jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第99节

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　Kyle　flashed　a　smile　to　acknowledge　he'd　heard。　Then　Shirley　looked　over　at　his　exposed　bottom；　and　shook　her　head　in　disbelief。
　〃My　hero；〃　she　said；　and　then　kissed　him　on　the　cheek。
　
　66。　　NOAH'S　RAVEN
　
　Civilization　es　in　long　waves。　Whether　Babylon；　Ur；　or　ancient　Guatemala；　the　mystics　of　those　civilizations　understood　this；　and　used　mathematics　to　try　to　understand　why　theirs　and　other　civilizations　e　and　go。　Ours　may　be　the　only　wave　of　civilization　that　has　not　made　such　an　effort。
　…Dr。　Carrie　Simpkins；　Mathematics　and　Prophecy
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　12：30　P。M。　PST
　The　sound　of　the　motorcycle　put　them　on　the　move　again。　Cubby　led　the　way　with　Ellen　and　John　taking　turns　jogging　with　Ripman；　who　let　slip　occasional　groans。　The　motorcycle　sounds　continued　in　the　distance；　but　did　not　approach。　Then　three　gunshots　echoed　from　the　distance…followed　by　more　motorcycle　sounds　and　two　more　gunshots。
　〃Think　a　dino　got　him；　Cubby？〃　John　asked；
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Cubby　responded　softly；　and　then　with　a　touch　of　anger　added；　〃How　should　I　know？〃　To　Ellen；　Cubby　seemed　unfortable　with　the　role　of　leader。　His　irritability　was　one　symptom。　The　other　more　serious　one　was　his　unwillingness　to　consider　any　plan　of　action　except　heading　to　his　house。　For　now　they　were　moving　away　from　the　sounds　of　the　motorcycle；　but　tbey'd　need　to　settle　the　question　of　direction　soon。　As　if　in　response　to　Ellen's　thoughts；　Cubby　slowed　to　a　walk；　and　the　rest　dropped　abreast。
　〃Did　you　guys　sabotage　their　bikes？〃　Ripman　asked　without　looking　up。
　〃Yeah；　we　did；〃　Cubby　said　with　pride。　〃We　saw　them　go　after　John's　mom　and　that　other　lady；　and　you　take　Mrs。　Roberts　off　into　the　woods；　so　me　and　John　waited　until　dark　and　then　snuck　into　their　camp　and　cut　up　their　wiring　so　they　couldn't　follow　you。〃
　〃All　of　the　bikes　except　one。〃
　〃That　was　one　John　was　supposed　to　do；〃　Cubby　snapped。
　〃Up　yours；　Cubby。　You　don't　know　which　bike　that　was。〃
　〃Yeah；　maybe。　Hey；　where　is　that　other　lady？〃
　Ripman　finally　looked　up　and　caught　Ellen's　eye。　When　he　didn't　say　anything；　Ellen　just　shook　her　head。　She　couldn't　bear　discussing　the　details。　Cubby　and　John　sensed　her　pain　so　Cubby　quickly　changed　the　subject。
　〃We　also　got　this　gun　off　a　dead　guy；〃　Cubby　said；　holding　it　up。
　Other　visions　immediately　filled　Ellen's　head…terrible　visions。　Ellen　wondered　if　they'd　found　the　gun　on　Coop；　or　Bobby；　but　didn't　bother　to　ask。　Someday　she　would　have　to　cleanse　herself　of　these　memories　by　talking　them　out；　but　this　day　called　for　repression　and　denial。
　〃Elemental；　guys；〃　Ripman　said。　Ellen　noticed　that　Cubby　and　her　son　glowed　in　the　light　of　Ripman's　praise。　〃Except　for　one　thing；〃　Ripman　continued。　〃You　used　up　all　the　ammo　shooting　at　those　assholes　back　there。〃
　〃Wrong　again；　Sherlock；〃　John　said；　pulling　two　clips　of　ammunition　out　of　his　jacket　pockets。　〃Now　if　we　can　only　figure　out　how　to　change　the　clips。〃
