jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第97节

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would　be　an　easy　climb　over　the　boulders　and　loose　rock　at　the　bottom；　but　above　that　the　rock　face　quickly　became　vertical。　Shirley　returned　from　talking　to　the　mother　while　he　was　still　mapping　his　climbing　route。
　〃She's　terrified。　We'd　better　get　up　there　quick　and　settle　this　one　way　or　another。〃　Shirley　looked　up　to　the　overhang　where　the　girl　had　disappeared。　〃We　can　do　this　free　climb。〃
　〃No　we　can't；〃　Kyle　responded　quickly。
　Shirley　looked　at　him　and　raised　her　eyebrows。
　〃There's　two　of　them；　remember？　We　want　to　be　anchored　if　the　other　one　es　after　us。〃
　Sure　that　Shirley　saw　right　through　him；　Kyle　quickly　changed　the　subject。
　〃Not　only　that；　but　that　guy　back　there；〃　he　said　nodding　to　the　pale　man；　〃well；　he　said　the　bird　up　there　was　a　dinosaur。　Really！　He　called　it　a　pterodon。〃
　〃No　such　thing；　Officer　Kyle。〃
　〃You　think　a　condor　could　lift　a　little　girl？〃　
　〃Depends　on。how　much　she　weighs；〃　Shirley　said　thoughtfully。　〃But　I　doubt　it　in　this　case。　Chrissy　is　three　years　old。　I'll　bet　she　weighs　thirty　pounds。〃
　〃Then　what　lifted　her　up　this　mountain？〃
　Shirley　frowned；　then　turned　to　Kyle　with　an　infectious　smile。
　〃I　give　up。　Let's　go　see。〃
　〃Another　thing；　Shirley。　I　want　you　to　take　a　gun。〃
　〃No　thanks。　I　don't　know　how　to　use　one　anyway。　I'd　probably　end　up　shooting　you。　I'll　take　the　first　aid　pack；〃　she　said　holding　out　her　hand。
　Kyle　had　no　intention。of　getting　shot；　so　he　quickly　agreed　with　Shirley。　The　first　part　would　be　a　free　climb　through　the　loose　rock　and　boulders。　Then　they　would　take　separate　routes　up　the　face；　setting　pitons。　Once　the　first　piton　was　set　Jay　and　Kimjberly　could　belay　their　fall。　Because　of　the　size　difference　it　was　decidedJay　would　act　as　belayer　for　Kyle　and　Kimberly　for　Shirley。
　Kyle　stood　at　the　base　of　the　mountain；　running　over　his　training　in　his　mind。　His　climbing　skills　were　a　tool；　not　a　hobby；　and　seldom　used。　Shirley　and　the　others；　however；　spent　weekends　scaling　mountains　for　fun。
　When　Kimberly　and　Jay　were　ready；　Kyle　followed　Shirley；　who　was　scrambling　up　the　boulders　to　the　beginning　of　the　rock　face。　Kyle　followed　easily　enough　but　found　himself　breathing　hard　when　he　caught　up　with　her。　Shirley　was　examining　the　rock　above　her　and　mapping　her　route。　Kyle　picked　a　spot　thirty　feet　from　Shirley　and　checked　the　rock　face。　It　would　be　easier　for　Shirley。　The　cracks　weren't　made　for　a　size　eleven　climbing　boot。
　〃Climbing！〃
　Kyle　turned　to　see　Shirley　with　her　toe　fitted　into　a　crack　about　knee　high。
　〃Hey；　Shirley！〃　Kyle　called；　stopping　her　before　she　could　get　started。　〃You　like　movies？〃　Shirley　nodded　her　head　and　smiled　like　she'd　just　been　asked　out　on　a　date。
　〃Me　too。　I　saw　one　once　with　a　dinosaur　like　that　one　up　there　in　it；〃　Kyle　said；　jerking　his　thumb　upward。
　Shirley　looked　at　him　quizzically。　〃What　happened？〃
　〃It　swooped　down　and　swallowed　a　person　whole。〃
　Shirley　shook　her　head；　then　smiled　and　patted　her　own　bottom。
　〃Race　you　to　the　top；　Officer　Kyle。〃
