jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第98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！


　Kyle　tightened　his　grip。　When　Shirley　lifted　the　bird's　injured　wing；　Kyle　could　feel　the　bird's　whole　body　shudder。　Now　Shirley　lay　on　her　stomach　looking　down　into　a　crack　between　the　ledge　and　the　cliff　wall。
　〃Hello；　Chrissy；〃　she　said。　〃Your　mommy　sent　us　to　get　you。〃
　〃I　hurt。〃
　〃Where；　Chrissy？　Where　do　you　hurt？〃
　〃Here。　And　here。〃
　In　the　dim　light；　Shirley　could　see　the　child's　gestures。
　〃I'll　be　right　back；　Chrissy；〃　Shirley　said　soothingly。　〃She's　in　pretty　good　shape；〃　she　announced。　She　rolled　to　face　Kyle。　〃Some　cuts　and　abrasions。　Her　shoulder　looks　the　worst；　but　her　arm's　hurt　too。〃　Looking　at　Kyle　and　the　pteranodon；　she　frowned。
　〃Since　you've　got　your　hands　full；　I　guess　I'll　take　care　of　her。〃
　〃Shirley；　get　my　gun　and　shoot　it。　Then　I　can　help。〃
　Shirley　thought　it　over　for　a　second；　and　then　shook　her　head。
　〃I　don't　know　how　to　use　it。　Besides；　you've　got　it　under　control。　Why　kill　it？〃
　Shirley　grinned。　Then　she　rolled　over；　reached　down　into　the　hole　and　began　checking　Chrissy's　injuries　while　Kyle　watched　helplessly。　After　a　few　minutes　she　slowly　pulled　the　child　out　of　the　crack；　pausing　to　reassure　Chrissy　when　she　began　to　cry。
　Chrissy　started　to　sit　up；　but　Shirley　restrained　the　child；　talking　soothingly　as　she　splinted　the　right　arm；　put　it　in　a　sling；　and　tied　it　across　Chrissy's　chest。　Next　she　bandaged　a　wound　on　Chrissy's　head；　then　cut　away　at　her　shirt；　exposing　the　injured　shoulder。　It　was　caked　in　dried　blood　and　Shirley　shook　her　head。　She　was　still　looking　at　the　injury　when　a　shadow　passed　over　the　ledge。
　Kyle　looked　up　to　see　another　pteranodon。　The　newer　looked　like　a　727　orbiting　above　them。
　〃We've　got　pany；　Shirley。〃
　Shirley　didn't　pause。　Instead　she　quickly　bandaged　the　shoulder　and　then　got　Chrissy　to　the　edge　and　propped　her　up。
　〃Kyle；　we　don't　need　a　backboard；　so　I'm　going　to　take　her　down　myself。〃　Then　Shirley　looked　up　at　the　circling　pteranodon。　〃Maybe　you　could　hold　one　in　each　hand。〃
　A　shot　rang　out；　followed　by　a　ricochet。　The　captive　pteranodon　began　twisting　and　turning　and　Kyle　tightened　his　grip　until　it　settled　down。　Waving　her　hands；　Shirley　stood　up　slowly；　leaning　out　over　the　ledge　to　shout。　〃No　firing！　We're　ing　down！　We've　got　the　little　girl。〃
　Kyle　knew　the　last　sentence　would　mean　new　hope　to　a　mother　down　in　the　clearing。　Shirley　pulled　Chrissy　to　her　chest　and　began　crisscrossing　kermantle　to　secure　her。　Kyle　watched　helplessly；　his　frustration　growing　with　each　second。　Another　shadow　passed　over　them。　Kyle　looked　up　to　see　the　pteranodon　closer　than　before。　The　shadow　passed　twice　more；　growing　bigger　each　time。　〃It's　ing；〃　Kyle　warned。
　Shirley　ignored　him　and　finished　strapping　the　little　girl　firmly　to　her　chest；　the　injured　arm　safely　tucked　between　her　own　and　Chrissy's　body。
　〃Gotta　go　now。　Hang　in　there；　I'll　be　back。〃
