jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第57章

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　It　took　Petra　and　Dr。　Piltcher　a　minute　to　recognize　Dr。　Coombs's　remains。　The　small　dinosaurs　had　shredded　his　clothes　and　picked　his　bones　nearly　clean。　Even　his　skull　had　been　peeled　of　its　flesh；　although　his　eyes　were　still　intact　in　the　sockets。
　When　the　small　pack　of　dinosaurs　spotted　them　they　froze；　heads　up　and　tails　held　straight　out。　As　Colter　screamed　and　then　charged　the　pack；　thrusting　at　the　closest　dinosaur　with　his　spear；　the　pack　scattered；　some　with　meaty　bones　still　in　their　mouths。　Colter　stood　looking　down　on　Dr。　Coombs's　remains；　Petra's　mind　was　overflowing　with　horror；　and　Dr。　Piltcher　was　once　again　lost　in　his　grief。　This　time　he　had　no　doubt　about　his　friend's　death。
　Colter　returned　to　the　others；　his　face　impassive。
　〃Want　me　to　bury　him？　There's　still　quite　a　bit　left。　I　don't　know；　though。　They'll　probably　just　dig　him　up　again。　Maybe　we　could　cover　it　。　。　。　him；　with　rocks。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　was　about　to　reply　when　the　branches　behind　him　began　to　snap。　The　three　turned　to　see　a　fifteen…foot…tall　carnivore　ing　through　the　brush；　towering　above　them。　Its　head　and　jaws　were　huge。　It　walked　on　two　well…muscled　back　legs；　but　its　forelegs　looked　smaller　and　useless。　A　long　thick　tail　dragged　behind。
　〃Run；〃　Colter　yelled；　and　the　others　obeyed。　Colter　took　the　lead；　breaking　trail　through　the　brush。　He　ran　a　straight　line；　dodging　only　the　thicker　stands　or　those　with　thorns。　They　pounded　through；　oblivious　to　the　blows　from　the　branches。　Dr。　Piltcher；　soon　exhausted；　began　to　trail　behind。　When　Petra　noticed　she　shouted　to　Colter；　who　shot　a　quick　look　over　his　shoulder；　and　then　trotted　off　to　the　side；　motioning　for　Petra　to　take　the　lead。　When　Dr。　Piltcher　plodded　past；　Colter　fell　in　behind；　watching　over　his　shoulder　for　the　dinosaur。
　Petra　set　a　slower　pace　than　Colter　so　Dr。　Piltcher　could　keep　up；　but　something　was　wrong。　Petra　had　seen　him　jog　for　miles　before。　He　was　stumbling　along　now；　head　down　and　breathing　raggedly。　The　brush　thinned；　and　then　they　broke　into　a　clearing　that　led　down　to　the　lake；　where　the　grass　was　short　and　looked　well　grazed。　They　were　moving　at　a　slow　jog　around　what　Petra　realized　were　huge　piles　of　animal　droppings。　Dr。　Piltcher　stumbled　over　one　pile　but　kept　his　feet。　Petra　dropped　back　to　jog　next　to　him；　setting　a　pace。　Dr。　Piltcher's　chest　was　heaving　and　his　breathing　was　irregular。
　When　Petra　looked　back　for　Colter；　her　feet　caught　in　something　and　she　fell　headlong　into　the　grass；　just　missing　a　pile　of　dried　dung。　Dr。　Piltcher　stopped　when　she　fell　and　dropped　to　his　knees；　desperately　trying　to　catch　his　breath。　Petra　found　herself　lying　in　the　grass　on　an　uneven　surface；　the　turf　beneath　her　looking　like　a　badly　laid　carpet　with　huge　wrinkles。　Petra　rolled　to　her　knees；　looking　for　Colter；　but　he　was　nowhere　in　sight。　Neither　was　the　dinosaur。　Dr。　Piltcher　was　still　on　his　knees；　his　breathing　labored；　one　hand　was　pressed　tight　against　his　chest；　and　his　face　red　and　sprinkled　with　sweat。　Looking　up　at　her；　he　shook　his　head；　and　began　puffing　rapidly　through　his　nose；　trying　to　control　his　breathing。　He　spoke　finally；　in　a　hoarse　whisper。
　〃Petra；　I'm　sorry；　but　I　。　。　。　my　chest。　。　。〃
　〃It's　okay；　Dr。　Piltcher。　Don't　speak。　I　think　we're　all　right　here；〃　Petra　answered　reassuringly；　but　not　believing　it。
　Petra　scanned　the　meadow　looking　for　Colter　or　signs　of　danger。　If　she　hadn't　been　so　scared　she　might　have　noted　the　details　in　the　landscape…the　still；　blue　lake　in　the　middle；　surrounded　by　clumps　of　towering　leafy　trees　along　its　shore。　The　bright　green　sea　of　swaying　meadow　grasses　hid　the　wrinkled　turf。
