angie。〃　Two　of　the　men　whistled　in　appreciation；　〃And　this　here's　Ellen。　Ellen　has　a　young　progeny　somewhere　in　the　Portland　vicinity；　and　she　needs　assistance　in　reconnoitering　the　area。　I　said　we　would　facilitate。〃　Ellen　didn't　mention　that　her　little　boy　was　seventeen　years　old。
　As　Coop　spoke　Ellen　noticed　two　things　that　bothered　her。　First；　the　group　was　heavily　armed。　The　motorcycles　were　fitted　with　rifle　sheaths；　and　every　sheath　had　a　gun　sticking　out　of　it。　Two　of　them　were　also　wearing　holsters。　Why　would　crosscountry　motorcyclists　need　weapons？
　Second；　one　of　the　men　wasn't　staring　at　Angie；　he　was　staring　at　Ellen　with　the　kind　of　look　the　other　men　were　giving　Angie。　Angie　may　be　used　to　that　kind　of　look；　Ellen　thought；　but　I　don't　like　it。　Coop　had　introduced　the　man　as　Carl。　He　was　as　tall　as　Coop　but　muscular；　with　dark　hair　slicked　back　on　both　sides　of　his　head　and　curls　hanging　down　covering　his　forehead。　His　face　was　covered　with　a　dark　stubble　and　his　eyes　were　staring　at　Ellen。
　Looking　straight　back　at　Carl　she　asked；　〃What　do　you　need　all　those　guns　for？　Expecting　to　run　into　a　gun　show？〃
　Carl　smiled。　〃The　big　city's　a　real　dangerous　place；　right　guys？　Country　boys　like　us　can't　go　into　town　unprotected。　Besides；　we've　got　you　women　folk　to　look　out　for。　Right　guys？〃
　The　others　snickered。
　〃The　guns　are　for　hunting；〃　Coop　said。　Then　he　paused；　as　if　he　were　thinking　about　telling　them　more；　but　he　merely　shrugged　and　muttered；　〃You　never　know　what　you　might　run　into。〃
　There　was　something　going　on　here　that　the　〃guys〃　weren't　telling　the　girls；　making　Ellen　unfortable。　But　the　only　remaining　option　was　walking　into　Portland；　which　could　take　days；　and　she　was　concerned　about　her　son。
　Angie　and　Ellen　followed　the　motorcycles　in　their　Jeep；　winding　through　the　small　residential　section　of　the　town。　Officer　Peters　had　been　right。　Cars　packed　the　streets；　parked　in　every　nook　and　cranny。　They　came　to　what　looked　like　a　dead　end　but　instead　of　stopping　they　drove　down　a　long　driveway　around　a　house　and　to　a　dirt　road。　That　road　led　up　over　a　hill　and　down　into　another　patch　of　forest。　At　the　bottom　of　the　hill　they　came　to　a　small　one…lane　bridge　that　crossed　a　creek。　Before　crossing；　Carl　and　the　guys　stopped　and　gathered　to…gether　talking。　Finally；　Carl　and　Coop　returned　to　the　Jeep。　Ellen　noticed　that　Coop　came　to　Angie's　window　and　Carl　to　hers。
　Coop　said；　〃You'll　have　to　abandon　your　vehicle　here。　We're　going　to　follow　the　creek　bed。　You　can　go　double　with　Carl　and　me。〃
　The　thought　or　riding　with　Carl　made　Ellen　shudder。　〃What　about　the　road？　Why　don't　we　just　stay　on　the　road　and　follow　it？〃
　Carl　leaned　in　Ellen's　window　to　speak。　When　he　did；　she　smelled　stale　beer　on　his　breath　and　flinched　back　in　revulsion。　Her　reaction　made　Carl　smile。　Carl　was　missing　an　eye　tooth；　and　from　the　brown　crust　between　his　other　teeth；　she　judged　he'd　be　missing　more　soon。
　〃Hey；　what's　a　matter？　Don't　you　trust　us？　We're　gonna　get　you　to　your　boy。　There　just　ain't　more　road　to　use。　Coop　and　I　been　down　there；〃　he　said　nodding　over　the　bridge。　〃You　can　get　another　half　mile　and　then　nuthin'　but　forest。　You'd　never　get　this　mother　through　those　trees；〃　he　said　as　he　banged　the　door　of　the　Jeep　with　his　knee。　Carl　smiled　sweetly　and　then　turned　serious。　〃Better　to　e　with　us。　We'll　follow　the　creek　bed　and　use　it　like　a　road。　It'll　get　us　closer　to　where　we'll　jump　off　and　head　through　the　forest。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Angie