jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第84节

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　led　them　up　and　down　hills；　which　he　never　tried　to　go　around。　Fortunately；　the　dense　canopy　of　the　giant　trees　prevented　significant　underbrush　and　walking　was　relatively　easy。　The　occasional　fallen　trees　were　problematic；　since　they　seemed　to　explode　into　new　growth；　but　the　detours　were　few；　Ellen　was　disoriented；　but　it　appeared　that　their　path　was　the　closest　thing　to　a　straight　line。　Tired；　she　began　watching　her　feet；　letting　herself　be　absorbed　by　the　right…left　rhythm；　which　replaced　her　thoughts；and　her　fears　for　herself　and　for　her　son。　Suddenly　she　ran　into　Ripman；　knocking　him　into　a　stumble。
　〃Listen。〃
　Ellen　and　Angie　looked　at　each　other　and　shook　their　heads。　Ripman　turned　his　head　toward　the　southern　sky。　Ellen　and　Angie　followed　his　gaze。　A　few　seconds　later　they　heard　a　distant　roar；　the　sound　of　a　jet。　It　grew　louder；　and　they　looked　through　the　towering　canopy　to　glimpse　the　plane；　but　it　was　futile。　The　sound　reached　a　peak　and　then　faded。
　〃This　is　just　too　weird；　Ellen。〃
　〃What　is；　Angie？〃
　〃Standing　here　in　this　。　。　。　this　impossible　forest；　with　dinosaurs　running　around；　following　some　teenage　Jungle　Jim；　and　having　jets　fly　overhead。〃
　Ellen　was　going　to　respond　but　then　noticed　Ripman's　head　was　still　cocked。　She　listened　too　and　picked　up　a　low　rumble；　a　sound　that　was　not　the　jet。　He　motioned　them　to　stand　still　and　be　quiet　and　then　padded　softly　up　the　hill。　As　he　approached　the　crest　he　slowed；　bending　into　a　crawl。　He　lay　still　for　a　minute　and　then　signaled　Angie　and　Ellen　forward。　They　mimicked　his　movements；　crawling　the　last　few　feet　to　his　side；　hearing　a　crunching　and　thumping　as　they　approached　the　crest。　Ellen　peered　fearfully　through　the　ferns　at　the　crest　and　over　the　top　but　saw　only　trees。　She　was　about　to　ask　Ripman　what　he　was　looking　at　when　Angie's　finger　shot　out；　pointing　to　movement　in　the　distance…　The　trees　were　dense；　but　here　and　there　through　the　gaps　they　could　see　dinosaurs。　As　she　watched；　she　realized　there　were　more　than　just　a　few。　There　was　a　herd。
　These　dinosaurs　were　not　like　the　trophy　Carl　and　the　guys　had　killed。　These　were　bigger；　and　deep　green。　They　were　angling　up　the　side　of　the　hill　but　away　from　them。　Ellen　could　see　the　animals　were　traveling　on　all　fours；　measuring　ten　to　fifteen　feet　at　the　shoulders。　Three　horns　protruded　from　each　forehead　and　an　armored　collar　was　around　each　neck。　Their　long　tails　were　tipped　with　three　spikes。　Ellen　leaned　into　Rip…man　and　whispered　in　his　ear。
　〃Shouldn't　we…get　out　of　here？〃
　〃Relax；　they're　just　big　cows。　They　don't　eat　people。　Probably　never　seen　a　person　before。　There's　a　meadow　over　that　way。　That's　where　they　used　to　be。　For　some　reason　they　seem　to　be　on　the　move。　Let　'em　pass。〃
　They　lay　in　the　grass　as　the　dinosaurs　came　closer；　their　noise　now　a　cacophony。　Despite　Ripman's　reassurance　Ellen's　apprehension　remained　until　the　last　one　disappeared　into　the　trees。　Ellen　started　to　rise；　but　Ripman　held　her　arm　pulling　her　back　down。