　Taller；　forest　green　bushes　dotted　the　clearing　as　far　as　Petra　could　see。　She　looked　from　left　to　right　for　a　hiding　place　or　a　way　back　to　the　RV。　The　lake　narrowed　on　the　south　end　and　a　finger　of　the　lake　ended　in　a　stream。　Whether　it　fed　the　lake　or　drained　it；　Petra　couldn't　tell。　But　along　that　stream　were　large　moving　shapes…quadrupeds　like　the　one　that　destroyed　the　RV　and　killed　Dr。　Coombs。　They　were　still　a　long　way　off；　but　it　was　clear　they　were　ing　closer。　Petra　felt　trapped。　She　feared　running　back　into　the　brush　because　the　dinosaur　that　had　chased　them　was　there　somewhere。　She　was　too　afraid　to　head　toward　the　approaching　herd；　but　if　they　cut　across　the　meadow　away　from　the　herd　she　could　be　inviting　attack。　Besides；　Dr。　Piltcher　wouldn't　be　running　much　farther　today。
　Petra　could　see　only　one　choice。　She　urged　Dr。　Piltcher　to　his　feet；　took　his　arm；　and　led　him　toward　the　trees　along　the　lake。　They　would　climb　a　。tree　if　they　could。　Otherwise　they　could　swim　for　it；　although　she　had　no　idea　whether　dinosaurs　could　swim　or　not。
　Dr。　Piltcher　padded　along　next　to　her；　Petra　supporting　him　when　he　stumbled。　As　they　ran；　Petra　kept　watch　on　the　approaching　herd。　They　showed　no　signs　of　attack；　or　even　of　notice。　At　the　first　tree；　Dr。　Piltcher　sat　with　his　back　against　the　trunk；　his　hand　on　his　chest　and　his　head　down。　He　was　breathing　easier　now；　although　still　ragged。
　Petra　walked　around；　trying　to　find　an　easy　tree　to　climb。　Similar　to　poplar　trees；　these　had　branches　covered　with　thousands　of　round　leaves。　When　she　found　it　she　returned　to　help　Dr。　Piltcher　to　his　feet。　He　let　her　guide　him；　his　strength　and　spirit　left　behind　with　Dr。　Coombs。
　Petra's　tree　was　on　the　edge　of　the　clearing　near　the　lake。　The　lowest　limb　was　just　out　of　her　reach。　She　knew　she　could　jump　to　it　and　pull　herself　up；　but　Dr。　Piltcher　couldn't；　even　if　he　was　feeling　well。　She　tried　boosting　him　up；　but　he　was　too　weak　to　grip　the　limb。　After　their　third　try　Petra　let　Dr。　Piltcher　slip　to　the　ground　and　rest　while　she　trotted　along　the　edge　of　the　small　stand　looking　vainly　for　signs　of　Colter。　At　the　far　edge　of　the　little　wood；　she　was　shocked　to　see　the　dinosaurs　had　nearly　reached　the　lake　and　were　fanning　out　along　the　shore；　ing　closer。　Hiding　behind　the　tree　trunks；　she　shrank　back　when　she　saw　them。　Petra's　eyes　riveted　on　the　massive　set　of　horns…images　of　Dr。　Coombs　impaled　flashed　through　her　mind。　Urgently；　she　dodged　from　trunk　to　trunk　back　to　Dr。　Piltcher。　She　had　to　get　him　in　the　tree　somehow；　or　it　was　the　lake。
　She　pulled　the　professor　to　his　feet　again。　His　breathing　was　better　now；　though　his　hand　was　still　pressed　to　his　chest；　and　his　face　had　regained　some　color。
　〃We've　got　to　climb　this　tree；　Dr。　Piltcher；〃　she　said。　〃More　of　those　dinosaurs　are　ing；　like　the　one　that　wrecked　the　RV。〃
　〃Monoclonius；〃　he　managed　to　whisper。
　〃Yes；　monoclonius。　They're　almost　here。　I　want　you　to　stand　on　my　back。〃
　〃I'm　sure　George　was　wrong　about　them　being　triceratops。〃
　〃Dr。　Piltcher；　you　must　climb　on　my　back。〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　hurt　you；　Petra。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　you　won't　hurt　me。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　continued　to　protest；　but　Petra　shushed　him　and　got　down　on　her　hands　and　knees。　The　professor　stepped　up　on　her　gingerly；　but　his　full　weight　was　soon　on　her　back。　His　boots　seesawed　across　her　spinal　column；　and　she　had　to　bite　her　lip　to　hold　back　a　gasp　of　pain。　She　could　feel　the　older　man　trying　to　pull　himself　up；　but　he　had　no　strength。
　〃I　can't　do　it；　Petra。　Leave　me。　You　climb　up；　I'll　be　okay。〃
　〃No。　Don't　you　move；　just　hang　on　to　the　limb；〃　Petra　nearly　shouted；　and　Dr。　Piltcher　stood　still；　his　hands　drooped　over　the　top　of　the　thick　limb。　Then　Petra　inched　her　legs　forward　and　began　to　push。　Suddenly　the　weight　was　removed　from　her　back　and　she　collapsed　to　the　ground。　She　rolled　over；　expecting　to　see　Dr。　Piltcher　sitting　in　the　tree。　Instead；　she　found　him　hanging　from　the　limb；　his　arms　wrapped　over　the　top；　and　his　legs　dancing　below。
