jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第66章

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r。　Then　the　fish　walked　forward　and　began　rummaging　around　in　the　back　of　the　den。　Soon　Petra　heard　the　sounds　of　chomping　and　eating。　Relief　swept　her　body。　She　was　too　big　for　an　after…dinner　snack；　so　unless　it　planned　to　taste　her；　she　didn't　think　she　was　on　tonight's　menu。　From　the　smell　of　the　cave　this　prehistoric　fish　liked　its　food　well　deposed。
　When　the　fish　finished　its　meal　it　rummaged　around　a　bit　longer；　then　padded　back　toward　Petra。　She　held　perfectly　still　when　it　approached；　but　then　to　her　horror；　it　plopped　down　behind　her；　its　back　pressed　against　hers。　She　waited　for　it　to　move；　but　it　didn't。　After　a　few　minutes　she　heard　rhythmic　breathing。　It　was　asleep；　its　back　against　Petra。　Now　she　couldn't　move。　She　was　trapped。
　
　55。　　PAT　AND　PATTY
　
　The　killer　whale　has　no　peer；　it　fears　nothing　in　its　domain　and　has　no　qualms　about　attacking　any　other　beast　it　makes　contact　with；　even　the　true　whale。　Would　it　kill　a　man？　Probably　yes。
　…James　B。　Sweney；　Sea　Monsters　and　Other　Dangerous　Marine　Life
　
　West　of　Naples；　Florida
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　　Hey　look；　a　fin！〃　Chris　yelled。　Ron　woke　to　see　a　black　fin　break　the　surface；　and　then　disappear　again。　Another　fin　appeared　farther　out　and　then　another。
　〃Are　they　sharks？〃　Carmen　asked。
　〃No；〃　Rosa　answered。　〃They're　too　big。〃
　〃They're　over　here　too；〃　Chris　said　excitedly。
　Ron　looked　right　to　see　two　more　fins。　Then　one　of　the　animals　leapt　out　of　the　water。　It　was　black　on　the　top　but　white　on　the　bottom；　the　clear　markings　of　orca。　It　was　a　pack　of　killer　whales…there　were　at　least　ten。
　The　whales　circled　Patty　and　Pat；　ing　closer　with　each　pass。　Then　Chris　shouted　and　pointed　straight　down。　Ron　looked　to　see　a　black　shape　shoot　between　Patty　and　her　baby。　Another　orca　followed；　but　this　one　rammed　Pat；　driving　him　away　from　his　mother。　More　whales　swam　between　Pat　and　Patty；　driving　the　baby　farther　away　from　its　mother。
　〃They're　after　the　baby；〃　Rosa　said　sadly。　〃We've　got　to　help　it。〃
　Suddenly　the　baby　let　out　an　ear…piercing　squeal。　The　mother　immediately　whipped　her　head　around；　wrenching　her　body　into　a　partial　turn。　Ron　and　the　others　dropped　spread…eagled；　to　keep　from　being　thrown　off。
　When　the　mother　was　satisfied　the　baby　was　still　following　she　resumed　her　course。　Ron　looked　down　at　the　baby　and　heard　rapid；　deep　breathing；　punctuated　by　a　slight　whine。　Rosa　pointed　silently　to　the　baby's　wake；　everyone　saw　that　Pat　was　leaving　a　pink　trail　in　the　water。
　Suddenly　Pat　dipped　deep　into　the　water；　nearly　submerging　his　head；　and　screamed　again。　Chris　put　his　hands　to　his　ears　to　block　the　horrible　sound；　but　Patty　wrenched　around　again　and　Chris　had　to　spread　his　arms　wide　to　keep　from　rolling　off。　Ron　looked　back　to　see　two　more　fins　rushing　toward　Pat。　Now　the　fins　dipped　below　the　surface　and　a　few　seconds　later　Pat　shuddered　twice　in　quick　succession。
　Pat　screamed　continuously　now；　and　his　wake　was　a　crimson　stream　far　into　the　distance。　The　orcas　were　in　a　blood　frenzy　and　the　pack　circled　closer。　The　flashing　orcas　were　designed　for　this　kind　of　attack。　Sleek　and　powerful；　they　darted　in　and　out；　biting　into　the　struggling　Pat；　who　squealed　with　every　blow。　Patty's　huge　tail　might　have　been　formidable　on　land；　but　in　the　water　it　was　nearly　useless　in　the　defense　of　Pat。　Occasionally　Patty's　tail　would　break　the　surface　and　slam　down　into　the　sea　with　a　deafening　slap。　The　orcas　seemed　bothered　by　the　sound　at　first；　but　then　ignored　it；　dodging　it　every　time。
　The　kids　were　horrified。　But　Ron　realized　that　to　the　orcas　it　was　just　feeding　time；　and　Pat　was　the　target。　Even　in　the　civilized　world　justice　is　fleeting；　in　the　animal　world　it　is　meaningless。
