jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第62部分
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Moose screeched； then spun and dropped back in the RV。 Then something bellowed behind them。
They turned to see the dinosaur charging down on them。 Scrambling to get in the door they automatically paused to let Petra go in first。 She dove into the RV as the others realized there wouldn't be enough time to get in before the dinosaur rammed it again。 Hesitating； not willing to be either first or last into the opening； the three men stood in the doorway paralyzed with indecision while behind them loomed the onrushing dinosaur。
〃Move！〃 Petra screamed。
Colter was the first to break and ran to his right； the dinosaur's head jerking in his direction。 Dr。 Coombs broke next； running left and pulling the dinosaur's attention back from Colter。 Left alone in front of the door； Dr。 Piltcher struggled to climb in before the dinosaur crushed him in the opening。
When Dr。 Piltcher disappeared inside； the dinosaur turned toward the escaping Dr。 Coombs。 But it turned too late； crashing into the wall of the RV。 Instead of pushing the RV back with the blow； the dinosaur's snout horn penetrated； peeling the metal wall away followed by its massive head。 The snout horn drove deep into the RV； demolishing cabinets； and only the massive collar of the dinosaur prevented the head from pletely penetrating the wall。 Dr。 Piltcher； knocked backward by the force of the blow； bounced off the back wall； falling forward。 As he put out his hands to stop his fall； he found himself slamming against the snout of the dinosaur。 The dinosaur and Dr。 Piltcher froze； startled at such close contact。
Then the massive mouth opened and screamed； nearly deafening Petra； and Dr。 Piltcher and he pushed back with his hands； throwing himself away from the opening mouth。 When the dinosaur screamed again； Dr。 Piltcher and Petra scrambled to the back of the RV to hide with Sarah。
The dinosaur roared its anger again and then began violently shaking its head and pulling back with its massive legs。 With every swing of the monster's head the jagged edges of the torn metal sliced deeper and deeper into the thick skin of its head。 Blood began to stream in rivulets at the base of the collar； dripping inside the RV。 Oblivious to the pain； however； the dinosaur continued to swing its head。 As the opening enlarged； the head moved back； and with a final powerful tug the head wrenched free； leaving a gaping hole in the side of the RV as Dr。 Piltcher and Petra watched with relief from the back。
The collision stunned the dinosaur； but once free it smelled the nest robber。 The dinosaur backed two steps and then spun left； toward a figure racing through the clearing in the distance。 Then putting its head down； it charged again。
Petra； horrified to see the rapidly retreating dinosaur was chasing Dr。 Coombs； turned to her mentor。
〃We've got to help him； Dr。 Piltcher。 What can we do？〃
Dr。 Piltcher stood numbly； frozen into inaction。 Theory and speculation were his forte； or the recall of fact after fact； but creative problem solving on the spot was alien to him。 Sensing this； Petra bolted out the door and began calling for Colter。
He popped up out of the grass at Petra's shout。 He'd tried to draw the dinosaur off by giving it a running target； but when it slammed into the RV he took the opportunity to disappear into the grass。 Colter now saw her pointing at the retreating dinosaur and yelling。
〃Colter！ It's after Dr。 Coombs！ Help him！ Help him！〃
Colter spotted Dr。 Coombs zigzagging in front of the dinosaur to keep it from closing。 Colter knew of only one option… give the dinosaur another target。 He sprinted through the grasses； angling to put himself into the dinosaur's peripheral vision。 If he could get close enough to seem threatening； the dinosaur might slow to assess the new threat。 That would give Dr。 Coombs enough time to make it to the hedgerow where he could hide。
When Colter's plan became clear； Petra raced for the other side to create a third target。 The couple sprinted through the grass shouting。 But the dinosaur was singleminded and continued to close on Dr。 Coombs； who was nearly to the taller brush。 In desperation Dr。 Coombs turned sharply to the right； almost running toward the onrushing behemoth。 Like a charging bull； the dinosaur lumbered past Dr。 Coombs before it could turn。
Colter shouted out encouragement。
〃Do it again； Doc！ Just keep turning tight circles； it's too big to get you that way。〃
As he did； the dinosaur turned after him again。 Dr。 Coombs prepared to run right again around the back of the dinosaur。 But then it happened。
