jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第91部分

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　Bill　climbed　on　one　of　the　bikes；　turned　the　key；　then　tried　kick　starting　it。　The　loud　whirring　startled　Terry　and　also　something　in　the　grass。　Walking　slowly　toward　the　movement；　Terry　saw　the　grass　had　been　trampled　or　run　down　in　the　makeshift　path。　More　grass　rustled　to　his　right；　and　he　froze。　Then　he　stepped　into　the　grass　toward　the　movement。　He　took　two　steps　down　a　slight　hill　before　he　saw　it。　It　was　a　body；　a　human　body；　in　worse　shape　than　the　dinosaur　head。　Large　and　small　animals　had　been　feeding　on　it；　and　it　was　nothing　more　than　blackened　meat。　Terry　turned　away；　struggling　to　control　his　nausea。
　Bill　was　looking　at　the　engine　on　the　motorcycle　when　he　returned。
　〃There's　a　body　down　there；〃　Terry　said　slowly。
　Bill　stood　up　and　merely　looked　in　the　direction　Terry　pointed。
　〃Well　that　might　fit。　These　bikes　have　been　sabotaged。　Someone　got　mad　and　cut　up　their　wiring；　and　maybe　killed　a　guy。〃
　Before　Terry　could　respond　something　big　ran　behind　him。　Bill　shouldered　his　rifle　and　stared　into　the　grass。
　Suddenly　a　head　popped　up。　It　was　larger　than　a　human　head；　with　an　elongated　snout　and　two　rows　of　needle　teeth。　Hissing　at　them；　it　ducked　its　head　and　continued　walking。　Bill　fired　blindly　after　it。
　〃What　are　you　doing；　Bill？　That's　an　extinct　species…was　an　extinct　species。〃
　Another　movement　to　Terry's　left　brought　Bill's　gun　around　again。　Another　head　popped　up　and　then　disappeared；　similar　to　the　first。　At　the　sound　of　more　movement　in　the　grass；　Terry　realized　they　were　surrounded。
　〃They're　hunting　us　in　a　pack；〃　Bill　said。　〃Stay　close　to　me　and　when　I　say　run；　you　run。〃
　Following　Bill's　gesture；　they　stepped　toward　the　helicopter。　Terry　wished　he'd　not　turned　down　Bill's　other　rifle。　A　pounding　behind　them　caught　their　attention；　and　Bill　and　Terry　turned　to　see　a　dinosaur　about　the　size　of　a　Shetland　pony　charge　through　the　grass。　Its　body　was　gray…green；　with　a　short　thin　neck　and　a　tail　held　up　almost　to　head　height。　It　was　running　on　two　back　legs　and　had　short　clawed　arms　folded　against　its　chest。　Its　mouth　was　open；　revealing　its　double　row　of　teeth；　but　it　made　no　sound。　Bill　fired　three　shots　into　the　chest　in　quick　succession　and　the　dinosaur　collapsed　into　the　grass；　tumbling　toward　Terry　and　Bill；　yelping　and　screaming；　drowning　out　the　thump　of　the　helicopter。　Bill　fired　three　more　shots　at　movement　to　their　left　and　was　rewarded　with　another　yelp。
　〃Run！〃
　Terry　bolted　toward　the　helicopter；　gritting　his　teeth　and　pushing　his　legs　to　move　him　faster　than　he　had　in　years。　Bill　pulled　ahead　of　him；　but　Terry　had　nothing　more　to　give。　Terry's　eyes　darted　back　and　forth　as　he　ran；　watching　for　any　signs　of　attack。　As　he　pounded　and　puffed　through　the　grass；　he　realized　the　sounds　of　the　helicopter's　engines　would　drown　out　the　noise　of　dinosaurs　in　pursuit。　They　could　be　surprised　at　any　moment。　Bill　scrambled　in　as　Terry　ran　to　the　far　side；　swung　the　door　open；　and　climbed　onto　the　seat。　