jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第102节

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d　began　to　clean　his　face。　He　woke　and　stared　at　her　blankly。
　〃Colter；　you're　coated　with　。　。　。　well；　why　don't　you　take　your　clothes　off？　You're　a　mess。〃
　Colter　nodded　and　sat　up；　unbuttoning　his　shirt。　Now　Petra　could　see　the　wound　on　his　chest　more　clearly。　It　was　deep；　crusted　with　dried　blood；　and　should　have　been　stitched。　But　at　least　it　didn't　seem　to　be　oozing；　so　Petra　decided　it　would　heal。　Colter　slipped　out　of　his　bloody　pants　and　shorts　and　put　on　a　clean　pair　of　pants　and　a　T…shirt　that　he　dug　out　of　a　cupboard。
　Petra　looked　at　her　own　body。　She　wasn't　as　severely　injured　as　Colter；　but　blood　and　dirt　were　all　over　her。　Petra　used　the　wet　towel　to　wipe　off　as　much　of　the　grime　as　she　could；　and　then　took　off　her　bra　and　bloody　panties　to　wipe　the　rest　of　herself。　Petra　felt　scabs　on　her　bottom。
　〃Here；　let　me；〃　Colter　said；　holding　out　his　hand　for　the　towel。
　Petra　was　momentarily　embarrassed。　He　was　fully　clothed　and　she　was　naked；　and　she　felt　helpless。　Still；　she　turned　and　let　him　help　her。
　〃It's　not　too　bad；〃　he　assured　her。
　〃Good。　Give　me　some　of　my　clothes　to　put　on。〃
　Petra　turned；　covering　her　small　breasts　with　her　arms　as　Colter　stared　at　her　with　a　strange　look　on　his　face。
　〃Well　。　。　。　I　。。。〃
　Colter　never　got　to　finish。　Something　rattled　behind　him。　He　turned　and　looked　for　what　was　making　the　noise　in　the　front　of　the　RV。　Petra　cringed　behind　Colter　as　they　walked　forward；　looking　for　the　sound。
　Colter　stooped；　reaching　down　to　a　cabinet　door　near　the　floor；　hesitated　and　then　yanked　it　open。　A　baby　dinosaur　rolled　out；　its　lower　half　still　in　the　eggshell。　About　a　foot　long；　its　skin　was　the　bright　green　of　spring　leaves。　The　wet　little　baby　had　a　small　flexible　neck　collar　and　a　short　stubby　tail；　its　snout　tipped　with　a　small　hooked　horn。　It　was　clearly　a　baby　monoclonius。
　Colter　reached　down　and　pulled　the　rest　of　the　eggshell　away　and　then　wiped　it　with　the　towel　he　had　been　using　on　Petra's　bottom。
　〃It's　cute；　isn't　it；　Colter？〃
　〃Cute　now；　sure。　It　won't　be　so　cute　when　it　weighs　a　few　tons。〃
　Colter　picked　it　up　and　handed　it　to　Petra。　It　was　heavier　than　it　looked　and　wriggled　in　her　grasp。
　〃What　do　we　feed　it？〃
　〃I　dunno。　Probably　some　mashed　fruit。　Maybe　some　milk。　Moose　and　Sarah　seem　to　eat　everything。〃
　〃We'll　figure　that　out　in　a　minute。〃　Petra　put　the　baby　down　on　Sarah's　blanket；　and　she　sniffed　at　the　baby；　but　wasn't　hostile。　Then　turning　to　Colter　Petra　said；　〃First；　where　are　my　clothes？〃
　〃Well　。　。　。　you　see　I　was　kind　of　upset　when　I　thought　you　were　dead。　I　mean；　I　didn't　know　you　were　alive。　How　did　you　get　away　from　that　fish　anyway？〃
　〃Don't　change　the　subject。　Where　are　my　clothes？〃
　〃I　kind　of　threw　them　away。〃
　〃Colter！　Why　would　you　do　that？〃
　Finally　he　got　the　courage　to　look　Petra　in　the　eyes　and　tell　her。
　〃Your　things　kept　reminding　me　of　you；　and　how　you　were　dead　and　stuff。　It　was　too　hard　for　me。　It　hurt　pretty　bad。〃