In midmove； the dinosaur swung back the other way just as Dr。 Coombs jumped its tail。 As he landed he saw the head ing toward him。 He turned to race the other way； but it smacked him in the back and sent him tumbling across the clearing。 As soon as he stopped rolling he struggled to his feet； moving his bruised body as fast as he could。 It wasn't fast enough。 Dr。 Coombs turned just in time to take the dinosaur's charge full in the chest。
Miraculously； Dr。 Coombs struggled to his feet again。 Now the dinosaur lowered its head； took two steps； and brought its head up into Dr。 Coombs's stomach； tossing him up and impaling him on the two horns protruding from its crest。 Petra froze in horror； then turned away in disbelief。 It took all her willpower to look back。 When she did the horror was still there。
Dr。 Coombs's limp form was impaled on the upper horns。 One of the horns was buried in his thigh and one somewhere in his back； and he was held across the head of the dinosaur。 The confused animal shook its head trying to dislodge Dr。 Coombs's limp body。 Petra watched helplessly as the dinosaur's efforts became more violent； but still the body hung on the curved horns。 Petra saw no way she could help。 She spotted Colter doing something in the grass。 Then he stood； holding a long stick in his hand。
The dinosaur was still struggling with Dr。 Coombs's body when Colter approached stealthily； keeping slightly behind the head of the dinosaur。 Then； out of the corner of her eye； Petra saw Dr。 Coombs move。 It was just his arm； but it moved up； and then dropped again。 He's alive； Petra thought。 Then she ran forward to draw the dinosaur's attention away from Colter。
Colter was getting close now； so Petra shouted and waved her arms。 This time the dinosaur turned toward her。 Its huge eyes flamed with anger； but it only stared at Petra defiantly。 As soon as Petra had it distracted Colter broke into a sprint。
Colter ran the last few steps to the dinosaur and plunged the sharpened stick into one of the wounds in its neck。 To Petra it looked as if the stick barely penetrated； but the dinosaur screamed in pain。 It shook its massive head； forgetting about Dr。 Coombs's still…impaled body。 Colter； shaken loose by the dinosaur； grabbed the stick again； then plunged it back into the beast。 This time the dinosaur began to run。 Colter tried to keep up but soon stumbled and was left behind。 Petra followed the retreating dinosaur toward the tall brush。 Just as it disap' peared； Dr。 Coombs raised his head again and opened his eyes。 Then the dinosaur crashed through the brush and out of sight。 Petra stumbled to a halt at the hedgerow。 The grass was sticky with a mixture of human and dinosaur blood。 Colter came up next to her； and behind him she could see Dr。 Piltcher walking through the grass； his face pale and drawn。
〃He's alive； Dr。 Piltcher；〃 Petra said。
Dr。 Piltcher shook his head。
〃Petra； I know you want him to be 。 。 。〃
〃He is； Dr。 Piltcher。 I saw him move。〃
〃Petra 。 。 。〃 Dr。 Piltcher began； but Colter cut him off。
〃I saw him move too。〃
Dr。 Piltcher's eyes went wide and some color returned to his cheeks。 Then he turned to the forest and shouted。
〃George； we're ing。 Don't you die on me； George！〃
Dr。 Piltcher turned to follow the blood trail； but Colter's hand on his arm stopped him。
〃Without a weapon？'！
〃You can go to town for a gun if you want； Colter。 George will be dead by the time you get back。 I'm going after him。 He's my friend。〃
Colter looked past Dr。 Piltcher to Petra for help； but she looked as determined as Dr。 Piltcher。 Colter dropped his eyes and shook his head。
〃All right； all right。 Just give me a minute； will ya？〃
Colter trotted off toward the mangled RV； pausing long enough to retrieve the stick he used on the dinosaur。 Dr。 Piltcher watched him briefly and then started to follow the dinosaur's trail。 But Petra stopped him； and the look in her eyes persuaded him to give Colter a few minutes。 Dr。 Piltcher paced anxiously looking vainly for signs of Dr。 Coombs in the brush ahead。
Colter returned with a knife securely wired to the bloody end of his pole。 To Petra it seemed a flimsy weapon to use on a dinosaur； but Colter led off confidently。
Crushed grass； broken limbs； and sticky red smears showed them the way。 A short distance into the brush； a four…foot bipedal dinosaur turned down the trail ahead of them。 Colter signaled a halt； and they watched its mottled green tail disappear down the trail。 Colter was about to move off again when a dinosaur； walking on all fours； moved through the grass and down the trail。 Colter waited again to give the smaller one some space。 The
