jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第48章

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e　a　road。　It'll　get　us　closer　to　where　we'll　jump　off　and　head　through　the　forest。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Angie　said；　〃we'll　get　our　stuff　together。〃
　Carl　and　Coop　drifted　back　up　with　the　guys　and　started　talking　with　them。　The　guys　kept　looking　back　at　the　Jeep　and　laughing　as　Carl　gestured　obscenely。　Angie　then　turned　to　Ellen。
　〃Honey；　I'm　getting　a　bad　feeling　about　this。　I　trust　that　Coop；　I　can　handle　him；　but　Carl　and　the　guys　are　a　different　story。　And　what　are　they　doing　with　all　those　guns？　Did　you　notice　two　of　them　are　carrying　assault　rifles？　I'm　not　saying　I　won't　go　with　you；　don't　think　that　for　a　minute；〃　Angie　was　saying。　〃I　just　want　you　to　know　what　we're　getting　into。　Carl　and　his　buddies　are　just　having　a　good　time　now；　a　chance　to　get　away　from　some　mill　or　factory　job；　and　cat　around。　Maybe　Coop　can　keep　them　in　line…probably　he　can。〃
　〃Angie；　you've　done　enough。　You've　brought　me　all　the　way　across　the　state　on　back　roads；　spent　your　time　and　money　when　you　could　have　been　lounging　around　a　motel　pool　waiting　for　Bill。　Go　on　back；　I　can　handle　it　from　here。　I　don't　trust　themeither；　but　I'd　make　a　deal　with　the　devil　to　get　to　my　son。　I've　got　to　know　if　he's　there；　if　he's　somewhere。〃
　〃You　want　me　to　ride　with　Carl。〃
　〃Angie；　I　said　you　didn't　have　to　go。〃
　〃I　heard　you　honey；　now　who　do　you　want　to　ride　with？〃
　Ellen　smiled　at　Angie　and　then　leaned　over　and　hugged　her。
　〃I'll　ride　with　Carl。　You　work　your　magic　on　Coop。〃
　〃He'll　be　homy　enough　to　hump　a　tree　by　the　time　this　motorcycle　ride's　over。〃
　Ellen　was　sure　about　that。　She　only　hoped　Carl　wouldn't　feel　the　same　way。
　When　she　and　Angie　climbed　on　the　bikes　the　other　guys　grunted　their　approval　with　〃all　rights〃　and　〃way　to　go〃s。　All　of　them　were　looking　at　Angie　and　Coop　except　Carl；　who　made　a　disgusting　〃smacking〃　sound　and　then　winked　at　her。　Ellen　hated　riding　behind　Carl。　When　she　spread　her　legs　wide　to　squeeze　in　beside　him；　Carl　pressed　between　her　legs　and　made　another　disgusting　sound。
　The　other　bikers　led　off　across　the　bridge　and　then　turned　and　dropped　down　the　sharp　bank　to　the　rocky　creek　bed。　Ellen　tried　hanging　on　to　the　seat；　but　the　terrain　was　rough　and　bouncy。　She　hated　putting　her　arms　around　him；　so　she　grabbed　his　coat；　only　leaning　against　him　occasionally　to　keep　her　balance。　Ellen　noticed　that　Angie　wasn't　as　picky…she　had　her　arms　around　Coop　and　her　chest　pressed　up　against　his　back。
　After　a　while　Ellen　relaxed　a　little。　She　began　to　trust　Carl…　at　least　his　riding　skills。
　After　what　seemed　like　hours　the　lead　rider；　a　big　man　called　Bobby；　stopped　and　rode　back　to　talk　with　Coop。　Bobby　had　powerful…looking　suntanned　arms；　and　scraggly　blond　hair；　with　a　half…grown　beard　on　his　boyish　face。　Bobby　asked　about　something　being　〃around　here　somewhere？〃　and　Coop　pointed　up　over　the　bank。　Bobby　rode　out　into　the　creek　a　little　way；　then　the　motorcycle　jumped　forward　and　roared　up　the　bank；　actually　being　airborne　as　he　cleared　the　rim　and　he　disappeared　over　the　top。　After　a　while　he　reappeared　and　signaled　the　others　to　follow。　One　by　one　the　bikers　launched　themselves　over　the　edge。
　Coop　and　Carl　waited　for　the　others；　and　then　Coop　leaned　back　and　said　something　to　Angie；　who　wrapped　her　arms　tighter　and　leaned　into　him。　Coop　too　roared　up　the　bank；　the　bike　fishtailing　and　then　straightening　as　it　continued　up　over　the　edge。
　Carl　turned　to　Ellen　and　said；　〃Do　it　like　Angie　did；　hang　on　tight　and　lean　into　me　as　we　climb。〃