　The　attack　on　Pat　was　going　on　at　a　leisurely　pace。　The　orcas　were　enjoying　the　hunt；　streaking　up　from　below…their　attacks　drenching　Patty's　passengers　with　bloody　spume。
　〃I　want　to　get　out　of　here；〃　Chris　moaned。
　〃Me　too；〃　Rosa　said。　〃Let's　swim　away。〃
　Ron　had　never　heard　of　orcas　eating　people；　but　he　wasn't　sure　anyone　had　ever　swum　through　a　feeding　frenzy；　covered　in　the　blood　from　the　kill。　Apparently　Carmen　agreed。
　〃We're　still　safer　here；　kids；〃　she　said。　〃If　we　get　in　that　water　they　might　e　after　us。　Let's　stay　up　here　as　long　as　we　can。〃
　Ron　nodded。　He　decided　now　was　the　time　to　use　the　last　of　the　water　and　passed　the　bottle　to　the　kids。　They　each　drank　about　a　quarter　and　passed　the　bottle　to　Carmen…who　started　to　refuse；　but　Ron　frowned　at　her。　There　was　no　point　in　saving　the　little　that　was　left。　After　Carmen　drank　her　share　she　passed　the　bottle　back　to　Ron。　As　he　drank　the　last　of　the　water；　he　noticed　dozens　of　seabirds　gathered　overhead。　They　must　have　been　following　the　killer　pack；　scavenging　the　remains　of　their　victims。　The　birds　circled　and　screeched；　waiting　like　vultures。
　Pat　was　barely　moving　now；　although　he　still　seemed　to　have　little　trouble　floating。　Patty　was　getting　frantic；　and　began　bleating　defiantly　at　the　circling　orcas。　Then　as　Pat　slowed　to　a　near　stop；　Patty　turned　in　a　wide　circle；　around　him。　Carmen　yelled　for　everyone　to　lie　flat；　to　get　as　much　traction　as　possible。　Patty；　even　with　the　long　dragging　tail；　couldn't　e　close　to　encircling　her　baby。
　The　orcas　paused；　apparently　considering　Patty's　new　strategy。　As　Patty　circled；　Pat　floated　in　the　reddening　water；　squealing　for　his　mother's　help。　Ron　began　to　think　it　was　time　to　get　off。
　〃Here　they　e　again！〃　Carmen　shouted。
　Ron　turned　to　see　an　orca　darting　toward　Pat；　skimming　along　just　below　the　surface；　timing　its　attack　to　just　clear　Patty's　massive　tail。　They　could　feel　the　muscles　along　her　spine　bunch　as　she　suddenly　lifted　her　tail　and　stopped　swimming。　The　whale　continued　forward；　confident　it　would　clear　Patty's　tail；　but　Ron　realized　the　orca　had　miscalculated。　The　refugees　felt　the　collision　when　several　tons　of　tail　slammed　into　the　attacking　orca；　and　then　her　whole　body　wrenched　to　the　side。
　The　whole　family　cheered。
　〃You　show　them　you're　the　mama！〃　Carmen　shouted。
　〃Way　to　go；　Patty！〃　Rosa　yelled。
　〃Yeah；　way　to　go；〃　Chris　echoed；　and　then　added；　〃one　down；　nine　to　go。〃
　Chris's　mention　of　the　odds　sobered　the　group。　There　were　many　more　orcas；　and　they　had　no　idea　how　badly　their　member　was　hurt。　Then　it　surfaced　outside　Patty's　protective　circle。　When　it　blew　its　lungs　clear　the　spray　was　pinkish。　It　dove　again　and　then　quickly　surfaced；　again　blowing　pink　spray。
　The　family　watched　the　injured　whale　swim　off　to　the　west；　tilted　at　an　angle；　zigzagging　through　the　water。　Ron　realized　it　was　being　followed　by　the　flock　of　scavenging　birds。
　The　orcas　continued　to　circle；　now　deadly　efficient；　businesslike。　Then　an　orca　split　off　and　angled　in　at　Patty　broadside；　disappearing　beneath　the　waves　a　hundred　yards　from　them。　Suddenly　something　slammed　into　her；　shaking　Ron　and　his　family。　Patty　screamed；　swinging　her　tail　up　and　down　violently；　and　the　family　reached　out；　grabbing　onto　one　another's　hands　and　holding　one　another　up。　Another　hit　came　from　the　opposite　side；　and　Patty　wrenched　again；　twisting　toward　the　new　attack。　Another　hit　came　from　the　front　and　Patty's　screams　became　deafening。　The　attacks　stopped　for　a　moment；　and　Ron　looked　for　the　rest　of　the　orcas…now　busy　with　Pat。
