jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第70章

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w　was　still　slung　over　his　shoulder；　but　Ellen　realized　it　would　be　of　little　use。　She　and　Angie　followed；　keeping　their　heads　below　the　top　of　the　grasses。　Halfway。down　the　hill　Ripman　turned　and　padded　softly　through　the　forest；　his　speed　and　noise　increasing　as　he　put　distance　between　himself　and　the　dinosaur。
　Again；　Ellen　and　Angie　followed；　but　their　best　speed　would　not　keep　Ripman　in　sight　for　long。　Angie　pressed　her　hand　against　her　waist；　wheezing　again　and　slowing。　Ellen　trotted　beside　her。　They　settled　into　a　low　running　rhythm；　a　pace　Angie　seemed　able　to　sustain。
　After　a　mile　they　heard　the　roar。
　Ellen　looked　back　to　see　the　dinosaur's　head　staring　at　them　from　around　a　tree。　As　they　gaped　in　horror；　the　dinosaur's　mouth　opened　wide；　and　another　deafening　roar　rattled　their　nerves。　Angie　poured　the　rest　of　her　energy　into　her　feet　and　picked　up　the　pace；　as　Ellen；　risking　another　look　behind；　saw　the　dinosaur　in　pursuit；　gaining　fast。
　Suddenly　they　broke　free　of　the　forest　into　a　small　clearing。　On　the　other　side　was　a　section　of　tumbled…down　forest…　smoke　drifted　up　from　the　far　side　of　the　clearing。　Ripman's　head　appeared　above　the　grass　and　his　arms　began　waving。　His　voice　drifted　over　the　clearing。　〃Here；　this　way！〃
　Angie　and　Ellen　raced　across　the　clearing；　too　afraid　to　risk　a　look　behind　them。　Ripman　was　waving　frantically；　signaling　them　to　pass　him　and　keep　on　going。　As　they　passed；　Ripman　dragged　a　flaming　bundle　behind　them；　setting　fire　to　the　grass。　When　Ripman　passed　her　at　a　dead　run；　she　looked　back　to　see　the　dinosaur　pound　through　the　fire；　extinguishing　the　small　flame　with　its　massive　feet。　Now　Ellen　knew　they　weren't　going　to　make　it。
　Ripman　made　it　to　the　fallen　trees　first；　dodging　around　the　massive　foliage　of　one　and　climbing　over　the　trunk。of　the　next；　using　broken　limbs　like　a　ladder。　Ellen　followed　his　lead；　throwing　herself　over　the　log；　panicked　by　the　crashing　sounds　of　the　dinosaur　behind　her。　She　reached　back　to　pull　Angie　down　with　her；　only　to　see　her　friend　silhouetted　on　the　top　of　the　tree　trunk　behind　her；　leaning　forward　to　roll　down　the　other　side。　But　she　never　made　it。　Towering　over　Angie　was　the　dinosaur。　A　nine…foot　foreleg　with　razor　sharp　claws　swept　the　length　of　the　tree；　shearing　off　limbs　six　inches　thick。　Angie　screamed　when　she　saw　the　arm　ing　toward　her；　and　with　a　whipping　motion　it　caught　her　full　in　the　side。　Her　left　arm；　across　her　body；　was　severed　above　the　elbow　as　the　claws　buried　themselves　into　her　torso；　and　it　tumbled　down　Ellen's　side　of　the　trunk　disappearing　into　the　grass　six　feet　from　Ellen's　face。　When　the　dinosaur　swiped　Angie　off　the　tree　and　threw　her　back　in　the　clearing；　it　followed　the　body　with　a　triumphant　roar。
　Ellen　lay　in　the　foliage　under　the　trunk　paralyzed　with　horror；　seeing　only　the　blood　stains　in　the　grass。　Then　she　felt　someone　pulling　on　her；　jerking　her　out　of　the　foliage。
　〃We've　got　to　go　while　it's　busy。　It　won't　take　long。〃
　Ellen　became　an　automaton。　She　followed　Ripman　over　and　under　trees　carelessly；　her　footing　and　grip　mattered　little。　She　tripped；　fell；　and　fell　again。　Her　pants　and　blouse　tore　and　shredded。　Her　skin　underneath　was　scratched　and　cut　by　broken　limbs。　She　felt　nothing　and　saw　nothing　except　Angie's　blood　in　the　grass。
　Every　time　she　fell　she　got　up　more　slowly。　Soon　Ripman　was　helping　her　to　her　feet　every　time　and　supporting　her　with　an　arm　around　her　waist。　They　worked　their　way　across　the　fallen　trees　and　to　a　small　stand　of　upright　trees；　then　back　into　fallen　trees。　Sometime　after　that　Ripman　pushed　her　up　onto　another　tree　with　his　hands　on　her　bottom。　When　she　reached　the　top　she　collapsed　spread…eagled；　her　eyes　in　a　glassy　stare；　her　mind　filled　with　bloody　grass。　This　time　Ripman　didn't　help　her　off　the　top。
