jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第65章

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k　to　grab　Moose　and　throw　him　out。　Moose　skittered　away　to　the　back　of　the　RV　and　disappeared　behind　a　pile　of　debris　on　the　bed。　Instead　of　chasing　Moose；　Colter　reached　for　Sarah；　but　when　she　ran　to　avoid　his　reach　he　noticed　her　slight　limp。　He　felt　a　sharp　pang　of　guilt。
　〃Okay；　guys；〃　he　said　resignedly。　〃You　had　your　chance。　Let's　go　to　town。〃
　He　put　a　handful　of　raisins　on　top　of　the　counter　and　then　dumped　the　rest　into　a　pile　on　the　floor　of　the　RV。　The　two　little　dinosaurs　were　eating　again　by　the　time　he　reached　the　driver's　seat。　As　Colter　rumbled　down　the　road　toward　town；　he　shouted　back　to　his　little　passengers。
　〃If　either　of　you　has　to　take　a　crap；　you　hold　it　until　we　get　to　town；　or　no　more　raisins。〃
　The　dinosaurs　looked　up　but　then　returned　to　their　snack。　A　few　minutes　later　Moose　lifted　his　tail　and　left　a　little　pile　on　the　top　of　the　cabinet。
　
　Colter　found　the　town　with　only　a　thin　veneer　of　civilization　left。　Refugees　and　trapped　tourists　were　everywhere；　trying　to　buy　everything。　Panic　was　setting　in。　Colter　was　only　interested　in　getting　a　gun；　but　he　nonetheless　picked　up　pieces　of　information。　The　town's　people　didn't　want　to　believe　the　information　that　was　trickling　in；　but　Colter　knew　the　terrible　truth。　Whatever　put　those　dinosaurs　in　Oregon　had　done　things　all　over　the　country。　The　people　in　town　weren't　just　terrified　of　what　was　now　roaming　just　outside　their　town；　they　were　terrified　of　the　unknown。　Colter　had　little　sympathy　for　them。　Why　couldn't　they　take　what　was　and　live　with　it？　To　him；　this　endless　search　for　understanding　was　a　mystery。　But　not　death。　Death　could　be　understood；　and　death　of　a　friend…a　lover…demanded　response。
　Colter　tried　two　sporting　goods　stores　looking　for　a　rifle。　It　was　late；　but　every　store　had　a　light　on。　The　owners　weren't　taking　any　chances　on　losing　their　stock。　The　first　store　he　tried　still　had　some　riflest　but　the　owner　wasn't　selling　them　for　paper　money。　Colter　begged；　pleaded；　and　threatened；　but　came　away　without　a　rifle。　At　the　second　store；　he　got　the　same　reaction。　Then　he　drove　to　a　garage　and　managed　to　rent　some　time　with　a　torch；　telling　the　owner　he　wanted　to　work　on　his　vehicle。　Colter　blamed　the　hole　on　an　accident；　but　the　owner　was　suspicious。　Still；　Colter　could　weld　the　hole　in　the　side　at　least　roughly；　then　took　the　torch　into　the　RV。　In　one　of　the　lower　cabinets　Dr。　Coombs　and　Dr。　Piltcher　had　bolted　a　small　cheap　safe　to　the　floor。　It　wouldn't　stop　a　professional　thief；　but　it　would　stop　the　ordinary　jockey…boxer　looking　for　tape　players　and　loose　change。　Colter　cut　the　bination　lock　out；　careful　not　to　set　the　contents　on　fire。　As　he　expected　the　safe　was　full　of　money…several　thousand　dollars　in　currency；　and　six　thou…sand　in　traveler's　checks。　Behind　the　paper　money　Colter　found　two　heavy　wooden　boxes。　Colter　opened　one　to　find　a　long　row　of　gold　coins　lined　up　like　mints…twenty　coins。　Colter　took　six　of　them　and　put　the　rest　back　in　place　and　welded　the　door　closed。
　He　tried　the　first　sporting　goods　store　again。　The　owner　was　belligerent　until　Colter　held　out　his　hand　with　two　gold　coins。　The　owner　looked　over　the　coins　and　even　bit　one　to　make　sure　they　were　real。　Then　the　negotiation　started。　While　interested；　the　dealer　wouldn't　sell　Colter　the　rifle　he　wanted　for　only　two　of　the　coins。　Colter　mournfully　told　the　man　he　had　only　four　coins　and　a　family　back　in　Ashland　and　wasn't　sure　he　could　go　back　without　protection。
　〃Boy；〃　he　said；　〃you　could　kill　an　elephant　with　a　rifle　like　that。　Now　if　you　want　personal　protection　I've　got　an　assault　rifle　here　that　will　give　you　the　rapid…fire　capability　you　need。　I　might　even　be　able　to　get　you　a　banana　clip　to　go　with　it；　if　you　don't　say　where　you　got　it。　They're　not　legal；　you　know。〃