　Ellen　wanted　to　get　off　and　climb　the　bank　herself。　It　would　make　more　sense　than　making　a　risky　climb　with　two　on　a　cycle　built　for　one。　But　she　knew　the　bikers　didn't　care。　This　wasn't　about　climbing　a　hill；　it　was　some　sort　of　macho　thing；　and　all　the　guys　were　waiting　to　see　if　Carl　could　make　the　climb。　The　fact　that　Coop；　the　nerd；　had　done　it　with　Angie　on　his　bike　made　it　imperative　that　Carl　do　the　same。
　If　Ellen　was　to　handle　Carl；　she　could　not　risk　damaging　his　ego。　Being　married　to　Terry　meant　picking　up　bits　and　pieces　of　psychology　whether　you　want　to　or　not。　Ellen　knew　that　the　best　way　to　turn　someone　violent　was　to　wound　his　ego。
　Carl　gunned　the　engine　and　pointed　the　fork　of　the　bike　at　the　lowest　part　of　the　bank。　Swallowing　her　revulsion；　she　wrapped　her　arms　around　Carl's　waist　and　leaned　into　him；　hoping　he　was　too　preoccupied　to　feel　her　breasts　flatten　against　his　back。　Then　Carl　released　the　clutch。　The　bike　flew　forward　and　suddenly　the　front　end　of　the　bike　tilted　up　at　a　sharp　angle。　The　speed　of　the　bike　fell　quickly　and　the　engine　began　to　strain。　Just　as　they　slowed　to　a　near　stop；　the　front　of　the　bike　dropped　back　flat；　and　they　were　over　the　top。
　The　other　bikers　were　watching　them　clear　the　bank。　Carl　raced　down　the　line　of　bikes　for　a　victory　lap　and　then　turned　around　and　stopped　in　front　of　the　line。　Bobby　and　the　rest　of　the　bikers　applauded　and　yelled；　〃All　right。〃　Then　Bobby　stared　right　at　Ellen。
　〃Looks　like　she's　ing　round；　Carl。〃
　Ellen　realized　she　still　had　her　arms　wrapped　around　Carl。　She　let　go　and　sat　back；　giving　Bobby　a　piercing　look。　He　just　smiled。
　They　cut　through　a　sparse　stand　of　Douglas　fir　to　a　field　of　strawberry　plants。　Running　along　the　far　side　was　a　forest。　Ellen　had　heard　about　it　on　the　CB；　but　seeing　it　made　it　even　more　unbelievable。　The　trees　were　not　the　expected　fir　or　yew；　and　she　realized　they　were　huge。　As　the　forest　loomed　above　her　she　identified　the　trees　as　redwood；　as　big　as　any　she　had　seen　along　the　Avenue　of　Giants　in　California。　The　guys　stopped　their　bikes　at　the　edge；　staring　at　the　trees　in　awe。　The　undergrowth　was　sparse　but　oversize。　Some　ferns　grew　nearly　as　tall　as　Ellen；　and　big　patches　of　grass　climbed　nearly　six　feet　in　height。　Elephant　grass？　she　wondered。
　Ellen　thought　back　to　the　kid　in　the　cave。　It　seemed　like　a　hundred　years　ago。　〃The　end　of　the　world；〃　that's　what　he　had　said。　Ellen　looked　at　the　forest　and　wondered　if　he　had　been　talking　about　this。　Mountains　on　I…5；　a　redwood　forest　dropped　on　Portland？　Is　this　how　the　world　was　to　end？　In　confusion？
　Even　the　guys　were　surprised　by　the　forest。　When　they　started　off　again　Coop　led；　with　Carl　right　behind。　They　rode　across　the　strawberry　rows；　crushing　the　plants　as　they　followed　the　edge　of　the　forest。　Worried　about　the　damage；　Ellen　looked　around　for　a　farmhouse　but　saw　no　buildings。　She　was　so　close　to　her　son　now；　she　didn't。want　to　get　stopped　for　trespassing。　Finally；　Coop　cut　into　the　forest　and　Ellen　could　see　what　he　had　been　looking　for…a　clearing　on　the　other　side。　They　rode　to　the　middle　of　it；　where　Coop　stopped。　Carl　pulled　up　next　to　him　and　the　guys　pulled　up　on　both　sides。
　〃I　saw　him　right　over　there；〃　Coop　said；　pointing。
　Ellen　wondered　what　〃him〃　they　were　talking　about。
　〃Bullshit；〃　said　the　one　called　Kishton。　He　was　the　shortest　of　the　group　but　probably　the　strongest；　his　upper　arms　and　chest　were　muscular；　forming　a　body　builder's　classic　V　shape。　He　also　had　the　only　full　beard　in　the　group。
　〃I　still　say　it's　bullshit。〃
　〃Coop　wouldn't　lie　to　us；　would　you；　Coop？〃　Carl　said。
　Kishton　shut　up　and　looked　around。
