jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第69部分
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that had impaled and carried off his friend。 What mattered was having the knowledge to keep it from happening again。 If Colter had his way they would be walking through the brush with rifles and George would still be alive。 Instead George was dead； and their only weapon fashioned by the one he had called ignorant。 As if to confirm it； Petra turned and spoke to Colter。
〃Is there any chance Dr。 Coombs is still alive？〃
〃Slim。 If we want to know； we need to see what's going on up ahead。 Why don't you wait here while I scout it out。〃
Petra looked at Dr。 Piltcher and back to Colter； and then shook her head。
〃I think we better stick together。 But as soon as we know for sure one way or another； let's get out of here。〃
Colter shrugged and led off； resuming his slow； stealthy approach。 The sounds grew louder and more terrible。 The gurgling and growling repelled them； and they had to force themselves forward against their natural inclination to run。 Suddenly； Colter bolted several feet and then knelt behind a dense bush。 He stared straight ahead for a minute and then signaled to the others。 They quietly crept up behind him； but the sounds of the feeding were so loud now that they could have driven a car up and not been heard。
When they were all together Colter reached out and gently pushed a limb aside； revealing the clearing where they found the egg。 On the far side of the mound was the dinosaur who had attacked the RV and carried off Dr。 Coombs。 She had returned to her nest； and then finished bleeding to death。 Her lifeless form was lying on its side and its body was nothing but shredded； bloody meat。 Half a dozen bipedal dinosaurs were tearing off huge hunks of flesh； or gnawing on ribs torn from the carcass。 The biggest ones were fifteen or twenty feet high。 Smaller bipeds； no more than two or three feet high； circled around the outside； darting in to grab dropped pieces of flesh； or bits of bone。 The larger carnivores snapped and snarled at the little ones； but were too slow to stop them。 There was more than enough meat anyway。
Something moved through the brush near them and they froze in fear。 One of the smaller dinosaurs darted through； then ran into the clearing and began circling the dinner party； looking for a chance to snag a helping。 They sighed with relief when it passed and then backed away slowly until they felt safe enough to talk softly。 Petra spoke first。
〃I didn't see Dr。 Coombs's body there。 Maybe he got off somehow。〃
〃If he did；〃 Colter suggested； 〃he'd be back along that blood trail。 It may be risky to search there。 We don't know if any more of these things are following it to supper。〃
Dr。 Piltcher and Petra understood the implications。 Every second they spent among the dinosaurs was a risk； but walking along a blood trail could be suicidal。 Still no one wanted to be the first to give up on Dr。 Coombs。 Colter took the now familiar role of leader。
They backed well away from the clearing before circling around to the trail； which was heavily trampled by the gathering scavengers。 Though the blood was drying； it was still crimson on the green grass。 Quickly； before they met another predator； they backtracked toward where they left the trail originally。 But suddenly something cut across the path； and they gasped in fear。 The three were about to start off again when Colter turned； looking to where the little dinosaur had disappeared。 He took a couple of steps off the path and then squatted。 Petra knelt next to him as Dr。 Piltcher looked over his shoulder； and they saw blood on the grass。
〃More blood。 So what； Colter？〃 Petra asked。
〃How did it get here？ The trail's back there。〃 Colter stood and walked a few more steps。 〃Here's more of it。〃
Then； without another word； Colter trotted off through the brush。 Petra and Dr。 Piltcher looked at each other； suddenly realizing it was another blood trail。 A hundred yards away they found him staring at a pack of small dinosaurs in the grass ahead。
It took Petra and Dr。 Piltcher a minute to recognize Dr。 Coombs's remains。 The small dinosaurs had shredded his clothes and picked his bones nearly clean。 Even his skull had been peeled of its flesh； although his eyes were still intact in the sockets。
When the small pack of dinosaurs spotted them they froze； heads up and tails held straight out。 As Colter screamed and then charged the pack； thrusting at the closest dinosaur with his spear； the pack scattered； some with meaty bones still in their mouths。 Colter stood looking down on Dr。 Coombs's remains； Petra's mind was overflowing with horror； and Dr。 Piltcher was once again lost in his grief。 This time he had no doubt about his friend's death。