　Tears　welled　up　in　Petra's　eyes。　It　was　only　a　couple　of　sentences　but　Petra　knew　the　rest　of　what　he　could　never　say。　She　wrapped　her　arms　around　him　and　hugged　him；　and　then　pretended　to　be　mad　at　him。
　〃Oh　great。　Someone　dies　and　you　immediately　hold　a　garage　sale。　What　am　I　supposed　to　do　for　clothes？〃
　〃I　like　you　the　way　you　are。〃
　〃1　don't　like　being　the　only　one　naked。〃
　〃I　can　fix　that；〃　Colter　offered。
　〃Don't　bother。　Neither　of　us　is　in　any　shape　for　that。〃
　Petra　turned　and　opened　several　cabinets　until　she　found　one　of　Colter's　sweatshirts　and　pulled　it　over　her　head。　Though　it　hung　down　covering　her　bottom；　she　still　felt　exposed　and　she　never　wanted　to　feel　that　way　again。　Colter's　pants　were　way　too　big；　but　she　put　on　a　pair　of　his　boxer　shorts。　The　flap　gaped　open　when　she　tried　sitting　in　them；　so　she　found　a　safety　pin　and　pinned　it　closed。　It　would　have　to　do　until　she　could　get　to　a　town。
　Then　Petra　opened　a　can　of　peaches　and　mashed　them　up；　pushing　spoonfuls　into　the　baby　dinosaur's　mouth。　It　chewed　reflexively。　When　Petra　was　sure　it　had　swallowed　enough；　she　poured　in　some　of　the　juice　from　the　can。　Most　ran　down　its　neck　and　pooled　in　the　collar。　Colter　watched　the　feeding　with　amusement。
　〃Moose　and　Sarah　aren't　this　sloppy；〃　Colter　said。
　〃It's　just　a　widdle　thing；〃　Petra　said　in　baby　talk。
　〃Just　what　are　you　gonna　call　the　little　orphan？〃
　Petra　set　the　can　of　peaches　to　the　side　and　put　the　little　dinosaur　on　the　floor。　The　baby　got　to　its　feet　and　wobbled　a　few　steps。　Then　it　stopped　and　licked　at　the　peach　juice　on　its　chin。
　〃Well；　what　if　we　call　her　Peaches？〃
　〃Her？〃
　〃Her　until　we　know　better。　We　should　get　a　bottle　somewhere　for　this　poor　thing。〃
　He　rolled　his　eyes；　nodded；　and　moved　to　the　driver's　seat　and　started　the　engine。　Petra　sat　down　in　the　passenger　seat　gingerly；　holding　the　sleeping　baby　dinosaur　in　her　lap。　Now　that　she　was　rested；　she　was　beginning　to　feel　every　bruise；　cut；　and　aching　muscle。　Colter；　she　knew；　was　feeling　his　pain　as　well。
　They　were　about　to　leave　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　padding　feet。　Petra　flinched　when　Moose　scrambled　up　the　dash　and　stretched　out　in　the　window。　Sarah　waddled　forward　and　looked　perturbed　that　Petra　had　taken　her　place；　so　instead　she　curled　up　on　the　floor　between　the　seats。　Petra　and　Colter　looked　at　each　other　and　smiled。
　〃Well；　honey；〃　Colter　said。　〃It's　been　quite　a　vacation。〃
　〃Yes；　dear；〃　Petra　replied。　〃But　the　kids　are　exhausted。　Let's　go　home。〃
　Then　they　drove　away　from　the　clearing　and　back　up　the　road。
　
　68。　　CHOICES
　
　In　the　age　of　no　time；　what　came　before　will　e　again；　and　what　is　yet　to　e；　will　e　before。　I　do　not　understand　it　myself；　hut　I　know　it　will　be　heralded　by　a　great　fire。
　…Zorastrus；　Prophet　of　Babylon
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　5：05　P。M。　PST
　
　They　walked　with　a　new　confidence。　Someone　watching　would　say　it　was　the　rifles　that　gave　them　confidence；　a　store…bought；　machine…made　and　polished　confidence。　But　this　was　homemade　confidence。　Everything　and　nothing　in　their　experience　had　prepared　them　for　what　they　had　gone　through　over　the　last　few　days；　but　what　they　found　inside　had　been　enough；　even　more　than　enough。