　This　is　the　classic　adolescent　friendship　pattern；　Ellen　thought。　How　had　Terry　described　it？　〃A　like…minded　group　of　males　loosely　associated　for　the　purpose　of　fellowship；　with　no　formal　leader。〃　As　Ellen　remembered　it；　the　individuals　of　the　group　would　adamantly　deny　there　was　a　leader；　yet　to　an　outsider　the　leader　was　clearly　discernible。　Carl　was　the　leader　here。　Ellen　knew　leadership　depended　on　having　something　the　other　males　prized…being　the　strongest；　having　the　best　car；　or　making　it　with　girls。　Ellen　studied　Carl　and　decided　he　wasn't　the　toughest。　Kishton　probably　was；　or　maybe　Bobby。　Carl　didn't　look　that　tough；　yet　he　was　clearly　the　leader。　Why？　Kishton　started　talking　again。
　〃All　right；　if　he's　here；　how　do　we　find　the　mother？〃
　〃Coop'll　find　him；　won't　you　Coop？〃
　It　wasn't　really　a　question。　Carl　was　telling　Coop　to　deliver　what　they　were　looking　for；　or　else。
　They　seemed　to　have　forgotten　about　Ellen's　son；　so　she　spoke　up。　〃I　thought　you　were　going　to　help　me　find　my　son。　What　about　us？〃
　Carl　turned　to　Ellen　and　smiled　broadly；　revealing　his　missing　eye　tooth。
　〃Oh；　don't　worry。　We'll　be　getting　to　you。　Lead　off；　Coop；　I'll　pick　up　the　rear。〃
　Angie　pulled　Ellen　to　one　side　and　put　her　arm　around　her　shoulder。
　〃How　you　doing　with　good　ole　Carl？　You　want　me　to　switch　with　you？〃
　〃No。　You're　doing　a　great　job　with　Coop。　Just　keep　him　under　your　spell。〃
　〃Don't　you　worry　about　that。　He's　mine；〃　Angie　giggled。
　Coop　led　them　once　around　the　perimeter　of　the　clearing　and　then　headed　through　the　trees。　The　ferns　and　grass　were　thick　and　tall　in　the　clearing；　but　once　under　the　canopy　of　the　giants　the　undergrowth　thinned。　The　going　was　slow　but　steady。　Carl　kept　cussing　and　kicking　at　the　clumps　of　vegetation　as　they　worked　their　way　around　and　through　the　undergrowth。　Once　Carl　rode　close　to　a　patch　of　grass　that　brushed　Ellen's　arm；　leaving　three　painful；bleeding　slices；　like　paper　cuts。
　They　broke　out　of　the　trees　into　another　clearing；　and　Ellen　looked　around　Carl　in　time　to　see　Coop　and　Angie　drop　over　an　edge　and　disappear。　One　by　one　the　other　cycles　followed。　Carl　went　over　the　edge　last；　into　a　soggy　creek　bed　with　a　small　stream　running　through　the　middle。　The　going　was　slippery　here；　but　they　made　better　time。　There　wasn't　much　of　a　bank；　and　Ellen　could　watch　the　scenery。　The　forest　thickened　and　thinned　in　no　particular　pattern；　but　it　was　being　clear　that　Portland　was　no　longer　here。　Ellen　realized　if　Portland　was　gone；　so　was　her　son。
　Coop　led　them　back　up　a　bank　into　a　clearing　and　stopped；　turning　off　his　motor。
　〃Looky　there；〃　Coop　said；　pointing　into　the　clearing。
　Ellen　could　see　nothing　but　grass　and　clumps　of　ferns。　Suddenly　a　head　popped　up　over　the　top　of　the　ferns；　with　a　dome；　perched　on　a　long　thin　neck；　and　covered　with　a　gray…green　skin。　Ferns　were　hanging　from　its　mouth　and　its　eyes　were　fixed　on　their　group。　Ellen　had　never　seen　one　before；　at　least　not　alive；　but　it　was　a　dinosaur；
　〃Hot　damn！〃　Carl　screamed。　〃That　mother　is　mine。〃
　〃Holy　shit；　deputy　dawg　wasn't　lying。〃
　〃I　told　you。　I　wouldn't　prevaricate　about　something　like　this。〃
　Ellen　watched　as　the　men　pulled　their　rifles　and　checked　the　load；
　〃Leave　it　alone！〃　Ellen　shouted。　〃If　that's　a　dinosaur；　it's　the　last　of　its　kind。　You　can't　kill　it。　Let's　just　leave　it　alone。〃
　〃Who　asked　you？〃　Kishton　snapped。　〃I　say　whoever　nails　it　gets　dibs　on　its　head。〃
　The　rest　of　the　guys　cheered　and　yelled；　〃All　right。〃
　〃I　don't　know　about　this；〃　Coop　added。　But　he　looked　nervously　at　Carl　and　the　other　guys；　and　whatever　he　was　going　to　say　withered　away　under　their　gaze。
　〃She's　right；　boys；〃　Angie　cut　in。　〃That　dinosaur　is　worth　a　lot　more　alive　than　dead。〃
　The　mention　of　money　slowed　them　down　until　Carl　spoke；
　〃Hell；　there's　more　where　that　one　came　from。〃
　Excited；　the　men　jump…started　their　bikes　and　were　off；　bumping　across　the　rough　terrain。　Only　Coop　and　Carl　hung　back；　Carl　fixing　Coop　with　a　piercing　stare。
　〃You　one　of　us　or　not；　Coop？〃
　〃You　know　I'm　with　you；　Carl；〃　Coop　said　weakly。　But　it　was