jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第100节

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but　the　right　eye　was　a　large　crusted　scab。　Blackened　blood　stained　the　right　side　of　its　face　down　to　its　shoulder。　John　gasped；　and　Ellen　heard　Cubby　say；　〃It's　One　Eye。〃
　The　animal　was　swinging　its　head　from　side　to　side；　keeping　its　good　left　eye　on　them　all。　As　they　backed　away　it　became　more　difficult　for　it　to　keep　them　in　sight　and　the　arc　of　its　swings　increased。　Seeming　confused；　it　paused　at　the　edge　of　the　clearing；　its　head　continuing　to　swing；　watching　them　inch　backward。
　The　four　continued　backing　slowly　while　the　dinosaur　watched。　They　were　only　a　few　yards　from　the　trees　when　the　dinosaur　started　forward　again。　Ellen　watched　its　head　swing　wide；　tracking　each　of　them；　and　it　gave　her　an　idea。　If　they　waited　until　the　head　started　its　swing　away；　and　they　peeled　off　in　sequence；　it　would　give　them　a　precious　few　seconds　head　start。　She　was　about　to　yell　instructions　to　the　others　when　Cubby　tripped　and　fell　backward；　the　gun　in　his　hand　firing　wildly　into　the　air。
　Now　the　dinosaur　screamed　and　charged　directly　toward　Cubby；　who　was　struggling　to　his　feet。　Ripman　began　hollering　and　waving　his　arms；　and　Ellen　followed　his　lead；　but　the　dinosaur's　dead　eye　was　blind　to　Ellen　and　Ripman；　and　its　own　screams　drowned　out　their　voices。　Cubby　started　firing　at　the　creature's　chest。　Either　the　impact　of　the　lead　slugs　or　the　report　of　the　pistol　froze　the　dinosaur　in　its　charge；　stopping　just　in　front　of　Cubby；　its　head　thrown　back　into　a　scream；
　John　yelled　something　to　Cubby　but　no　one　could　hear　him。　Cubby　emptied　the　last　bullet　into　the　dinosaur　and　then　rumbled　with　the　gun；　trying　to　eject　the　clip；　forgetting　John　had　the　spare　one。
　All　Ellen　could　do　was　yell　and　wave　her　arms。　Blood；　from　the　bullet　holes；　speckled　the　dinosaur's　chest。　The　creature　took　the　last　step　toward　Cubby；　its　gaze　fixed　on　the　boy's　head；　its　jaws　opening。　Cubby　threw　the　useless　gun　into　the　gaping　mouth　and　turned；　stumbled　to　his　feet；　and　ran。
　The　dinosaur　shook　its　head　throwing　the　gun　out　toward　Ellen　and　Ripman。　Ellen　jumped　for　it；　forgetting　that　it　wasn't　loaded。　But　as　she　moved　she　saw　John　charging　at　the　dinosaur　from　the　other　side；　a　stick　in　his　hand。　Blind　to　Ellen；　the　dinosaur　swung　to　take　John's　charge；　but　as　it　turned　the　tail　swept　toward　Ellen；　catching　her　as　she　bent　looking　for　the　gun；　tumbling　her　over　her　right　shoulder　into　the　fallen　tree。　Her　ribs　flexed；　absorbing　enough　of　the　impact　to　keep　them　from　breaking；　but　the　blow　knocked　the　wind　from　her。　When　she　collided　with　the　log；　she　put　out　her　right　arm　to　absorb　the　shock。　But　her　arm　slipped；　breaking　as　it　slammed　against　the　wood。
　In　agony；　flat　on　her　back；　she　saw　the　tail　fly　over　her　head　splintering　tree　limbs　above。　When　the　tail　fell　toward　Ellen；　she　screamed；　then　rolled　up　on　her　broken　arm；　flattening　her　body　against　the　log。　The　tail　slammed　behind　her　and　then　was　gone。　She　slipped　back　toward　the　ground；　but　arms　encircled　her　chest　and　began　pulling　her　through　the　grass。　They　were　Ripman's　arms。　Through　her　tears　she　saw　Cubby　and　John　dancing　in　front　of　the　dinosaur；　poking　sticks　at　it；　wide　apart；　with　Cubby　keeping　on　the　blind　side；　so　the　dinosaur　had　to　keep　swinging　its　head　to　keep　track　of　him。
