jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第79章

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　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　11：32　A。M。　PST
　
　　Kyle　needed　a　bath　and　a　night's　sleep。　Instead；　he　found　himself　staring　up　the　sheer　face　of　a　mountain；　preparing　to　climb　into　the　unknown。　Kyle　had　listened　to　the　stories　of　the　I…5　mountain　with　mild　interest。　He　liked　a　mystery　as　well　as　the　next　person　。　。　。　until　it　involved　him。　And　it　involved　him　when　the　little　girl　had　been　carried　up　the　mountain　by　the　bird…thing。
　The　state　police　had　taken　charge　at　the　mountain　and　were　trying　to　send　trapped　motorists　back　down　I…5。　Many　of　the　motorists　were　resisting；　however；　preferring　to　stay　and　watch　the　drama　with　the　little　girl　unfolding。　The　congested　traffic　had　dissolved　a　little；　but　it　still　meant　driving　up　the　median。　To　Kyle；　the　mountain　looked　like　a　scene　from　Disneyland。　Right　where　the　freeway　should　continue　was　a　tall　rock　mountain；　surrounded　by　boulders　and　a　small　meadow。　Hundreds　of　people　milled　around　the　clearing；　radiating　fear　and　excite'　ment　in　the　air。　Kyle　half…expected　to　see　hot　dog　vendors。
　〃It　looks　like　a　carnival；〃　Shirley　whispered。
　〃It　looks　like　the　Twilight　Zone；'　〃　Kyle　responded。
　A　state　police　officer　named　Murphy　was　giving　orders　and　greeted　Kyle　and　the　other　climbers。　He　talked　directly　to　Kyle；　ignoring　Shirley　and　the　others。
　〃Thanks　for　ing。　You　can　see　the　situation；〃　Murphy　said。　〃We　got　no　idea　where　this　sucker　came　from；〃　he　said；　jerking　his　thumb　toward　the　mountain；　〃and　no　way　of　getting　up　the　damn　thing。　The　little　girl　makes　noises　once　in　a　while；　so　we're　pretty　sure　she's　still　alive。　We've　tried　climbing　up；　but　we　can　get　only　about　a　third　of　the　way。　Can't　get　good　footholds。〃
　〃What　about　this　bird　that　picked　up　the　little　girl？〃　Kyle　asked。　〃Not　many　birds　could　do　that。〃
　〃You　got　that　right；〃　Murphy　assured　him。　〃It　was　a　big　sucker　for　sure。　Had　wings　fifteen　or　twenty　feet　across。　Funny　thing　though；　it　seemed　to　have　trouble　picking　up　that　little　girl。　Like　it　didn't　have　much　strength。　Witnesses　said　it　kind　of　floated　her　up。〃
　〃What　kind　of　bird　was　it？〃　Shirley　asked。
　〃They　said　it　was　a　diseased　condor。　Didn't　have　any　feathers；　but　it　was　too　big　to　be　anything　but　a　condor。〃
　Shirley　shook　her　head　in　disbelief。　How　could　a　diseased；　featherless　condor　fly？
　〃Where's　the　bird　now？〃　Kyle　asked。
　〃Shot。　Probably　dead。　Fell　down　behind　those　rocks　up　there　with　the　little　girl。　Christy；　her　name　is…no；　Chrissy。〃　Murphy　pointed　to　an　outcropping　a　few　hundred　feet　up　the　mountain。
　〃Probably　dead；　or　dead？〃　Kyle　asked。
　〃Haven't　heard　the　bird　for　a　while。　Not　since　the　other　one　left。〃
　〃Other　one？〃　Kyle　probed。
　〃Where's　the　mother？〃　Shirley　cur　in。　Murphy　pointed　to　a　woman　sitting　on　a　blanket　in　the　clearing；　surrounded　by　people。　Two　men　with　guns　were　standing　nearby。　Shirley　walked　off　toward　the　mother。
　Kyle　waited　until　she　was　out　of　earshot。　〃Other　one？〃　he　repeated。
　〃Yeah。　There's　another　one。　Every　once　in　a　while　it　floats　out　over　the　peak　of　the　mountain。　It　came　down　low　at　first；　but　we　scared　it　off　with　shots。　It　doesn't　e　down　anymore。　We　figure　it's　the　mate。　Probably　gave　up　when　the　other　one　died。　I　don't　think　you　have　anything　to　worry　about。　If　it　es　back　while　you're　climbing；　we'll　give　you　cover　fire。〃
　Kyle　found　no　fort　in　the　thought　of　Murphy　and　his　men　blasting　away　over　his　head。
　〃Murphy；　when　we're　up　there　I　don't　want　any　cover　fire。　I　don't　want　any　fire　at　all。　I　don't　want　to　risk　a　ricochet　or　bringing　some　of　that　mountain　down　in　an　avalanche。〃
