jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第3部分

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　Carmen　and　Rosa　were　sitting　on　the　opposing　bunks　talking　when　Ron　stepped　down　into　the　cabin；　but　stopped　as　soon　as　he　came　in。　Rosa　and　Carmen　were　nearly　as　similar　as　Ron　and　Chris；　sharing　short　brown　hair；　brown　eyes；　and　thin　arms　and　legs。　But　while　Carmen　was　filled　out；　teenage　Rosa　still　looked　gangly。
　〃Are　you　ladies　ready　to　go？〃
　Rosa　looked　down；　folding　her　hands　into　her　lap；　and　Carmen　gave　Ron　a　〃don't　make　a　big　deal　out　of　this〃　look。
　〃Rosa　doesn't　want　to　go。〃
　〃But　it's　all　set；　and　it's　only　overnight。〃
　〃No；　I　mean　she　doesn't　want　to　make　the　sail　to　Bermuda。　A　month　on　the　ocean　is　a　long　time　to　be　away　from　your　friends。〃
　〃It's　not　just　my　friends；〃　Rosa　said。　She　raised　her　head　and　stared　defiantly　at　Ron。　〃It's　my　dad；　my　real　dad。　I　don't　want　to　be　away　from　him　that　long。　I　mean；　Mom；　you　have　Ron；　and　even　Chris；　but　Dad's　got　no　one　but　me。　If　I'm　gone　he'll　have　no　one。〃
　Out　of　the　er　of　his　eye；　Ron　saw　Carmen　bite　her　lip。　Given　the　history　of　Rosa's　father；　Ron　doubted　the　man　would　be　lonely。　Ron　knew　Carmen's　marriage　had　broken　up　because　of　her　husband's　repeated　affairs。　He　also　knew　Carmen　had　hidden　that　from　Rosa。
　〃You'll　be　together；〃　Rosa　continued；　〃but　he'll　be　alone　for　a　month。　I　just　can't　do　that　to　him。〃
　Ron　wanted　to　protest　that　it　wasn't　a　month　at　sea；　only　a　week。　Well；　he　reflected；　a　week　each　way；　with　a　two…week　layover…but　he　heeded　Carmen's　warning　look。
　This　trip　was　meant　to　be　a　trial　run　for　the　Bermuda　voyage。　They　were　to　sail　out　from　Naples；　Florida；　spend　the　night；　and　then　sail　back。　The　kids　could　get　their　sea　legs；　and　Ron　could　prove　to　the　kids；　and　Carmen；　that　he　could　navigate。　He　even　planned　to　do　it　without　the　RDF　system。　This　was　supposed　to　be　a　warm…up　for　the　big　event；　and　he　wasn't　ready　to　give　up　the　voyage　to　Bermuda　yet。
　〃Well；　I　think　we　can　talk　about　this；〃　Carmen　said。　〃Can't　we；　Ron？〃
　Ron　nodded；　but　hoped　that　after　a　couple　of　days　at　sea　Rosa　would　fall　in　love　with　deep…water　sailing；　just　as　he　had；
　〃Let's　talk　about　it　at　sea；〃　he　suggested。　〃I　think　so　much　more　clearly　when　there　is　nothing　to　see　but　blue　sky　above　and　blue　sea　below。　Rosa；　loose　the　stern　lines。　Carmen；　help　Chris　with　the　bow　lines。　We　sail！〃
　〃Don't　you　give　me　orders；　Captain　Bligh；〃　Carmen　warned　playfully。
　〃Please？〃
　Carmen　smiled；　wrapped　her　arms　around　Ron　in　a　brief　hug；　and　then　climbed　up　on　deck。　His　good　feelings　restored；　Ron　thought　of　gliding　across　the　sea　using　the　stars　to　guide　his　way　in　the　calming　emptiness　of　the　ocean。　Then　he　thought　of　Rosa。　〃Please　love　sailing；　Rosa；〃　Ron　whispered　to　himself；　〃please。〃　Then　he　climbed　to　the　deck　and　started　the　engine。
　
　3。　　　GUN　IN　THE　DARK
　
　At　that　time　a　great　wonder　occurred。　The　forests　were　ignited　and　o　multitude　of　abominable　vermin　appeared。
　…The　Shu　King；　the　Canon　of　Yao
　
　Oregon　Caves
　PREQUILT：　SATURDAY；　10：25　A。M。　PST
　
