jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第17部分

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ll　his　life　in　Oregon。　In　that　time　he　had　never　heard　of　a　tornado　in　the　state。
　The　funnel　was　stirring　up　so　much　debris　and　dust　that　the　road　and　fields　were　obscured。　If　it　continued　on　a　straight　line；　John　estimated；　it　would　cut　across　the　highway　and　then　continue　into　the　vineyards　on　the　east　side。　A　farmhouse　on　that　side　was　a　little　north　of　the　tornado's　path。　When　John　looked　back　he　realized　the　tornado　was　curving　back　into　Newberg。　John　sat　there　helpless；　watching　in　horrified　fascination。
　The　tornado　ripped　through　the　nursery　at　the　edge　of　town；　shredding　three　greenhouses；　then　lifted　into　the　sky　and　seemed　to　dissipate。　Seconds　later　it　was　back；　dropping　to　earth　again；　this　time　into　the　Ford　dealership；　first　floating　and　then　lifting　Aerpstars　and　Mustangs。　Then　the　funnel　ascended　again；　widened　into　a　swirling；　angry　cloud；　and　disappeared。
　The　three　of　them　sat　in　silence　for　a　minute　and　then；　all　at　once；　clambered　out　for　a　better　look　as　the　wind　died　down　to　a　soft；　restful　whishing　sound。
　〃Elemental；〃　Ripman　said；　surveying　the　damage　in　the　valley　below。　〃Let's　go　take　a　look　at　that　Ford　dealer。〃
　〃Forget　it；　Ripman；〃　Cubby　gut　in。　〃Take　a　look　at　the　road。〃
　John　looked　back　along　the　highway　to　Newberg。　It　was　littered　with　fallen　trees　and　debris　from　the　greenhouses。　They　would　need　a　chain　saw　and　a　bucket　loader　to　clear　a　path　to　the　Ford　dealer。　The　road　ahead　was　also　covered　with　debris；　but　no；large　trees　blocked　it。　With　one　last　look；　and　another　〃elemental〃　from　Ripman；　they　climbed　back　into　the　van　and　headed　home。　They　were　all　still　on　adrenalin　highs　and　peppered　their　talk　with　〃Did　ya　see　that？〃
　They　finished　climbing　the　hill；　went　down　the　grade；　and　hit　the　stretch　where　the　road　split　into　two　one…way　sections　divided　by　dense　trees。　It　felt　like　driving　down　a　dark　green　tunnel。　Suddenly；　Cubby　hit　the　brakes；　sliding　to　a　tire…squealing　stop。　Ripman　very　nearly　hit　the　windshield；　and　John　and　his　Big　Gulp　rolled　off　the　bench　seat。　He　came　up　cussing；　but　stopped　when　he　looked　out。　Cubby　was　ten　feet　from　where　the　road　ended　abruptly。　The　asphalt　was　neatly　cut　from　one　edge　of　the　road　to　the　other；　and　where　the　road　should　have　continued　was　a　forest；　but　unlike　the　one　that　had　lined　the　road　to　Newberg。　The　spindly　second…growth　Douglas　firs　were　gone；　and　in　their　place　were　giants；　with　girths　three　to　four　times　larger。　John　stood；　his　head　protruding　from　the　sunroof；　and　traced　one　of　the　giants　from　its　massive　base　to　its　crown；　towering　above　him。　Had　the　road　been　shifted　by　the　tornado？　Had　these　trees　always　been　there；　hidden　from　the　road　by　the　firs？
　Cubby　and　Ripman　climbed　out　of　the　van；　and　Ripman　walked　to　the　nearest　giant　and　kicked　it　with　his　foot。
　〃It's　real　enough；〃　he　snorted；　〃but　I　still　don't　believe　it。　Where　。　。　。　how　did　it…？〃
