jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第42节

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r　the　jaw；　snapping　the　neck。　Ron　swung　recklessly　now；　smacking　head　after　head；　driving　them　back　into　the　sea　and　away　from　the　raft。　The　assault　ended　when　another　log　floated　near；　and　the　remaining　lizards　scrambled　aboard。　Quickly　paddling　away；　they　soon　found　themselves　alone　in　the　fog　again。
　〃What　were　they；　Dad？〃
　Shaking　his　head；　Ron　said　〃I　don't　know。　They　came　from　the　island；　I　guess。〃
　Suddenly　a　clawed　arm　reached　over　the　side；　tangling　Rosa's　hair。
　〃It's　got　me！〃　she　screamed。
　Another　claw　appeared；　followed　by　a　head。　Rosa　sank　lower；　her　hair　still　tangled　in　the　claw。
　The　jaws　opened；　exposing　wicked　teeth。　Ron　struggled　to　his　feet；　the　soft　bottom　rocking　from　his　efforts。　Grabbing　the　paddle；　Ron　struck　just　as　a　leg　flopped　over　the　side；　splintering　the　paddle　on　its　skull。　Stunned；　the　animal　hung　briefly；　then　screamed　in　Ron's　face。　Instinctively；　Ron　brought　the　handle　up　and　jammed　it　down　its　throat。　The　jaws　snapped　shut　just　missing　his　fingers。　Its　forelegs　frantically　clawed　at　the　handle　embedded　in　its　throat；　as　it　tottered　on　the　side。　Then　Carmen　jammed　the　knife　in　its　neck。　Without　another　weapon　Ron　lunged；　shoving　with　all　his　might；　pushing　the　lizard　back　into　the　sea。　It　squawked　and　splashed　noisily　until　it　slipped　beneath　the　waves。
　Exhausted　from　fear；　the　family　flopped　in　the　bottom　of　the　raft；　Carmen　still　holding　the　bloody　knife。　Ron　stroked　Chris's　head　and　hoped　they　wouldn't　need　the　knife　again。　Soon　everyone　was　asleep。
　
　　〃Uh…oh！　Something's　ing　again；〃　Chris　shouted；　waking　the　others。
　Carmen　and　Rosa　instinctively　moved　to　see。
　〃Don't　move！〃　Ron　shouted。　〃We　don't　want　to　capsize。　Carmen；　you　look；　and　Rosa；　stay　where　you　are　for　now。〃
　Carmen　scooted　a　little　closer　to　Chris　to　see　what　he'd　seen。
　〃I　think　he's　right。　It's　splashing　through　the　water　a　couple　of　waves　away。〃
　〃Is　it　like　the　others？〃
　〃I　can't　tell；　but　it's　bigger。　Ron；　you　better　take　a　look　at　this。〃
　Ron　and　Chris　changed　places。　Ron　had　trouble　spotting　it　in　the　fog。　Like　the　others；　it　looked　monstrous；　with　a　human…sized　lizard　head；　and　a　partially　opened　mouth　lined　with　sharp　teeth。　It　was　having　trouble　in　the　water　as　it　splashed　inefficiently　with　small　legs。
　Ron　turned；　looking　for　another　weapon。　There　was；　nothing　but　the　knife；　a　pitiful　weapon。
　〃Ron；　it's　here！　Oh　it's　big。　Real　big！〃
　Ron　turned　to　see　Carmen　backing　up；　motioning　for　the　kids　to　move　to　the　other　end　of　the　raft。　Suddenly　the　raft　wall　was　pulled　down　violently；　and　the　massive　head　appeared。　Chris　screamed　and　stumbled　back　into　Ron。　The　lizard　was　snapping　its　jaws；　and　at　the　same　time　scrabbling　with　its　clawed　forearms　to　pull　itself　into　the　raft。　As　the　claws　shredded　the　raft；　the　air　emptied　from　cell　after　cell。　That　lowered　the　side　and　the　lizard　pulled　itself　forward。　The　raft　flooded；　but　the　lizard　continued　to　scramble。　Then　a　huge　rear　leg　appeared。
　〃We've　got　to　get　out；〃　Ron　said。　〃Over　the　side。〃
