jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第68章

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　Luis　shushed　her　with　a　finger　to　her　lips；　nodding　to　the　kids。　He　didn't　want　to　scare　them。　Melinda；　prehending；　quickly　changed　the　subject。
　〃We　were　so　worried。　Steve　and　I　both　tried　to　look　for　you；　but　we　couldn't　get　through。　It's　almost　like　a　war。〃
　〃It　is　a　war。　Where's　Cinda？〃
　〃With　Steve　and　Tanya。　She's　fine。　What　about　Mrs。　Weatherby？〃
　Luis　shook　his　head　furtively；　knowing　Melinda　and　Charlotte　would　understand。
　〃She's　with　a　friend　now。　A　friend　who'll　never　leave　her；〃　he　explained。　Later　he'd　report　the　details。
　Then　Luis　picked　little　Katrina　up　in　his　arms；　and　he　and　his　family　walked　off　into　what　was　left　of　the　city。
　
　57。　　MOONSCAPE
　
　Major　Cox　called　today　with　a　most　bizarre　report。　He　claimed　that　the　pond　at　his　Sussex　home　had　disappeared。　I　investigated；　as　was　my　duty；　to　find　it　indeed　was　gone；　boat；　dock；　water；　fish　and　all；　leaving　nothing　but　a　muddy　hole。
　…Constable　Clarke；　October　6；1921
　
　Honolulu；　Hawaii
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　3：25　A。M。　AHT
　
　The　moon　photos　were　spread　all　over　Dr。　Wang's　office；　Carrollee　and　Emmett　had　divided　them　up　for　analysis。　Few　university　classes　were　going　on；　and　they　might　have　recruited　a　couple　of　graduate　students　to　help　them。　But　they　were　scientists；　and　if　there　was　a　discovery　to　make　here；　Carrollee　and　Emmett　wanted　to　be　the　first　to　make　it。
　Each　of　them　pared　the　new　pictures　with　file　photos　taken　long　before　the　disaster。　Each　also　used　a　schematic　of　the　moon's　surface　that　pointed　out　features　and　labeled　major　craters。　Every　new　photo　was　scanned　quickly；　first　for　obvious　changes；　and　then　painstakingly　viewed　through　a　magnifying　glass；　paring　it　with　those　from　the　file。
　They　flipped　a　coin　to　decide　who　got　to　examine　the　Sea　of　Tranquility。　Emmett　won；　but　Carrollee　looked　over　his　shoulder　anyway；　trying　to　spot　something　before　he　did。　But　they　found　nothing　that　varied　from　the　plates　they　had　pulled　from　the　files。　Frustrated；　they　divided　up　the　rest　of　the　lunar　landing　sites　and　examined　each　of　those　areas　carefully。　After　that　they　began　systematically　searching　the　surface　of　the　moon。　Emmett　sat　up　and　stretched　his　arms　high　over　his　head。　His　photos　were　on　Dr。　Wang's　desk　and　he'd　been　bending　over　them　most　of　the　night；　and　his　back　ached。
　〃My　back　is　killing　me；〃　he　plained。
　〃At　least　you　got　the　desk；〃　Carrollee　pointed　out；　rubbing　her　own　back；　and　then　her　eyes。
　Carrollee　was　on　the　floor　on　her　hands　and　knees；　wearing　a　white　knit　shirt　with　white　Bermuda　shorts。　White　would　be　fine　on　most　people；　but　Carrollee　was　not　most　people。　She'd　added　a　shiny　white　belt；　white　socks；　white　shoes；　white　globular　earrings　the　size　of　Ping…Pong　balls；　and　a　large　white　barrette。　A　white　fanny　pack　had　been　deposited　in　a　chair。　In　a　blizzard　she　would　be　invisible；　better　camouflaged　than　Russian　snow　troops。　Emmett　regarded　her　briefly；　rubbed　his　back　again；　and　then　leaned　over　the　desk。
　He　had　gotten　the　focal　point　of　his　magnifying　glass　just　right　when　he　felt　Carrollee　behind　him。　Then　she　put　her　hands　on　his　hips　and　pressed　hers　against　his　bottom。　As　soon　as　her　hands　touched　him；　his　breathing　stopped；　and　his　heart　started　to　pound。　He　felt　her　hands　massaging　his　shoulders；　but　Emmett　knew　he　would　never　relax　with　her　body　pushed　up　against　him。　Her　hands　worked　their　way　down　his　spine；　and　he　began　to　breathe　again；　not　deeply；　in　relaxation；　but　in　short　ragged　bursts。　He　remained　bent　over　the　desk；　enjoying　the　sensations　and　changes　taking　place　in　his　body。　It's　only　a　friendly　back　rub；　he　told　himself；　over　and　over。　This　may　not　be　the　signal　to　cross　the　line　from　professional　friends　to　something　more　personal。