Just　as　he　was　closing　the　door　he　heard　Bill　yell　a　warning。　Instinctively　Terry　leaned　into　the　cockpit　and　pulled　his　exposed　leg　high。　Teeth　buried　themselves　into　the　seat　beneath　Terry；　and　the　dinosaur　struggled　to　pull　the　seat　out　from　under　him。　Then　Bill's　M…16　slapped　down　on　Terry's　other　leg。　Terry　froze；　but　Bill　hesitated。　Suddenly　the　dinosaur　lunged　for　a　better　mouthful。　Quickly　Terry　shoved　himself　up　off　the　seat；　his　back　arched。　The　jaws；　snapped　closed　just　below　his　crotch。
　〃Kill　it；　Bill！　Kill　it！〃　he　screamed；　and　Bill　fired　a　shot　into　the　dinosaur's　head。　Blood　spattered　Terry's　face　and　crotch。　The　dinosaur　stopped　moving　and　slumped；　but　its　jaws　were　still　set　in　the　seat。
　〃Get　it　out　of　here。　We've　got　to　take　off　before　another　one　gets　us！〃
　Terry　leaned　on　Bill　and　kicked　the　head。　With　each　kick　he　heard　the　seat　tear；　but　the　dinosaur's　blood　made　the　head　slippery　and　Terry's　blows　began　to　slide　off。　A　dozen　kicks　later；　the　head　flopped　out　the　door　with　a　piece　of　seat　still　in　its　mouth。
　Bill　increased　rotor　speed　and　pulled　up　immediately。　As　they　lifted　off；　Terry　could　see　two　more　dinosaurs　running　off　through　the　grass。　When　they　were　safely　away；　Bill　turned　to　Terry　with　a　grin　and　shouted　over　the　rotors。
　〃Now　what　was　that　about　those　things　being　extinct　species？〃
　Terry；　shaking；　tried　to　maneuver　his　body　onto　what　was　left　of　the　seat。　As　he　put　his　headphones　on；　he　heard　Bill　chuckling。
　〃That　was　the　quickest　conversion　I've　ever　seen。　'Save　the　endangered　species'　to　'kill　it　quick；'　in　less　than　a　minute。　Say；　Terry；　you　know；　what　kind　of　dinosaur　that　was；　don't　you？　Ballosaurus。　It　eats　only　one　thing　and　it　nearly　had　yours。〃
　Bill　kept　laughing；　but　Terry　wasn't　amused　and　quietly　fumed；　watching　below。　But　for　a　long　time　all　he　could　see　were　razor　sharp　teeth　snapping　an　inch　from　his　crotch。
　〃What's　this？　I　don't　believe　it。〃
　Terry　looked　but　saw　only　foliage。
　〃No；　up　here。　Over　there。〃
　Terry　looked　to　see　skyscrapers　shimmering　in　the　distance…　translucent　skyscrapers。　Portland　was　there　now；　but　it　hadn't　been　just　minutes　ago。　But　was　it　really　there？　Did　Terry　and　Bill　need　to　see　Portland　so　badly　that　their　minds　were　creating　it？　Terry　looked　for　landmarks；　picking　out　the　Bank　of　California；　and　the　KOIN　tower。　Terry　tried　scanning　vertically　to　the　base　of　the　skyscrapers；　but　they　blurred　into　indistinguishable　light　and　shadow　at　their　base；　making　it　impossible　to　distinguish　cars　and　people。
　〃Think　Ellen　and　Angie　made　it　into　the　city？　Maybe　my　son　is　there　now。　Let's　fly　into　it；　Bill。　See　if　we　can　find　them。〃
　Bill　hesitated；　holding　the　helicopter　in　a　hover。　Terry　had　never　seen　him　indecisive　before。
　〃What's　the　problem？　Let's　go　find　our　people。〃
　〃Something's　not　right　。　。　。　mmmm　。。。　It　doesn't　look　real　。　。　。　doesn't　look　stable。〃
　〃If　it's　not　real　it　will　disappear　as　we　approach　it。〃　Terry　said　it　with　more　confidence　than　he　felt。　Why　was　the　city　flickering　like　a　mirage？