　Cubby　kept　walking　but　began　fumbling　with　the　gun；　turning　it　at　different　angles　and　pushing　and　pulling　on　anything　that　looked　like　a　release。　Ellen　and　John　flinched　every　time　the　barrel　of　the　gun　turned　toward　them。
　Finally；　Ripman　snorted　derisively　and　said；　〃Let　me　do　it　before　you　shoot　someone。〃　Cubby　gave　up　the　gun　reluctantly。　Ripman　turned　partially　away；　so　Cubby　and　John　could　not　see　what　he　did；　and　when　he　turned　around　the　empty　clip　was　out　of　the　gun。　John　handed　over　another　clip　and　Ripman　slipped　it　in　the　handle；　then　slapped　it　home　with　the　palm　of　his　hand。　He　didn't　volunteer　to　show　anyone　how　to　change　the　clip；　and　it　was　then　Ellen　realized　how　insecure　he　was。
　Ripman；　she　saw；　needed　an　edge　over　John　and　Cubby　to　stay　their　friend。　They　were　willing　to　give　their　friendship　to　Ripman；　but　he　needed　to　earn　it；　or　perhaps；　Ellen　thought；　buy　it。　Ripman　wouldn't　take　anything　for　free　or　do　anything　the　easy　way。　He　didn't　want　anything　from　anyone　that　he　didn't　pay　for。　Cubby's　and　John's　friendship　was　paid　for　in　myriad　ways；　but　mostly　by　the　way　Ripman　doled　out　esoteric　knowledge；　bits　and　pieces　of　skill；　and　expertise　he　had　been　husbanding　for　just　that　purpose。　Her　son　and　Cubby's　resourcefulness　at　disabling　the　motorcycles　and　obtaining　a　gun　had　disturbed　Ripman's　balance　with　his　friends。　Their　independence　had　devalued　the　only　modity　he　felt　he　had；　skill。　So　Ripman　ridiculed　them　for　missing　one　motorcycle；　and　then　reestablished　his　value　by　changing　the　clip　in　the　gun。　He　needed　that　edge　and　Ellen　was　willing　to　let　him　keep　it　for　now。
　Cubby　held　out　his　hand。　Ripman　hesitated；　then　slapped　the　gun　into　Cubby's　palm。
　〃Wish　I　still　had　my　bow；　guns　are　a　crutch；　but　a　bow〃
　〃I　know；　Ripman；〃　Cubby　cut　in；　〃a　bow　is　el…ah…mental；〃　When　John　harmonized　the　word　with　Cubby；　all　three　of　them　laughed；　diffusing　the　tension　and　reaffirming　their　friendship。　They　walked　in　silence　for　a　way；　not　wanting　to　disturb　the　good　feeling。
　Ellen　grew　impatient。　They　needed　a　plan；　a　goal；　and　in　her　mind　the　only　goal　could　be　to　get　out　of　dinosaur　land　as　soon　as　possible。　She　was　about　to　speak　when　Ripman　saved　her　the　trouble。
　〃Cubby　。　。　。　it's　really　gone；　Portland's　gone。　You　can't　go　home。〃
　Ripman's　tone　was　conciliatory；　his　ments　an　act　of　passion。
　〃It　is　there！　We　saw　it！〃
　〃I've　seen　it　too；　Cubby。　But　something's　not　right。　It　es　and　goes；　and　when　it's　there；　I'm　not　sure　it's　really　there。〃
　Cubby　walked　in　silence；　sorting　his　thoughts；　while　Ellen　hung　back。　She　had　already　decided　on　her　course　of　action。　She　and　John　were　getting　out　as　fast　as　possible。　If　Portland　was　there；　it　wasn't　all　there；　and　her　part　of　it；　her　home；　her　friends　and　neighbors；　were　gone。　She　had　her　son；　a　husband　somewhere；　and　a　daughter。　So　far　she　had　lost　only　things；　and　of　the　things　lost　only　the　mementos　mattered；　those　markers　of　personal　passage　through　time。　And　they　mattered　little　pared　to　her　family。　She　cared　about　Cubby　and　Ripman　for　their　family's　sake；　but　she　would　not　risk　her　son　and　herself　for　them。　She　and　John　were　leaving。
