jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第74节

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umans　weren't　food。　At　least　they　weren't　in　their　own　world。　Here　the　human　place　in　the　food　chain　was　still　being　worked　out　and　the　humans　hadn't　done　well　so　far。
　〃It's　back；　Petra；〃　Colter　announced。　〃It　just　cut　between　us。　I　think　it's　trying　to　separate　us。　Just　keep　going；　I'll　stay　close　behind。〃
　Petra　tried；　but　she　had　no　more　energy。　She　was　making　her　best　possible　speed…a　snail's　pace。　Suddenly　Colter　gasped；　and　Petra　turned　to　see　him　struggling　back　up　onto　his　float。　He　was　coughing　and　sputtering。
　〃I'm　okay。　It　scraped　me　too。　I　think　it's　tasting　us。〃
　〃Shut　up；　Colter；　and　swim！〃
　Petra　turned　toward　shore　again　and　forced　herself　back　into　her　rhythm。　Something　rushed　by　her　legs；　creating　powerful　swirls　around　her　dangling　feet。　Petra　kept　up　her　pace；　but　then　it　rushed　by　again；　closer　this　time。
　Petra　could　feel　the　attack　ing　and　then　Colter　shouted；　〃This　is　it！　Swim　for　it；　Petra！〃
　Confused　and　scared；　Petra　wanted　to　shout　she　was　swimming　but　had　no　energy。　Colter　was　facing　the　other　way。　She　couldn't　see　the　fish　but　its　wake　was　rushing　toward　Colter；　whose　float；　she　realized；　was　gone。　She　turned；　let　go　of　her　float；　and　began　arm　stroking　toward　shore；　finding　her　rested　arms　had　more　energy　left　than　her　nearly　useless　legs。　Despite　her　loud　splashing；　she　heard　the　attack　behind　her；　violent　thrashing　in　the　water。　Petra　was　too　afraid　for　herself　to　think　about　Colter。　Instead　she　repeated　to　herself；　left；　right；　left　right。　Soon；　her　arms　tired　and　her　speed　dropped　off。
　A　new　sound　came　behind　her　now；　a　rhythmical　splashing　Petra　began　to　cry。　Her　arms　moved　mechanically；　and　with　every　stroke　she　lost　a　little　speed。　Her　vision　was　blurring　Before　she　had　seen　the　blue　murk　of　the　depths。　Now　a　greenish　fuzz　hung　before　her　eyes；　drifting　up　to　meet　her；　and　then　on　her　next　stroke　she　hit　it。　It　was　the　bottom。
　She　folded　at　the　waist　trying　to　get　her　legs　under　her；　but　she　was　too　near　the　shore。　Now　she　found　herself　kneeling　in　the　water；　chest　deep。　Still；　she　felt　as　if　she　were　onshore；　safe　from　the　lake's　menaces。　Then　she　heard　splashing　behind　her；
　She　spun　to　see　Colter　wading　through　the　water；　spreading　his　arms　as　he　approached。　Petra　stood　to　take　his　embrace；　but　instead　Colter　turned　her　toward　shore。　With　his　arm　around　her　they　walked　along　the　lake　bottom　toward　the　meadow　beyond。
　As　their　bodies　met　the　cool　air；　they　began　to　shiver。　Petra　wanted　to　run　to　shore　and　into　the　grass　of　the　meadow　for　warmth；　but　Colter　held　her　back。
　〃Let's　make　sure　something's　not　waiting　for　us。〃
　The　breeze　was　chilly；　so　Petra　squatted　in　the　water　to　warm　herself。
　〃What　happened　back　there；　Colter？　I　thought　that　fish　had　you　for　sure。〃
　〃It　almost　did。　I　stuffed　my　Levi's　into　its　mouth。　It　tore　them　up　something　bad；　but　while　it　was　wasting　its　time　I　took　off。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　I　didn't　stop　to　help　you。〃
　Colter　turned　when　she　said　that；　anger　flashing　across　his　face。
