jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第60章

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　When　Petra　stood　to　run　the　monster　roared；　its　hot　fetid　breath　knocked　her　to　the　ground。　Petra　rolled　over　to　see　the　monster's　towering　head　swing　away　toward　something　behind　it…Colter；　running　through　the　trees；　holding　his　spear；　the　tip　bloody。　Petra　was　on　her　feet　when　he　reached　her　and　they　ran　through　the　trees　side　by　side。　Futilely；　the　monster　tried　to　follow。　Branches　snapped　and　bent；　but　the　trees　proved　too　much　for　the　awkward　behemoth。　Finally；　it　turned　and　moved　to　the　edge　of　the　woods；　trying　to　catch　them　when　they　entered　the　clearing。
　Colter；　running　on　Petra's　right；　reached　out；　pushing　on　her　shoulder。　Petra　stumbled　left；　turning　to　glare　at　Colter；　thinking　his　push　might　cost　her　life。　But　he　reached　out　pointing　left　and　he　shouted；　between　gasps；　〃Run　for　the　lake。〃
　Petra　didn't　bother　to　answer。　Dodging　bushes　and　trees；　she　headed　where　he'd　directed　her。　Colter　ran　abreast　of　her。　When　they　reached　the　treeline　they　stopped　to　catch　their　breaths；　trying　to　spot　the　dinosaur。　They　could　hear　the　dinosaur　bulldozing　through　the　brush；　but　it　was　nowhere　in　sight。　Colter　kicked　off　his　shoes；　pulled　off　his　shirt；　and　began　unbuttoning　his　pants；　Petra；　exhausted；　followed　suit　but　kept　her　bra　on。
　Glancing　at　Colter's　body；　she　saw　it　was　cut　in　a　dozen　places　with　dried　blood　covering　his　chest　and　legs。　His　white　underpants　were　stained　with　blood　too。　As　Petra　watched　bewildered；　he　took　her　pants　and　zipped　them　up　and　buttoned　them；　then　tied　the　legs　in　knots。　Colter　looked　up；　his　forehead　creasing　in　concern。
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　he　asked。
　〃What　do　you　think？〃　she　snapped。
　Then　Colter　wiped　a　finger　across　her　forehead。　When　he　pulled　it　away　it　was　covered　with　blood。　Petra　started　to　check　her　head　for　wounds；　but　then　realized　that　when　the　monster　blasted　her　with　its　breath；　it　misted　her　with　Dr。　Piltcher's　blood。
　〃I'm　okay；〃　she　whispered。　〃It's　not　my　blood。〃
　Colter　didn't　ask　whose　blood　it　was。
　〃I'm　ready；〃　he　said　instead。　〃Let's　go。〃
　Colter　got　up；　holding　their　pants　in　one　hand　and　trotted　toward　the　lake。　It　was　a　warm　autumn　day；　but　they　were　wearing　nothing　but　their　underwear；　and　their　sweat…coated　bodies　cooled　rapidly　in　the　breeze。　Halfway　to　the　lake　the　monster　came　around　the　treeline。　It　spotted　them　instantly　and　charged。　They　sprinted　the　rest　of　the　way　to　the　lake　across　rock　and　weed；　unmindful　of　the　little　creatures　skitter'　ing　away　from　their　feet。　Petra　and　Colter　hit　the　water　full　speed；　but　the　water　slowed　them。　Waist　high　and　barely　moving；　they　saw　the　monster　was　turning　into　the　lake；　splashing　toward　them。
　Colter　and　Petra　began　stroking　as　fast　as　they　could；　pulling　for　deep　water；　realizing　the　lake　would　have　to　be　thirty　feet　deep　to　force　the　monster　to　swim。　They　heard　it　splashing　behind　them；　creating　deep　waves　that　rolled　Petra；　making　it　difficult　to　swim。　She　turned　her　head　back　with　the　next　stroke　to　see　the　dinosaur　behind　them；　very　close　to　Colter　who　dove；　disappearing　beneath　the　waves。　Bellowing；　the　monster　turned　toward　Petra。　She　too　dove；　kicking　and　stroking　furiously；　holding　her　breath　until　her　lungs　were　ready　to　explode。　Then　she　surfaced；　blowing　out　the　stale　air；　and　breathing　in　new。
　She　heard　the　monster　roar　behind　her　and　dove　again；　now　angling　away　from　her　last　position。　This　time　she　couldn't　stay　down　as　long；　but　when　she　came　up　again　she　found　the　monster　turned　away　from　her　and　looking　down　into　the　water。　She　took　several　quiet　breaths　and　then　dove　again；　stroking　away　from　the　beast。　When　she　came　up　the　dinosaur　was　staring　helplessly　into　the　lake。