　Colter　held　his　ground　and　the　negotiation　continued。　Colter　didn't　want　to　give　him　four　gold　pieces…but　there　was　no　way　to　make　change。　Colter　now　understood　why　pirate　treasure　was　often　pieces　of　eight…breaking　his　gold　coins　into　eighths　would　make　the　negotiation　simpler。　Finally；　Colter　thanked　the　man　and　said　he'd　try　the　shop　down　the　street。　That's　where　he　got　the　deal　he　wanted…the　rifle；　three　spare　eight…round　clips；　and　three　boxes　of　ammunition　for　three　gold　coins。　Then　Colter　went　looking　for　supplies。
　The　only　open　grocery　was　guarded　by　six　police　officers；　and　the　people　going　in　were　ing　out　with　only　small　quantities　of　food。　Colter　drove　to　one　of　the　closed　stores　and　banged　on　the　glass　door　until　a　thin　middle…aged　man　came　from　the　back　waving　a　pistol　and　hollering　to　Colter。　Colter　put　the　gold　coin　against　the　window　and　held　it　there　with　his　finger。　The　man　stared　at　it；　then　walked　forward　and　put　his　nose　right　up　against　the　glass。　Then　he　put　on　a　pair　of　glasses　and　Colter　watched　the　guy's　eyes　light　up。　The　man　motioned　Colter　around　back；　through　the　delivery　entrance；　where　he　traded　his　coin　for　groceries；　propane；　bottled　juice　and　water；　and　raisins　and　other　fruit　for　Sarah　and　Moose。
　
　54。　　THE　DEN
　
　We　were　recovering　our　net　by　reeling　in　on　our　drum；　when　one　of　the　hands　yells　'lookit　there。'　　Well；　I　looked　and　sure　enough　there　was　a　head。。。　sitting　on　a　neck　as　thick　as　a　good…sized　cargo　boom。　But　it　wos　the　eyes　that　held　me；　they　were　large；　but　sort　of　deadlike。。。。　In　all　my　years　of　working　drift　nets。。。　I　ain't　never　e　across　the　likes　of　that。。。　But　that　animal　was　big　indeed。
　…Captain　Mario　Lapona；　in　Sea　Monsters　and　Other　Dangerous　Marine　Life
　
　Warm　Springs　Indian　Reservation；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　1：10　A。M。　PST
　
　　Petra　woke　in　darkness；　her　body　aching　from　head　to　toe。　When　she　tried　to　lift　her　head；　the　agony　threatened　to　drive　her　back　into　unconsciousness；　so　she　lowered　her　head　gingerly　until　it　met　the　wet　surface。　When　the　pain　subsided　a　little；　she　was　able　to　localize　her　injuries。　Her　head　was　the　worst；　but　her　left　foot　and　ankle　throbbed　and　pain　kept　her　from　bending　her　ankle　more　than　a　fraction　of　an　inch。　Petra　lay　still　again；　and　when　the　pain　in　her　ankle　subsided　she　became　aware　of　her　other　senses。　It　was　almost　pitch　black；　so　her　eyes　were　nearly　useless；　but　there　was　a　terrible　stench　in　the　air。　Some　of　the　smell　was　familiar…and　Petra　realized　she　was　lying　in　her　own　vomit。　Still；　when　she　tried　to　scoot　away；　the　pain　was　worse　than　the　smell；　so　instead　she　lay　still　and　tried　to　remember　what　happened。
　The　first　memory　to　return　was　Colter's　face。　She　could　see　it　through　a　murky　gloom。　He　was　moving　away；　pawing　at　the　air。　No；　not　pawing。　He　was　swimming；　and　it　wasn't　Colter　who　was　moving　away；　it　was　Petra。
　Then　it　all　came　back。　That　strange　fish。　The　one　that　came　out　of　the　water；　walking　on　its　flippers　and　then　grabbing　her　ankle。　It　had　pulled　her　under　the　water；　and　she　had　drowned。　But　she　hadn't　drowned；　not　unless　this　was　hell。　It　sure　wasn't　heaven。　But　where　was　she；　and　why　wasn't　she　dead？
　Petra　kept　her　head　as　still　as　possible　and　reached　out　slowly　with　her　right　hand；　sliding　it　across　the　wet　surface。　The　bottom　was　clearly　rock。　Then　her　hand　touched　something　slimy　and　scaly。　She　jerked　her　hand　back　and　froze。　It　was　the　fish。
