jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第74章

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　〃Ellen　and　Angie　don't　know　what's　happened。　They　could　be　in　dinosaur　country　already。　But　that's　not　all。　Something's　going　on。　A　friend　of　mine　says　they've　ordered　the　Portland　area　target　mapped…bit　mapped　for　a　terrain　guidance　system。〃
　〃They　use　those　to　guide　bombers；　right？〃
　〃Mmmm…yes；　bombers　and　cruise　missiles。　The　system　allows　them　to　fly　at　treetop　level。　That　kind　of　guidance　system　is　very　reliable；　and　very　accurate。〃
　〃You　don't　think　they're　going　to　bomb　those　dinosaurs；　do　you？〃
　〃I　can't　believe　you　would　need　a　bomb　to　keep　them　at　bay。　Remember　what　caused　this　in　the　first　place？〃
　Terry　tried　to　recall　Dr。　Paulson's　explanation　of　the　puter　models　and　their　relation　to　patterns　of　explosions。　Large　nuclear　detonations　had　caused　this；　detonations　in　the　megaton；　not　kiloton　range。　Then　Terry　made　the　connection。
　〃You　don't　think　they're　going　to…〃　Terry　stammered。
　〃Hair　of　the　dog…〃
　That　realization　sent　a　shiver　through　Terry。　He　was　going　to　be　flying　into　the　land　of　dinosaurs；　not　knowing　whether　his　wife　made　it　to　Portland；　or　what　had　happened　to　his　son；　and　wondering　whether　a　Stealth　bomber　would　suddenly　unleash　nuclear　hell　on　them。　He　wanted　to　say　it　couldn't　get　any　worse　than　this；　but　every　time　he　thought　that；　he　was　wrong。
　The　helicopter　was　there　as　promised。　Although　Bill　kept　saying　he'd　〃get　the　hang　of　it　again　soon；〃　he　proved　himself　a　reasonably　petent　pilot。　They　circled　to　identify　the　quilted　segment；　and　then　entered　from　the　southeast。　The　skyscrapers　in　city　center　were　gone；　and　most　of　the　urban　sprawl　that　covered　the　valley　and　hills　had　vanished。　The　shape　of　the　land；　however；　was　the　same。　Terry　picked　out　the　Columbia　River　glistening　in　the　distance；　and　the　Tualitan　River；　where　it　should　be。　The　Willamette　River　was　gone；　but　something　reflected　silvery　light　through　the　trees　on　the　east　side　of　the　valley。　If　that　was　the　Willamette　it　had　been　drastically　rechanneled。　The　new　forest　itself　was　not　uniform。　Sections　of　it　looked　like　they　were　being　clear…cut；　with　the　trees　dropped　on　top　of　one　another　in　a　confusing　jumble。　Other　sections　seemed　collapsed　in；　the　trees　holding　one　another　up；　as　if　they　had　been　badly　crowded。　Other　sections　appeared　to　be　normal　forest。　Then　Bill　spotted　something。
　〃There！　In　that　clearing！〃　he　shouted。
　He　banked　the　helicopter　to　the　right；　bringing　it　full　circle　and　dropping　altitude　at　the　same　time。
　The　clearing　looked　more　like　a　river　bottom　to　Terry；　a　long　earthy　gouge　that　disappeared　in　the　distance。　The　strip　was　speckled　with　large　sheets　of　water　that　reflected　the　sun　and　clouds。　Bill　pointed　again　and　brought　the　helicopter　around　so　Terry　could　see　a　herd　of　animals。　Terry　first　thought　of　buffalo；　but　dismissed　the　thought。　These　were　much　bigger；　four…legged　animals　with　long　necks　and　tails。
　They　were　dinosaurs。　They　seemed　to　be　slowly　walking　along　the　bank　of　what　had　been　a　river。　Bill　and　Terry　watched　the　herd　in　silence；　considering　the　implications。　Then　Bill　made　a　wide　circle　and　began　searching　again。　West　of　the　dinosaur　herd　they　spotted　a　clearing。　In　it　were　three　horses　with　riders；　one　horse　carrying　two。　As　Bill　banked　the　helicopter；　and　circled；　the　riders　stopped　and　watched　it　land。　Bill　kept　the　blades　rotating　while　Terry　jumped　out。
　Even　from　the　air　Bill　and　Terry　could　tell　Ellen　and　Angie　weren't　there；　but　the　riders　might　have　information。　They　looked　to　be　a　family。　The　man　was　riding　double　with　a　boy　of　about　twelve；　and　the　other　two　looked　to　be　his　wife　and　teenage　daughter。　They　all　looked　fortable　on　horseback　and　wore　denim　and　flannel。　But　they　seemed　watchful。　Everyone　but　the　boy　had　a　rifle。　Terry　approached　carefully。
