jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第62节

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Moose　screeched；　then　spun　and　dropped　back　in　the　RV。　Then　something　bellowed　behind　them。
　They　turned　to　see　the　dinosaur　charging　down　on　them。　Scrambling　to　get　in　the　door　they　automatically　paused　to　let　Petra　go　in　first。　She　dove　into　the　RV　as　the　others　realized　there　wouldn't　be　enough　time　to　get　in　before　the　dinosaur　rammed　it　again。　Hesitating；　not　willing　to　be　either　first　or　last　into　the　opening；　the　three　men　stood　in　the　doorway　paralyzed　with　indecision　while　behind　them　loomed　the　onrushing　dinosaur。
　〃Move！〃　Petra　screamed。
　Colter　was　the　first　to　break　and　ran　to　his　right；　the　dinosaur's　head　jerking　in　his　direction。　Dr。　Coombs　broke　next；　running　left　and　pulling　the　dinosaur's　attention　back　from　Colter。　Left　alone　in　front　of　the　door；　Dr。　Piltcher　struggled　to　climb　in　before　the　dinosaur　crushed　him　in　the　opening。
　When　Dr。　Piltcher　disappeared　inside；　the　dinosaur　turned　toward　the　escaping　Dr。　Coombs。　But　it　turned　too　late；　crashing　into　the　wall　of　the　RV。　Instead　of　pushing　the　RV　back　with　the　blow；　the　dinosaur's　snout　horn　penetrated；　peeling　the　metal　wall　away　followed　by　its　massive　head。　The　snout　horn　drove　deep　into　the　RV；　demolishing　cabinets；　and　only　the　massive　collar　of　the　dinosaur　prevented　the　head　from　pletely　penetrating　the　wall。　Dr。　Piltcher；　knocked　backward　by　the　force　of　the　blow；　bounced　off　the　back　wall；　falling　forward。　As　he　put　out　his　hands　to　stop　his　fall；　he　found　himself　slamming　against　the　snout　of　the　dinosaur。　The　dinosaur　and　Dr。　Piltcher　froze；　startled　at　such　close　contact。
　Then　the　massive　mouth　opened　and　screamed；　nearly　deafening　Petra；　and　Dr。　Piltcher　and　he　pushed　back　with　his　hands；　throwing　himself　away　from　the　opening　mouth。　When　the　dinosaur　screamed　again；　Dr。　Piltcher　and　Petra　scrambled　to　the　back　of　the　RV　to　hide　with　Sarah。
　The　dinosaur　roared　its　anger　again　and　then　began　violently　shaking　its　head　and　pulling　back　with　its　massive　legs。　With　every　swing　of　the　monster's　head　the　jagged　edges　of　the　torn　metal　sliced　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　thick　skin　of　its　head。　Blood　began　to　stream　in　rivulets　at　the　base　of　the　collar；　dripping　inside　the　RV。　Oblivious　to　the　pain；　however；　the　dinosaur　continued　to　swing　its　head。　As　the　opening　enlarged；　the　head　moved　back；　and　with　a　final　powerful　tug　the　head　wrenched　free；　leaving　a　gaping　hole　in　the　side　of　the　RV　as　Dr。　Piltcher　and　Petra　watched　with　relief　from　the　back。
　The　collision　stunned　the　dinosaur；　but　once　free　it　smelled　the　nest　robber。　The　dinosaur　backed　two　steps　and　then　spun　left；　toward　a　figure　racing　through　the　clearing　in　the　distance。　Then　putting　its　head　down；　it　charged　again。
　Petra；　horrified　to　see　the　rapidly　retreating　dinosaur　was　chasing　Dr。　Coombs；　turned　to　her　mentor。
　〃We've　got　to　help　him；　Dr。　Piltcher。　What　can　we　do？〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　stood　numbly；　frozen　into　inaction。　Theory　and　speculation　were　his　forte；　or　the　recall　of　fact　after　fact；　but　creative　problem　solving　on　the　spot　was　alien　to　him。　Sensing　this；　Petra　bolted　out　the　door　and　began　calling　for　Colter。