　With　a　roar　the　motorcycle　entered　the　clearing；　carrying　two　riders；　and　Ellen's　dread　became　hope。　The　animal　did　a　quick；　powerful　pivot　to　face　the　new　threat；　its　tail　sweeping　through　the　clearing。　Diving　into　the　grass　to　avoid　it；　Cubby　and　John　disappeared。
　With　Ripman's　help　Ellen　was　up　and　running。　The　boy　stopped　inside　the　forest　and　leaned　Ellen　against　a　tree；　then　turned　to　check　behind　them。　A　rifle　fired　rapidly　three　times　and　Ellen　saw　the　dinosaur　charging　the　motorcycle　as　Butler　revved　the　engine　and　Carl　stood　behind　the　bike　firing　his　semiautomatic　until　the　dinosaur　collapsed　to　the　ground　screaming　in　pain。
　Carl　yelled　in　triumph。　Butler　said　something　to　Carl　that　Ellen　couldn't　hear　and　then　reached　down　to　pull　his　rifle　from　the　sheath。　As　he　did　the　engine　died。　In　the　silence　Ellen　could　hear　the　wet　gurgling　breathing　of　the　dying　dinosaur　and　the　triumphant　〃all　rights〃　of　Carl　and　Butler　as　they　walked　forward　to　deliver　the　coups　de　grace。
　Ripman　pulled　on　her　arm　to　go；　but　Ellen　hesitated；　her　eyes　searching　for　her　son。　John　and　Cubby　were　nowhere　to　be　seen。　Ripman　pulled　harder；　and　as　she　started　to　turn　she　noticed　the　dinosaur's　back　legs　were　pulled　up　under　its　body；　its　tail　still　moving　slightly。　With　a　paralyzing　roar　its　head　jerked　up；　its　one　good　eye　targeting　Carl。and　Butler；　and　then　its　muscular　hind　legs　launched　at　its　executioners。　Butler　shouldered　his　rifle　and　fired　two　quick　shots。　At　the　same　time　Carl　threw　himself　out　of　the　dinosaur's　path。　Butler　dropped　his　rifle　at　the　last　second　and　brought　his　arms　up　in　a　futile　attempt　to　protect　himself　before　he　disappeared　under　the　dinosaur's　falling　body。
　Ellen　tried　running　but　the　movement　bounced　her　arm；　blurring　her　vision　with　pain。　Finally；　Ripman　circled　her　waist　with　his　arm　to　support　her。　Her　ribs；　bone　bruised；　ached　nearly　as　badly　as　her　arm；　and　Ripman's　support　was　almost　too　much　to　bear。　They　had　just　managed　to　develop　a　walking　rhythm　that　minimized　Ellen's　pain　and　maximized　their　speed　when　the　sharp　crack　of　a　rifle　buried　a　bullet　into　the　tree　ahead　of　them。
　Ripman　helped　Ellen　turn　to　face　Carl；　whose　leg　bandage　was　black　with　old　blood　while　new　blood　stained　his　arms；　legs；　and　chest。　The　biker's　smile　was　finally　gone　and　his　swagger　lost　to　a　bad　limp。　The　rifle　was　leveled　at　them　from　Carl's　hip；　and　Ellen　recognized　the　murderous　rage　in　his　eyes。　She　pushed　Ripman's　arm　off　and　tried　to　step　away　from　him；　the　semiautomatic　rifle　could　kill　them　both　in　a　second　unless　they　moved　apart。
　〃You　take　another　step；　Ellen；　and　I'll　kill　you　both。〃
　Ellen　and　Ripman　froze。　They　had　no　doubt　Carl　would　do　it。　Carl　switched　his　hate…filled　gaze　from　Ellen　to　Ripman。　He　leveled　the　gun　at　Ripman's　stomach。