　　Dr。　Terry　Roberts　was　watching　his　wife　feed　Wheat　Thins　to　the　chipmunks。　Ellen　was　making　a　trail　using　little　pieces　of　the　crackers；　trying　to　entice　the　chipmunks　closer　and　closer。　The　chipmunks　were　resisting；　though；　as　if　they　thought　she　might　lead　them　to　their　doom。　Terry　stifled　a　laugh　at　the　absurdity　of　the　idea。　Ellen　was　the　last　person　who　would　harm　chipmunks。　Terry　had　even　seen　her　digging　carefully　in　the　garden　to　avoid　hurting　worms。
　Her　head　down；　Ellen　was　laying　a　trail　for　another　chipmunk。　Her　curly　brown　hair　was　just　long　enough　to　hide　her　profile　as　she　bent　over。　In　her　oval　face；　the　brown　eyes；　nose；　and　mouth　were　distributed　and　proportioned　nicely。　The　chin　was　narrow；　even　pointy。　Still；　most　everyone　who　met　her　would　call　her　pretty；　although　no　one　but　Terry　would　call　her　beautiful。　At　five　feet　ten　she　was　nearly　the　same　height　as　her　husband。　After　walking　together　for　twenty…five　years　they　had　developed　the　same　gait；　and　from　a　distance　it　was　hard　to　distinguish　one　from　the　other。
　Though　Terry's　brown　hair　wasn't　as　curly　as　Ellen's　it　was　almost　her　shade。　Otherwise　he　was　about　as　average　physically　as　a　person　can　get　in　height；　weight；　speed；　and　strength。　Only　Terry's　intellect　was　exceptional；　but　even　there　he　didn't　quite　qualify　as　truly　brilliant。　A　guidance　counselor　had　once　referred　to　him　as　〃marginally　gifted。〃
　A　short；　stocky　young　woman　dressed　in　a　park　ranger's　uniform　walked　through　the　people　milling　around　the　entrance　to　the　caves。　With　a　serious　look　on　her　face　she　announced　in　a　businesslike　manner　that　all　those　holding　tickets　for　the　ten…thirty　tour　should　gather　together。　As　Terry　and　Ellen　joined　the　group；　the　guide　gave　directions。
　〃Please　enter　the　caves　single　file　and　wait　for　me　inside　the　entrance。　Have　your　tickets　ready。〃
　Ellen　went　first　and　Terry　handed　theirs　to　the　guide。　She　tore　it　neatly　in　half　and　then　handed　it　back。　Terry　and　Ellen　joined　the　group　inside　the　mouth　of　the　cave　and　waited　for　the　guide　to　start　her　spiel。　Terry　was　surprised　to　find　himself　excited　about　the　tour；　and　whispered　in　Ellen's　ear；　〃Ready　for　an　adventure？〃　Ellen　didn't　answer；　she　just　shrugged　her　shoulders。
　
　Kenny　hung　back　from　the　group　gathering　for　the　tour。　He　didn't　want　his　sister　to　see　him　or　she　might　call　security。　With　his　ticket　in　hand　he　went　over　what　he　would　say　to　her。　He　had　tried　to　convince　her　before；　but　he　had　been　clumsy　and　unsure　of　himself。　Now　he　had　proof。　He　had　Dr。　Piltcher's　pages　from　the　Apocrypha　of　Zorastrus；　and　Kenny　could　tell　her　about　the　puter　simulation；　and　how　it　was　all　leading　to　something　big；　and　something　soon。　That　should　convince　her；　he　assured　himself；　he　didn't　want　to　use　his　other　plan。
　Kenny　unzipped　the　top　of　his　pack　and　pushed　the　towel　aside；　exposing　the　gun。　He　fingered　the　weapon　and　wondered　if　he　could　actually　use　it。　He　decided　he　could。　He　couldn't　save　himself　and　leave　his　sister　to　go　through　it　alone。　She　might　hate　him　now；　but　soon　she　would　understand。
　Kenny　put　on　his　pack　and　joined　the　group。　His　sister　didn't　notice　him　until　she　took　his　ticket。