　〃Hi　there。　Can　you　help　me？　We're　looking　for　some　people；　two　women。〃
　〃I'd　get　back　up　in　the　air　if　I　were　you。　There's　killer　lizards　in　here；　big　ones。〃
　〃I　know；　that's　why　I　need　to　find　these　people。　One's　my　wife。〃
　〃She　better　not　be　in　here。　We　just　lost　a　horse　to　one…　nearly　got　my　boy。〃　The　man　nodded　to　the　boy　riding　behind　him。
　〃It　killed　Copper；〃　the　boy　sniffed。　He　had　been　crying。
　〃Came　out　of　nowhere；〃　the　man　continued。　〃It　was　about　half　the　size　of　my　boy's　horse　but　had　jaws　you　wouldn't　believe。　Sank　its　teeth　into　the　horse's　neck　and　brought　old　Copper　to　the　ground。　If　my　boy　hadn't　jumped　free　he'd　be　dead。〃
　〃Have　you　seen　anyone　else　in　here？〃
　〃Saw　some　people　this　morning；　but　they　were　heading　out；　two　men　and　a　woman。　You　should　do　the　same。　Now　we　gotta　go。〃　The　man　nudged　his　horse　with　his　heels　and　headed　off。
　〃Hey；　how　far　does　this　go；　anyway？〃
　The　woman　turned　before　she　followed　the　others。
　〃Don't　know　for　sure。　I　heard　Vancouver's　still　there；　but　the　bridges　are　down。　Someone　said　it　goes　all　the　way　to　Wilsonville。〃
　John　thanked　her　as　she　rode　to　catch　up　with　the　others。　Wilsonville；　he　said　to　himself。　They　had　already　seen　how　far　south　the　affected　area　was；　and　the　woman　had　mentioned　Vancouver。　That　meant　not　only　was　his　house　gone；　but　90　percent　of　the　metropolitan　area　was　now　dinosaur…infested　forest。
　Bill　took　them　up　again　and　deeper　into　the　quilt。　Two　clearings　later　Terry　spotted　something　orange…fluorescent　orange　and　certainly　not　natural。　Bill　couldn't　land　so　he　hovered　at　treetop　level；　giving　Terry　a　better　look。　There　were　four　three…wheeled　ATVs　in　the　trees。　Two　of　them　lay　on　their　sides。　Each　one　carried　an　orange　flag　on　a　seven　foot　whip　pole…　that　was　the　orange　Terry　had　spotted。　They　circled　slowly　but　saw　no　signs　of　any　people。　Even　when　they　widened　their　search　circle　they　never　found　the　owners　of　the　bikes。
　Terry　directed　Bill　into　the　valley；　using　the　few　landmarks　he　could　recognize；　but　mostly　relying　on　his　best　judgment。　Terry　was　directing　Bill　toward　his　house；　or　at　least　where　his　house　had　been。　That　would　be　the　logical　place　for　Ellen　to　look　for　John。　Terry　let　Bill　fly　past　the　location　before　he　directed　him　to　circle。　There　was　nothing　there　but　forest。　Bill's　circles　grew　wider　and　wider；　and　still　they　saw　nothing　but　trees；　no　houses；　roads　or　buildings。　Surely；　Terry　told　himself；　Ellen　and　Angie　would　have　realized　the　futility　of　their　search　by　the　time　they　got　this　far。
　Bill's　air　force　eyes　were　used　to　seeing　things　from　overhead；　and　again　he　spotted　something　new。　Motorcycles　were　parked　around　a　black　spot　in　a　clearing。　He　circled　the　clearing　but　again　saw　no　people；　only　movement　in　the　grass；　small　animals　scurrying　for　hiding　places。　Bill　landed　near　the　bikes　and　left　the　rotors　turning；　then　climbed　out；　offering　an　M…16　to　Terry。　Terry　refused。　He　didn't　know　how　to　shoot　it　and　felt　he'd　be　a　danger　to　Bill　if　he　tried。
　The　motorcycles　were　parked　around　a　fire；　still　smoldering；　littered　with　empty　liquor　bottles。　In　the　grass　on　one　side　was　the　head　of　a　dinosaur；　about　twice　the　size　of　a　human　head。　Its　eyes　were　gone　and　insects　crawled　over　it；　Terry　was　mesmerized。　Even　though　it　was　as　much　a　product　of　evolution　as　Terry；　it　seemed　unearthly。
　Bill　climbed　on　one　of　the　bikes；　turned　the　key；　then　tried　kick　starting　it。　The　loud　whirring　startled　Terry　and　also　something　in　the　grass。　Walking　slowly　toward　the　movement；　Terry　saw　the　grass　had　been　trampled　or　run　down　in　the　makeshift　path。　More　grass　rustled　to　his　right；　and　he　froze。　Then　he　stepped　into　the　grass　toward　the　movement。　He　took　two　steps　down　a　slight　hill　before　he　saw　it。　It　was　a　body；　a　human　body；　in　worse　shape　than　the　dinosaur　head。　Large　and　small　animals　had　been　feeding　on　it；　and　it　was　nothing　more　than　blackened　meat。　Terry　turned　away；　struggling　to　control　his　nausea。