Colter returned to the others； his face impassive。
〃Want me to bury him？ There's still quite a bit left。 I don't know； though。 They'll probably just dig him up again。 Maybe we could cover it 。 。 。 him； with rocks。〃
Dr。 Piltcher was about to reply when the branches behind him began to snap。 The three turned to see a fifteen…foot…tall carnivore ing through the brush； towering above them。 Its head and jaws were huge。 It walked on two well…muscled back legs； but its forelegs looked smaller and useless。 A long thick tail dragged behind。
〃Run；〃 Colter yelled； and the others obeyed。 Colter took the lead； breaking trail through the brush。 He ran a straight line； dodging only the thicker stands or those with thorns。 They pounded through； oblivious to the blows from the branches。 Dr。 Piltcher； soon exhausted； began to trail behind。 When Petra noticed she shouted to Colter； who shot a quick look over his shoulder； and then trotted off to the side； motioning for Petra to take the lead。 When Dr。 Piltcher plodded past； Colter fell in behind； watching over his shoulder for the dinosaur。
Petra set a slower pace than Colter so Dr。 Piltcher could keep up； but something was wrong。 Petra had seen him jog for miles before。 He was stumbling along now； head down and breathing raggedly。 The brush thinned； and then they broke into a clearing that led down to the lake； where the grass was short and looked well grazed。 They were moving at a slow jog around what Petra realized were huge piles of animal droppings。 Dr。 Piltcher stumbled over one pile but kept his feet。 Petra dropped back to jog next to him； setting a pace。 Dr。 Piltcher's chest was heaving and his breathing was irregular。
When Petra looked back for Colter； her feet caught in something and she fell headlong into the grass； just missing a pile of dried dung。 Dr。 Piltcher stopped when she fell and dropped to his knees； desperately trying to catch his breath。 Petra found herself lying in the grass on an uneven surface； the turf beneath her looking like a badly laid carpet with huge wrinkles。 Petra rolled to her knees； looking for Colter； but he was nowhere in sight。 Neither was the dinosaur。 Dr。 Piltcher was still on his knees； his breathing labored； one hand was pressed tight against his chest； and his face red and sprinkled with sweat。 Looking up at her； he shook his head； and began puffing rapidly through his nose； trying to control his breathing。 He spoke finally； in a hoarse whisper。
〃Petra； I'm sorry； but I 。 。 。 my chest。 。 。〃
〃It's okay； Dr。 Piltcher。 Don't speak。 I think we're all right here；〃 Petra answered reassuringly； but not believing it。
Petra scanned the meadow looking for Colter or signs of danger。 If she hadn't been so scared she might have noted the details in the landscape…the still； blue lake in the middle； surrounded by clumps of towering leafy trees along its shore。 The bright green sea of swaying meadow grasses hid the wrinkled turf。
Taller； forest green bushes dotted the clearing as far as Petra could see。 She looked from left to right for a hiding place or a way back to the RV。 The lake narrowed on the south end and a finger of the lake ended in a stream。 Whether it fed the lake or drained it； Petra couldn't tell。 But along that stream were large moving shapes…quadrupeds like the one that destroyed the RV and killed Dr。 Coombs。 They were still a long way off； but it was clear they were ing closer。 Petra felt trapped。 She feared running back into the brush because the dinosaur that had chased them was there somewhere。 She was too afraid to head toward the approaching herd； but if they cut across the meadow away from the herd she could be inviting attack。 Besides； Dr。 Piltcher wouldn't be running much farther today。
Petra could see only one choice。 She urged Dr。 Piltcher to his feet； took his arm； and led him toward the trees along the lake。 They would climb a 。tree if they could。 Otherwise they could swim for it； although she had no idea whether dinosaurs could swim or not。
Dr。 Piltcher padded along next to her； Petra supporting him when he stumbled。 As they ran； Petra kept watch on the approaching herd。 They showed no signs of attack； or even of notice。 At the first tree； Dr。 Piltcher sat with his back against the trunk； his hand on his chest and his head down。 He was breathing easier now； although still ragged。
Petra walked around； trying to find an easy tree to climb。 Similar to poplar trees； these had branches covered with thousands of round leaves。 When she found it she returned to help Dr。 Piltcher to his feet。 He