　Kyle　was　about　to　answer　when　the　second　pteranodon　swooped　low　over　the　edge；　knocking　Shirley　backward　onto　a　loose　pile　of　rocks。　Shirley　gasped　with　pain。　The　fall　set　off　spasms　of　pain　in　Chrissy；　who　began　sobbing　wildly。　Desperate；　Kyle　got　to　his　feet　and　began　dragging　the　pteranodon　toward　the　edge。　If　he　couldn't　shoot　it；　and　if　he　couldn't　let　go　of　it；　he　was　going　to　throw　it　over　the　ledge。　Sensing　the　danger；　the　pteranodon　renewed　its　struggle。　For　Kyle；　this　wasn't　a　dance；　it　was　a　tug　of　war。　The　pteranodon　used　its　good　wing　to　push　back　and　beat　at　Kyle；　but　it　was　losing　the　fight；　and　Kyle　pulled　it　closer　to　the　ledge。　As　he　struggled；　Shirley　slid　over　the　side　and　disappeared。　Kyle　took　another　step　and　stumbled　over　a　rock；　falling　to　his　knees　but　holding　on　to　the　bird。　He　was　ready　to　stand　when　a　rush　of　wind　behind　him　announced　the　other　pteranodon。　Then　he　felt　a　jab　of　pain。
　The　second　one　had　stabbed　him　in　the　butt　with　its　beak。　Kyle　flinched　and　screamed；　letting　go　of　the　first　to　protect　himself　from　the　attacker。　When　he　released　its　bill　the　dinosaur　tumbled　backward；　finally　winning　the　tug　of　war。　Kyle　turned　in　time　to　dodge　another　jab；　stumbling　backward　and　falling　onto　his　wounded　behind。　Both　birds　now　screamed　simultaneously；　deafeningly；　but　he　picked　up　a　rock　and　hit　the　pteranodon　who　had　stabbed　him。　Spreading　its　mammoth　wings；　it　launched　itself　off　the　edge；　only　to　float　back　up　and　hover；　looking　down。　Kyle　remembered　his　pistol　and　fired；　punching　an　insignificant　hole　in　the　webbing。　The　sound　drove　the　pteranodon　off；　and　it　floated　out　of　sight。
　Kyle　turned　to　race　the　injured　pteranodon；　his　pistol　still　in　his　hand。　But　when　he　swung　around；　the　pteranodon　was　thrusting　at　him　with　its　beak。　As　Kyle　brought　his　arms　up　to　deflect　the　jab；　the　dinosaur's　mouth　opened　revealing　rows　of　needlelike　teeth；　and　then　closed　them　over　his　gun　arm　just　above　the　wrist。　Then　the　dinosaur　jerked　its　head　back。　When　it　did　Kyle　pulled　his　arm　out；　the　rows　of　teeth　shredding　three　inches　of　skin。　Overwhelmed　by　pain；　Kyle　dropped　his　gun…just　as　the　pteranodon　jabbed　into　Kyle's　sternum；　knocking　the　wind　out　of　him。　The　beak　stabbed　once　more；　jamming　between　two　ribs。　Kyle　grabbed　the　beak　and　pushed　it　back。　His　bottom；　chest；　and　wrist　were　throbbing；　and　he　was　in　a　fight　for　his　life。　The　adrenalin　poured　into　his　system。　Then　he　stood　and　dragged　the　pteranodon　toward　the　edge　again。
　Twisting　savagely；　Kyle　pulled　the　beak　close　to　his　chest；　flexing　his　arms；　and　threw　the　dinosaur　away　from　him。　Only　the　good　wing　held　it　to　the　ledge；　its　body　suspended　in　air。　Kyle　walked　to　the　edge；　ready　to　break　the　wing　with　his　boot　and　send　it　over；　but　he　paused。　It　was　truly　helpless　now　and　no　threat　to　him；　except　that　it　was　hanging　over　his　rope。　He　was　considering　a　different　way　down　when　he　heard　Chrissy　scream。
　Kyle　raised　his　boot　and　broke　the　wing　with　a　quick　stomp。　Shrieking；　the　dinosaur　dropped　over　the　edge；　fluttering　and　twisting　in　the　air　until　it　hit　the　rocks；　then　it　lay　silent　and　motionless。