　Murphy　didn't　exactly　disagree；　so　Kyle　began　hauling　the　climbing　gear　over　to　the　mountain。　As　he　walked　a　man　separated　from　the　crowd　and　joined　him；　a　tall　thin　pale　man　with　black…rimmed　glasses。　He　obviously　had　something　to　say。　〃It's　not　a　condor。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃I　said；　it's　not　a　condor。　I　got　here　just　before　those　fools　over　there　shot　the　first　one。〃　The　pale　man　jerked　his　head　toward　the　two　civilians　with　rifles；　who　began　following　within　earshot。　〃Those　two　brainless　wonders　blew　the　wing　off　a　living；　breathing　pterosaur。〃
　Kyle　stopped　in　his　tracks　and　stared　at　the　man。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？　Are　you　trying　to　tell　me　it　was　a　dinosaur？　A　pterodactyl？〃
　〃Certainly　not。　It　was　too　big　to　be　a　pterodactyl。　Surely　it　was　part　of　the　pterosaur　family；　but　it　most　assuredly　wasn't　a　pterodactyl。　More　likely　it　was　a　pteranodon。　They　were　much　bigger。　Cretaceous　period；　I　believe。〃
　Kyle　stared　incredulously　as　the　pale　man　continued　talking。　〃It　was　magnificent。　So　graceful　in　the　air；　and　so　huge。　Nature's　finest　flying　creation；　perfectly　designed　to　conserve　every　ounce　of　energy。　The　aerodynamics　involved　stagger　the　imagination。　You　see　as　the　wingspan　increases；　the　weight　increases　exponentially。　Theoretically　anything　this　big　shouldn't　fly　at　all。　Even　with　the　hollow　bone　structure。　But　it　uses　the　surface　area　of　its　wings　to　maximize　use　of　the　thermal…〃
　〃What　about　the　little　girl？〃　Kyle　cut　in。
　〃Well；　they　were　most　likely　scavengers。　Carrion　eaters。　I　imagine　that　little　girl　was　too　tempting　a　target　to　ignore；　just　small　enough　to　lift　off　the　ground。　The　way　it　swept　down　and　grabbed　her　。　。　。　nature's　perfect　flying　machine。　And　those　two　men　shot　it。　They　should　be　shot；　not　that　beautiful　pterodon。〃　Kyle　couldn't　stand　it。　He　turned　and　walked　back　to　the　two　men　with　guns。
　〃You　the　two　that　shot　that　thing？〃　The　two　nodded　nervously。　〃Well；　I'm　going　up　there　to　see　if　that　little　girl's　all　right　and　when　I　get　back　I　want　to　punch　that　man；〃　he　said；　pointing　at　the　pale　one　behind　him。　〃Just　in　case　I　don't　e　back；　will　you　see　that　it　gets　done？〃
　The　two　men　looked　at　each　other　and　then　smiled。　The　pale　man　turned　even　paler　and　then　walked　hurriedly　toward　the　crowd；　the　two　following。
　What　had　the　jerk　called　it？　Kyle　wondered。　A　pterodon？　Kyle　had　heard　strange　reports　of　disasters　ing　through　the　station　house；　but　they　were　explainable。　But　what　could　explain　dinosaurs　flying　around？
　When　Jay　and　Kimberly　carried　the　rest　of　the　equipment　to　the　base　of　the　mountain；　Kyle　tried　to　examine　the　rock　face。　It　would　be　an　easy　climb　over　the　boulders　and　loose　rock　at　the　bottom；　but　above　that　the　rock　face　quickly　became　vertical。　Shirley　returned　from　talking　to　the　mother　while　he　was　still　mapping　his　climbing　route。
　〃She's　terrified。　We'd　better　get　up　there　quick　and　settle　this　one　way　or　another。〃　Shirley　looked　up　to　the　overhang　where　the　girl　had　disappeared。　〃We　can　do　this　free　climb。〃
　〃No　we　can't；〃　Kyle　responded　quickly。
　Shirley　looked　at　him　and　raised　her　eyebrows。
　〃There's　two　of　them；　remember？　We　want　to　be　anchored　if　the　other　one　es　after　us。〃
　Sure　that　Shirley　saw　right　through　him；　Kyle　quickly　changed　the　subject。
　〃Not　only　that；　but　that　guy　back　there；〃　he　said　nodding　to　the　pale　man；　〃well；　he　said　the　bird　up　there　was　a　dinosaur。　Really！　He　called　it　a　pterodon。〃
　〃No　such　thing；　Officer　Kyle。〃
　〃You　think　a　condor　could　lift　a　little　girl？〃　
　〃Depends　on。how　much　she　weighs；〃　Shirley　said　thoughtfully。　〃But　I　doubt　it　in　this　case。　Chrissy　is　three　years　old。　I'll　bet　she　weighs　thirty　pounds。〃
　〃Then　what　lifted　her　up　this　mountain？〃
　Shirley　frowned；　then　turned　to　Kyle　with　an　infectious　smile。
　〃I　give　up。　Let's　go　see。〃
　〃Another　thing；　Shirley。　I　want　you　to　take　a　gun。〃
