jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第58章

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f　imprinting。　She　wanted　to　discuss　the　lack　of　bonding　between　mother　and　offspring　with　Dr。　Piltcher；　but　suddenly　every　head　in　the　herd　snapped　up　and　pointed　toward　the　brush。　The　monoclonius　were　bing　the　wind　with　their　nostrils。　Something　was　happening。
　
　48。　　　BIG　BIRD
　
　Not　far　from　the　great　year；　the　old　ones　will　e　out　of　their　tomb。
　…Nostradamus
　
　The　I…5　Mountain；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　TUESDAY；　3：09　P。M。　PST
　
　　Chrissy　Watkins　chased　after　her　brother　through　the　rough　grass。　He　was　being　mean　and　wouldn't　play　what　she　wanted　to。　He　kept　running　off；　too　fast　for　her。　He　wasn't　supposed　to　do　that。　He　was　supposed　to　play　with　her。　Mom　said　so。　And　he　was　supposed　to　watch　her　too　while　Mom　found　out　why　they　were　stuck　in　traffic。
　Rita　Watkins　was　standing　with　a　group　talking　to　a　policeman。　Chrissy　pulled　on　her　mom's　pant　leg；　but　her　mom　shushed　her　and　pushed　her　hand　away。　Chrissy　tried　listening；　but　what　they　were　saying　didn't　make　any　sense　to　her。
　〃Clear　the　road？　Are　you　kidding？〃　the　cop　asked。　〃That's　a　mountain。　It　would　take　a　year　to　dynamite　a　level　grade　through　that。　I'm　telling　you　they'll　have　to　build　around　it。　They'll　take　I…5　right　out　there　into　the　valley。　Just　go　around　this　damn　thing。〃
　Some　man　with　a　big　stomach　and　no　hair　did　most　of　the　talking。
　〃You　can't　tell　me　there's　no　way　through？　I've　got　to　get　to　Eugene；　and　I　mean　today。　Now　are　you　going　to　get　me　through　or　aren't　you？　Don't　make　me　go　over　your　head。〃
　〃I'll　say　it　again；　but　this　is　the　last　time。　You've　got　to　head　back　down　the　other　side　of　the　interstate。　Go　on　back　to　Medford　and　wait。　We're　checking　on　the　roads　to　find　a　way　around。　You　might　have　to　head　over　to　the　coast。〃
　Another　man；　with　a　big　mustache；　came　running　up。
　〃Hey；　look　up　there。　Everybody　look　up　there。〃
　Chrissy　looked　'up　too。　The　big　people　all　started　talking　about　how　neat　it　was；　but　at　first　Chrissy　couldn't　see　anything。　Then　she　saw　a　big　bird　flying　in　the　sky。　At　least　she　thought　it　was　a　bird。　It　was　really　just　a　shadow　in　the　sky。
　〃Is　that　a　bird；　Mommy？　Is　it？　Huh？〃
　〃Yes；　honey。　It's　a　big　bird。　Probably　an　eagle。〃
　〃That's　no　eagle；〃　the　policeman　said。　〃It's　too　big。　Funny　shape　to　the　wings　too。〃
　〃I'll　say　it's　big；〃　the　fat　man　said。　〃That's　got　to　be　a　condor。　Must　be　one　of　them　California　condors　they　released　in　the　wild。　Wonder　what　it's　doing　up　here？〃
　〃Are　you　sure　that's　a　condor？〃　the　mustache　man　asked。　〃I've　never　seen　a　silhouette　like　that。〃
　Chrissy's　neck　hurt　from　looking　up　at　the　bird。　All　it　was　doing　was　flying　around　in　circles　at　the　top　of　the　mountain。　She　was　bored　and　wanted　Matt　to　play　with　her。
　〃Mommy；　mommy；　mommy！〃
　〃What？〃　her　mom　said　impatiently。
　〃Matt　won't　play　with　me。　And　he's　not　watching　me　like　you　told　him。〃
　〃Honey；　I'm　trying　to　find　out　what's　going　on。　You　go　tell　Matt　I　said　he　has　to　play　with　you　or　he　won't　get　his　M&Ms；〃
　Chrissy　was　satisfied。　Matt　wanted　his　M&Ms。　The　grownups　were　still　talking　when　she　ran　off。　The　last　voice　she　heard　was　from　the　man　with　the　mustache。
　〃I　think　that　condor　is　circling　down。〃
　She　couldn't　see　Matt　but　knew　he　was　somewhere　in　the　rocks　hiding。　She　ran　along　the　edge　of　the　boulders；　peeking　around　the　big　ones　and　looking　in　cracks。　She　worked　her　way　along　the　edge　of　the　rocks　and　away　from　the　crowd。　〃Matty；〃　she　called。　〃Matthew　Broderick　Watkins；　where　are　you？〃　she　yelled。　〃Mom　says　you　have　to　play　with　me。　Play　with　me　or　you　don't　get　your　M&Ms。〃　Matt　still　wouldn't　e　out。
　Then　she　heard　the　grown…ups　yelling。　She　turned　to　see　them　pointing　up　at　the　sky。
