jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第84部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
led them up and down hills； which he never tried to go around。 Fortunately； the dense canopy of the giant trees prevented significant underbrush and walking was relatively easy。 The occasional fallen trees were problematic； since they seemed to explode into new growth； but the detours were few； Ellen was disoriented； but it appeared that their path was the closest thing to a straight line。 Tired； she began watching her feet； letting herself be absorbed by the right…left rhythm； which replaced her thoughts；and her fears for herself and for her son。 Suddenly she ran into Ripman； knocking him into a stumble。
〃Listen。〃
Ellen and Angie looked at each other and shook their heads。 Ripman turned his head toward the southern sky。 Ellen and Angie followed his gaze。 A few seconds later they heard a distant roar； the sound of a jet。 It grew louder； and they looked through the towering canopy to glimpse the plane； but it was futile。 The sound reached a peak and then faded。
〃This is just too weird； Ellen。〃
〃What is； Angie？〃
〃Standing here in this 。 。 。 this impossible forest； with dinosaurs running around； following some teenage Jungle Jim； and having jets fly overhead。〃
Ellen was going to respond but then noticed Ripman's head was still cocked。 She listened too and picked up a low rumble； a sound that was not the jet。 He motioned them to stand still and be quiet and then padded softly up the hill。 As he approached the crest he slowed； bending into a crawl。 He lay still for a minute and then signaled Angie and Ellen forward。 They mimicked his movements； crawling the last few feet to his side； hearing a crunching and thumping as they approached the crest。 Ellen peered fearfully through the ferns at the crest and over the top but saw only trees。 She was about to ask Ripman what he was looking at when Angie's finger shot out； pointing to movement in the distance… The trees were dense； but here and there through the gaps they could see dinosaurs。 As she watched； she realized there were more than just a few。 There was a herd。
These dinosaurs were not like the trophy Carl and the guys had killed。 These were bigger； and deep green。 They were angling up the side of the hill but away from them。 Ellen could see the animals were traveling on all fours； measuring ten to fifteen feet at the shoulders。 Three horns protruded from each forehead and an armored collar was around each neck。 Their long tails were tipped with three spikes。 Ellen leaned into Rip…man and whispered in his ear。
〃Shouldn't we…get out of here？〃
〃Relax； they're just big cows。 They don't eat people。 Probably never seen a person before。 There's a meadow over that way。 That's where they used to be。 For some reason they seem to be on the move。 Let 'em pass。〃
They lay in the grass as the dinosaurs came closer； their noise now a cacophony。 Despite Ripman's reassurance Ellen's apprehension remained until the last one disappeared into the trees。 Ellen started to rise； but Ripman held her arm pulling her back down。
〃We've got a problem。 If we move straight ahead we cut across the path of those dinosaurs。〃
Ellen and Angie looked at each other； neither seeing the problem。
〃Those dinosaurs are on the move for some reason。 They were happily stuffing themselves with grass and ferns yesterday。〃
〃You know what they say about greener pastures；〃 Angie offered。
〃Maybe。 Maybe they're moving because they don't want to be somebody's lunch。〃
Ellen blanched at the thought of whatever might eat one of those dinosaurs for lunch。
〃Well then； let's head back the other way and find another way around。〃 Angie looked to Ellen for support。
〃If we go that way we head back toward Carl and the guys；〃 Ellen reasoned。 〃If we go in the direction the dinosaurs came from we could be heading right toward whatever was hunting them。 But if we cut across 。 。 。〃
〃I see；〃 Angie said； her mind weighing the risks。 〃If we cut across we better move fast； since we don't know if something is following the herd； and how far back it might be。〃
Ripman seemed impressed and sat quietly； letting them analyze the options。 Angie decided first。
〃I'd rather be eaten by a dinosaur than raped by a bunch of assholes。 I say our best bet is to cut straight across as fast as we can and get the hell out of this place。 Remember Coop！〃 Angie； spoke the name sadly。 Ellen realized Angie was depressed over more than a senseless death。 She had cared for Coop。 Seeing how Angie used her sexuality to manipulate men； it had never occurred to Ellen that Angie might have feelings for those men。 Because Ellen had loved only one man； she assumed Angie was the same。
