jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第105部分
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tepped out； grinning sheepishly。 They smiled at Ripman and then turned and watched the other door。 Ripman lost his grin。
〃He's not with me。 I looked for Cubby after the 。 。 。 light； bombs； whatever。 I never found him。 Never found Portland either。 It's really gone now。〃
Ripman stayed by the car； making no move toward them； seeming uncertain。 John felt his mother's hand oh his shoulder and stepped aside to let her pass。 She walked around the car toward Ripman。 He stepped back； but she kept ing； wrapping her good arm around him in a big hug。 Ripman's hands went up； but he couldn't bring himself to hug her back。 His face went red； but the smile returned。
〃What's the matter； Ripman？〃 John teased。 〃A hug is as elemental as things get。〃
〃Screw you；〃 Ripman mouthed over Ellen's shoulder。
〃Up yours；〃 John replied silently。
Ripman looked at John and mouthed the word 〃El…ah…mental；〃 then let his hands fall and hugged Ellen back。
70。 THE NEW COUNTRY
South Oregon Coast
THE NEW WORLD
Petra was driving while Colter dozed in the seat next to her。 Peaches was cuddled in his arms and Moose was settled on his shoulder。 Sarah was on her blanket beneath his feet。 Petra guided the battered camper down a forest service access road not marked on many maps。 The dirt road was poorly maintained and filled with deep ruts and huge mud puddles； and Petra could do no more than twenty…five miles per hour。 Colter found the road； remembering it from deer hunting。 The main roads were filled with confused people or blocked by state police who were restricting travel。
Petra found herself driving along a hill so steep it was indistinguishable from a cliff。 Some tractor driver had carved a road across the middle。 Tons of debris littered the lower side of the hill； which dropped sharply to a creek。 Rockslides covered parts of the road。 Petra snaked around rock piles； fearful of triggering another rock fall。 Once across she cornered left around a huge boulder； following the road as it dropped off sharply。 Suddenly she was out of the forest into a clear…cut； those great ugly scars that peppered Oregon's great forests。 Clear…cut is a funny name； thought Petra； Sure； the towering firs were gone giving a clear view of the sky； but nothing resembling a clearing was left behind。 The 〃clear…cut〃 was filled with massive stumps； limbs shaved from the fallen ancients； and junk timber felled to reduce the petition for sunlight for the newly planted fir seedlings。
The road led down to the creek； which flowed over and around boulders creating a swirling frothing stream。 Petra found herself hypnotized by the creek and slowed to enjoy it。 Something moved in the trees on the far side and Petra stopped to watch。 Peaches lifted her head briefly； looked around； and then snuggled into a new position。 Colter and Moose never moved。 Petra understood。 She slept like the dead now too。 Her body was still replenishing and renewing itself； and the poor little dinosaurs had little energy in the cool weather。
Then a doe walked out of the forest and down to the stream for a drink。 The deer stared at the RV long and hard before it finally dropped its head and drank。 Petra watched with an odd feeling。 Something as normal as a deer now seemed strange to her。 Petra had been in the pany of dinosaurs for too long； she longed for mammals。
Suddenly the deer's head snapped up； its oversized ears erect and cocked sideways。 Out of the shadows of the forest came something ancient…something no deer had ever contended with。 It was five feet high； lizard green； and ran on two large back legs。 The body of the animal was small pared to the massive head。 The deer jumped but wasn't up to running speed before the jaws of the dinosaur tore into the flesh of its neck。 The deer went down in a tumble with the dinosaur； rolling once and ending their struggle in the stream。
There had never been any doubt about the oute。 When the deer stopped thrashing the dinosaur dragged its kill from the stream to the shore and only then released the death grip of its jaws。 The dinosaur examined its kill； licking its lips； perhaps tasting the blood of a mammal for the first time。 Then the dinosaur began its meal。 Petra had no desire to watch another bloody feast； so she put the RV in gear and gave it some gas。 When the engine revved the dinosaur looked up and watched the RV drive away。
