jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第4节

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　After　some　instructions　to　〃not　straggle〃　and　〃stay　on　the　trails〃　she　led　them　into　the　caves。　The　air　was　cool　but　fortable；　and　as　they　hiked　along；　those　with　jackets　took　them　off　and　tied　them　around　their　waists。　The　electric　lights　along　the　trail　made　flashlights　unnecessary；　and　they　slowly　disappeared　into　pockets。　Periodically；　when　the　group　stopped；　the　guide　explained　some　feature　of　the　cave。
　〃If　you　look　through　this　opening；　which　was　made　in　1967；　you　can　see　the　natural　color　of　the　cave　walls。　The　original　explorers　of　these　caves　used　torches　to　light　their　way；　and；　as　you　can　see；　the　soot　from　the　torches　discolored　the　walls　and　ceiling。　Originally　the　caves　were　snowy　white　as　you　can　see　through　this　opening　。　。　。〃
　
　It　had　been　Ellen's　idea　to　stop　at　the　caves　on　the　way　back　from　a　convention…really　a　vacation…in　Los　Angeles　where　Terry　had　presented　a　paper　on　dysfunctional　families　but　skipped　most　of　the　other　sessions。　Cruising　up　I…5；　Ellen　had　studied　the　literature　she　picked　up　at　a　visitors'　information　rack　at　a　rest　stop。　Ellen　was　in　a　tourist　mood；　and　it　had　been　years　since　they'd　visited　the　Oregon　Caves；　so　they　cut　off　the　interstate　at　Medford　and　headed　west　to　the　caves。　After　a　morning　tour　they'd　still　make　it　back　to　Portland　that　night。　Vaguely　remembering　his　last　tour　through　the　caves；　Terry　was　anticipating　one　particular　part：　When　the　guide　turns　out　the　lights；　it's　the　first　and　only　time　most　people　experience　total　darkness。　Terry　recalled　feeling　the　darkness　around　his　face　as　his　eyes　vainly　struggled　to　detect　something。　In　retrospect；　it　seemed　unpleasant；　but；　strangely；　Terry　was　looking　forward　to　it　again。
　As　the　tour　progressed　members　developed　an　informal　understanding。　The　couple　with　the　baby　hung　back；　since　the　baby's　noises　distracted　the　guide。　Front　positions　were　reserved　for　the　older　couple　since　they　listened　more　attentively　than　the　rest。　The　little　boys　went　wherever　they　wanted；　and　the　parents　didn't　care。　The　young　man　with　the　yellow　backpack　was　always　in　the　rear；　staring　at　their　guide；　a　sad　determined　look　on　his　face。
　The　group　came　to　a　large　cave　with　several　branching　passages；　its　well…packed　trail　testimony　to　the　previous　thousands　of　tourists。　The　guide；　directing　them　into　a　side　passage　that　dead…ended　into　a　small　cave；　stood　by　the　entrance　and　let　the　group　pass。
　〃You　will　now　experience　something　that　few　of　you　have　had　the　chance　to　experience。　Total　darkness。〃
　Immediately　the　lights　went　out。　Several　people　gasped　as　their　eyes　became　useless。　Then　the　lights　were　back。　There　were　murmurs　of　relief　and　cheerful　kidding　among　the　members　of　the　group；　until　a　masculine　voice　ordered：　〃Stay　where　you　are　and　don't　move。〃
　〃Kenny；　what　are　you　doing？　Are　you　crazy？〃