　〃Look　at　that。　It's　huge！〃　someone　yelled。
　The　only　thing　Chrissy　could　see　was　the　big　bird。　It　was　ing　closer　and　closer。　Chrissy　was　good　at　picking　out　shapes。　The　bird　had　a　long　skinny　triangle　for　its　head；　and　two　big　triangles　for　its　wjngs。　It　didn't　have　a　body；　the　wings　just　seemed　to　e　together。　As　it　circled　closer　Chrissy　could　see　long　feet　hanging　down；　with　sharp　claws。
　Rita　Watkins　watched　the　condor　circling　down。　As　it　got　closer　she　realized　she　had　badly　underestimated　its　size。　She　estimated　the　bird　had　a　wingspan　longer　than　her　living　room。　She　watched　it　riding　the　air　currents　down；　never　flapping　its　huge　wings；　just　riding　the　breeze　and　the　updrafts。
　〃Geez；　will　ya　look　at　the　size　of　that　thing？〃　the　fat　man　said。　〃It　could　pick　up　a　calf。〃
　With　that；　Rita's　emotion　changed　from　admiration　to　panic。
　〃Where　are　Matt　and　Chrissy？〃　she　asked　the　strangers　around　her。　Then　directly　to　the　policeman　she　said；　〃Where　are　my　kids？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　lady；　but　maybe　we　better　get　all　the　kids　out　of　the　clearing。　Birds　don't　attack　people；　but　just　in　case　。　。　。〃
　The　group　broke　up　and　began　rounding　up　children　and　shouting　for　others　to　do　the　same。　Rita　ran　toward　the　boulders　looking　for　her　own。　When　the　shadow　of　the　bird　passed　over　her　she　broke　into　a　run；　screaming　for　Matt　and　Chrissy。　Matt　popped　out　behind　a　rock　and　yelled；　〃Boo。〃　Rita　grabbed　his　arm；　barely　slowing　her　stride。
　〃Where's　Chrissy？〃
　〃I　dunno。　She　wanted　to　play　dumb　games。〃
　〃You　were　supposed　to　watch　her；〃　she　scolded；　feeling　guilty　she'd　delegated　her　responsibility　to　an　eight…year…old。　She　jogged　along　the　edge　of　the　mountain　with　Matt　in　tow　stopping　periodically　to　look　between　rocks　and　up　onto　ledges；　all　the　while　shouting　Chrissy's　name。　Then　she　saw　Chrissy；　in　the　clearing　ahead　walking　away　from　the　rocks；　her　head　tilted　back　looking　into　the　sky。
　Then　the　shadow　of　the　bird　passed　over　Rita　again。　This　time　she　felt　the　breeze　from　its　wings。　To　her　horror　she　saw　that　the　shadow　was　heading　directly　toward　Chrissy。　Then　the　bird　swooped　down；　flexed　its　huge　wingspan　slightly；　and　dropped　onto　her　daughter；　knocking　her　to　the　ground。
　〃Chrissy！〃　she　screamed。
　Other　people　were　screaming　too　and　bolting　across　the　clearing　to　reach　the　bird　and　the　little　girl。　Then　the　bird　floated；　pirouetting　around　to　face　the　angry　crowd　and　again　landing　on　Chrissy's　back　and　shoulders。　It　was　a　bird　like　none　Rita　had　ever　seen　before。　It　seemed　all　wing　and　head；　its　body　no　bigger　than　Chrissy's。　The　head　was　almost　all　beak；　with　huge　black　eyes。　It　had　no　feathers；　just　taut　skin。　A　long　rigid　crest　ran　along　its　head　and　extended　out　far　behind。　From　the　crest　on　its　head；　sinew　stretched　out　to　its　spine。　The　underside　of　its　wings　were　a　light　gray；　and　the　back　so　deep　green　it　was　nearly　black；　with　tan　splotches。　Then　it　opened　its　mouth；　revealing　a　set　of　sharp　teeth；　and　screeched；　stopping　would…be　rescuers　in　their　tracks。
　〃Go　hide　in　the　rocks；　and　don't　e　out　until　I　e　to　get　you！〃　Rita　screamed　at　her　son。
　Shoving　Matt　toward　the　rocks；　she　ran　toward　her　prostrate　daughter。　Chrissy　moved　beneath　the　bird；　which　danced　to　stay　on　top　of　her。　Then　it　dug　its　claws　into　the　child's　shirt　and　shoulder。　Chrissy　screamed　and　wriggled　beneath　the　bird。　It　floated　in　the　air　again　and　then　came　down；　seizing　Chrissy's　arm　as　well。　
　Then　twenty　feet　of　wing　stretched　taut；　the　huge　surface　area…as　big　as　the　sails　on　a　small　yacht…trapping　every　bit　of　the　gentle　breeze。　The　bird　flexed　its　wings；　curving　them　slightly　to　direct　the　captured　breeze　and　floated　upward…but　the　bird　couldn't　lift　Chrissy；　who　struggled　to　get　free。