　Now　she　breaststroked　away　from　the　beast；　looking　back　frequently　to　make　sure　it　wasn't　following。　Well　out　into　the　lake；　safe　from　the　dinosaur；　she　was　tiring　quickly。　The　monster　watched　her　from　shore　but　still　didn't　move　to　follow…　she　hoped　it　couldn't　swim。　Colter　was　struggling　through　the　water；　swimming　with　one　hand。　Petra　worried　that　one　of　his　arms　had　been　injured　but　then　realized　he　was　still　dragging　the　jeans。　When　Colter　splashed　up　close　to　her　he　reached　out　and　thrust　a　pair　of　jeans　at　her。
　〃Here；　hold　these。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃Just　do　it；〃　Colter　yelled　breathlessly。
　Petra　took　the　jeans　and　found　her　arm　immediately　pulled　toward　the　bottom　of　the　lake。　Colter　was　struggling　to　stay　afloat　by　using　only　his　legs；　while　he　fiddled　with　the　jeans。　Then　he　took　the　pants　by　the　waist　and　swung　them　up　and　then　down　into　the　water；　inflating　the　legs。　Petra　grabbed　them　at　the　waist　and　held　it　in　the　water　and　found　the　makeshift　float　supported　her。　Colter　inflated　the　other　pair；　then　side　by　side　he　and　Petra　floated。
　The　lake　was　silent　now。　The　bellows　of　the　frustrated　carnivore　retreated　into　the　distance　and　then　faded　away。　The　only　sound　was　the　sound　of　the　air　slowly　leaking　through　the　fabric　of　the　jeans；　which　they　had　to　reinflate　every　few　minutes。　Small　ripples　in　the　water　caught　Petra's　eye。　Still　watching　the　surface　of　the　water；　she　saw　dozens　of　bumps　appear　on　the　surface　of　the　lake。　When　the　closest　set　of　bumps　blinked；　she　screamed　and　smacked　the　water。
　〃Petra；　stop；　stop。　Here；　look　at　this。〃　Colter　held　out　his　hand。
　Something　was　sitting　in　his　palm：　a　little　brown　fish　with　huge　bulging　eyes。　It　had　two　fins　and　four　little　legs。
　〃What　is　it；　Colter？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　but　it's　breathing。　It's　kind　of　a　fish　and　kind　of　a　frog　or　something。　I　don't　think　it's　dangerous。〃
　Colter　dropped　the　little　creature　in　the　water　and　swam　closer　to　Petra；　then　floated　by　her　side。　They　rested　together　until　they　began　to　shiver；　then　they　knew　it　was　time　to　move。　Kicking　through　the　water；　across　the　lake　and　away　from　where　they　entered；　they　reached　the　middle　of　the　lake　and　turned　toward　shore。　They　moved　slowly；　not　wanting　to　attract　attention。　The　monster　was　gone；　but　as　tired　as　they　were；　even　the　three…footers　would　be　more　challenge　that　they　could　handle。　The　shore　remained　empty　though；　and　they　gained　confidence　as　they　neared。　Then　something　brushed　Petra's　leg。　Something　big。
　Whatever　it　was；　was　armored　with　bony　scales　and　scraped　a　few　inches　of　skin　off　of　her　calf。　She　yelped　when　it　hit　and　Colter　immediately　swam　closer。
　〃My　leg！　Something　hit　my　leg。　I　think　I'm　bleeding。〃
　〃That's　bad。　Trailing　blood　is　like　ringing　the　dinner　bell。　Make　for　shore　as　fast　as　you　can。〃
　Petra　frog　kicked　herself　forward；　keeping　both　hands　wrapped　around　her　jeans　float。　Colter　settled　in　behind　her；　zigzagging　across　her　wake。　The　shore　crept　closer　at　a　painfully　slow　pace。
　〃Petra；　to　your　left。　In　the　water。〃
　Petra　turned　following　Colter's　instructions。　There　was　something　swimming　alongside　of　them；　matching　its　pace　to　theirs…a　dark　mass　six　or　eight　feet　long。　It　looked　like　a　fish　to　Petra；　but　without　putting　her　head　in　the　water　there　was　no　way　to　tell　what　kind。　If　only　Dr。　Coombs　or　Dr。　Piltcher　were　here；　they　could　tell　her　what　kind　of　fish　to　expect　in　a　prehistoric　lake。
　Petra　sifted　through　her　own　memories；　but　the　only　image　that　came　to　mind　all　had　long　thin　necks　and　huge　flippers。　This　mass　didn't　look　like　that。　Instead　it　looked　like　something　the　size　of　a　shark。　Freshwater　sharks？　Realizing　she　was　only　scaring　herself；　she　saw　it　wasn't　attacking；　and　the　only　thing　more　important　than　that　was　the　approaching　shore。