　〃We've　got　a　problem。　If　we　move　straight　ahead　we　cut　across　the　path　of　those　dinosaurs。〃
　Ellen　and　Angie　looked　at　each　other；　neither　seeing　the　problem。
　〃Those　dinosaurs　are　on　the　move　for　some　reason。　They　were　happily　stuffing　themselves　with　grass　and　ferns　yesterday。〃
　〃You　know　what　they　say　about　greener　pastures；〃　Angie　offered。
　〃Maybe。　Maybe　they're　moving　because　they　don't　want　to　be　somebody's　lunch。〃
　Ellen　blanched　at　the　thought　of　whatever　might　eat　one　of　those　dinosaurs　for　lunch。
　〃Well　then；　let's　head　back　the　other　way　and　find　another　way　around。〃　Angie　looked　to　Ellen　for　support。
　〃If　we　go　that　way　we　head　back　toward　Carl　and　the　guys；〃　Ellen　reasoned。　〃If　we　go　in　the　direction　the　dinosaurs　came　from　we　could　be　heading　right　toward　whatever　was　hunting　them。　But　if　we　cut　across　。　。　。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Angie　said；　her　mind　weighing　the　risks。　〃If　we　cut　across　we　better　move　fast；　since　we　don't　know　if　something　is　following　the　herd；　and　how　far　back　it　might　be。〃
　Ripman　seemed　impressed　and　sat　quietly；　letting　them　analyze　the　options。　Angie　decided　first。
　〃I'd　rather　be　eaten　by　a　dinosaur　than　raped　by　a　bunch　of　assholes。　I　say　our　best　bet　is　to　cut　straight　across　as　fast　as　we　can　and　get　the　hell　out　of　this　place。　Remember　Coop！〃　Angie；　spoke　the　name　sadly。　Ellen　realized　Angie　was　depressed　over　more　than　a　senseless　death。　She　had　cared　for　Coop。　Seeing　how　Angie　used　her　sexuality　to　manipulate　men；　it　had　never　occurred　to　Ellen　that　Angie　might　have　feelings　for　those　men。　Because　Ellen　had　loved　only　one　man；　she　assumed　Angie　was　the　same。
　〃Let's　go　for　it；〃　Ellen　said　to　Ripman。
　Ripman　was　nodding　his　head　in　appreciation　for　their　clear　thinking。　〃El…ah…mental；〃　he　cheered。
　He　led　off　through　the　trees　at　his　usual　pace；　but　this　time　with　occasional　pauses　to　listen。　Ellen　and　Angie　listened　too；　but　depended　more　on　their　eyesight。　The　trees　were　far　enough　apart　to　see　quite　a　distance。　But　Ripman　was　right；　you'd　hear　a　dinosaur　before　you'd　see　one　in　this　forest。
　They　were　nearly　across　the　track　of　the　herd　when　Ripman　slowed　to　a　walk；　then　stopped；　dropping　to　his　knees；　his　eyes　riveted　on　the　ground。　Ellen　and　Angie　approached　slowly；　still　watching　for　dinosaurs。　Even　before　they　reached　him　they　could　see　a　large　pool　of　blood。　Ellen　immediately　thought　of　John；　but　realized　it　was　too　much　blood　for　him。　It　formed　part　of　a　trail　that　angled　off　through　the　trees；　one　corresponding　to　the　dinosaurs'　path。　Suddenly　Ripman's　head　snapped　up　and　his　face　went　pale。
　〃e　on。　Run。〃
　Ellen　and　Angie　followed　Ripman；　running　and　struggling　to　keep　him　in　sight。　They　trusted　his　instincts。　As　they　ran；　they　heard　something　ing…something　big。
　
　
　Cubby　and　John　were　awakened　by　the　roar　of　a　motorcycle　engine。　John　felt　his　insecurity　e　back。　He　immediately　assumed　he　cut　the　wrong　wire　or　tube；　and　Cubby　obviously　agreed。　Ripman　would　have　blamed　John　too。　When　Cubby　shot　John　an　accusing　look；　he　protested；　〃Hey；　it　could　have　been　you；　Cubby。〃