　Then　the　wing　tips　bent　and　then　flapped；　and　to　Rita's　horror；　Chrissy　was　lifted　into　the　sky。　In　response　to　Chrissy's　weight　the　bird's　clawed　feet　dug　deeper　into　her　shoulder　and　arm；　and　Chrissy　cried　out　again；　breaking　Rita's　heart。　More　of　the　wing　tips　bent　in　another　flap；　and　the　bird　carried　its　prey　higher　into　the　air。
　Rita　put　every　bit　of　energy　she　had　into　a　last　sprint。　But　as　she　approached　everything　happened　in　slow　motion。　Chrissy　was　dangling　beneath　the　giant　bird；　screaming　and　crying；　floating　higher　and　higher。　Rita　approached；　raising　her　arms　to　grasp　her　daughter's　legs　and　rip　her　away　from　the　bird。
　Just　then　the　bird's　full　twenty　feet　of　wings　pushed　down　in　a　slow；　powerful　motion；　and　Chrissy　and　the　bird　shot　beyond　Rita's　reach。
　Rita　watched　helplessly　as　the　bird　pumped　its　wings　again　and　Rita　felt　the　rush　of　air。　Above　the　sound　of　the　breeze　she　heard　her　daughter's　voice。
　〃Help　me；　Mommy；　help　me！〃
　The　words　brought　Rita　to　tears；　and　she　fell　to　her　knees　begging　God　to　help　her　daughter。　Still　the　bird　spiraled　upward；　floating　on　air　currents　close　to　the　mountain　where　it　caught　the　updrafts。　It　glided　out　away　from　the　hillside；　dropping　slightly；　and　then　circled　back　where　it　would　catch　another　updraft。　It　gained　altitude　on　each　pass。
　Rita　had　never　felt　so　helpless。　Her　baby　was　floating　ever　farther　out　of　her　reach　to　a　horrible　fate　and　there　was　nothing　she　could　do。　In　desperation　she　picked　up　the　nearest　stone　and　threw　it　into　the　sky　only　to　watch　it　fall　well　short　of　its　target。　Once　again　she　dropped　to　her　knees；　sobs　wracking　her　body。　Then　she　heard　the　shot。
　Rita　turned　to　see　two　men　wearing　jeans　and　flannel　shirts　standing　with　rifles　at　their　shoulders。　She　watched　as　one　of　them　fired。　She　turned　to　look　at　the　bird；　but　it　continued　to　climb；　seeming　oblivious　of　the　rifle　fire。　Another　shot　rang　out；　but　the　bird　still　climbed。　Rita　suddenly　felt　panic。　What　if　they　shot　Chrissy　by　mistake？　Then　she　admitted　to　herself　that　it　wouldn't　matter；　a　bullet　would　be　kinder　than　the　bird。　Another　shot　and　another　miss。　The　bird　was　getting　too　high。　Soon　there　would　be　no　chance　for　Chrissy　to　survive　the　fall；　even　if　Rita　could　catch　her。　Rita　turned　to　the　men　with　the　rifles　and　shouted；　〃Either　save　her　or　kill　her！〃
　The　men　looked　at　her　in　surprise；　but　then　their　faces　turned　grim。　They　both　raised　their　rifles　again　and　took　aim；　but　they　didn't　shoot。　What　were　they　waiting　for？　The　bird　was　on　the　outward　swing　of　its　spiral　and　turned　to　float　back　toward　the　mountain。　Still　they　did　not　shoot。　〃Shoot！〃　she　said　out　loud。　The　bird　drifted　toward　the　rocky　mountain；　then　turned　to　catch　the　updraft；　its　wing　tip　barely　scraping　the　edge　of　the　nearest　rock。　Then　two　shots　rang　out。
　There　was　the　slightest　pause　when　nothing　happened…a　tiny　piece　of　time　just　big　enough　for　hope　to　die；　only　to　be　reborn　an　instant　later　when　one　wing　buckled　and　the　bird　collapsed　against　the　mountain；　sliding　down　the　smooth　rock　face　and　disappearing　behind　an　outcropping。
　Pandemonium　broke　out。　The　people　in　the　clearing　cheered　and　shouted　their　approval　and　Rita　felt　waves　of　relief　sweep　over　her。　But　where　was　her　daughter　now？　Rita　looked　to　see　if　the　bird　or　Chrissy　appeared　anywhere　below；　but　nothing　but　a　trickle　of　gravel　came　tumbling　down　the　mountain。　Rita　ran　back　and　forth　under　the　mountain　looking　for　any　sign　of　Chrissy；　but　found　none。　Other　bystanders　helped　her　in　her　search；　and　others　appeared　with　binoculars；　but　no　sign　of　Chrissy　or　the　giant　bird　was　found。
　Then；　when　the　noise　of　the　crowd　died　down；　Rita　heard　something　else。　She　shouted　for　quiet；　others　taking　up　her　cry；　and　soon　she　could　hear　her　daughter's　distinct　crying。　It　was　the　happiest　sound　Rita　had　ever　heard；　and　she