　Kyle　leaned　out　looking　for　Shirley　and　Chrissy　but　couldn't　see　them。　The　ledge　must　still　be　obscuring　his　view；　he　hoped　fervently。　But　now　the　other　pteranodon　floated　by　below　him；　circled；　and　headed　back　toward　the　cliff。　He　heard　another　scream　when　it　disappeared；　but　then　it　floated　below　him　again。　Kyle　looked　back　for　his　gun。　When　he　started　away　from　the　edge　to　find　it；　another　scream　spun　him　in　his　tracks。
　Picking　up　the　rope；　he　wrapped　it　around　his　good　wrist　and　arm；　and　when　the　pteranodon　appeared　below　him　a　second　later；　he　jumped；　pushing　out　with　his　legs；　to　avoid　the　rocks。　Kyle　yelled；　〃Falling；〃　and　prayed　Jay　was　awake　on　the　belay。　Kyle　fell　toward　the　pteranodon；　angling　head　down；　his　rope　trailing　out　behind　him　like　a　bungee　cord…but　kermantie　rope　has　very　little　give。　His　stomach　elevatored　as　he　dropped　and　the　cliff　flashed　by。　The　pteranodon　was　rushing　up　toward　him；　but　laterally　away　from　him。　He　hoped　it　was　far　enough。
　As　he　fell　below　the　ledge；　he　could　see　Shirley　and　Chrissy　dangling　on　the　other　side；　being　lowered　down　by　Kimberly　on　the　ground。　The　pteranodon　continued　to　rush　toward　him。　Stretching　out　his　arms；　he　angled　down；　trying　to　close　the　distance　with　a　glide；　though　he　realized　he　wouldn't　get　enough　glide　to　close　the　gap。　Then　the　pteranodon　pivoted　on　its　right　wing；　slowing　its　forward　motion。　As　Kyle　reached　out　to　hit　the　wing　he　reached　the　end　of　the　rope。
　The　kermantle　snapped　his　wrist　up；　the　rope　burning　and　removing　skin。　He　snatched　it　with　the　other　hand　and　managed　to　stop　his　slide　down　the　rope。　As　his　arms　pulled　his　shoulders　and　head　up；　his　legs　snapped　low　beneath　him　and　he　kicked　out　with　them；　bringing　his　feet　under　the　pteran…odon's　wing；　and　up　into　the　membrane。　Kyle　could　see　the　impression　of　his　climbing　boots　in　the　tautly　stretched　skin；　and　he　pushed　up　with　his　entire　body。　The　pteranodon　rolled　left　away　from　the　kick；　emitting　a　shocked　screech；　and　continued　toward　the　cliff。　Kyle　lost　sight　of　it　then；　because　his　rope　finished　snapping　him　away　from　the　fleeing　dinosaur。　Now　he　was　swinging　by　his　arms；　toward　the　mountainside。
　He　took　the　crushing　collision　full　on　his　right　knee　and　leg；　then　hung　semiconscious。　Slowly　he　realized　the　rock　in　front　of　him　was　moving。　Panicky；　he　looked　to　his　wrist…the　rope　was　blood　soaked　but　secure。　Then　Kyle　realized　he　was　being　lowered　by　Jay。
　He　blanked　out　briefly。　When　he　opened　his　eyes；　people　were　laying　him　flat；　stretching　out　his　injured　leg　and　sending　more　spasms　of　pain　through　his　body。　Discovering　the　wound　on　his　backside；　they　rolled　him　over　and　cut　away　the　seat　of　his　trousers。　Kyle　was　just　aware　enough　to　be　embarrassed　as　they　worked　on　his　bottom　for　a　while　and　then　applied　a　press。　Then　they　lifted　him　and　laid　him　on　a　stretcher　facedown；　his　bare　buttocks　sticking　up　for　the　crowd　to　see。　Mortified；　Kyle　closed　his　eyes；　but　he　felt　a　touch　on　his　face。　He　looked　to　see　Shirley's　brown　eyes　staring　into　his　own。
　〃Chrissy's　going　to　be　okay。　They've　already　transported　her。〃
　Kyle　flashed　a　smile　to　acknowledge　he'd　heard。　Then　Shirley　looked　over　at　his　exposed　bottom；　and　shook　her　head　in　disbelief。
　〃My