　Emmett　had　nearly　convinced　himself　it　was　an　innocent　gesture　when　Carrollee　stopped　her　massage　and　folded　herself　over　Emmett's　back；　slipping　her　hands　around　his　waist；　and　then　sliding　them　up　to　rub　his　chest。　Her　breasts　against　his　back　and　her　hands　on　his　chest　told　him　her　true　intentions。　Then　she　gave　a　ragged　sigh；　and　put　her　head　down　on　his　back。
　〃I　want　a　back　rub　next；〃　she　said；　and　then　added；　〃or　something　to　relax　me。　Too　bad　we　didn't　find　something　in　the　obvious　spots；　like　the　Apollo　sites。　I　thought　you　had　a　good　idea　there　for　a　while。〃
　The　hands　were　still　rubbing　Emmett's　chest；　sending　warm　rushes　through　his　body；　and　he　was　afraid　if　he　spoke　she　would　stop。
　〃You　know；　I　just　thought　of　something；〃　Carrollee　said。
　Carrollee's　hands　stopped　moving　and　her　head　came　up；　although　she　remained　folded　over　his　back。
　〃How　did　they　map　those　landing　sites？　Weren't　there　some　missions　before　the　Apollo　landings？　。　。　。　I　mean；　unmanned　missions？〃
　With　that　Carrollee　stood　up；　her　mind　and　mood　now　clearly　back　on　the　problem　at　hand。　Emmett　wanted　to　shout　at　her　not　to　think　so　much；　but　he　answered　her。
　〃Sure；　they　had　to　pick　a　good　landing　site；　so　they　crashed　some　unmanned　photographic　craft　into　the　moon。　Landed　a　couple　too；　I　think。〃　Emmett　stood　up；　shaking　his　head　to　disperse　the　fog　of　lust。　〃They　had　a　terrible　time　with　them…　they　were　called　Rangers。　Yeah；　now　I　remember。　It　took　six　or　seven　tries　to　get　one　out　of　Earth　orbit；　and　then　they　missed　the　moon　entirely。　There　were　some　other　failures　too。〃　Emmett　searched　while　he　talked；　looking　for　the　Space　Almanac　he　used　to　locate　the　Apollo　landing　sites。　When　he　found　it　he　looked　up　Ranger。　〃Three　Rangers　crashed　into　the　moon。〃
　〃Give　me　the　sites。〃
　〃Ranger　seven　impacted　in　the　Sea　of　Moons；　Ranger　eight　in　the　Sea　of　Tranquility；　and　Ranger　nine　in　the　highlands　near　the　Sea　of　Clouds。〃
　〃You　take　the　Sea　of　Clouds　and　I'll　take　the　Sea　of　Moons。〃
　Carrollee　rushed　back　to　her　photos　on　the　floor　and　shuffled　through　them；　matching　the　photos　to　her　Lunar　Atlas。　Emmett；　suddenly　feeling　petitive；　leafed　hastily　through　his　own　photographs。
　Twenty　minutes　later　they　were　still　frustrated。
　〃Carrollee；　we're　expecting　too　much。　This　is　only　a　theory。　Even　if　it's　accurate　it　doesn't　mean　there　would　be　any　evidence　of　it　on　the　moon。〃
　Carrollee　listened；　but　her　face　showed　she　was　unconvinced。　She　was　in　her　research　mode；　a　hunter　after　a　prey。　Without　a　kill；　a　discovery；　she　would　be　terribly　frustrated。
　〃You　said　they　landed　a　couple　of　craft　too？　Rangers？〃
　〃No；　they　were　called　。　。　。　Searcher　。　。　。　no；　Surveyor。〃　Emmett　turned　to　his　Almanac　again　and　found　the　surveyor　project。　He　read　through　the　section　quickly。　〃Okay；　we　have　landings　in　the　Ocean　of　Storms　。　。　。　two　there；　Sea　of　Tranquility；　Central　Bay　。　。　。　there's　a　crash　site　there　too；　and　the　highland　region　near　Tycho　Brahe。　You　start　with　the　Ocean　of　Storms；　and　I'll　start　with　Central　Bay。　Whoever's　done　first　gets　Tycho　Brahe；〃　Emmett　added　to　heat　up　the　petition。
　They　both　examined　their　photos；　trying　to　match　them　as　quickly　as　possible。　The　early　petitive　rush；　however；　soon　faded　as　the　monotony　of　correlating　details　returned。　Emmett　began　blanking　out　and　found　he　had　to　review　sections。　Convinced　he　had　covered　all　of　Central　Bay；　he　searched　Tycho　Brahe；　mildly　happy　that　he　had　beaten　Carrollee。
　Taking　a　break；　he　decided　to　stretch；　and　needle　her　a　little；　but　when　he　looked　at　her　the　back　rub　feelings　came　back。　She　was　bent　over　on　the　floor；　her　bottom　up　and　head　down；　staring　through　the　magnifying　glass。　Suppressing　an　urge　to　fold　himself　over　her；　as　she　had　him；　he　stared　for　a　full　minute；　savoring　her　body　and　his　feeling。　Then　he　realized　she　hadn't　moved　her　magnifying　glass　in　all　that　time。