　But　Carmen　was　already　helping　Chris　into　the　water；　and　Rosa　rolled　off　backward　like　a　skin　diver。　Ron　looked　back　to　see　the　lizard　struggling　into　the　raft。　It　didn't　look　vicious；　it　looked　scared…just　trying　to　survive　like　Ron　and　his　family。
　Ron　was　about　to　jump　when　he　remembered　the　survival　supplies。　Quickly；　he　grabbed　a　net　bag　and　jammed　four　plastic　quart　bottles　of　water　in　it　and　jumped　over　the　side。　They　had　to　push　debris　out　of　their　way　as　they　swam。　When　they　were　far　enough　away　to　feel　safe；　they　turned　to　see　the　raft　had　collapsed；　the　lizard's　weight　pulling　the　sides　in　over　its　head。　As　they　watched；　the　lizard　continued　to　struggle　frantically；　succeeding　only　in　wrapping　itself　more　and　more　tightly　in　the　shredded　fabric。　Finally　it　sank　from　sight；　the　raft　as　its　shroud。
　The　family　bobbed　in　the　water　in　stunned　silence。　With　no　life　jackets　to　support　their　weight；　Carmen　and　Ron　soon　began　to　tire。　The　family　formed　itself　into　a　ring；　the　parents　using　the　children's　life　jackets　to　support　as　much　of　their　weight　as　possible。　It　was　at　best　a　temporary　solution。
　The　wind　was　still　strong；　but　the　sea　had　settled　some。　They　were　still　riding　a　roller…coaster　ocean；　but　the　dips　were　smaller。　The　sky　remained　black；　and　the　fog　thick　and　sulfurous。
　〃Hey；　Mom；〃　Rosa　said。　〃There's　something　over　there。〃
　Ron　looked　at　the　same　time　as　Carmen。　Something　dark　was　moving　slowly　through　the　water…shaped　like　the　inverted　hull　of　a　ship；　about　twice　the　size　of　the　Entrepreneur's。
　〃It　looks　like　another　capsized　boat；〃　Ron　volunteered。　〃Swim　for　it。〃
　They　angled　toward　the　moving　mound；　gently　brushing　up　against　it。　Carmen　tried　climbing　up　the　side　first；　but　the　movement　of　the　mound　made　it　difficult。
　〃Ron；　this　doesn't　feel　like　Fiberglas。〃
　〃Just　climb；　Carmen。　We've　got　to　get　out　of　the　water。〃
　Finally；　Carmen　lay　spread…eagled　on　the　side　of　the　mound　and　reached　down　and　managed　to　pull　Chris　up　next　to　her；　but　Rosa　and　Ron　found　themselves　falling　behind；　Ron　struggled　to　get　Rosa　up　on　the　side；　but　she　could　only　use　one　arm　effectively；　and　the　net　bag　with　the　bottles　was　heavy。　Ron　realized　the　mound　might　pass　them　by　and　he　panicked　at　the　picture　of　Carmen　and　Chris　floating　off；　out　of　sight。
　Desperately；　he　pushed　on　Rosa　with　little　strength。　Then　his　foot　hit　something。　He　planted　both　feet　and　heaved　Rosa　up；　hearing　her　gasp　from　pain　as　she　flopped　on　her　side。　Ron　pushed　her　higher　and　then　inched　up　next　to　her；　repeating　his　efforts　until　they　joined　Chris　and　Carmen。　The　four　linked　hands　and　lay　flat　against　the　surface。
　Ron　was　so　exhausted　it　took　time　to　realize　Carmen　was　right；　this　was　not　the　surface　of　any　boat　he　had　ever　seen。　It　was　smooth；　but　still　rougher　than　a　fiberglass　or　painted　surface。　He　put　his　cheek　to　it　and　felt　definite；　almost　mechanical　rhythm。　A　right…and…left　rocking　motion。　He　was　still　trying　to　figure　out　what　it　meant　when　he　heard　a　splashing　behind　him。