　He　popped　up　out　of　the　grass　at　Petra's　shout。　He'd　tried　to　draw　the　dinosaur　off　by　giving　it　a　running　target；　but　when　it　slammed　into　the　RV　he　took　the　opportunity　to　disappear　into　the　grass。　Colter　now　saw　her　pointing　at　the　retreating　dinosaur　and　yelling。
　〃Colter！　It's　after　Dr。　Coombs！　Help　him！　Help　him！〃
　Colter　spotted　Dr。　Coombs　zigzagging　in　front　of　the　dinosaur　to　keep　it　from　closing。　Colter　knew　of　only　one　option…　give　the　dinosaur　another　target。　He　sprinted　through　the　grasses；　angling　to　put　himself　into　the　dinosaur's　peripheral　vision。　If　he　could　get　close　enough　to　seem　threatening；　the　dinosaur　might　slow　to　assess　the　new　threat。　That　would　give　Dr。　Coombs　enough　time　to　make　it　to　the　hedgerow　where　he　could　hide。
　When　Colter's　plan　became　clear；　Petra　raced　for　the　other　side　to　create　a　third　target。　The　couple　sprinted　through　the　grass　shouting。　But　the　dinosaur　was　singleminded　and　continued　to　close　on　Dr。　Coombs；　who　was　nearly　to　the　taller　brush。　In　desperation　Dr。　Coombs　turned　sharply　to　the　right；　almost　running　toward　the　onrushing　behemoth。　Like　a　charging　bull；　the　dinosaur　lumbered　past　Dr。　Coombs　before　it　could　turn。
　Colter　shouted　out　encouragement。
　〃Do　it　again；　Doc！　Just　keep　turning　tight　circles；　it's　too　big　to　get　you　that　way。〃
　As　he　did；　the　dinosaur　turned　after　him　again。　Dr。　Coombs　prepared　to　run　right　again　around　the　back　of　the　dinosaur。　But　then　it　happened。
　In　midmove；　the　dinosaur　swung　back　the　other　way　just　as　Dr。　Coombs　jumped　its　tail。　As　he　landed　he　saw　the　head　ing　toward　him。　He　turned　to　race　the　other　way；　but　it　smacked　him　in　the　back　and　sent　him　tumbling　across　the　clearing。　As　soon　as　he　stopped　rolling　he　struggled　to　his　feet；　moving　his　bruised　body　as　fast　as　he　could。　It　wasn't　fast　enough。　Dr。　Coombs　turned　just　in　time　to　take　the　dinosaur's　charge　full　in　the　chest。
　Miraculously；　Dr。　Coombs　struggled　to　his　feet　again。　Now　the　dinosaur　lowered　its　head；　took　two　steps；　and　brought　its　head　up　into　Dr。　Coombs's　stomach；　tossing　him　up　and　impaling　him　on　the　two　horns　protruding　from　its　crest。　Petra　froze　in　horror；　then　turned　away　in　disbelief。　It　took　all　her　willpower　to　look　back。　When　she　did　the　horror　was　still　there。
　Dr。　Coombs's　limp　form　was　impaled　on　the　upper　horns。　One　of　the　horns　was　buried　in　his　thigh　and　one　somewhere　in　his　back；　and　he　was　held　across　the　head　of　the　dinosaur。　The　confused　animal　shook　its　head　trying　to　dislodge　Dr。　Coombs's　limp　body。　Petra　watched　helplessly　as　the　dinosaur's　efforts　became　more　violent；　but　still　the　body　hung　on　the　curved　horns。　Petra　saw　no　way　she　could　help。　She　spotted　Colter　doing　something　in　the　grass。　Then　he　stood；　holding　a　long　stick　in　his　hand。
　The　dinosaur　was　still　struggling　with　Dr。　Coombs's　body　when　Colter　approached　stealthily；　keeping　slightly　behind　the　head　of　the　dinosaur。　Then；　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　Petra　saw　Dr。　Coombs　move。　It　was　just　his　arm；　but　it　moved　up；　and　then　dropped　again。　He's　alive；　Petra　thought。　Then　she　ran　forward　to　draw　the　dinosaur's　attention　away　from　Colter。
