jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第84章

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llowed　enough；　she　poured　in　some　of　the　juice　from　the　can。　Most　ran　down　its　neck　and　pooled　in　the　collar。　Colter　watched　the　feeding　with　amusement。
　〃Moose　and　Sarah　aren't　this　sloppy；〃　Colter　said。
　〃It's　just　a　widdle　thing；〃　Petra　said　in　baby　talk。
　〃Just　what　are　you　gonna　call　the　little　orphan？〃
　Petra　set　the　can　of　peaches　to　the　side　and　put　the　little　dinosaur　on　the　floor。　The　baby　got　to　its　feet　and　wobbled　a　few　steps。　Then　it　stopped　and　licked　at　the　peach　juice　on　its　chin。
　〃Well；　what　if　we　call　her　Peaches？〃
　〃Her？〃
　〃Her　until　we　know　better。　We　should　get　a　bottle　somewhere　for　this　poor　thing。〃
　He　rolled　his　eyes；　nodded；　and　moved　to　the　driver's　seat　and　started　the　engine。　Petra　sat　down　in　the　passenger　seat　gingerly；　holding　the　sleeping　baby　dinosaur　in　her　lap。　Now　that　she　was　rested；　she　was　beginning　to　feel　every　bruise；　cut；　and　aching　muscle。　Colter；　she　knew；　was　feeling　his　pain　as　well。
　They　were　about　to　leave　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　padding　feet。　Petra　flinched　when　Moose　scrambled　up　the　dash　and　stretched　out　in　the　window。　Sarah　waddled　forward　and　looked　perturbed　that　Petra　had　taken　her　place；　so　instead　she　curled　up　on　the　floor　between　the　seats。　Petra　and　Colter　looked　at　each　other　and　smiled。
　〃Well；　honey；〃　Colter　said。　〃It's　been　quite　a　vacation。〃
　〃Yes；　dear；〃　Petra　replied。　〃But　the　kids　are　exhausted。　Let's　go　home。〃
　Then　they　drove　away　from　the　clearing　and　back　up　the　road。
　
　68。　　CHOICES
　
　In　the　age　of　no　time；　what　came　before　will　e　again；　and　what　is　yet　to　e；　will　e　before。　I　do　not　understand　it　myself；　hut　I　know　it　will　be　heralded　by　a　great　fire。
　…Zorastrus；　Prophet　of　Babylon
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　5：05　P。M。　PST
　
　They　walked　with　a　new　confidence。　Someone　watching　would　say　it　was　the　rifles　that　gave　them　confidence；　a　store…bought；　machine…made　and　polished　confidence。　But　this　was　homemade　confidence。　Everything　and　nothing　in　their　experience　had　prepared　them　for　what　they　had　gone　through　over　the　last　few　days；　but　what　they　found　inside　had　been　enough；　even　more　than　enough。
　They'd　had　a　happy　victory　celebration　after　Ripman　left　with　Ellen。　Exchanging　insults；　they　argued　over　who　should　get　credit　for　bungling　the　sabotage　on　the　motorcycle；　since　that　had　saved　them　from　One　Eye　and　now　was　saving　John's　Mom。　But　as　they　moved　toward　the　rendezvous　point；　Cubby　fell　silent。
　Cubby　and　John　could　hear　the　helicopter　e　back；　circling；　its　thumping　sounds　reverberating　down　the　valley。　But　the　rendezvous　point　was　in　a　different　direction；　so　the　noise　grew　fainter　as　they　moved　away。　An　occasional　lizard　skittered　across　a　log　or　glided　from　tree　to　tree　above　them。　Once　a　crashing　and　thumping　in　the　distance　sent　them　running　for　cover；　but　the　sounds　finally　moved　off。
　Finally　they　reached　the　dry　riverbed　Ripman　had　described。　It　disappeared　around　a　bend　to　the　southwest　and　then　into　the　forest。　The　boys　surveyed　silently　from　the　bank；　scouting　the　forest　on　either　side　for　animal　signs。　Then　Cubby　tugged　on　John's　arm　and　pointed。
　A　movement　caught　John's　eye。　In　the　shadow　on　the　far　bank　were　several　animals；　four…legged　with　long　tails；　and　long　necks；　resembling　brontosauri；　but　only　a　fraction　of　the　size。　Occasionally　a　head　would　appear　towering　over　the　bank；　look　around；　and　then　dip　back　down。　The　animals　appeared　to　be　grazing。　Cubby　and　John　finally　stepped　out　of　the　shadow　onto　the　bank；　fully　exposing　themselves。　A　minute　later　a　head　came　up；　spotting　them　and　grunting。　Then　three　more　heads　popped　up。　The　dinosaurs　and　the　people　stared　at　one　another；　then　one　by　one　the　dinosaurs　went　back　to　eating。