　Cubby's　sudden　loud　sobbing　cut　Ripman　off。　John　turned　to　see　Cubby　drop　to　his　knees；　his　hands　spread　wide　and　his　face　turned　to　heaven。　He　buried　his　face　in　his　hands　and　begged　for　Jesus　to　take　him。　Angrily　stomping　over；　Ripman　pulled　Cubby's　hands　from　his　race。　Cubby　jerked　his　hands　back　and　shoved　Ripman　away；　the　other　boy；　overpowered；　staggered　back　a　few　steps；　his　face　red　with　anger。
　〃Get　away　from　me！〃　Cubby　shouted；　his　voice　ragged　with　tears。　〃Don't　you　know　what's　happened？　Can't　you　see　it？　It's　the　second　ing。　It's　the　rapture。　The　righteous　have　been　taken　from　the　world　and　I　have　been　found　wanting。〃
　〃Don't　give　me　that；　Cubby。　This　is　just　some　kind　of　landslide；　or　maybe　that　tornado　did　something　weird；　but　don't　give　me　that　supernatural　crapola。〃
　　As　Cubby　kept　on　sobbing；　Ripman　stepped　forward；　stopped　and　kicked　dirt　at　the　weeping　boy；　and　then　stalked　to　the　edge　of　the　forest；　peering　into　the　blackness。　John　approached　Cubby　but　hesitated；　embarrassed　and　afraid。　Ripman　was　an　atheist；　but　John　was　an　agnostic　who　could　be　convinced　of　God's　existence　by　a　miraculous　event。　What　force　short　of　a　miracle　could　have　delivered　the　changes？　After　a　few　minutes；　Ripman　stomped　back　to　yell　disgustedly；　〃Stop　blubbering；　you　big　baby。　I'll　prove　to　you　this　isn't　the　second　ing。　John；　watch　him　till　I　get　back。〃
　John　opened　his　mouth　to　protest；　but　Ripman　walked　off　down　the　road　toward　Newberg。　John　watched　him　until　the　dark　enveloped　him；　then　he　turned　back　to　the　forest；　a　forest　that　hadn't　been　there　a　few　hours　ago。
　〃I　hope　you're　right　about　this；　Ripman；〃　John　whispered；　〃I　hope　to　God　you're　right。〃
　
　13。　　FLIGHT　DELAY
　
　The　flight　leader　radioed　they　were　off　course　and　his　pass　was　haywire。　The　pilots　of　the　other　four　torpedo　bombers　confirmed　their　instruments　were　going　crazy；　and　then　lost　contact。　After　the　planes　vanished　a　twin　engine　Martin　Mariner；　with　a　crew　of　13；　was　dispatched　to　search　the　area。　The　search　plane　was　never　heard　from　again。
　…Roger　Cochran；　Vanished：　Secrets　of　the　Bermuda　Triangle
　
　Honolulu；　Hawaii
　TIME　QUILT：　SATURDAY；　10：11　P。M。　AHT　（ALEUTIAN…HAWAIIAN　TIME）
　
　　Assistant　Professor　Emmett　Puglisi　hurried　through　the　airport　looking　for　the　arrival　monitor。　There　were　few　people；　but　because　he　feared　being　late；　everyone　was　in　his　way。　Spotting　a　monitor；　he　quickly　scanned　for　Dr。　Wang's　flight。　Emmett　was　relieved；　he　still　had　a　few　minutes　before　her　flight　arrived。
　Emmett　noted　the　gate　number　but　only　took　three　steps　before　he　was　stopped　by　a　touch　on　the　arm。　Emmett　turned　to　see　Professor　Carrollee　Chen…Slater's　beaming　face。　There　was　nothing　subdued　about　Carrollee；　not　her　smile；　not　her　personality；　and　not　the　way　she　dressed。　Today　she　was　dressed　in　a　brightly　colored　flowered　sundress；　which　on　most　people　would　be　gaudy；　but　Carollee　added　large　flowers　to　her　sandals　and　one　in　her　hair。　Carrollee's　taste　in　clothes　ran　well　past　loud；　and　stopped　just　a　little　short　of　being　circus　garb。
　〃Hello；　Dr。　Puglisi；〃　she　said　with　mock　formality。
　〃Hello；　Carrollee；〃　Emmett　replied　warily。　He　and　Carrollee　worked　at　the　university　but　in　different　departments；　and　he　knew　her　well　enough　to　be　careful　of　what　he　said。