　Colter　was　getting　close　now；　so　Petra　shouted　and　waved　her　arms。　This　time　the　dinosaur　turned　toward　her。　Its　huge　eyes　flamed　with　anger；　but　it　only　stared　at　Petra　defiantly。　As　soon　as　Petra　had　it　distracted　Colter　broke　into　a　sprint。
　Colter　ran　the　last　few　steps　to　the　dinosaur　and　plunged　the　sharpened　stick　into　one　of　the　wounds　in　its　neck。　To　Petra　it　looked　as　if　the　stick　barely　penetrated；　but　the　dinosaur　screamed　in　pain。　It　shook　its　massive　head；　forgetting　about　Dr。　Coombs's　still…impaled　body。　Colter；　shaken　loose　by　the　dinosaur；　grabbed　the　stick　again；　then　plunged　it　back　into　the　beast。　This　time　the　dinosaur　began　to　run。　Colter　tried　to　keep　up　but　soon　stumbled　and　was　left　behind。　Petra　followed　the　retreating　dinosaur　toward　the　tall　brush。　Just　as　it　disap'　peared；　Dr。　Coombs　raised　his　head　again　and　opened　his　eyes。　Then　the　dinosaur　crashed　through　the　brush　and　out　of　sight。　Petra　stumbled　to　a　halt　at　the　hedgerow。　The　grass　was　sticky　with　a　mixture　of　human　and　dinosaur　blood。　Colter　came　up　next　to　her；　and　behind　him　she　could　see　Dr。　Piltcher　walking　through　the　grass；　his　face　pale　and　drawn。
　〃He's　alive；　Dr。　Piltcher；〃　Petra　said。
　Dr。　Piltcher　shook　his　head。
　〃Petra；　I　know　you　want　him　to　be　。　。　。〃
　〃He　is；　Dr。　Piltcher。　I　saw　him　move。〃
　〃Petra　。　。　。〃　Dr。　Piltcher　began；　but　Colter　cut　him　off。
　〃I　saw　him　move　too。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher's　eyes　went　wide　and　some　color　returned　to　his　cheeks。　Then　he　turned　to　the　forest　and　shouted。
　〃George；　we're　ing。　Don't　you　die　on　me；　George！〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　turned　to　follow　the　blood　trail；　but　Colter's　hand　on　his　arm　stopped　him。
　〃Without　a　weapon？'！
　〃You　can　go　to　town　for　a　gun　if　you　want；　Colter。　George　will　be　dead　by　the　time　you　get　back。　I'm　going　after　him。　He's　my　friend。〃
　Colter　looked　past　Dr。　Piltcher　to　Petra　for　help；　but　she　looked　as　determined　as　Dr。　Piltcher。　Colter　dropped　his　eyes　and　shook　his　head。
　〃All　right；　all　right。　Just　give　me　a　minute；　will　ya？〃
　Colter　trotted　off　toward　the　mangled　RV；　pausing　long　enough　to　retrieve　the　stick　he　used　on　the　dinosaur。　Dr。　Piltcher　watched　him　briefly　and　then　started　to　follow　the　dinosaur's　trail。　But　Petra　stopped　him；　and　the　look　in　her　eyes　persuaded　him　to　give　Colter　a　few　minutes。　Dr。　Piltcher　paced　anxiously　looking　vainly　for　signs　of　Dr。　Coombs　in　the　brush　ahead。
　Colter　returned　with　a　knife　securely　wired　to　the　bloody　end　of　his　pole。　To　Petra　it　seemed　a　flimsy　weapon　to　use　on　a　dinosaur；　but　Colter　led　off　confidently。
　Crushed　grass；　broken　limbs；　and　sticky　red　smears　showed　them　the　way。　A　short　distance　into　the　brush；　a　four…foot　bipedal　dinosaur　turned　down　the　trail　ahead　of　them。　Colter　signaled　a　halt；　and　they　watched　its　mottled　green　tail　disappear　down　the　trail。　Colter　was　about　to　move　off　again　when　a　dinosaur；　walking　on　all　fours；　moved　through　the　grass　and　down　the　trail。　Colter　waited　again　to　give　the　smaller　one　some　space。　The