　Ripman　was　nowhere　to　be　seen；　so　Cubby　and　John　found　a　pile　of　rocks　to　settle　on。　They　had　no　food；　but　large　puddles　in　the　riverbed　would　provide　enough　water　for　now。　At　least；　if　Ripman　came　back。
　
　
　After　a　long　wait　the　engine　of　the　motorcycle　announced　Ripman's　return。　First　the　heads　of　the　dinosaurs　all　popped　up　again；　and　they　moved　up　the　riverbed　out　of　sight。　Finally；　John　saw　Ripman　riding　around　the　bed　of　the　riverbed。　Cubby　and　John　cheered；　then　Cubby　put　his　fingers　in　his　mouth　and　blew　several　shrill　whistles。
　Ripman　pulled　up　in　front　of　them　revving　the　engine　loudly。　His　face　was　still　swollen；　he　was　cut　and　bruised　and　covered　with　dirt；　yet　he　was　also　proud；　even　arrogant；　and　Cubby　and　John　loved　it。　He　finally　let　the　engine　die　and　untied　a　grocery　bag　from　the　back　of　the　bike。
　〃How's　my　mom；　Ripman？〃
　〃She's　fine。　There's　a　bunch　of　houses　over　that　way；〃　he　said；　pointing。　〃The　forest　goes　right　up　to　their　front　doors。　Some　of　the　houses　have　been　smashed　up　pretty　good。　It　looks　like　some　of　the　dinosaurs　came　to　visit。　The　people　who　live　there　have　blocked　the　streets　with　cars。　There's　cops　there　too；　keeping　people　out；　and　keeping　the　dinosaurs　in。　The　police　took　your　mom　to　the　hospital。〃
　Ripman　opened　the　pack　and　tossed　cans　of　Coke　Classic　to　Cubby　and　John；　John　drank　a　third　of　his　in　three　gulps。　When　the　carbonation　burned　his　throat　and　nose　he　belched；　but　Cubby　soon　belched　a　belch　that　put　John's　to　shame。　Ripman　kept　digging；　passing　out　another　can　of　Coke　to　each；　and　then　threw　his　friends　a　package　of　Twinkies　and　a　Three　Musketeers　bar。　They　tore　into　the　junk　food　till　finally　their　ravenous　gobbling　turned　to　slow　savoring。
　〃Where'd　you　get　the　goodies；　Ripman？〃　Cubby　asked。
　〃Hey；　there's　civilization　out　there。　After　I　got　John's　mom　to　the　cops；　they　wouldn't　let　me　e　back。　They　were　going　to　round　up　some　volunteers…mount　a　rescue　mission。　Jeez；　you'd　think　it　was　some　big　deal。　So　I　had　to　find　a　way　around。　I　ran　into　a　7…Eleven　down　the　road。　It　was　semiopen；　so　I　picked　up　some　supplies。〃
　〃You　pay　for　these？〃　Cubby　asked　suspiciously。
　〃They　gave　me　a　bag；　didn't　they？〃
　〃You　stole　the　bag　too；　didn't　you？〃　John　suggested。
　〃Hey；　you　don't　want　the　stuff；　give　it　back。〃　Ripman　said　it　good…naturedly。
　John　and　Cubby　knew　he　craved　to　be　thought　bad；　and　they　were　willing　to　support　him。　The　sugar　quickly　replenished　their　strength　and　they　joked　and　kidded　for　a　few　more　minutes。　Then　Cubby　began　praying　in　whispers。　When　done　he　turned　to　the　others。
　〃I'm　not　leaving。　I'm　going　into　Portland。　My　family　is　in　there　somewhere　。　。　。　my　church。〃
　John；　uncertain　how　to　respond；　sat　silent；　watching　a　two…foot　lizard　slither　down　the　bank　and　into　a　puddle。　Ripman　finally　spoke；　but　gently；　looking　at　Cubby　with　his　good　eye。
　〃Cubby；　Portland's　not　right。　I　watched　it。　It　seems　to　e　and　go　。　。　。　sometimes　it's　there；　sometimes　it　isn't；　and　it's　going　away。　Even　if　we　headed　to　it；　we'd　probably　go　right　through　it。　I　think　it's　just　some　sort　of　mirage。〃
　〃Maybe；　Ripman；　but　I've　got　to　know。　I've　got　to　know！〃
　〃It's　not　the　second　ing；　Cubby。〃
　〃I　know；　but　God's　hand　is　in　this。〃
　〃Maybe。〃
　That　〃maybe；〃　John　realized；　was　the　only　concession　to　the　possibility　of　God's　existence　Ripman　had　ever　made。　Ripman；　the　militant　atheist；　wouldn't　have　made　this　concession　a　few　days　ago。
　〃Let　me　run　John　out　on　the　bike；　then　we'll　go　looking　for　Portland。〃
　〃You　don't　need　to　e；　Ripman。　Take　John　out；　e　back　for　me；　I'll　take　you　out；　then　I'll　take　the　bike　in　toward　Portland。〃