　〃Dropping　off；　picking　up；　or　going　somewhere？〃
　Emmett　considered　lying　but　wasn't　good　enough　at　it　to　fool　Carrollee。
　〃I'm　picking　up　Professor　Wang。　She's　been　at　a　conference　on　the　mainland。〃
　Carrollee　immediately　cupped　her　hand；　put　her　nose　inside　and　twisted　it；　making　the　universal　sign　for　brownnosing。
　〃It's　not　like　that；〃　Emmett　said　defensively。　〃She　didn't　want　to　leave　her　car　in　long…term　parking；　and　she　doesn't　have　any　family…〃
　〃Or　friends。〃
　〃I'm　a　friend。〃
　〃You're　an　obsequious　kiss…up　who　wants　tenure。〃　　　Carrollee　said　it　with　a　smile；　but　it　stung　anyway。　Emmett　changed　the　subject。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃I　dropped　my　brother　off。　He's　going　to　the　mainland　for　a　couple　of　weeks。　That's　him　over　there；〃　she　said。
　Emmett　followed　the　point　to　see　a　uniformed　man　a　few　years　older　than　Carrollee　standing　in　a　ticket　line。
　〃I'm　only　doing　it　so　he'll　keep　buying　me　stuff　in　the　PX　cheap；〃　she　added。
　〃Nice　seeing　you；　Carrollee；　but　I've　got　to　get　down　to　the　gate。〃
　〃I'll　walk　along。〃
　Emmett　left　reluctantly；　with　the　unpredictable　Dr。　ChenSlater　at　his　side。　He　didn't　want　her　near　when　he　met　Dr。　Wang；　but　didn't　know　how　to　get　rid　of　her。
　〃It　might　be　better　if　I　met　her　alone；　Carrollee。〃
　〃Want　to　do　your　kissing　up　in　private；　eh？〃
　〃I'm　just　doing　her　a　favor。　It's　just　that　if　she　sees　us　together　she　might　think　we're　dating　or　something。〃
　Carrollee　laughed　softly　and　then　said；　〃Are　you　suggesting　I'm　not　fit　to　be　your　girl？〃
　Emmett　was　pretty　sure　she　was　kidding；　but　admitted　to　himself　he　was　mildly　attracted　to　her。　Carrollee　was　four　inches　over　five　feet　and　had　a　round　face　topped　with　a　mass　of　short　brown　curls。　Her　figure　was　unremarkable；　except　for　the　way　she　covered　it。
　〃I'm　not　saying　anything　about　you；〃　he　said　defensively。　〃I　just　know　Dr。　Wang　doesn't　think　faculty　should　have　personal　relationships。〃　
　〃You　mean　sex。〃
　〃Relationships。　It　creates　plications…〃
　Emmett　never　got　to　finish　the　conversation　with　Carrollee　because　at　that　moment　a　loud　boom　pealed　through　the　terminal。　People　in　the　concourse　gasped　and　babies　cried。
　〃A　sonic　boom？〃　Carrollee　asked。
　〃Maybe；　but　it　sounded　more　like　thunder　to　me。〃
　Carrollee　walked　to　a　window。　Mindlessly；　Emmett　followed。
　〃It's　a　clear　sky；〃　she　said；　puzzled。
　No　clouds　or　aircraft　were　in　sight；　and　Emmett　soon　gave　up　and　managed　to　slip　away　to　find　Dr。　Wang's　gate。
　Twenty　minutes　past　arrival　time　a　motion　broke　out　by　the　arrival　monitor。　Emmett　joined　the　crowd　to　find　the　arrival　times　gone；　replaced　by　DELAYED。　A　half　hour　later　the　enormity　of　the　disaster　was　clear。
　
　14。　　TIDAL　WAVE
　
　The　ocean　will　bee　desert　and　the　fish　will　die　in　the　sea。
　…Nostradamus
　
　Off　Naples；　Florida
　TIME　QUILT：　SUNDAY；　3：12　A。M。　EST
　
　　An　ear…splitting　sound　blasted　Carmen　and　Ron　awake　and　to　their　feet。
　〃Look　over　there！〃　Carmen　yelled　and　pointed。　Ron　followed　her　gesture　starboard　to　an　island。　In　confusion；　Ron　mentally　re