　〃I　know　the　city　doesn't　look　right；　Ripman；　but　it's　something；〃　Cubby　said。　〃My　family　is　in　there；　my　mom　and　dad。　This　isn't　the　rapture；　I'll　admit　that。　But　it's　something；　something　only　God　could　do。　There's　a　purpose　behind　this；　a　plan。　My　dad　will　understand　it；　he's　probably　explaining　it　right　now。　You　guys　don't　have　to　e　with　me；〃　Cubby　finished。　〃I'm　going　into　Portland。〃
　Cubby's　decision　sounded　as　firm　as　Ellen's；　but　she　wanted　to　give　him　options。
　〃Cubby；　you　can　e　with　us；　live　with　us　as　long　as　you　want。　I　know　your　mom　has　relatives　in　Georgia　or　someplace；　we　can　get　in　touch　with　them。　You　too；　Ripman。　We'll　move　down　to　the　beach　until　someone　figures　out　what　is　going　on。〃　　　Ellen　could　tell　by　their　faces　they　were　looking　for　a　kind　way　to　say　no。
　The　return　of　the　helicopter　spared　them　for　a　moment。
　When　Ellen　heard　the　distant　sound　she　sprinted　ahead　looking　for　thin　canopy　and　began　waving　her　arms。　The　helicopter　never　passed　within　sight　of　their　group；　but　when　the　sounds　faded　they　heard　the　brief　distant　roar　of　an　engine；　which　soon　died；　replaced　by　the　silence　of　the　forest。　The　machine　roar　returned；　and　then　faded；　only　to　e　back　again。　The　rhythm　continued；　the　sounds　ing　closer　and　closer。
　〃They're　tracking　us；〃　Ripman　said。　〃We　better　find　a　place　we　can　defend。〃
　Ripman　lead　off；　but　his　injuries　kept　his　pace　down。　As　tired　and　hungry　as　he　was；　even　Ellen　could　keep　up　with　him。　She　was　more　than　just　physically　tired；　she　was　tired　of　being　afraid；　and　tired　of　being　a　victim。
　Something　moved　in　the　trees　up　ahead。　Ripman　spotted　it　with　his　good　eye　and　veered　to　the　right。　The　others　followed　his　lead。　Ellen　spotted　a　long　green　tail　protruding　from　behind　a　tree；　but　no　head　was　visible。　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　content；　and　they　ran　on　ignoring　it；　Ripman　led　them　into　a　tiny　clearing　and　to　an　ancient　fallen　tree　on　the　far　side；　which　had　sprouted　new　trees　along　its　entire　length。　Ripman　paused　looking　around　rapidly。
　〃This　is　as　good　as…〃　He　stopped　in　midsentence；　distracted　by　the　noise　behind　him。
　They　all　followed　Ripman's　gaze　to　see　a　dinosaur　ing　through　the　trees。　It　was　half　the　size　of　the　one　that　had　gotten　Angie；　but　its　jaws　were　still　big　enough　to　bite　a　person　in　half。　Cubby　was　pointing　his　gun　at　it；　waiting　for　a　clear　shot。
　〃Don't　shoot　it　with　that；　Cubby；　you'll　only　make　it　mad。　Everyone　spread　out；　back　away　slowly；〃　Ripman　ordered。
　Ellen　fought　down　the　urge　to　run　and　obeyed　him；　looking　to　see　where　John　was。　She　was　next　to　Ripman；　then　Cubby；　and　John　was　on　the　far　side。　She　punished　herself　mentally　for　letting　John　get　so　far　away。　The　dinosaur　stepped　into　the　clearing；　walking　on　two　huge　hind　legs；　dragging　a　long　muscular　tail　behind。　Its　forelegs　were　small　but　powerful　looking。　Its　triangular　head　had　massive　gaping　jaws　showing　rows　of　pointed　teeth；　its　breath　came　in　liquid　heaves。　Most　noticeable　were　its　eyes…its　eye。　The　left　was　a　brown　orb　barely　distinguishable　from　the　olive　skin；　but　the　right　eye　was　a　large　crust