　〃Colter；　it's　gone。　Do　you　see　it？〃
　〃No。　Man；　I　wish　I　knew　if　that　was　good　or　bad。　Just　keep　swimming。〃
　Petra　gritted　her　teeth　against　the　pain　in　her　aching　muscles　and　kicked　even　harder。　As　she　swam　she　watched　left　and　right；　vowing　not　to　give　herself　up　to　some　fish　when　she　had　beaten　a　monster　like　the　one　that　killed　Dr。　Piltcher。
　Not　just　killed；　she　reminded　herself；　but　eaten。　Why　did　being　eaten　horrify　her　more　than　just　simple　death？　Surely　it　didn't　matter　to　Dr。　Piltcher　and　Dr。　Coombs；　they　were　both　beyond　caring。　But　to　Petra　it　did　matter。　Maybe　she　wanted　something　to　bury　and　mourn。　But　most　of　all　she　was　repulsed　by　the　idea　of　humans　being　used　as　food。　Humans　weren't　food。　At　least　they　weren't　in　their　own　world。　Here　the　human　place　in　the　food　chain　was　still　being　worked　out　and　the　humans　hadn't　done　well　so　far。
　〃It's　back；　Petra；〃　Colter　announced。　〃It　just　cut　between　us。　I　think　it's　trying　to　separate　us。　Just　keep　going；　I'll　stay　close　behind。〃
　Petra　tried；　but　she　had　no　more　energy。　She　was　making　her　best　possible　speed…a　snail's　pace。　Suddenly　Colter　gasped；　and　Petra　turned　to　see　him　struggling　back　up　onto　his　float。　He　was　coughing　and　sputtering。
　〃I'm　okay。　It　scraped　me　too。　I　think　it's　tasting　us。〃
　〃Shut　up；　Colter；　and　swim！〃
　Petra　turned　toward　shore　again　and　forced　herself　back　into　her　rhythm。　Something　rushed　by　her　legs；　creating　powerful　swirls　around　her　dangling　feet。　Petra　kept　up　her　pace；　but　then　it　rushed　by　again；　closer　this　time。
　Petra　could　feel　the　attack　ing　and　then　Colter　shouted；　〃This　is　it！　Swim　for　it；　Petra！〃
　Confused　and　scared；　Petra　wanted　to　shout　she　was　swimming　but　had　no　energy。　Colter　was　facing　the　other　way。　She　couldn't　see　the　fish　but　its　wake　was　rushing　toward　Colter；　whose　float；　she　realized；　was　gone。　She　turned；　let　go　of　her　float；　and　began　arm　stroking　toward　shore；　finding　her　rested　arms　had　more　energy　left　than　her　nearly　useless　legs。　Despite　her　loud　splashing；　she　heard　the　attack　behind　her；　violent　thrashing　in　the　water。　Petra　was　too　afraid　for　herself　to　think　about　Colter。　Instead　she　repeated　to　herself；　left；　right；　left　right。　Soon；　her　arms　tired　and　her　speed　dropped　off。
　A　new　sound　came　behind　her　now；　a　rhythmical　splashing　Petra　began　to　cry。　Her　arms　moved　mechanically；　and　with　every　stroke　she　lost　a　little　speed。　Her　vision　was　blurring　Before　she　had　seen　the　blue　murk　of　the　depths。　Now　a　greenish　fuzz　hung　before　her　eyes；　drifting　up　to　meet　her；　and　then　on　her　next　stroke　she　hit　it。　It　was　the　bottom。
　She　folded　at　the　waist　trying　to　get　her　legs　under　her；　but　she　was　too　near　the　shore。　Now　she　found　herself　kneeling　in　the　water；　chest　deep。　Still；　she　felt　as　if　she　were　onshore；　safe　from　the　lake's　menaces。　Then　she　heard　splashing　behind　her；
　She　spun　to　see　Colter　wading　through　the　water；　spreading　his　arms　as　he　approached。　Petra　stood　to　take　his　embrace；　but　instead　Colter　turned　her　toward　shore。　With　his　arm　around　her　they　walked　along　the　lake　bottom　toward　the　meadow　beyond。
　As　their　bodies　met　the　cool　air；　they　began　to　shiver。　Petra　wanted　to　run　to　shore　and　into　the　grass　of　the　meadow　for　warmth；　but　Colter　held　her　back。
　〃Let's　make　sure　something's　not　waiting　for　us。〃
　The　breeze　was　chilly；　so　Petra　squatted　in　the　water　to　warm　herself。
　〃What　happened　back　there；　Colter？　I　thought　that　fish　had　you　for　sure。〃
　〃It　almost　did。　I　stuffed　my　Levi's　into　its　mouth。　It　tore　them　up　something　bad；　but　while　it　was　wasting　its　time　I　took　off。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　I　didn't　stop　to　help　you。〃
　Colter　turned　when　she　said　that；　anger　flashing　across　his　face。
　〃Don't　be　sorry。　Petra；　everything　I've　done；　I've　done　for　you。　Dr。　Piltcher　is　right　。　。　。　was　right。　I'm　not