　〃You've　found　something？〃
　〃I　don't　knew。　This　is　peculiar　though。　It　might　just　be　a　shadow。〃
　Emmett　grabbed　his　magnifying　glass　and　got　down　next　to　Carrollee。
　〃Right　here；〃　she　said；　pointing。　〃Right　there　in　that　crater。　I　think　it's　called　Flamsteed　Crater。〃
　Since　there　wasn't　room　for　both　of　their　heads；　Carrollee　leaned　back　so　Emmett　could　get　a　good　look。　He　looked　first　at　the　Lunar　Atlas　and　then　at　Bridgette's　photo。　This　was　no　shadow；　and　what　he　saw　hit　him　like　a　slap　in　the　face。
　〃This　is　it。　This　is　what　Dr。　Paulson　is　looking　for。　We've　got　to　get　this　to　him；　but　how？　We　need　a　high…definition　fax　machine。〃
　〃My　brother　Richard's　in　the　military；　remember。〃
　'〃Great！　This　could　be　important…What　am　I　saying？　This　is　incredible。　I'll　type　a　message　while　you　call　him。〃
　When　everything　was　arranged　they　turned　to　leave　and　Carrollee　rubbed　Emmett's　back　with　her　hand。　Emmett　warmed　at　her　touch　and　slipped　his　arm　around　Carrollee's　shoulders；　pulling　her　close　and　crossing　the　border　from　friendly　to　personal。
　〃When　we　get　back；〃　he　suggested；　〃maybe　I　can　give　you　a　back　rub。〃
　Carrollee　smiled　and　then　said；　〃Tres　bien。〃
　
　58。　　THE　GUYS
　
　I　will　hand　you　over　to　brutal　men；　men　skilled　in　destruction。
　…Ezekiel　21：31
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　6：44　A。M。　PST
　
　　Ripman　did　e　back　in　the　morning；　but　with　a　take…it…or…leave…it　offer。
　〃I'll　take　you　to　the　edge　of　dinosaur　country；　then　you're　on　your　own。〃
　〃What　about　John　and　Cubby？　They're　your　friends；　Ripman；　your　good　friends；〃　Ellen　said。
　〃Friends　will　get　you　killed　in　here。　Hey；　I　hope　they　make　it；　but　it's　not　my　problem。　You　want　me　to　get　you　out　of　here　or　not？〃
　Ellen　had　no　choice。　There　was　little　chance　she　could　find　John　on　her　own。　With　Carl　and　the　guys　on　the　loose　and　dinosaurs　to　worry　about；　she　needed　help。　Besides；　Angie　deserved　to　get　out　of　this　alive。　They　had　known　each　other　for　only　a　few　days；　yet　they　were　friends　for　life。
　Ripman　agreed　to　get　them　out　on　the　Carlton　side　and　led　off　through　the　trees。　His　pace　was　brisk；　and　keeping　up　was　difficult　but　manageable。　A　fall　chill　greeted　them　when　they　climbed　out　from　beneath　the　roots　of　the　fallen　giant。　It　had　been　snug　in　the　hole；　but　goose　bumps　brought　Ellen　thoughts　of　her　coat　left　behind　in　the　clearing。　Still；　Carl　and　the　guys　could　have　it；　she　told　herself；　but　they　were　never　going　to　have　her。
　Ripman　kept　up　the　fast　pace　of　the　previous　day；　and　Ellen's　chill　quickly　turned　into　a　light　sweat。　The　trail　he　blazed　led　them　up　and　down　hills；　which　he　never　tried　to　go　around。　Fortunately；　the　dense　canopy　of　the　giant　trees　prevented　significant　underbrush　and　walking　was　relatively　easy。　The　occasional　fallen　trees　were　problematic；　since　they　seemed　to　explode　into　new　growth；　but　the　detours　were　few；　Ellen　was　disoriented；　but　it　appeared　that　their　path　was　the　closest　thing　to　a　straight　line。　Tired；　she　began　watching　her　feet；　letting　herself　be　absorbed　by　the　right…left　rhythm；　which　replaced　her　thoughts；and　her　fears　for　herself　and　for　her　son。　Suddenly　she　ran　into　Ripman；　knocking　him　into　a　stumble。
　〃Listen。〃
　Ellen　and　Angie　looked　at　each　other　and　shook　their　heads。　Ripman　turned　his　head　toward　the　southern　sky。　Ellen　and　Angie　followed　his　gaze。　A　few　seconds　later　they　heard　a　distant　roar；　the　sound　of　a　jet。　It　grew　louder；　and　they　looked　through　the　towering　canopy　to　glimpse　the　plane；　but　it　was　futile。　The　sound　reached　a　peak　and　then　faded。
　〃This　is　just　too　weird；　Ellen。〃
　〃What　is；　An