Petra continued down the road； now aware the forests of Oregon were a different place。 The radio reports told of patches of prehistoric land here and there all over the state。 The dinosaurs must be exploring the turf of the mammals。 There were no fences to prevent it； and no fence would stop some of those dinosaurs。 The question now was could they live in this new climate？ Oregon winters were mild along the coast； not like east of the Cascade Mountains。 Certainly dinosaurs in Florida or closer to the equator could live； but Oregon's dinosaur would struggle。 Petra wondered if the government would try to kill them or save them。 All levels of government were working on survival…restoring transportation for food and fuel； restoring munication； and restoring order。 But soon it would have to deal with the marauding dinosaurs。
The dirt road intersected a gravel road。 A forest service sign directed Petra to the left； and soon she had the RV up to forty miles per hour。 Even at that speed the gravel pounded away at the underside of the RV。 Still her little family slept； oblivious to the rock rhythm being pounded out on the floorboard。 After they drove through a couple of miles of forest； the road intersected blacktop； which led through a small valley dotted with dairy farms。 Dairy cows watched with disinterested eyes from behind barbed wire fences as the RV passed。 Petra left the valley and entered another stretch of woodland； winding up a hill and then back down。 As she started down she could see the ocean ahead。 They were almost there。
Petra lost sight of the ocean as she wound down the hill and through the woods again； but then suddenly there was the coast highway； and there on the other side was the Pacific Ocean； Petra felt a sudden sense of freedom cleanse her soul。 She could almost forget what had happened to her； and to the others。 She always felt this way by the ocean…renewed； or at least recharged。 Petra turned left； heading south。 There were few cars on the road。 Gas was rationed and only necessary trips were taken。 The RV was an obscene use of fuel； but it served as both home and transportation。 Petra had asked Colter how he managed to get its three fuel tanks filled； but he had only smiled and mumbled something about the golden rule。
Petra gave the RV more gas and soon was doing fifty miles per hour。 Colter stirred； disturbing Moose； who scrambled from Colter's shoulder to his place on the dash。 Soon Colter's eyes flickered open。 He remained slumped in the seat for a minute and then pushed 。himself up。 Peaches still cuddled in his arms。 When he was upright he discovered the ocean。
〃All right； we made it。 How far is it？〃
〃We're almost there。〃
Colter watched the ocean in silence for a few minutes； stroking Peaches's head。 The baby dinosaur kept its eyes closed but make a little squeaking sound with each stroke。 Colter scratched behind its little collar eliciting more squeaking； then he leaned over and put Peaches on the blanket next to Sarah and went into the back of the RV。 Petra heard the refrigerator open。
〃Petra； want a Pepsi？〃
〃I'll split one with you；〃 Petra offered：
Colter came back with two cans of Pepsi； opened one and put it on the dash。
〃Drink as much as you can； I'll finish the rest。〃
Petra shook her head。 〃Colter； we better start taking it easy on some of this stuff。 You've heard all the reports on the shortages and all the rationing。〃
〃They aren't rationing pop。〃
〃That's because it's not a necessity。〃
〃That's what you think。〃
Colter opened his can and swigged down half of it。 When he was done； he saw her watching him； and frowned。 〃All right； from now on you're in charge of supplies；〃 he said。
〃I don't want to be in charge； I just want you to take it easy。〃
〃I want you to be in charge。 You know； and I know； I don't have any self…control。〃
Petra could see he was serious…he was asking for her help。 This was a new Colter。 She knew she would never be the same person； but she had wondered about Colter。 She appreciated his new self…awareness but hoped some of the reckless courage and other traits remained。 She had fallen in love with the old Colter。 Then he opened his mouth and loosed a long； loud belch。 Yes； some of the old Colter remained。
The sun was nearing the horizon when they came to the turnoff and followed the road around a hill to the parking area； The lot sat on a little bluff overlooking the ocean。 A narrow gray sand beach separated the ocean from the massive piles of driftwood directly below。 There was one other car in the parking lot but looked abandoned。 Colter opened the door； and the cool sea air rushed in； cleansing the RV of animal smells。 When the door opened Moose quickly retreated deeper into the RV out of the cool air。 Sarah roused herself from her blanket and waddled down the aisle to the back。 Petra picked up Peaches