　The　helicopter　tilted　nose　down　and　started　forward。　Bill　stiffened　noticeably；　shaking　Terry's　confidence　as　they　moved　forward。　Terry　found　it　difficult　to　stay　focused　on　the　city。　His　eyes　seemed　to　fix　on　the　hills　shining　beyond　the　city。　Then　the　buildings　began　to　fade。　Terry　blinked　to　bring　the　image　back；　but　it　continued　to　fade　until　it　was　gone。　Bill　slowed　the　helicopter；　hovering　again；　staring　at　the　forest　where　the　city　had　been。
　〃Hallucination？〃　Bill　asked。
　〃Two　people　sharing　a　hallucination　is　extremely　rare。　Maybe　a　mirage。〃
　〃We're　low　on　fuel。　A　couple　more　passes；　then　we　need　to　head　back。〃
　Bill　turned　back　to　resume　his　spiral　search　pattern　and　Terry　returned　to　his　watch；　surprised　at　how　easily　he　could　put　the　vanishing　city　out　of　his　mind。　It　was；　he　realized；　just　one　facet　of　a　mystery　that　had　consumed　his　son；　and　perhaps　his　wife。
　
　62。　　CAPTURED
　
　It　happened　mid　morning　when　everyone　was　about　their　daily　tasks。　Suddenly　burning　planks　began　to　fall　from　the　sky。　The　fiery　planks　were　of　similar　width；　but　varied　in　length；　and　all　were　aflame。　The　planks　were　quickly　extinguished。　The　villagers　turned　to　the　priest；　fearing　witchcraft　and　seeking　explanation；　but　he　had　none　to　offer。
　…Francois　Delaine；　Province　of　Tournaine；　France；　August　15；1670
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；；　10：05　A。M。　PST
　
　　Ellen；　you　look　like　shit。　You　gotta　take　better　care　of　yourself。〃
　Kishton　was　holding　Ellen's　hands　behind　her　back　and　Carl　was　looking　her　over　like　she　was　a　piece　of　meat。　Which　she　felt　like　now…bloodied　from　a　hundred　tiny　wounds；　with　dirt　covering　her　arms　and　legs　and　tattered　blouse　and　pants。　But　as　his　eyes　smoldered；　Ellen　knew　the　dirt　didn't　matter　to　Carl。
　Ripman　stirred　and　sat　up；　drawing　Carl's　attention。　He　had　been　lying　on　the　ground　unconscious；　but　the　bow　was　still　slung　over　his　shoulder。　Carl　jerked　it　off　angrily。
　〃So　you're　the　sonofabitch　that　shot　me。　You　fucked　up　our　bikes　too；　didn't　you？〃
　Ellen　saw　that　Ripman's　eyes　showed　no　surprise　at　the　mention　of　the　bikes。　Had　he　slipped　into　their　camp　while　Angie　and　she　slept？
　〃He　killed　Bobby；〃　Miller　added；　and　then　kicked　Ripman　in　the　side；　knocking　him　over　again。　〃You　shot　him　in　the　back。　That　ain't　the　way　it's　done。〃
　Ripman　pushed　himself　into　a　sitting　position　again　and　looked　up　at　Miller。　The　right　side　of　his　face　was　swelling。
　〃Sorry。　What's　the　right　way　to　kill　a　rapist？〃
　〃Sonofabitch！〃　Miller　shouted；　and　kicked　Ripman　again。
　Carl　pushed　Miller　back　and　took　center　stage。
　〃Rapist？　Hell；　they　were　asking　for　it！〃　Carl　shouted　in　Ripman's　face。　〃They　sure　as　hell　weren't　no　virgins。　Did　you　see　the　size　of　Angle's　tits？〃　Carl　said。　〃And　the　way　she　was　wigglin'　around？　She　wanted　it；　and　we　have　it。　A　match　made　in　heaven。　By　the　way；〃　Carl　asked；　lowering　his　rifle　so　it　pointed　at　Ripman's　head；　〃where　is　Big　Tits？〃
　Ripman　gave　Ellen　a　look　she　couldn't　interpret　and　then　jumped　up　and　shouted　in　the　direction　they　had　e。
　〃Run；　Angie；　hide！　Run！〃
　A　blow　from　Carl's　fist　sent　him　back　to　the　ground。
　〃I'll　get　her；　Carl；〃　Miller　volunteere