　〃Don't　be　sorry。　Petra；　everything　I've　done；　I've　done　for　you。　Dr。　Piltcher　is　right　。　。　。　was　right。　I'm　not　that　smart；　not　like　you。　I　didn't　really　belong　in　the　group。　I　was　only　there　for　you。　Now　all　I　want　is　to　get　you　out　of　here。〃
　〃Get　us　out　of　here；〃　Petra　corrected。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here　and　see　if　my　dorm　room　is　still　there。〃
　Pushing　herself　out　of　the　water　as　she　spoke；　she　stood　in　her　soaking　bra　and　panties；　holding　out　her　arms。　Colter；　nearly　naked　himself　and　covered　with　wounds；　stepped　into　her　arms。　They　hugged；　enjoying　the　warmth　of　each　other's　bodies；　and　rocked　gently　against　each　other；　their　eyes　closed；　lest　something　distract　them　from　their　internal　sensations。　The　released　libido　warmed　them　slightly；　giving　them　fort　and　pleasure。
　Then　Petra　pushed　her　hips　against　Colter　and　leaned　her　head　back。　Colter　bent　his　head　to　kiss　her；　but　never　got　the　chance。　When　Colter　moved　to　kiss　Petra　he　saw　something　ing　out　of　the　water　behind　her。　It　was　the　fish。
　This　was　like　no　fish　he　had　ever　seen。　It　had　a　fish　shape；　but　it　was　armored　from　head　to　tail；　with　four　flippers　it　used　like　legs　to　run　along　the　lake　bottom。　Colter　started　to　push　Petra　aside；　but　it　was　too　late。　The　fish　hit　her　from　behind；　clamping　its　jaws　down　on　her　left　leg。　The　blow　knocked　Petra　into　Colter　and　he　stumbled　back；　falling　into　the　shallows。　Screaming　from　the　shock　and　the　pain；　Petra's　leg　was　jerked　out　from　under　her　as　the　killer　fish　pulled　her　toward　the　depths。　In　vain；　Colter　charged　after　them。
　〃Kick　at　it；　Petra；〃　he　shouted　in　desperation。
　Petra　mouthed　something　Colter　never　heard　and　then　her　head　was　pulled　beneath　the　surface。　Diving　into　the　water；　Colter　saw　Petra　pulled　deeper　into　the　laket　her　arms　outstretched；　reaching　for　him。　He　stroked　and　kicked　after　her；　reaching　out　to　grab　her　retreating　hands；　but　it　was　no　use。　He　watched　her　pleading　eyes　and　reaching　hands　fade　into　the　murky　depths；　until　she　was　gone。
　
　50。　　　RESCUE
　
　You　have　confessed　your　prognostications　of　doom。　Have　you　forgotten　I　am　a　god？　Would　not　I　know　the　future　if　it　was　to　be　known？
　…King　of　Babylon　to　Zorastrus
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
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　　They　were　running　through　the　trees　away　from　the　camp。　Ripman　led　the　way；　moving　through　the　forest　with　a　familiarity　that　was　natural；　not　acquired；　and　Ellen　and　Angie　struggled　to　keep　up。　Both　women　still　had　on　their　shoes　and　pants；　but　Angie's　blouse　was　pletely　gone　and　Ellen's　had　no　buttons。　Branches　and　tall　grasses　scratched　tender　skin　unaccustomed　to　exposure。
　When　they　first　followed　Ripman　into　the　forest；　Carl　and　the　guys　fired　recklessly。　Ripman　had　darted　from　one　giant　tree　to　the　next；　Angie　and　Ellen　mimicking　his　moves。　The　crack　of　gunshots　and　the　whine　of　bullets…sometimes　slamming　into　nearby　trees…covered　the　sounds　of　their　movements。　Ripman　angled　them　up　the　hill　and　away　from　the　guys；　and　soon　the　gunfire　became　distant　thunder。