　The　baby　was　twisting　in　the　water；　whipping　his　neck　back　and　forth　as　the　orcas　took　turns　hitting　him。　Pat　began　to　list　to　the　right　and　fought　to　keep　himself　upright。　As　he　rolled；　Ron　could　see　his　left　front　leg　e　up　toward　the　surface。　It　looked　like　the　leg　of　an　elephant；　thick　with　baggy　skin；　but　with　three　distinct　clawed　toes。　Now　an　orca　buried　itself　in　the　flesh　of　the　leg　and　whipped　its　body　back　and　forth；　tearing　free　meat　and　skin。
　Pat　had　no　more　screams　left　in　him。　Another　hit　to　his　belly　finished　pushing　Pat　to　his　side；　and　his　head　disappeared　into　the　water。　Pat　would　die　soon；　either　of　blood　loss　or　drowning。　As　he　rolled　over；　Ron　could　see　the　left　rear　leg　was　nothing　more　than　a　thick　white　bone　with　a　few　chunks　of　bloody　meat　still　dangling。
　The　attacks　on　Patty　continued；　even　though　the　orcas　were　at　the　same　time　making　a　meal　of　Pat。　It　was　getting　harder　for　the　family　to　stay　on　her　shuddering　back。
　Orca　after　orca　slammed　into　Pat's　body；　tearing　away　bloody　chunks　that　now　floated　in　the　crimson　water；　making　a　gory　soup。　The　seabirds　were　beginning　to　risk　dropping　briefly　into　the　water　to　feed　on　the　scraps。
　In　her　pain；　Patty　forgot　about　Pat　and　began　swimming　away　from　the　attack；　out　of　the　red　soup；　but　leaving　a　pink　trail　of　her　own。　For　a　moment　the　attacks　on　her　stopped。　She　resumed　her　eastward　swim；　returning　hope　to　Ron　and　the　rest　of　the　family。　A　sense　of　relief　spread　through　the　little　group；　but　they　kept　glancing　back；　fearful　the　orcas　would　follow。
　
　56。　　　MARIEL　FROM　THE　WINDOW
　
　They　do　not　know　the　hidden　meaning　of　what　is　taking　place　now；　nor　have　they　even　understood　the　lessons　of　the　past。　Consequently；　they　have　no　knowledge　of　what　is　ing　upon　them。
　…The　ing　Doom；　The　Dead　Sea　Scrolls
　
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　　Luis　woke　to　the　beat　of　a　drum　pounding　in　his　head；　the　rhythm　of　his　pulse；　but　with　each　beat　came　a　stabbing　pain。　It　was　another　blinding　headache；　but　he　managed　to　push　himself　up；　using　the　arms　of　the　rocking　chair；　and　then　stepped　close　to　the　window。
　His　vision　was　ing　back；　but　his　eyes　were　blurry；　making　it　difficult　to　see　into　the　distance。　In　the　bathroom　he　washed　his　eyes　with　a　little　water　from　the　toilet　tank；　now　three…quarters　gone。
　Back　in　the　living　room；　he　saw　a　large　still　form　in　the　meadow。　Still　groggy；　Luis　left　the　apartment　and　went　down　the　stairs　one　step　at　a　time；　his　hand　firmly　gripping　the　rail。　The　trail　was　easy　to　find。　It　was　marked　with　blood。
　Following　the　flattened　sticky　grasses；　Luis　moved　slowly；　keeping　his　eyes　on　the　ground　and　placing　each　foot　with　care。　When　he　looked　up；　he　spotted　a　dinosaur　in　the　path　ahead。　It　was　small　pared　to　Mrs。　Weatherby's　dinosaur；　and　only　half　as　tall　as　Luis；　but　it　stared；　unmoving。　Finally；　he　shouted　at　the　beast。
　〃Shoo。　Shoo！　I　said　get　the　hell　out　of　my　way！〃
　The　dinosaur　stared　back　at　him　blankly。　Suddenly　Luis　took　three　running　steps　forward；　screaming　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　The　dinosaur　bolted　to　Luis's　left　and　disappeared　into　the　shoulder…high　grass；　but　two　more　appeared　and　darted　across　Luis's　path；　following　their　sister。　Luis　stood　still；　shocked；　then　laughed　at　himself　despite　his　throbbing　headache。　If　he　had　known　there　were　three　of　them　would　he　have　charged　？　Certainly　not。　Sometimes；　he　reflected；　the　victory　goes　to　the　lucky；　not　the　wise。
　Walking　faster　now；　Luis　plunged　ahead。　The　path　began　to　curve　left　as　if　the　wounded　dinosaur　had　lost　its　way。　Luis　paused　and　stood　on　the　tips　of　his　toes。　He　could　see　the　form　of　the　dinosaur　over　the　tops　of　the　grass。　Luis　turned；　cutting　through　the　grass；　and　then　he　froze。　Something　was　moving　ahead。　He　could　see　the　tips　of　the　grass　waving。　He　squatted；　waiting　and　listening。
　He　should　be　with　Melinda　and　his　kids；　he　thought。　He　longed　to　see　them　all；　b