　They'd　had　a　happy　victory　celebration　after　Ripman　left　with　Ellen。　Exchanging　insults；　they　argued　over　who　should　get　credit　for　bungling　the　sabotage　on　the　motorcycle；　since　that　had　saved　them　from　One　Eye　and　now　was　saving　John's　Mom。　But　as　they　moved　toward　the　rendezvous　point；　Cubby　fell　silent。
　Cubby　and　John　could　hear　the　helicopter　e　back；　circling；　its　thumping　sounds　reverberating　down　the　valley。　But　the　rendezvous　point　was　in　a　different　direction；　so　the　noise　grew　fainter　as　they　moved　away。　An　occasional　lizard　skittered　across　a　log　or　glided　from　tree　to　tree　above　them。　Once　a　crashing　and　thumping　in　the　distance　sent　them　running　for　cover；　but　the　sounds　finally　moved　off。
　Finally　they　reached　the　dry　riverbed　Ripman　had　described。　It　disappeared　around　a　bend　to　the　southwest　and　then　into　the　forest。　The　boys　surveyed　silently　from　the　bank；　scouting　the　forest　on　either　side　for　animal　signs。　Then　Cubby　tugged　on　John's　arm　and　pointed。
　A　movement　caught　John's　eye。　In　the　shadow　on　the　far　bank　were　several　animals；　four…legged　with　long　tails；　and　long　necks；　resembling　brontosauri；　but　only　a　fraction　of　the　size。　Occasionally　a　head　would　appear　towering　over　the　bank；　look　around；　and　then　dip　back　down。　The　animals　appeared　to　be　grazing。　Cubby　and　John　finally　stepped　out　of　the　shadow　onto　the　bank；　fully　exposing　themselves。　A　minute　later　a　head　came　up；　spotting　them　and　grunting。　Then　three　more　heads　popped　up。　The　dinosaurs　and　the　people　stared　at　one　another；　then　one　by　one　the　dinosaurs　went　back　to　eating。
　Ripman　was　nowhere　to　be　seen；　so　Cubby　and　John　found　a　pile　of　rocks　to　settle　on。　They　had　no　food；　but　large　puddles　in　the　riverbed　would　provide　enough　water　for　now。　At　least；　if　Ripman　came　back。
　
　
　After　a　long　wait　the　engine　of　the　motorcycle　announced　Ripman's　return。　First　the　heads　of　the　dinosaurs　all　popped　up　again；　and　they　moved　up　the　riverbed　out　of　sight。　Finally；　John　saw　Ripman　riding　around　the　bed　of　the　riverbed。　Cubby　and　John　cheered；　then　Cubby　put　his　fingers　in　his　mouth　and　blew　several　shrill　whistles。
　Ripman　pulled　up　in　front　of　them　revving　the　engine　loudly。　His　face　was　still　swollen；　he　was　cut　and　bruised　and　covered　with　dirt；　yet　he　was　also　proud；　even　arrogant；　and　Cubby　and　John　loved　it。　He　finally　let　the　engine　die　and　untied　a　grocery　bag　from　the　back　of　the　bike。
　〃How's　my　mom；　Ripman？〃
　〃She's　fine。　There's　a　bunch　of　houses　over　that　way；〃　he　said；　pointing。　〃The　forest　goes　right　up　to　their　front　doors。　Some　of　the　houses　have　been　smashed　up　pretty　good。　It　looks　like　some　of　the　dinosaurs　came　to　visit。　The　people　who　live　there　have　blocked　the　streets　with　cars。　There's　cops　there　too；　keeping　people　out；　and　keeping　the　dinosaurs　in。　The　police　took　your　mom　to　the　hospital。〃
　Ripman　opened　the　pack　and　tossed　cans　of　Coke　Classic　to　Cubby　and　John；　John　drank　a　third　of　his　in　three　gulps。　When　the　carbonation　burned　hi