　〃Get　away　from　me；　Kenny。〃
　〃I've　got　proof；　let　me　show　you；〃　Kenny　began。
　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　it。〃
　〃There　was　this　prophet　Zorastrus；　and　everyone　thought　he　was　crazy　but　it　turns　out　he　was　right…〃
　〃I've　got　a　tour　to　lead；　Kenny。　Go　tell　it　to　a　priest。〃
　〃Please；　Jill…〃
　〃No；　Kenny；〃　she　said；　and　then　turned　to　go。
　〃I've　got　a　ticket；　Jill。〃
　〃You　don't　want　a　tour；　you　just　want　to　harass　me。〃
　〃I　won't　say　a　word。　I　just　want　to　be　with　you。〃
　　〃I　can't　stop　you；　but　if　you　start　preaching　that　end…of…the…world　nonsense；　I'll　have　you　arrested。〃
　Kenny　nodded　agreement　and　then　joined　the　tourists。
　
　Terry　stood　behind　Ellen　with　his　hands　on　her　shoulders。　Their　group　was　mostly　couples。　One　couple　had　to　be　newlyweds；　young；　and　pretty；　they　never　let　go　of　each　other's　hands。　Another　young　couple　had　two　boys；　about　eight　and　ten；　who　whispered　and　giggled　to　each　other。　There　was　a　prosperous…looking　older　couple　that　seemed　to　be　retired　and　enjoying　it。　Terry　suspected　that　a　Silver　Stream　trailer　was　waiting　for　them　in　the　parking　lot。
　Another　man　came　through　the　cave　opening　carrying　in　a　backpack　a　baby　wearing　a　hat　with　Mickey　and　Minnie　Mouse　designs。　Her　mother　followed；　trying　to　wipe　the　baby's　face　while　the　baby　kept　turning　her　head；　gurgling。　The　wife　was　wearing　a　Mickey　Mouse　T…shirt　and　the　husband's　shirt　advertised　KNOTT's　BERRY　FARM。　Terry　imagined　their　car's　bumper　stickers　said　TREES　OF　MYSTERY　and　VISIT　DRIVE　THRU　TREE。
　Finally　a　middle…aged　interracial　couple　entered。　The　woman　was　white　and　carefully　groomed　and　coordinated　from　the　scarf　that　tied　up　her　blond　hair　to　her　color…matched　L。A。　Gear　shoes。　In　ten　years　she　would　be　〃fat；〃　but　today　she　still　qualified　for　〃voluptuous。〃　The　man…the　only　black　man　in　the　group…was　also　the　tallest；　at　least　six　feet　tall。　He　would　be　doing　some　ducking　on　this　tour。　While　Terry　hated　stereotypes　the　man's　short；　neatly　trimmed　hair　and　good　posture　made　Terry　suspect　the　man　was　in　the　military。
　The　last　member　of　the　group；　a　college…age　kid　with　a　yellow　backpack；　stood　out　because　only　he　was　unacpanied。　Terry　wondered　vaguely　about　the　bulging　pack；　deciding　he　had　taken　the　DON'T　LEAVE　VALUABLES　IN　YOUR　CAR　signs　seriously。
　〃My　name　is　Jill　and　I　will　be　your　guide　for　a　sixty…minute　tour　of　the　Oregon　Caves。　The　temperature　inside　the　caves　is　a　constant　fifty…six　degrees；　and　although　that　sounds　cool；　the　high　humidity　will　keep　you　quite　fortable。　Electric　lights　were　installed　in　the　cave　in　1956；　in　order　to　protect　both　visitors　to　the　caves　and　the　caves　themselves；　so　flashlights　and　lanterns　are　not　necessary。〃
　Terry　noticed　that　nearly　everyone　carried　a　portable　light。
　〃Smoking　is　not　allowed　in　the　caves；　and　we　ask　that　you　do　not　leave　litter　or　gum　in　the　caves。〃
　Ellen　dutifully　pulled　a　piece　of　tissue　out　of　her　pocket；　wrapped　up　the　piece　of　gum　she　had　been　chewing；　and　dropped　the　wad　back　in　her　pocket。
　After　some　instructions　to　〃not　straggle〃　and　〃stay　on　the　trails〃　she　led　them　in