　He　kept　the　pace　long　after　the　gunfire　ended。　Ellen's　fear　was　diminishing　as　was　her　adrenalin…fed　strength。　Exhaustion　filled　her　body。　The　sun　was　gone　now　and　the　forest　had　bee　one　unending　shadow。　Their　eyes　adapted　to　the　dark　but　Ripman's　pace　meant　stumbles　and　falls。　Ellen　was　about　to　ask　him　for　a　rest　when　his　hand　came　up；　signaling　for　them　to　stop。
　They　were　near　the　crest　of　the　hill　by　a　rocky　outcrop。　A　huge　fallen　tree　lay　there　and　disappeared　into　the　forest　in　a　tangle　of　broken　limbs。　Ripman　circled　the　tree；　climbing　toward　the　massive　exposed　roots。　When　he　disappeared　over　the　rocks；　suddenly　Ellen's　fear　returned。　Ripman　had　been　their　savior　and　protector。　Though　no　older　than　her　son；　John；　his　petence　was　evident　in　every　move　he　made。
　He　soon　reappeared　at　the　top　of　the　outcrop；　motioned　them　up　and　then　signaled　for　quiet。　Angie　and　Ellen　pushed　and　pulled　each　other　up　the　rocks。　Around　the　exposed　root　of　the　tree；　they　could　see　fresh　dirt；　as　if　the　tree　had　fallen　that　morning。　Ripman　led　them　down　and　under　the　overhanging　roots；　into　a　hollow。
　Ellen　and　Angie　collapsed　against　the　dirt　walls；　enjoying　the　womblike　security。　Temporarily　safe；　Ellen　began　to　think　about　what　had　happened　to　Angie　and　was　plagued　by　doubt　and　guilt。　Angie's　friendship；　which　had　made　it　possible　to　look　for　John；　had　resulted　in　disaster。　She　had　no　idea　how　far　the　rape　had　gone　before　Ripman　interrupted　it。　She　also　knew　she　would　never　ask　and　doubted　whether　Angie　would　ever　say。
　Now　Ellen　and　Angie　were　hiding　in　a　hole；　in　a　forest　that　couldn't　possibly　exist；　and　being　hunted。　Ellen　thought　about　the　forest　around　her　and　hoped　she　had　been　wrong　about　the　possibility　of　other　dinosaurs。　But　why　would　two　dinosaurs　be　more　impossible　than　one？
　Perhaps　if　they　had　found　John　their　situation　would　be　easier　to　accept；　but　it　was　hopeless。　Portland　was　gone。　Their　home　was　gone；　and　her　son。　With　that　admission　Ellen　began　her　grieving。　She　cried　softly　in　the　darkness；　muffling　the　sounds　with　her　hands。　After　a　few　minutes　she　felt　Angie's　arm　around　her　shoulders。　Then　she　remembered　that　John's　friend　Ripman　was　sitting　in　the　hole　with　them。　〃Ripman！　You're　here！　Is　John　here？　Is　he　alive？〃　Moonlight　filtered　into　the　hole；　and　Ellen　could　see　Rip…man's　face。　He　looked　unfortable　and　turned　away；　visibly　ashamed。
　〃I　don't　know。　Last　time　I　saw　him　he　was　alive。〃
　〃When　was　that？　Why　didn't　you　stick　together？〃
　〃We　did　stick　together　at　first。　We　were　out　in　Newberg　when　it　happened。　John　and　Cubby　wanted　to　find　their　moms　and　dads　。　　。　　。　you　。　。　。　so　we　headed　into　the　forest　to　look。〃　Ripman　paused　and　looked　down　again。　〃I　couldn't　believe　those　two　。　。　。　plete　assholes。　They　were　clueless　about　what　to　do。　Made　every　mistake　possible。　They　talked；　stumbled；　wandered　off　the　trail。　Didn't　know　when　to　be　quiet　and　when　not。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　me　they　would　have　been　dead　a　hundred　yards　in。〃　Ripman　brought　his　eyes　up　to　meet　Ellen's。　〃Finally　I　had　to　ditch　them。　They　were　stumbling　along　be…hind　me　making　a　racket　I　couldn't　believe。　Some　dinosaurs　heard　it　and　came　after　us。　We　took