　〃No　thanks。　I　don't　know　how　to　use　one　anyway。　I'd　probably　end　up　shooting　you。　I'll　take　the　first　aid　pack；〃　she　said　holding　out　her　hand。
　Kyle　had　no　intention。of　getting　shot；　so　he　quickly　agreed　with　Shirley。　The　first　part　would　be　a　free　climb　through　the　loose　rock　and　boulders。　Then　they　would　take　separate　routes　up　the　face；　setting　pitons。　Once　the　first　piton　was　set　Jay　and　Kimjberly　could　belay　their　fall。　Because　of　the　size　difference　it　was　decidedJay　would　act　as　belayer　for　Kyle　and　Kimberly　for　Shirley。
　Kyle　stood　at　the　base　of　the　mountain；　running　over　his　training　in　his　mind。　His　climbing　skills　were　a　tool；　not　a　hobby；　and　seldom　used。　Shirley　and　the　others；　however；　spent　weekends　scaling　mountains　for　fun。
　When　Kimberly　and　Jay　were　ready；　Kyle　followed　Shirley；　who　was　scrambling　up　the　boulders　to　the　beginning　of　the　rock　face。　Kyle　followed　easily　enough　but　found　himself　breathing　hard　when　he　caught　up　with　her。　Shirley　was　examining　the　rock　above　her　and　mapping　her　route。　Kyle　picked　a　spot　thirty　feet　from　Shirley　and　checked　the　rock　face。　It　would　be　easier　for　Shirley。　The　cracks　weren't　made　for　a　size　eleven　climbing　boot。
　〃Climbing！〃
　Kyle　turned　to　see　Shirley　with　her　toe　fitted　into　a　crack　about　knee　high。
　〃Hey；　Shirley！〃　Kyle　called；　stopping　her　before　she　could　get　started。　〃You　like　movies？〃　Shirley　nodded　her　head　and　smiled　like　she'd　just　been　asked　out　on　a　date。
　〃Me　too。　I　saw　one　once　with　a　dinosaur　like　that　one　up　there　in　it；〃　Kyle　said；　jerking　his　thumb　upward。
　Shirley　looked　at　him　quizzically。　〃What　happened？〃
　〃It　swooped　down　and　swallowed　a　person　whole。〃
　Shirley　shook　her　head；　then　smiled　and　patted　her　own　bottom。
　〃Race　you　to　the　top；　Officer　Kyle。〃
　Kyle　yelled；　〃Climbing！〃　and　Jay's　〃climb〃　followed　immediately。　Kyle　jammed　his　right　toes　into　a　good…size　crack　and　then　felt　for　others　wide　enough　to　grip　with　his　fingers。　When　he　found　a　satisfactory　one　he　pulled　himself　up；　ready　to　set　his　other　foot。
　Kyle　made　good　progress。　He　was　fifteen　feet　up　when　he　noticed　that　Shirley　was　ahead　of　him。　He　managed　a　couple　more　steps　before　he　heard　Shirley　yell　〃slack；〃　and　set　her　first　anchor。　Kyle　picked　up　his　pace　and　climbed　to　a　spot　a　few　feet　above　Shirley's　anchor　to　set　his　own。　He　clipped　a　D　carabiner　to　it　and　passed　his　rope　through　the　spring　catch。　A　wave　of　relief　came　as　he　realized　his　fall　would　now　be　limited　by　the　anchor。
　Only　after　his　third　anchor　was　Kyle　climbing　ahead　of　Shirley；　which　gave　him　great　satisfaction。　They　continued　seesawing　up　the　rock　face；　setting　pitons；　clipping　carabiners；　and　looping　kermantle。　As　they　approached　the　outcropping　they　angled　in　toward　it　with　one　of　them　on　either　side。　Twenty　feet　below　the　ledge　Kyle　motioned　for　Shirley　to　stop　and　be　quiet。　He　listened　intently　but　heard　nothing…no　little　girl；　no　prehistoric　bird。
　They　proceeded　up　on　either　side　of　the　outcrop；　neither　willing　to　hammer　in　a　piton　this　close　to　the　pteranodon。　Now　Kyle　and　Shirley　had　to　climb　out　and　up；　and　they　lost　sight　of　each　other。　As　Kyle　neared　the　top　he　debated　whether　to　pop　up　suddenly；　jump　onto　the　ledge；　and　then　pull　his　gun；　or　peek　over　the　top　slowly。　He　decided　on　slow　and　cautious。　Caution　was　natural　for　Kyle。
　He　found　toeholds　and　fingerholds　and　then　slowly　pulled　his　head　above　the　rim　of　the　outcrop。　The　first　thing　he　saw　was　the　massive　head　of　the　pteranodon…six　feet　of　it　lying　against　Kyle's　rock。　Two　enormous　eyes　were　set　in　the　middle　of　the　spear…shaped　face。　Kyle　sighed　with　relief　when　he　saw　the　eyes　were　closed。
　The　pteranodon's　wings　filled　nearly　the　entire　ledge；　concealing　the　little　girl。　Across　the　other　side　of　the　ledge　he　saw　Shirley。　First　her　eyes　appeared　searching　for　the　child。　Then　she　st