　　　　Ron　turned　to　see　another　lizard　angling　toward　them。　This　one　was　much　smaller　but　had　the　same　large　head　and　a　bony　collar　around　its　neck。　About　a　quarter　the　size　of　the　larger　one；　it　looked　like　it　was　going　to　climb　up　on　the　mound　with　them。
　As　the　lizard　used　razor　sharp　claws　to　climb　its　way　up　the　side；　Ron　thought　he　felt　the　mound　shudder。　The　lizard　was　twenty　inches　long　with　a　triangular　head；　bony　neck　collar；　and　fat　stubby　body。　A　foot　of　tail　trailed　behind　it。　Ron　kicked　the　lizard　full　in　the　side　with　every　bit　of　strength　he　had　left。　But　the　lizard　was　quicker　than　it　looked。　As　the　blow　knocked　it　back　into　the　water　the　claws；　raked　across　Ron's　leg　leaving　three　gashes。　Though　the　lizard　came　up　swimming；　it　fell　behind；　and　Ron　could　see　it　wouldn't　catch　up。　He　felt　sad。　He　had　just　condemned　it　to　a　fate　he　and　his　family　were　fighting　to　avoid。
　Ron　returned　to　his　family　and　lay　back　down　again；　totally　exhausted。　He　fell　asleep　only　to　be　shaken　awake　by　Rosa。
　〃Wake　up；　wake　up！　But　be　quiet。　Mom　says　we're　in　trouble。〃
　He　started　to　sit　up　but　Rosa　held　him　down。
　〃Move　very　slowly。〃
　Ron　was　confused。　Why　move　slowly？　Had　another　lizard　scrambled　aboard？　He　lifted　his　head　and　chest　gradually。　The　sun　was　finally　cutting　through　the　gloom　and　Ron　could　see　the　sea　around　him　a　little　more　clearly　now。　Rosa　whispered　in　his　ear　again。
　〃Mom　says　to　look　forward。〃
　Carmen　was　in　front　of　Rosa；　and　Chris　was　sitting　between　Carmen's　legs。　Ron　looked　past　them　to　the　sea。　Something　was　rippling　the　water。　In　the　weak　light　Ron　saw　a　thick　snake…like　form　emerging。　On　top　of　the　snake　shape　was　a　head。　It　looked　like　a　sea　serpent　to　Ron　and　it　took　him　a　few　seconds　to　realize　the　head　was　connected　to　the　mound　they　were　on。　They　were　on　the　back　of　some　kind　of　animal。
　
　31。　　　Luis
　
　Some　have　said　the　age　of　dinosaurs　ended　because　it　had　all　been　a　mistake　in　the　first　place。　Perhaps　someday　the　same　will　be　said　of　us。
　…Robert　Winston；　On　Things　Gone　By
　
　New　York　City
　POSTQUILT：　MONDAY；　12：02　P。M。　EST
　
　　Luis　woke　in　darkness。　His　eyes　were　heavy　and　blurred。　He　felt　terrible；　his　head　ached　and　he　found　blood　crusted　in　his　hair。　Melinda　would　be　angry。　He　had　broken　his　promise；　he　was　injured。　Luis's　eyes　wouldn't　focus　but　he　could　see　a　soft　glow。　He　felt　around。　Touching　a　wall　behind　him；　he　sat　up　and　leaned　back。　He　didn't　need　a　mirror　to　know　his　face　was　swollen　and　purple。
　Luis　pushed　himself　up；　keeping　his　back　against　the　wall。　The　light　got　brighter　as　he　stood　and　found　himself　in　a　diner　behind　the　counter。　Smashed　dishes　and　silverware　were　everywhere；　and　the　cash　register　was　upside　down　in　the　middle　of　the　floor。　The　light　was　ing　through　the…window？　Luis　shook　his　head　and　tried　focusing　again。　The　light　was　ing　through　the　empty　frame　where　the　window　had　been。　He　stumbled　out　through　the　broken　dishes　to　the　street；　looking　around　to　get　his　bearings。　It　was　too　far　back　to　his　brother…in…law's；　and　he　didn't　want　to　return　looking　like　this。　His　own　building　was　close；　so　he　turned　toward　home　and　staggered　down　the　sidewalk。　He　didn't　bother　call