　Shouts　and　laughter　filled　her　ears。　Slowly　the　bloody　grass　was　replaced　by　another　image。　It　was　Carl's　laughing　face。　She　forced　her　eyes　to　focus　and　realized　the　face　was　real。　It　was　Carl　and　behind　him　were　the　guys。　Carl　smiled；　showing　all　his　teeth。
　〃Now；　where　were　we？〃
　
　59。　　THE　TOOLMAKER
　
　According　to　the　rabbinical　authority　Rashi；　ancient　tradition　knows　of　periodic　collapses　of　the　firmament；　one　of　which　occurred　in　the　days　of　the　Deluge；　and　which　repeated　themselves　at　intervals　of　1；656　years。
　…Immanuel　Velikovsky；　Worlds　in　Collision
　
　Warm　Springs　Indian　Reservation；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　7：10　A。M。　PST
　
　　Moose　was　riding　on　the　dashboard；　stretched　out　and　soaking　up　the　rays　of　the　morning　sun　while　Sarah　was　curled　up　on　the　passenger　seat　with　a　blanket。　The　two　of　them　had　gorged　on　raisins　and　apples。　Behind　them；　tucked　safely　in　a　cabinet；　was　a　rifle　with　a　bore　big　enough　to　bring　down　an　elephant；　and　three　boxes　of　ammunition。　Colter　was　retracing　the　route　Dr。　Coombs　had　taken；　except　Colter　had　a　different　purpose　in　mind。　Dr。　Coombs；　Dr。　Piltcher；　and　Petra　had　e　to　explore；　to　understand　what　had　happened。　Colter　was　going　back　for　only　one　reason：　to　kill　the　monsters　that　had　taken　Petra　from　him；　and　especially　one。　He　didn't　know　how　he　was　going　to　get　it；　but　he　wasn't　leaving　without　its　head。
　Colter　knew　he　was　close　now。　The　road　was　nothing　but　two　ruts。　He　cleared　the　top　of　the　hill；　and　then　rolled　to　a　stop；　surprised。　He　expected　to　see　the　dinosaurs；　but　not　one　fifty　feet　away；　walking　down　the　road　ahead　of　him。　When　it　heard　Colter's　engine　the　animal　turned　and　looked　at　the　RV。　It　was　like　the　one　that　had　killed　Dr。　Coombs。　Colter's　anger　flared。　He　set　the　brake　and　dug　the　rifle　out　of　the　cab'　inet；　checking　the　clip　to　make　sure　he　had　a　full　load；　and　then　jacked　a　round　into　the　chamber。　When　he　aimed　the　rifle　through　the　front　window　at　the　rear　of　the　walking　dinosaur；　he　looked　down　the　sights　to　see　Moose's　head　staring　from　the　end　of　the　barrel。
　Colter　put　the　weapon　down　and　shooed　Moose　out　of　the　window；　and　then　carried　Sarah；　blanket　and　all；　to　the　back　of　the　RV。　To　keep　them　busy　and　out　of　the　way　he　put　a　few　raisins　on　top　of　Moose's　cabinet　and　a　bigger　pile　on　the　floor　for　Sarah。　Moose　immediately　attacked　Sarah's　pile；　knowing　his　would　still　be　there　when　he　was　done。　Colter　snickered。　He　liked　Moose。　He　was　a　thinker。
　Now　the　dinosaur　was　well　down　the　road；　so　Colter　released　the　brake　and　pulled　up　on　its　left。　The　creature　kept　walking　but　looked　nervously　at　the　RV　rumbling　along　beside　it。　Something　was　wrong；　Colter　thought。　Why　wasn't　it　scared？　Colter　pulled　ahead　of　the　dinosaur　and　parked；　getting　out　with　his　rifle。　He　checked　the　load。　There　was　one　round　in　the　chamber　and　eight　in　the　clip。　He　had　three　more　clips　tucked　into　a　fanny　pack。
　Colter　scanned　the　area；　making　sure　none　of　the　big　carnivores　were　around。　When　he　did；　he　noticed　other　dinosaurs　like　the　one　on　the　road　were　milling　around　in　the　prairie　grass　bordering　their　meadow。　Everything　looked　the　same　as　when　he　left；　except　the　grass。　It　was　wilting。　Not　enough　water？　Colter　wondered。　Maybe　it　was　the　cool　air。　The　dinosaur　land　looked　almost　tropical；　but　if　it　was　too　cold　for　the　grass　and　brush；　maybe　it　was　too　cold　for　the　dinosaurs。　Maybe　they　were　dying。　Colter　smiled　at　the　thought。　Then　something　blew　across　the　road…one　of　Petra's　T…shirts　he'd　thrown　out　the　RV　window。　Colter　flushed　at　the　thought　of　Petra；　and　he　turned；　bringing　the　rifle　to　his　shoulder。　The　dinosaur　was　lumbering　toward　him　at　a　slow　pace。　Colter　waited　with　his　finger　on　the　trigger；　letting　the　dinosaur　e　closer。　He　didn't　want　to　miss。　He　knew　the　head　and　neck　were　heavily　armored　with　bone；　and　he　needed　to　hit　it　dead　on　to　kill　it　instantly。　If　he　just　wounded　it；　it　would　be　as　dangerous　as　the　mother　whose　egg　they　had　stolen。
