jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第60部分

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h　grip　on　her　arm　stopped　her。
　〃Let　'em　party；〃　Carl　smirked；　pulling　Ellen　toward　him。
　Ellen　put　her　hands　on　Carl's　chest　and　pushed。　Leering；　Carl　wrapped　his　other　arm　around　her　waist　and　pulled。　He　was　strong　and　could　have　pulled　her　flat　up　against　him；　but　the　cruel　look　in　his　eyes　told　Ellen　he　was　enjoying　her　struggle。　Then　Carl　began　to　exert　more　pressure；　drawing　Ellen　toward　him。　Suddenly；　he　dropped　his　hand；　wrapping　it　around　her　bottom　and　pulling　her　hips　tight　up　against　his。　He　held　her　there　briefly　and　then　began　grinding　his　hips　against　hers。
　〃Stop　it；　Carl！　Let　me　go。〃
　〃Where　you　going？　They're　done　huntin'。　Nuthin'　left　to　see。〃
　〃I've　got　to　find　my　son。〃
　〃Lady；　ain't　it　clear　to　you　yet？　There's　nuthin'　here。　It's　all　gone；　the　city；　the　people　。　。　。　your　son。　Looks　like　you're　gonna　need　another。　I'll　be　glad　to　help　you　make　one；〃
　As　Carl　shifted　his　weight；　bending　her　over　backward；　he　tripped　her。　Ellen　crashed　to　the　ground　with　him　on　top。　She　could　smell　the　liquor　on　his　breath　again。　His　eyes　still　looked　cruel　and　his　lips　still　sneered。　Now　Ellen　began　to　struggle　again　and　pounded　on　the　sides　of　his　head。　As　he　yelped　and　jerked　back　to　protect　his　face；　Ellen　pounded　harder。
　〃Get　off　me！〃　she　screamed。
　Carl　wasn't　laughing　now；　he　was　dodging　blows…then　Ellen　heard　someone　else　laughing。
　〃Carl；　looks　like　you　bit　off　more　than　you　can　chew　there。〃
　Ellen　stopped　pounding　and　Carl　dropped　his　hands　to　see　Kishtori　watching　them。　He'd　fallen　in　the　sharp…edged　grass　and　bled　from　dozens　of　cuts。　His　face；　shirt；　and　pants　were　torn　and　blood　soaked。
　〃Beat　it；　Kishton；　I'm　busy；〃　Carl　snarled。
　Ellen　realized　Carl's　ego　was　wounded。　After　all；　Kishton　had　seen　him　getting　slapped　around　by　a　woman。　Now　Carl　would　retaliate。　Before　Kishton　could　decide　whether　to　leave　or　watch；　Coop　came　roaring　up。　Angie　immediately　jumped　off　and　helped　Ellen　off　the　ground。　Without　a　word　to　Carl；　she　just　pulled　Ellen　off　to　one　side；　asking　if　she　was　okay。
　Coop　looked　angry。　〃What　the　hell　were　you　doing；　Carl？　We're　here　to　assist　her　in　locating　her　boy；　remember？　You　perpetrate　something　like　that　again　and　I'll。　。　。　I'll。　。　。〃
　〃You'll　what？　Arrest　me？　You　see　any　fuckin1　jails　around　here？　Shee…it；　you're　not　even　a　real　deputy。〃
　〃Am　so。　I'm　a　reserve　officer…〃
　〃Coop；　you　ain't　nuthin'　but　a　pain　in　Sheriff　Peter's　ass。　The　only　reason　he　keeps　you　around　is　cause　me　and　the　boys　won't　work　for　the　slave　wages　he　pays　you。　Are　you　that　stupid；　Coop？　He's　offered　me；　Kishton　here；　and　nearly　every　one　of　the　others　your　job　at　one　time　or　another。　Ain't　that　right；　Kishton？　I'll　tell　you　something　else；　Coop；　I'm　thinkin'　we　don't　need　you　anymore。　We　got　the　dinosaur。　Just　what　else　are　you　good　for？〃