　Bill　was　looking　at　the　engine　on　the　motorcycle　when　he　returned。
　〃There's　a　body　down　there；〃　Terry　said　slowly。
　Bill　stood　up　and　merely　looked　in　the　direction　Terry　pointed。
　〃Well　that　might　fit。　These　bikes　have　been　sabotaged。　Someone　got　mad　and　cut　up　their　wiring；　and　maybe　killed　a　guy。〃
　Before　Terry　could　respond　something　big　ran　behind　him。　Bill　shouldered　his　rifle　and　stared　into　the　grass。
　Suddenly　a　head　popped　up。　It　was　larger　than　a　human　head；　with　an　elongated　snout　and　two　rows　of　needle　teeth。　Hissing　at　them；　it　ducked　its　head　and　continued　walking。　Bill　fired　blindly　after　it。
　〃What　are　you　doing；　Bill？　That's　an　extinct　species…was　an　extinct　species。〃
　Another　movement　to　Terry's　left　brought　Bill's　gun　around　again。　Another　head　popped　up　and　then　disappeared；　similar　to　the　first。　At　the　sound　of　more　movement　in　the　grass；　Terry　realized　they　were　surrounded。
　〃They're　hunting　us　in　a　pack；〃　Bill　said。　〃Stay　close　to　me　and　when　I　say　run；　you　run。〃
　Following　Bill's　gesture；　they　stepped　toward　the　helicopter。　Terry　wished　he'd　not　turned　down　Bill's　other　rifle。　A　pounding　behind　them　caught　their　attention；　and　Bill　and　Terry　turned　to　see　a　dinosaur　about　the　size　of　a　Shetland　pony　charge　through　the　grass。　Its　body　was　gray…green；　with　a　short　thin　neck　and　a　tail　held　up　almost　to　head　height。　It　was　running　on　two　back　legs　and　had　short　clawed　arms　folded　against　its　chest。　Its　mouth　was　open；　revealing　its　double　row　of　teeth；　but　it　made　no　sound。　Bill　fired　three　shots　into　the　chest　in　quick　succession　and　the　dinosaur　collapsed　into　the　grass；　tumbling　toward　Terry　and　Bill；　yelping　and　screaming；　drowning　out　the　thump　of　the　helicopter。　Bill　fired　three　more　shots　at　movement　to　their　left　and　was　rewarded　with　another　yelp。
　〃Run！〃
　Terry　bolted　toward　the　helicopter；　gritting　his　teeth　and　pushing　his　legs　to　move　him　faster　than　he　had　in　years。　Bill　pulled　ahead　of　him；　but　Terry　had　nothing　more　to　give。　Terry's　eyes　darted　back　and　forth　as　he　ran；　watching　for　any　signs　of　attack。　As　he　pounded　and　puffed　through　the　grass；　he　realized　the　sounds　of　the　helicopter's　engines　would　drown　out　the　noise　of　dinosaurs　in　pursuit。　They　could　be　surprised　at　any　moment。　Bill　scrambled　in　as　Terry　ran　to　the　far　side；　swung　the　door　open；　and　climbed　onto　the　seat。　Just　as　he　was　closing　the　door　he　heard　Bill　yell　a　warning。　Instinctively　Terry　leaned　into　the　cockpit　and　pulled　his　exposed　leg　high。　Teeth　buried　themselves　into　the　seat　beneath　Terry；　and　the　dinosaur　struggled　to　pull　the　seat　out　from　under　him。　Then　Bill's　M…16　slapped　down　on　Terry's　other　leg。　Terry　froze；　but　Bill　hesitated。　Suddenly　the　dinosaur　lunged　for　a　better　mouthful。　Quickly　Terry　shoved　himself　up　off　the　seat；　his　back　arched。　The　jaws；　snapped　closed　just　below　his　crotch。
　〃Kill　it；　Bill！　Kill　it！〃　he　screamed；　and　Bill　fired　a　shot　into　the　dinosaur's　head。　Blood　spattered　Terry's　face　and　crotch。　The　dinosaur　stopped　moving　and　slumped；　but　its　jaws　were　still　set　in　the　seat。
　〃Get　it　out　of　here。　We've　got　to　take　off　before　another　one　gets　us！〃
　Terry　leaned　on　Bill　and　kicked　the　head。　With　each　kick　he　heard　the　seat　tear；　but　the　dinosaur's　blood　made　the　head　slippery　and　Terry's　blows　began　to　slide　off。　A　dozen　kicks　later；　the　head　flopped　out　the　door　with　a　piece　of　seat　still　in　its　mouth。
　Bill　increased　rotor　speed　and　pulled　up　immediately。　As　they　lifted　off；　Terry　could　see　two　more　dinosaurs　running