〃Let's go for it；〃 Ellen said to Ripman。
Ripman was nodding his head in appreciation for their clear thinking。 〃El…ah…mental；〃 he cheered。
He led off through the trees at his usual pace； but this time with occasional pauses to listen。 Ellen and Angie listened too； but depended more on their eyesight。 The trees were far enough apart to see quite a distance。 But Ripman was right； you'd hear a dinosaur before you'd see one in this forest。
They were nearly across the track of the herd when Ripman slowed to a walk； then stopped； dropping to his knees； his eyes riveted on the ground。 Ellen and Angie approached slowly； still watching for dinosaurs。 Even before they reached him they could see a large pool of blood。 Ellen immediately thought of John； but realized it was too much blood for him。 It formed part of a trail that angled off through the trees； one corresponding to the dinosaurs' path。 Suddenly Ripman's head snapped up and his face went pale。
〃e on。 Run。〃
Ellen and Angie followed Ripman； running and struggling to keep him in sight。 They trusted his instincts。 As they ran； they heard something ing…something big。
Cubby and John were awakened by the roar of a motorcycle engine。 John felt his insecurity e back。 He immediately assumed he cut the wrong wire or tube； and Cubby obviously agreed。 Ripman would have blamed John too。 When Cubby shot John an accusing look； he protested； 〃Hey； it could have been you； Cubby。〃
The engine was being revved； and every time it slowed it sputtered。 Finally it sputtered once more and died。 Cubby and John left their hiding place to get closer to the clearing； John crossing his fingers and hoping it wasn't one of the bikes he had disabled。 The engine roared to life again but died almost instantly。
When the boys got closer they saw the bikes had been moved； they were now parked around the still…smoldering fire。 To John's relief he couldn't tell which bikes he had worked on。 He could recognize only the deputy's gaudy blue one； the rest were mostly chrome and engine。
All four of the men were crowded around one bike。 After a few minutes one of them climbed on and jumped down on the starter。 After three kicks the engine roared。 The rider revved it to keep it going while another one did something on the engine。 It died again。 The rider climbed off angrily and began yelling at the one working on the engine。 They traded places and tried it again。 It took eight kicks to start and died almost immediately。 It didn't start again after that。
Carl； his leg bandaged with a folded shirt； shouted the guys down and then took control。 After they argued for a while； Carl and two others picked up their rifles and headed into the forest。 The third man picked up his rifle and watched the others go； then he went back to the bike and kicked it three times till it rocked over onto its side。
Cubby pulled on John's sleeve； and they slipped deeper into the forest。
〃Do you want to take him？〃 Cubby asked。
〃How？ He's watching now； and he's got a rifle。 We couldn't get far enough across that meadow to hit him with that pistol before he'd plug us both。 Besides； I've never shot a pistol before； have you？〃
〃Once； except it wasn't like this one exactly。〃 Cubby doubtfully looked over the gun。 〃I think this is the safety；〃 he said weakly。 〃Okay。 Let's follow the others then。 Once we're sure Ripman got your mom and her friend away safe； we'll head for my house。〃
They detoured wide around the end of the clearing and headed in the direction they had seen Carl lead the other men。 With Cubby in the lead； they moved quickly； nearly jogging so they could catch up。 Soon they spotted one man in the distance； carrying his rifle behind his neck with his arms looped over the stock on one side and the barrel on the other。 He looked lackadaisical； as if he didn't give a damn。
Cubby and John could not see the others； but when they heard a voice to their right they dropped back； easily keeping out of sight。 Occasionally they caught glimpses of the other men。 Carl was limping along； the wound in his leg apparently hurting but not enough to suit John。 He hoped Ripman had dipped that arrow in dinosaur shit before he stuck him with it。 It might give him some incurable prehistoric infection。
The sound of a jet engine stopped the men as they looked up； but the plane passed quickly and the men resumed their search。 The boys soon realized the men weren't following tracks； and they became confident that John's mom and Ripman would get away。
When they heard a distant animal roar； the men froze and checked their rifles。 Another