　His　tone　sounded　final；　and　Angie　and　Ellen　pulled　each　other　closer。　Coop　had　never　had　much　authority；　and　even　that　was　eroding　fast。　If　they　sent　Coop　back；　or　worse；　nothing　would　keep　Carl　from　Ellen。　Coop　was　watching　nervously　to　see　if　Kishton　would　intervene。　They　were　interrupted　by　the　grisly　sight　of　Butler　roaring　up　with　the　head　of　the　dinosaur　strapped　to　the　back　of　his　motorcycle。　The　others　followed；　each　with　a　dinosaur　leg　strapped　to　the　back　of　his　bike。
　〃You　call　that　baby　a　dinosaur？〃　Ellen　asked。　All　heads　turned　toward　her。
　〃Baby？〃　Butler　said；　jerking　his　head　toward　the　head　on　the　back　of　his　bike。　〃You　call　this　mother　a　baby？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Ellen　continued；　〃they　grow　much　bigger　than　this。　Some　of　them　are　as　big　as　a　three…story　building。　They　e　so　big；　that　I　doubt　you're　man　enough　to　bring　one　down。　Isn't　that　right；　Coop？　I　bet　you　could　find　us　a　bigger　one；　couldn't　you；　Coop？〃
　Angie　chimed　in。　〃I've　seen　these　things　in　movies　and　I　know　they　e　bigger　than　this。　Did　you　ever　see　that　King　Kong　movie？　Think　they　get　that　big；　Coop？〃
　No　one　was　listening　to　Coop's　answer。　The　men　were　talking　among　themselves。　Someone　dug　a　bottle　of　Old　Crow　out　of　a　saddlebag　and　they　started　passing　it　around；　reliving　the　hunt　and　planning　the　next　one。　As　they　talked　Carl　gave　Ellen　a　look　that　said　there　was　unfinished　business　between　them。
　After　the　men　fortified　themselves　they　were　back　on　the　cycles。　Ellen　had　only　two　choices；　and　she　swallowed　back　her　fear　and　climbed　up　behind　Carl。　Angie　gave　her　a　look　that　said　she　would　trade　places；　but　Ellen　couldn't　do　it　to　her。　Besides；　Ellen　thought；　Angie　seemed　to　be　handling　Coop　quite　well；　and　they　needed　whatever　control　over　the　guys　he　had　left。
　
　John　felt　as　if　they　had　been　walking　for　hours　when　Cubby　finally　stopped　again。
　〃Something's　not　right；　John。　We　should　be　to　Portland　by　now。　This　is　where　we　saw　it。〃
　John　looked　around　but　recognized　nothing。　He　could　tell　they　were　down　in　a　valley；　since　hills　were　visible　to　the　right　and　left；　covered　with　tumbled…down　trees。　The　forest　was　thick；　but　it　looked　level。　Was　it　the　Willamette　valley？　Cubby　was　sure　of　it；　and　John；　as　usual；　trusted　Cubby's　instincts　better　than　his　own。
　〃Maybe　it's　just　a　little　farther　ahead；〃　John　suggested。　Cubby　pursed　his　lips　considering。
　〃I　don't　know；　John；　we　should　at　least　be　able　to　see　those　skyscrapers。〃　Cubby　looked　around　intently。　Then　he　pointed　up　at　the　hill　to　the　south。　〃Let's　climb　up　to　those　fallen　trees。　Maybe　we　can　get　a　look　around　from　up　there。〃
　John　hesitated；　then　followed　Cubby；　though　his　stomach　was　rumbling；　and　his　muscles　plaining。　After　another　crested　hill；　he　was　just　about　to　quit　when　they　came　to　a　clearing　amidst　fallen　timber。　Trees　lay　every　which　way；　and　their　roots　and　crowns　towered　into　the　air；　blocking　the　view。　They　worked　their　way　to　where　the　hill　dropped　off　sharply；　then　climbed　the　jagged　roots　of　a　big　tree　and　stood　on　the　top　of　the　trunk。　They　had　an　unobstructed　view　of　the　valley；　its　floor　a　forest　with　clearings　sprinkled　here　and　there。　In　the　middle　of　the　valley　was　Portland；　wispy　and　still　shimmering；　but　undeniably　there。　Cubby　and　John　shouted　and　whooped　and　jumped　up　and　down。　Then　Cubby　gave　another　shout　and　whoop　and　pointed　to　the　south　of　the　city。　John　looked；　at　first　seeing　nothing　but　buildings　and　trees。　But　then　he　spotted　it。　Separated　from　the　city　by　a　stretch　of　suburbs　was　a。　hill；　and　shimmering　and　flickering　on　its　crest　was　Cubby's　church。　John　stared；　then　looked　for　his　house。　He　knew　there　was　no　way　he　could　see　it　from　here　but　he　looked　anyway。