　The　engine　was　being　revved；　and　every　time　it　slowed　it　sputtered。　Finally　it　sputtered　once　more　and　died。　Cubby　and　John　left　their　hiding　place　to　get　closer　to　the　clearing；　John　crossing　his　fingers　and　hoping　it　wasn't　one　of　the　bikes　he　had　disabled。　The　engine　roared　to　life　again　but　died　almost　instantly。
　When　the　boys　got　closer　they　saw　the　bikes　had　been　moved；　they　were　now　parked　around　the　still…smoldering　fire。　To　John's　relief　he　couldn't　tell　which　bikes　he　had　worked　on。　He　could　recognize　only　the　deputy's　gaudy　blue　one；　the　rest　were　mostly　chrome　and　engine。
　All　four　of　the　men　were　crowded　around　one　bike。　After　a　few　minutes　one　of　them　climbed　on　and　jumped　down　on　the　starter。　After　three　kicks　the　engine　roared。　The　rider　revved　it　to　keep　it　going　while　another　one　did　something　on　the　engine。　It　died　again。　The　rider　climbed　off　angrily　and　began　yelling　at　the　one　working　on　the　engine。　They　traded　places　and　tried　it　again。　It　took　eight　kicks　to　start　and　died　almost　immediately。　It　didn't　start　again　after　that。
　Carl；　his　leg　bandaged　with　a　folded　shirt；　shouted　the　guys　down　and　then　took　control。　After　they　argued　for　a　while；　Carl　and　two　others　picked　up　their　rifles　and　headed　into　the　forest。　The　third　man　picked　up　his　rifle　and　watched　the　others　go；　then　he　went　back　to　the　bike　and　kicked　it　three　times　till　it　rocked　over　onto　its　side。
　Cubby　pulled　on　John's　sleeve；　and　they　slipped　deeper　into　the　forest。
　〃Do　you　want　to　take　him？〃　Cubby　asked。
　〃How？　He's　watching　now；　and　he's　got　a　rifle。　We　couldn't　get　far　enough　across　that　meadow　to　hit　him　with　that　pistol　before　he'd　plug　us　both。　Besides；　I've　never　shot　a　pistol　before；　have　you？〃
　〃Once；　except　it　wasn't　like　this　one　exactly。〃　Cubby　doubtfully　looked　over　the　gun。　〃I　think　this　is　the　safety；〃　he　said　weakly。　〃Okay。　Let's　follow　the　others　then。　Once　we're　sure　Ripman　got　your　mom　and　her　friend　away　safe；　we'll　head　for　my　house。〃
　They　detoured　wide　around　the　end　of　the　clearing　and　headed　in　the　direction　they　had　seen　Carl　lead　the　other　men。　With　Cubby　in　the　lead；　they　moved　quickly；　nearly　jogging　so　they　could　catch　up。　Soon　they　spotted　one　man　in　the　distance；　carrying　his　rifle　behind　his　neck　with　his　arms　looped　over　the　stock　on　one　side　and　the　barrel　on　the　other。　He　looked　lackadaisical；　as　if　he　didn't　give　a　damn。
　Cubby　and　John　could　not　see　the　others；　but　when　they　heard　a　voice　to　their　right　they　dropped　back；　easily　keeping　out　of　sight。　Occasionally　they　caught　glimpses　of　the　other　men。　Carl　was　limping　along；　the　wound　in　his　leg　apparently　hurting　but　not　enough　to　suit　John。　He　hoped　Ripman　had　dipped　that　arrow　in　dinosaur　shit　before　he　stuck　him　with　it。　It　might　give　him　some　incurable　prehistoric　infection。
　The　sound　of　a　jet　engine　stopped　the　men　as　they　looked　up；　but　the　plane　passed　quickly　and　the　men　resumed　their　search。　The　boys　soon　realized　the　men　weren't　following　tracks；　and　they　became　confident　that　John's　mom　and　Ripman　would　get　away。
　When　they　heard　a　distant　animal　roar；　the　men　froze　and　checked　their　rifles。　Another