　Wait　till　you　see　the　whites　of　their　eyes；　he　said　to　himself。
　The　dinosaur　came　on　straight　toward　Colter。　Slowly　he　began　to　pull　back　on　the　trigger；　the　sights　lined　up　between　the　dinosaur's　widely　spaced　eyes。　Just　before　he　pulled　the　trigger　it　turned；　angling　to　Colter's　left　to　go　around　him。　Colter　kept　his　aim；　but　the　head　began　to　swing；　occasionally　blocking　his　shot　with　the　bony　collar。　Colter's　frustration　grew；　and　he　lowered　the　rifle。　He　wanted　a　head　shot；　but　he　didn't　want　to　get　too　far　from　the　safety　of　the　RV。　Frustrated；　he　raised　the　gun　to　his　shoulder；　aimed　at　the　neck　of　the　passing　dinosaur；　and　pulled　the　trigger。
　The　slug　entered　just　in　front　of　the　dinosaur's　shoulder。　But　the　dinosaur　only　jumped　from　fright　at　the　gun's　loud　report…then　it　jogged　down　the　road。　Colter　jacked　another　cartridge　into　the　chamber　and　chased　the　animal。　He　didn't　have　to　go　far。　Suddenly　it　collapsed　to　its　knees；　breathing　deeply　through　its　nose；　and　then　fell　to　its　side；　its　chest　heaving。　Colter　watched　it　dying；　a　feeling　of　deep　satisfaction　filling　his　soul。　After　a　few　minutes　the　breathing　became　irregular　and　Colter　worried　it　might　die　by　itself。　So　he　put　another　slug　into　its　throat　and　then　another　into　its　exposed　chest。　It　didn't　breathe　after　that。
　〃Man；　that　felt　good！〃　Colter　screamed。　Then　he　put　two　more　rounds　into　the　dinosaur's　belly　and　one　into　an　eye。　〃Yes！〃　he　screamed。　〃How　does　it　feel　to　be　the　hunted？　Huh？　See　what　a　toolmaker　can　do？　Huh？　That's　why　you　guys　are　extinct；　you　dead　piece　of　crap！〃
　Colter　enjoyed　the　kill　for　another　few　minutes　and　then　walked　back　to　the　RV。　It　was　going　to　be　a　good　day。　These　evolutionary　rejects　would　learn　who　the　real　top　predator　was；　and　Colter　would　be　the　teacher。
　He　looked　around　for　another　target；　the　other　monoclonius；　scared　by　the　sound　of　the　gunfire；　were　positioning　themselves　defensively　in　the　prehistoric　clearing。　Colter　jeered；　then　screamed　down　the　hill　at　them：　〃It　ain't　gonna　do　you　any　good。　I　got　the　magic！〃　Then　he　held　the　rifle　above　his　head；　whooped　and　danced；　and　ran　back　to　the　RV。
　He　parked　the　RV　near　its　earlier　spot。　Debris　from　the　dinosaur　attack；　as　well　as　Petra's　clothes；　littered　the　clearing。　Leaving　Moose　and　Sarah　in　the　RV；　Colter　approached　the　dinosaurs。　Six　of　them　stood　lined　up　in　two　rows。　Their　heads　were　down；　the　horns　pointed　at　Colter。　He　walked　parallel　to　the　dinosaur　wall；　watching　the　horns　track　him　every　step　of　the　way。　When　he　reached　the　end　of　the　line　he　lifted　his　rifle；　lined　the　sights　up　between　the　eyes　of　the　last　dinosaur；　and　pulled　the　trigger。　The　rifle　kicked　into　his　shoulder；　and　the　loud　report　startled　the　lines　of　dinosaurs；　but　they　didn't　bolt。　The　one　on　the　end　took　the　slug　just　above　the　snout。　Colter　was　disappointed；　he　thought　for　sure　at　this　distance　he　could　put　it　right　between　the　dinosaur's　eyes。　But　it　didn't　matter。　The　dinosaur's　front　legs　buckled；　and　it　dropped　to　its　knees。　Its　back　legs　seemed　locked　and　held　its　rear　haunches　high。　Then　its　eyes　closed；　and　with　the　back　legs　still　locked；　it　tipped　left　and　fell　onto　its　side；　dead。
　The　back　row　of　dinosaurs　moved　nervously　back　and　forth；　swinging　their　heads。　They　looked　like　they　wanted　to　bolt　for　the　taller　brush；　but　their　instinct　told　them　staying　in　the　line　was　the　best　defense。　Colter　smiled。　These　poor　dumb　bastards　were　too　stupid　even　to　save　themselves。