　〃Kid；　I　owe　you　big…time。　Now　Ellen　here　still　has　somethin'　I　want；　but　you　。。。　I　mean　you　backshoot　my　friend　Bobby；　you　send　Miller　off　to　get　eaten　by　that　dinosaur；　and　then　you　double…cross　us。　You　and　those　friends　of　yours　were　supposed　to　give　us　enough　time　to　get　out　of　there　before　that　dinosaur　got　to　us。　That　was　the　deal。　We　kept　our　part　of　the　bargain；　we　let　you　and　her　go；　but　you　tried　to　kill　us…kill　me！〃
　Ellen　once　again　tried　to　distract　Carl。
　〃What　happened　to　Kishton；　he　get　away　too？〃
　〃I'll　tell　you　what　the　fuck　happened！　It　bit　his　head　off；　that's　what　happened。　But　when　it　did　I　pumped　five　bullets　into　its　brain。　I　killed　that　mother…twice　as　big　as　that　other　one…the　one　that　got…〃
　Carl's　eyes　glazed　over　as　he　realized　the　last　of　his　friends　was　dead。　He　was　alone　now；　but　in　an　instant　his　eyes　refocused　in　a　cold　stare。
　〃Carl；　I'll　give　you　what　you　want。　Just　don't　hurt　him；〃　Ellen　pleaded。
　〃Give？　I'll　take　what　I　want；　and　do　what　I　want；　when　the　hell　I　want　to。〃
　Carl　swung　his　gun　back　to　Ripman　just　as　Cubby's　deep　menacing　voice　came　out　of　the　trees　to　Ellen's　right。
　〃Freeze；　maggot；　or　I'll　blow　you　away。〃
　Carl　spun　and　fired　twice　toward　the　voice。　As　the　second　report　sounded；　another　gun　fired　three　times；　the　slugs　ripping　through　the　flesh　of　Carl's　back；　pitching　him　forward。　Ellen；　stunned；　tried　to　understand　what　had　happened。　Carl　had　fired　at　Cubby　but　Carl　ended　up　shot　dead　from　behind。
　Now　Cubby　emerged　from　the　forest　on　Ellen's　right；　and　then　John　emerged　from　the　left；　holding　the　pistol。　Waves　of　relief　swept　over　Ellen　followed　by　concern　for　John：　Her　child　had　killed。
　Ripman　sent　Cubby　and　John　back　to　the　clearing　to　retrieve　Butler's　rifle　and　ammunition。　While　they　were　gone　he　used　his　hunting　knife　to　cut　three　limbs　the　length　of　Ellen's　arm。　Then　he　cut　strips　of　cloth　from　Carl's　clothing。　Ellen's　broken　bone　wasn't　protruding；　so　to　Ellen's　relief；　Ripman　didn't　try　to　set　it。　The　splint　did　nothing　to　relieve　the　pain；　but　the　sling　made　it　easier　for　her　to　immobilize　it。　Ripman　finished　the　first　aid　just　as　they　heard　the　motorcycle　again。
　Ripman　ran　for　Carl's　rifle　and　aimed　it　in　the　direction　of　the　sound；　but　something　was　not　right。　The　sound　was　approaching　very　slowly。　Finally；　Ripman　shouted　and　pointed　through　the　trees。　Ellen　had　to　stand　to　see　above　the　ferns　and　grasses。　Cubby　was　driving　the　bike；　with　John　behind　him；　his　arms　around　Cubby's　waist。　It　was　clear　Cubby　was　a　novice　on　a　motorcycle。　The　bike　was　in　one　of　the　high　gears；　and　Cubby　kept　revving　it；　releasing　the　clutch；　and　lurching　forward；　almost　losing　John　each　time。　Ripman　shook　his　head；　and　then　laughed。
　〃Those　bozos　can't　even　ride　a　motorcycle。〃
　When　they　finally　lurched　up　to　Ripman　he　shook　his　head　in　appreciation。
　〃You　bozos　finally　did　something　right。　Does　it　have　much　gas？〃
　It　turned　out　to　have　about　a　quarter　of　a　tank。　Not　even　Ripman　had　any　idea　how　far　that　would　take　them。　Since　they　couldn't　all　ride　the　bike；　Ellen　insisted　that　Ripman　take　John　and　Cubby　out　first。　John　insisted　Ellen　go　first；　and　Cubby　protested