　Terry　turned　with　the　group　toward　the　voices。　The　kid　with　the　backpack　was　standing　by　the　entrance　with　a　gun　in　his　hand；　the　guide　at　his　side；　her　mouth　and　eyes　open　in　disbelief。　More　murmurs　from　the　group　but　no　longer　cheerful。　The　little　boy　whispered　he　was　scared。　The　baby　gurgled　cheerfully　while　she　yanked　on　her　dad's　hair。　Terry　noticed　the　black　man　start　to　move　from　the　back　of　the　group　toward　the　kid。
　〃I　said　don't　move。〃　As　he　spoke　the　kid　turned　the　gun　toward　the　man；　who　froze　in　midstep；　his　face　determined…　while　Terry　felt　near　panic。
　〃I　want　everyone　to　sit　down　right　where　they　are。　Sit　down。　You　too；　Jill。　Now！〃
　Everyone　but　the　guide　sat　down。　Terry　noticed　the　military　man　sat　down　last；　his　eyes　never　leaving　the　gun　in　the　kid's　hand。
　〃Kenny；〃　the　guide　pleaded　softly。　〃Please　put　the　gun　down。　You're　scaring　everyone。　There　are　kids　here。　You're　scaring　the　kids。〃
　〃It's　your　fault；　Jill。　I　tried　to　get　you　to　listen。　It's　going　to　happen　。　。　。　happen　soon。　I　want　my　family　with　me　when　it　does。　At　least　you；　Jill。　Now；　sit　down！〃
　At　the　last　words；　the　kid　shoved　the　gun　in　the　guide's　face；　and　the　shock　sent　her　stumbling　back　a　few　steps　until　she　melted　into　the　group；　which　sat　in　stunned　silence。
　Terry　thought　about　the　guide's　reaction。　The　kid　called　her　family；　yet　the　guide　seemed　genuinely　frightened；　and　that　was　a　red　flag。　The　kid　had　strong　feelings　for　the　guide；　and　yet　she　was　afraid　he　would　use　the　gun　on　her。　Terry　didn't　need　his　professional　training　to　diagnose　Kenny　as　unstable　and　potentially　dangerous。
　The　group　sat　in　silence；　the　only　sound　the　collective　deep　breathing。　Finally；　the　old　lady　spoke。
　〃Son；〃　she　said；　attracting　his　attention。　〃I've　never　heard　of　anyone　hijacking　a　cave　tour　before。　What　is　it　that　you　want？〃
　〃You　won't　believe　me！　No　one　will　believe　me！　My　own　sister　won't　believe　me。〃　
　〃I　promise　to　listen　to　you　and　keep　my　mind　open。　Ask　Hank；　here；〃　the　old　woman　said；　indicating　her　husband。　〃He'll　tell　you　I'm　a　good　listener。　Have　to　be　when　you　live　with　Hank　for　forty　years。〃
　Hank　smiled　at　his　wife；　but　the　kid　with　the　gun　didn't。
　〃You　won't　believe　me；　but　if　you　want　to　know　。　。　。　I'm　going　to　save　you。　At　least　I　think　I　am。〃
　Nervous　conversation　spread　through　the　crowd。　The　old　woman　ignored　it　and　asked；　〃What　is　it　that　you　think　you're　saving　us　from？〃
　〃He's　crazy；〃　the　guide　responded。　〃He's　hooked　up　with　a　bunch　offtakes　that　think　the　sky　is　falling。〃
　Anxiety　washed　across　the　kid's　face；　and　he　reddened。　He　looked　away　from　the　old　woman　to　his　sister；　pain　in　his　eyes。　Then；　with　what　could　have　been　embarrassment；　he　said；　〃I'm　saving　you　from　the　end　of　the　world！〃
　
　4。　　OFFSHORE
　
　We　were　three　days　into　the　desert　when　the　flood　occurred。　Great　waves　washed　over　our　caravan。　Three　men　and　two　camels　of　great　value　were　lost。　When　the　waters　receded　we　were　surrounded　by　a　great　number　of　fishes。　The　water　was　of　no　use　because　it　tasted　of　salt。
　…Abu　al　Assad；　1413
　
　Off　Naples；　Florida
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　　Ron　was　so　obvious　about　trying　to　please　Rosa　that　even　Chris　noticed　it。　〃Geez；　Dad；〃　he　said　finally；　〃why　don't　you　just　kiss　her？〃　Ron　took　the　kidding　but　didn't　give　up　trying　to　get　Rosa　interested　in　sailing。　He　showed　her　how　to　mind　the　helm；　hoist　and　lower　the　sails；　told　her　what　the　different　sails　were　called；　and　explained　the　pass　and　what　a　heading　was。