　Kyle　yelled；　〃Climbing！〃　and　Jay's　〃climb〃　followed　immediately。　Kyle　jammed　his　right　toes　into　a　good…size　crack　and　then　felt　for　others　wide　enough　to　grip　with　his　fingers。　When　he　found　a　satisfactory　one　he　pulled　himself　up；　ready　to　set　his　other　foot。
　Kyle　made　good　progress。　He　was　fifteen　feet　up　when　he　noticed　that　Shirley　was　ahead　of　him。　He　managed　a　couple　more　steps　before　he　heard　Shirley　yell　〃slack；〃　and　set　her　first　anchor。　Kyle　picked　up　his　pace　and　climbed　to　a　spot　a　few　feet　above　Shirley's　anchor　to　set　his　own。　He　clipped　a　D　carabiner　to　it　and　passed　his　rope　through　the　spring　catch。　A　wave　of　relief　came　as　he　realized　his　fall　would　now　be　limited　by　the　anchor。
　Only　after　his　third　anchor　was　Kyle　climbing　ahead　of　Shirley；　which　gave　him　great　satisfaction。　They　continued　seesawing　up　the　rock　face；　setting　pitons；　clipping　carabiners；　and　looping　kermantle。　As　they　approached　the　outcropping　they　angled　in　toward　it　with　one　of　them　on　either　side。　Twenty　feet　below　the　ledge　Kyle　motioned　for　Shirley　to　stop　and　be　quiet。　He　listened　intently　but　heard　nothing…no　little　girl；　no　prehistoric　bird。
　They　proceeded　up　on　either　side　of　the　outcrop；　neither　willing　to　hammer　in　a　piton　this　close　to　the　pteranodon。　Now　Kyle　and　Shirley　had　to　climb　out　and　up；　and　they　lost　sight　of　each　other。　As　Kyle　neared　the　top　he　debated　whether　to　pop　up　suddenly；　jump　onto　the　ledge；　and　then　pull　his　gun；　or　peek　over　the　top　slowly。　He　decided　on　slow　and　cautious。　Caution　was　natural　for　Kyle。
　He　found　toeholds　and　fingerholds　and　then　slowly　pulled　his　head　above　the　rim　of　the　outcrop。　The　first　thing　he　saw　was　the　massive　head　of　the　pteranodon…six　feet　of　it　lying　against　Kyle's　rock。　Two　enormous　eyes　were　set　in　the　middle　of　the　spear…shaped　face。　Kyle　sighed　with　relief　when　he　saw　the　eyes　were　closed。
　The　pteranodon's　wings　filled　nearly　the　entire　ledge；　concealing　the　little　girl。　Across　the　other　side　of　the　ledge　he　saw　Shirley。　First　her　eyes　appeared　searching　for　the　child。　Then　she　stared　at　the　pteranodon；　caught　Kyle's　eye；　shook　her　head　in　disbelief；　and　mouthed；　〃Is　it　dead？〃　Kyle　mouthed　back；　〃I　think　so。〃　Shirley　nodded；　and　then　pushed　herself　up　a　little　higher　and　took　hold　of　the　collapsed　wing　of　the　pteranodon。　As　she　lifted　it；　stretching　it　out　so　that　she　could　look　under　it　for　the　little　girl；　the　creature　blew　air　through　the　nostrils　in　its　beak。
　Kyle　dropped　his　head　down　and　froze。　It　was　alive。　He　thought　about　shooting　it；　but　he　couldn't　and　still　hang　on。
　Kyle　pulled　his　head　up　again　to　find　himself　staring　at　the　back　of　the　pteranodon's　head。　It　had　moved；　its　head　was　up　now　and　its　beak　pointed　at　Shirley。　The　crest　that　protruded　out　the　back　was　inches　from　Kyle's　face。　Kyle　followed　the　creature's　stare　to　Shirley；　who　had　lifted　the　wing　and　was　looking　under　the　membrane　for　the　little　girl。　As　she　started　to　lift　another　piece　of　wing；　she　looked　up　to　find　the　pteranodon　staring　at　her；　and　she　froze。　Kyle　decided　to　grab　the　crest　and　hold　the　bird。　He　made　sure　his　feet　were　secure；　detached　his　rope　and　secured　it　in　the　rock；　and　pushed　up　slowly　with　his　legs。