　〃Thank　you　Lord　Jesus　for　delivering　us；〃　Cubby　prayed　aloud。　John　whispered　an　amen　silently　to　himself。　Enthralled　with　the　feeling　that　something　good　was　about　to　happen；　they　stood　there　staring　at　the　church。　Soon；　John's　thoughts　were　interrupted　by　a　roar…not　the　roar　of　a　dinosaur；　but　the　distant　roar　of　a　jet。
　Spotting　it；　he　watched　it　arc　across　the　sky　above　Portland；　then　it　was　gone。　John　tried　to　estimate　the　distance　to　the　church　and　then　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　nearly　eleven　o'clock。　He　was　sure　they　wouldn't　make　the　church　by　nightfall；　but　like　Cubby；　he　was　willing　to　give　it　a　try。
　They　rushed　into　the　forest；　recklessly　hiking　toward　their　destination。　Still　tired　and　hungry；　but　like　racers　nearing　a　finish　line；　they　found　reservoirs　of　strength。　The　forest　on　the　valley　floor　was　thin；　with　little　underbrush。　They　still　had　to　dodge　razor　grass　and　walk　around　giant　clumps　of　ferns；　but　they　made　good　time。　At　one　point　when　they　heard　something　big　moving　through　the　trees；　they　hid　in　the　undergrowth；　lying　flat　and　praying　that　dinosaurs　have　a　poor　sense　of　smell。　Soon　the　sound　moved　off　in　another　direction；　and　the　boys　quickly　got　back　on　track。
　John　watched　the　sun　sinking　lower　and　lower　as　they　walked　and　began　to　get　nervous。　Here　the　vegetation　was　sparse。　They'd　have　difficulty　finding　a　place　to　hide　for　the　night。　John　heard　the　distant　roar　of　another　jet　and　looked　at　the　sky；　but　couldn't　spot　the　plane。　As　the　roar　of　the　jet　engines　faded　he　heard　the　familiar　sound　of　motors。　Someone　was　driving　through　the　forest。
　〃People；　Cubby。　Listen；　I　can　hear　people。〃
　〃You're　right。　Maybe　we're　near　the　edge　of　the　city。〃　They　listened；　trying　to　locate　the　sounds；　which　suddenly　died。　Cubby　pointed　in　their　direction　and　led　off　through　the　trees　at　a　quick　pace。
　
　They　stopped　in　the　creek　bed　while　Bobby　climbed　the　bank　again。　The　rough　terrain　had　made　Ellen's　sore　bottom　burn　with　pain；　and　she　was　glad　Carl　finally　stopped。　Bobby　had　just　disappeared　when　they　heard　a　shout。
　〃I'll　be　damned。　You've　got　to　see　this。　e　on　up　here。〃　Following　Bobby's　track　up　the　bank；　they　found　themselves　in　a　large　clearing。　There；　shimmering　faintly　in　the　background；　was　the　Portland　skyline。　Ellen　felt　hope　flood　her　body。　She　had　been　slowly　reconciling　herself　to　the　loss　of　her　son…but　maybe；　just　maybe；　there　was　hope。
　
　Now　John　felt　better。　If　they　were　near　the　edge　of　the　city　he　could　catch　a　ride　to　his　house　and　spend　the　night　there。　John　and　Cubby　found　themselves　climbing　yet　another　hill；　a　gradual　one　so　the　climbing　was　easy。　On　the　other　side；　the　trees　thinned；　and　they　found　themselves　staring　into　a　large　clearin