　He　let　her　take　the　helm　and　talked　endlessly　about　his　experiences　at　sea　and　the　time　he　had　sailed　with　his　uncle　in　the　greatest　of　the　offshore　races；　the　Fastnet。　With　forty…one　other　entries　they　had　set　sail　from　Cowes　on　the　Isle　of　Wight；　raced　to　Fastnet　Rock　off　the　coast　of　Ireland；　and　then　back　to　Plymouth；　England。　Thirty…two　petitors　finished　that　year；　and　Ron's　uncle's　boat　finished　seventeenth。　But　that　seventeenth　place　was　as　good　as　a　victory　in　Ron's　memory。　They　had　raced　through　fog　banks；　fought　whirligig　currents；　and　finished　in　the　middle　of　the　pack。　But　they　had　finished。　Ron　talked　about　it　with　more　passion　than　Rosa　had　ever　seen　in　him；　and　as　a　result　she　listened　respectfully。　Even　Chris；　who　had　heard　the　story　for　years；　listened　attentively　this　time。　Telling　the　story　at　sea　gave　it　a　feeling　no　living　room　could。　In　the　afternoon　Ron　brought　out　the　sextant　and　tried　explaining　navigation　to　Rosa　and　Chris。　Carmen　sat　at　the　helm；　a　bemused　look　on　her　face。
　〃The　key　to　figuring　out　our　position　is　what　we　call　the　navigational　triangle。　We　start　by　identifying　three　points　on　the　earth's　surface。　We　know　where　the　earth's　pole　is；　so　that　is　one　point。〃
　〃Which　pole？〃　Chris　cut　in。　〃There's　two；　you　know。〃
　〃Yes；　I　know。　The　closest　pole；　in　this　case　the　North　Pole。　We　also　know　the　geographical　position　of　stars　and　planets　。　。　。　that　means　where　the　star　or　planet　is　over　the　earth's　surface。〃
　〃But　the　earth　is　turning；〃　Rosa　pointed　out。
　〃Yeah；〃　Chris　echoed；　〃the　earth　is　turning　fast。　Maybe　a　million　miles　an　hour。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Ron　said　with　exaggerated　patience；　〃the　earth　is　turning；　but　not　millions　of　miles　an　hour；　more　like　a　thou…。　sand。　That's　why　we　need　a　clock；　a　very　accurate　clock。〃
　〃The　one　in　the　cabin；　right？〃　Chris　said。
　〃Right；　Chris。　We　leave　that　one　in　the　cabin　because　it's　set　to　Greenwich　mean　time　and　must　be　exactly　right。　Then；　I　set　my　watch　by　that　clock。〃
　〃I　thought　you　used　the　radio　to　set　your　watch；〃　Rosa　pointed　out。
　〃I　use　the　radio　to　see　how　far　off　our　clock　is　from　Greenwich　mean　time。　They　broadcast　Greenwich　mean　time　signals　so　people　at　sea　can　check　their　clocks。〃
　〃And　if　their　clocks　are　off　they　can't　navigate？〃　Rosa　asked。
　〃Yeah；　they　get　lost　forever；　and　bee　ghost　ships；〃　Chris　said。
　〃No；　they　just　need　to　correct　their　calculations　based　on　how　many　seconds　off　their　clock　is。　You　were　right　about　the　earth　moving；　but　we　know　where　a　star　will　be　above　its　surface　at　a　given　time。　We　use　the　Nautical　Almanac　to　find　that　out。〃　Ron　held　up　the　book。　Chris　reached　for　it；　but　Ron　pulled　it　out　of　his　reach。　〃I'm　not　finished　yet。　Okay；　so　we　know　where　the　pole　is；　and　we　know　the　point　on　the　earth's　surface　where　a　star　or　planet　will　be　directly　above　at　a　certain　time　of　the　day。　Then　we　use　our　position　to　plete　the　triangle。〃