　When　Shirley　started　to　lower　the　bird's　wing；　the　pteranodon's　mouth　opened　in　a　high…pitched　screech。　Then　it　lunged　at　Shirley；　using　its　beak　like　a　spear。　Shirley　flinched；　bringing　her　hands　up　to　deflect　the　thrust；　but　the　bird　was　too　fast…as　her　hands　grasped　the　beak；　the　momentum　of　the　thrust　carried　the　beak　into　her　chest；　knocking　her　over　the　edge。　Controlling　his　panic；　Kyle　reacted　by　pushing　himself　up　and　flopping　onto　the　ledge。　As　soon　as　Kyle's　chest　hit　the　rock；　the　pteranodon　twisted　to　look　at　him。　The　crest　was　suddenly　out　of　Kyle's　reach　and　he　found　himself　staring　down　the　three…foot　beak　into　a　pair　of　black；　angry　eyes。
　The　bird　screeched　again　and　began　hopping；　its　unfolded　left　wing　partially　obscuring　Kyle's　view。　Kyle　pulled　both　legs　up　onto　the　ledge　as　the　pteranodon　hopped　trying　to　get　at　him。　It　was　handicapped　by　its　huge　wingspan　and　its　crippled　wing。　Now　it　began　beating　at　Kyle　with　its　good　wing。　Then　the　bird　lunged　again。
　Kyle；　stumbling　backward；　tripped　over　loose　rock；　falling　against　the　cliff　wall。　The　bird　danced　around　and　Kyle　saw　the　beak　ing　at　his　stomach。　He　leapt　sideways　and　grabbed　the　beak　with　both　hands；　holding　it　closed。　The　huge　wings　slapped　at　his　body　and　face；　but　he　kept　his　head　down　and　let　his　shoulders　absorb　the　blows。　He　was　gaining　confidence　when　something　tore　through　his　shirt　and　sliced　the　skin　on　his　right　shoulder。
　In　sudden　pain；　Kyle　realized　the　creature　had　small　clawed　feet　attached　to　its　wing。　Wincing；　Kyle　maneuvered　himself　to　his　left　and　away　from　the　good　wing；　in　a　frantic　dance　with　the　pteranodon；　keeping　it　at　arm's　length。　Around　and　around　they　went　until　the　partners　collapsed　in　exhaustion。
　Still；　Kyle　held　on；　feeling　the　deep；　rapid　breaths　ing　out　of　its　nostrils。
　He　was　still　considering　the　options　when　he　heard　a　voice。
　〃I　want　my　mommy。〃
　Kyle　looked　around　but　couldn't　see　where　the　voice　was　ing　from。
　〃Chrissy？　Where　are　you；　honey？〃
　〃I'm　here。　I　hurt。〃
　Kyle　could　hear　the　voice；　but　the　wing　was　blocking　his　view。　Desperately；　he　searched　vainly　for　an　option。　Then　Shirley's　head　appeared。
　She　pulled　herself　up　over　the　ledge；　flopped　onto　her　stomach　and　then　rolled　to　her　back；　smiling。
　〃I　saw　you　dancing　with　that　thing；　Officer　Kyle。　And　while　on　duty　too。　You　two　made　such　a　lovely　couple；〃　she　drawled　sarcastically。
　Kyle　felt　foolish　but　spoke　authoritatively。　〃The　little　girl's　here　somewhere；　I　heard　her　voice。　See　if　you　can　find　her。〃
　Shirley　nodded　and　crawled　to　look　under　the　massive　wings；　then　poked　her　head　up　and　looked　at　Kyle　mischievously。　〃Hey；　Kyle；　give　me　a　hand；　will　you？〃
　When　she　picked　up　the　wing；　the　pteranodon　began　twisting　sideways。
　〃Mommy？〃
　At　the　sound；　Shirley　abruptly　turned　around　and　crawled　to　the　cliff　wall；　reaching　for　the　broken　wing。
　Kyle　tightened　his　grip。　When　Shirley　lifted　the　bird's　injured　wing；　Kyle　could　feel　the　bird's　whole　body　shudder。　Now　Shir