　Her　heart　pounded　so　loudly；　she　feared　the　fish　would　hear。　But　nothing　happened。　It　didn't　move　and　made　no　sounds。　When　Petra's　panic　subsided；　she　began　to　think　more　clearly。　The　fish　she'd　touched　couldn't　have　been　the　one　that　grabbed　her；　that　one　was　covered　with　hard　scales。　This　fish　was　slimy。　Petra　forced　her　hand　back　out　to　the　fish　and　touched　it　again；　poking　it　with　a　fingernail。　It　didn't　move。　She　ran　her　hand　along　its　length。　It　was　four　feet　long　with　a　long　fin　on　one　end。　She　couldn't　bring　herself　to　explore　its　head；　after　she　discovered　that　the　fish　was　well　decayed。　She　went　to　wipe　her　hands　on　her　pants　but　found　she　wasn't　wearing　any。　In　fact　she　wasn't　wearing　much　at　all。
　She　reached　out　above　her　head　and　found　something　covered　with　smooth　skin；　not　scaly；　with　a　long　thin　neck　and　at　least　two　well…muscled　back　legs。　Petra　realized　she　was　in　a　den。　She　was　part　of　the　food　supply　of　that　walking　fish　that　snatched　her。　Somewhere　on　the　trip　to　the　den　she　had　passed　out；　but　she　hadn't　drowned。　At　least　not　quite。　Her　head　told　her　she　had　been　without　oxygen　for　a　while。　She　worried　briefly　about　brain　damage　but　realized　there　was　a　more　immediate　problem。　She　was　part　of　some　prehistoric　fish's　larder；　and　she　didn't　want　to　be　its　main　course　at　the　next　meal。
　Petra　lay　still；　listening　as　hard　as　she　could；　but　heard　nothing。　She　was　pretty　sure　the　fish　wasn't　in　the　den　with　her。　There　were　no　sounds　that　weren't　her　own。　She　reasoned　that　if　the　fish　could　walk　out　of　water；　and　snatch　her　and　other　land　animals；　that　it　must　be　an　air　breather。　The　only　sounds　of　breathing　were　her　own。　No；　this　den　was　filled　with　death　and　rot；　not　life。　Except　her　life。
　Petra　lifted　her　head　slowly；　pausing　frequently　to　let　the　stars　clear　from　her　eyes。　The　pain　kept　her　at　the　edge　of　tears；　but　she　was　almost　to　a　sitting　position　when　her　head；　with　a　dizzying　pain；　hit　the　ceiling。　It　seemed　to　be　made　of　sticks　and　mud。　There　was　air　in　here；　she　realized；　stale　putrid　air；　but　air。　She　must　be　near　the　surface　of　the　lake。　She　thought　about　digging　through　the　roof　but　didn't　know　what　was　above。　Could　this　part　be　under　the　lake？　Surely　not；　if　it　was　made　of　mud。
　She　sat　semireclined；　holding　her　body　up　with　her　hands；　and　looked　around。　It　seemed　brighter　now。　But　where　was　the　light　ing　from？　Petra　looked　above　and　behind；　seeing　nothing　but　the　gloom。　Then　she　spread　her　knees　apart　and　looked　between。　There　was　a　soft　glow　on　the　floor　of　the　den。　It　took　her　a　minute　to　realize　she　was　looking　at　a　pool　of　water；　and　the　pool　was　glowing　softly。　That　was　the　way　out。　But　even　if　she　could　stay　conscious；　could　she　swim　far；　weakened　as　she　was　and　with　a　crushed　ankle？　She　was　debating　whether　to　try　it　when　the　light　suddenly　disappeared　and　the　water　began　to　ripple。　Something　was　swimming　up　the　tunnel。
　She　flopped　back　down　and　froze；　trying　to　remember　the　position　she　had　been　in。　The　water　of　the　pool　sloshed　violently　enough　to　splash　her　ankles。　She　began　to　tremble　with　fear　and　bit　her　lip；　trying　to　stop　the　shaking。　Suddenly　there　was　a　loud　splash　and　the　wet　sound　of　blowing　air…she　could　feel　the　walking　fish　behind　her。　It　puffed　and　blew　a　couple　of　more　breaths；　tasting　the　air　of　its　den　as　if　to　make　sure　it　had　not　been　disturbed。　Petra　knew　her　only　chance　was　to　play　dead；　but　reflexively　she　wanted　to　run　or　fight。
　Still；　she　suppressed　her　instincts　as　the　fish　pulled　its　body　from　the　water。　She　heard　its　flipper…feet　pad　across　the　wet　surface；　its　body　or　tail　dragging　across　the　floor　of　the　den。
　Then　something　pushed　her　in　the　back。　Petra　tried　to　remain　limp；　but　she　panicked　again。　Rigor　mortis。　She　should　be　stiff；　shouldn't　she？　Too　late。　She　couldn't　change　her　act　now。　It　pushed　her　again；　this　time　higher　in　the　back。　Petra　rocked　gently　again；　acting　limp。　She'd　play　stiff　later。　Then　the　fish　walked　forward　and　began　rummaging　around　in　the　back　of　the　den。　Soon　Petra　heard