　As　Cubby　and　Ripman　continued　to　argue；　the　helicopter　sounded　in　the　distance；　somewhere　out　of　sight。　John；　looking　for　it；　ignored　the　argument。　He　didn't　like　what　his　friends　were　saying　anyway。　Cubby　and　Ripman　were　assuming　he　needed　taking　care　of；　and　only　after　that　would　they　see　to　their　own　needs。　No　one　realized　that　he；　John；　had　outwitted　the　dinosaur　that　chased　them。　He　had　given　One　Eye　its　name。　He　had　helped　disable　the　motorcycles；　and　he　even　shot…　killed…Carl。　His　heart　sank　at　that　thought。　After　all　that；　his　friends　could　not　think　of　him　as　an　equal。　If　the　last　three　days　hadn't　changed　their　thinking；　nothing　would。
　〃Hey；〃　he　cut　in；　〃nobody　has　to　take　me　anywhere。　You　two　take　the　bike　and　go　find　Portland。　I'm　walking　out。〃
　John　swigged　down　the　rest　of　his　Coke；　picked　up　his　rifle；　and　started　walking　down　the　riverbed；　following　the　bike's　tire　marks。
　〃Where　are　you　going；　man？〃　Ripman　called。　〃Hey；　wait
　up。〃
　〃e　on　back；　John；　what　are　you　so　mad　about？〃　Cubby　added。
　John　stopped　and　turned　back。
　〃I'm　not　mad。　I'm　just　trying　to　save　you　the　trouble　of　looking　out　for　me。　You　two　head　on　into　Portland；　have　a　good　time。　If　I　don't　see　you　sooner；　I'll　see　you　later　。　。　。　maybe　at　the　beach　house。〃　John　turned　to　walk　off　and　then　stopped。
　〃I　hope　you　find　your　folks；　Cubby。　Hey；　Ripman；　thanks　for　the　food。　See　ya　guys。〃
　John　walked　off；　deliberately　splashing　noisily　in　the　puddles　to　keep　him　from　hearing　what　they　were　saying。　As　soon　as　he　was　out　of　sight　around　a　bend；　he　gripped　the　gun　tighter；　as　feelings　of　loneliness　replaced　his　bravado。　The　motorcycle　came　to　life　behind　him；　then　he　heard　the　put…put　of　someone　riding　it。　He　thought　about　hiding；　making　it　easy　for　them　to　leave　him；　but　that　would　be　cowardly。
　To　John's　surprise；　Cubby　was　driving；　and　Ripman　was　hanging　on　behind。　They　rode　up　next　to　him；　and　Ripman　climbed　off　to　face　John。
　〃We　decided；　John。　We're　all　going　home。〃
　〃It　was　great　wasn't　it；　Johnny　my　boy？　Let's　do　it　again　sometime；〃　Cubby　said；　then　released　the　clutch　and　rode　the　bike　in　a　slow　circle　and　disappeared　around　the　bend。　〃He's　crazy。　Ripman；　couldn't　you　talk　him　out　of　it？〃
　〃He's　a　fanatic。　I　never　could　talk　sense　to　him。〃　They　started　walking　again；　this　time　side　by　side。
　Terry　stood　by　the　helicopter　rubbing　his　eyes。　His　head　ached　from　the　refueling　vapors　and　from　staring　through　the　tops　of　trees　trying　to　spot　his　wife。　He　realized　finding　her　that　way　was　unlikely；　but　he　wasn't　ready　to　give　it　up…he　had　no　other　choice。
　Bill　returned。　Even　Bill's　size　and　official　manner　had　failed　to　get　free　fuel　from　the　crusty　operator　of　the　airfield。　But　he'd　taken　a　Visa　card…obviously；　he　didn't　understand　what　had　happened。
　When　Bill　climbed　back　in　and　lifted　off；　Terry　tried　to　find　a　way　to　sit　fortably　on　what　was　left　of　his　seat。　It　was　late　afternoon　and　there　was　little　daylight　left　to　search　with。　This　would　be　their　last　trip。　After　this；　he　didn't　know　what　to　do　or　where　to　go。
　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　The　house　was　a　two…story　Colonial；　with　a　bay　window　and　a　dinosaur　forest　for　a　front　yard。　The　windows　were　broken；　but　otherwise　the　house　was　intact。
　〃Through　there；〃　Ripman　said　pointing；　〃is　another　house　and　on　the　other　side　of　that　a　cul…de…sac。　Go　up　the　cul…de…sac　and　over　the　fence　of　the　blue　house　at　the　end。　There's　a　highway　on　the　other　side。　Follow　it　north　and　you'll　find　that　roadblock。　The　cops　will　take　you　to　your　mom。〃
　〃Aren't　you　ing　too？〃
　〃Like　I　said；　we're　all　going　home。　Your　home　is　with　your　parents。　Me；　I　don't　have　anyone。　My　dad's　gone　wherever　Cubby's　folks　are；　and　he　never　gave　a　damn　anyway；〃　Ripman　said　with　both　sadness　and　bitterness　in　his　voice。　〃Besides；　I　like　it　here。　It's　the　b