　〃I'm　going　to　fall；　Petra。〃
　〃No！〃　she　shouted；　leaping　to　her　feet。　She　knew　she　wouldn't　be　able　to　lift　him　again；　so　she　put　her　hands　on　the　professor's　bottom　and　pushed。　At　the　same　time　Dr。　Piltcher　used　his　arms　to　hitch　himself　higher　on　the　limb。　Finally；　his　chest　worked　its　way　up；　and　then　he　was　lying　on　his　stomach　on　the　limb。　Petra　watched　him　turn　toward　her；　a　slight　smile　on　his　face…then　the　smile　evaporated。
　〃Petra；　behind　you；〃　he　whispered。
　Petra　turned　carefully　to　see　a　monoclonius　looking　down　its　snout　horn　at　her。　Two　smaller　monoclonius　were　behind；　both　with　their　horns　pointed　directly　at　her。　Petra　was　afraid　to　move。　She　was　pretty　sure　she　could　pull　herself　up；　but　pretty　sure　wasn't　good　enough。　She　might　not　get　that　second　chance。　The　monoclonius　weren't　moving；　or　acting　aggressively；　but　something　that　size　would　petrify　Hercules。
　The　standoff　continued　for　a　full　minute；　then　the　closest　monoclonius　walked　deliberately　forward；　keeping　its　eyes　on　Petra。　She　retreated　until　her　back　was　against　the　tree　trunk。　Petra　looked　right　and　left；　trying　to　decide　on　which　way　to　run。　The　monoclonius　was　only　twenty　feet　away　when　it　stopped。　Then　it　raised　its　massive　head；　pointing　its　three　long　horns　at　the　sky。　After　several　sniffs　the　dinosaur　dropped　its　head；　pointing　the　three　mighty　horns　at　Petra；　sniffed　again；　snorted　out　a　spray　of　mucus；　then　walked　past　Petra　and　out　into　the　clearing。　The　two　dinosaurs　behind　it　followed　suit；　each　pausing　to　sniff　at　Petra。　Petra　held　her　breath　until　they　were　well　gone　and　then　jumped　up；　grabbed　the　branch；　and　pulled　herself　onto　the　limb。　Dr。　Piltcher　managed　to　sit　up。
　〃I　told　you；　Petra；　they're　vegetarians；〃　He　smiled　weakly。
　Petra　smiled　back。　She　hated　to　see　him　like　this；　weak　and　dependent。　For　the　last　two　years　he'd　been　her　father　figure。　It　was　a　symbiotic　relationship。　He　needed　his　ego　boosted　by　a　young　admiring　female；　and　she　needed　some　older　charismatic　man　to　make　up　for　the　father　she　never　really　knew。　She　also　knew　children　eventually　bee　parents　to　their　parents；　but　she　never　expected　it　to　happen　with　a　mentor；　and　not。　in　such　a　bizarre　fashion。　Dr。　Piltcher　was　still　smiling　at　her　so　she　shook　her　head　in　disbelief　and　whispered　back　to　him。　〃So　a　vegetarian　did　that　to　the　RV？　Needed　a　little　iron　in　its　diet；　so　it　decided　to　eat　an　RV。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　returned　her　smile；　seeming　to　have　more　energy　now。
　〃Let's　try　to　get　higher；〃　Petra　suggested。
　They　spent　the　next　half　hour　working　their　way　higher　into　the　tree。　Dr。　Piltcher　could　manage　to　climb；　but　only　if　Petra　boosted　him。　She　was　exhausted　and　Dr。　Piltcher　plained　of　chest　pains　again。　He　urged　Petra　to　continue　climbing；　but　she　refused。　Now；　they　sat　in　silence。
　Petra　planned　to　wait　in　the　tree　until　the　dinosaurs　moved　on　and　she　was　sure　the　big　carnivore　wasn't　going　to　show　up。　In　the　meadow；　she　could　see　the　monoclonius　grazing；　just　outside　their　stand　of　trees。　Smaller　monoclonius　were　mixed　into　the　herd；　obviously　much　younger…the　chest　and　hips　narrower。　Trying　to　pick　out　mothers　and　offspring；　Petra　watched　the　smaller　dinosaurs；　but　they　showed　no　preference　for　particular　adults。　Several　larger　animals　stood　off　from　the　main　herd；　distributed　around　the　outside。　Petra　decided　the　larger　monoclonius　were　males　doing　picket　duty；　and　the　dinosaurs　herding　together　were　the　females；　with　young　mixed　in。　What　she　didn't　understand　was　why　the　young　showed　no　preferences　for　a　female。　There　didn't　seem　to　be　any　evidence　of　imprinti