jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第30节

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　〃Look！　There　by　the　lake。　Something's　moving　out　there。　Something　big。〃　　　　〃I　don't　see　it；　Petra。　Do　you；　George？〃
　〃No；　I'm　watching　the　road。〃
　〃I　saw　it；　Dr。　Piltcher；〃　Colter　cut　in。　　　　　　　　　　　　
　Dr。　Piltcher　was　exasperated。　〃And　what　did　you　see；　Colter？〃
　〃It　was　big；　like　Petra　said。　I　think　it　was　a　tractor。　Maybe　this　is　an　irrigated　farm。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher's　only　answer　was　a　disgusted　snort。　At　the　end　of　the　ruts；　they　found　themselves　facing　a　small　meadow　against　a　wall　of　lush　greenery　seven　to　nine　feet　in　height；　concealing　the　lake　and　forest。　Dr。　Coombs　slowly　drove　up　onto　the　grass　to　park　the　RV。
　〃Petra；　try　the　radio　again；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　ordered。
　As　she　began　calling　Mrs。　Wayne　and　Ernie；　her　voice　was　flat；　devoid　of　hope。　She　wasn't　surprised　that　no　one　answered。
　Now　the　others　climbed　out　and　walked　into　the　meadow。　Dr。　Coombs　and　Dr。　Piltcher　began　examining　the　grasses　and　ferns。
　〃Extraordinary；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　muttered　over　and　over。
　〃Exactly　so；〃　concurred　Dr。　Coombs。
　The　noise　of　a　stream　distracted　them　and　they　turned　to　see　Colter　urinating　into　the　grass。　Dr。　Piltcher　began　to　stomp　toward　him；　but　Dr。　Coombs　grabbed　his　arm　and　began　pointing　out　more　of　his　observations　of　the　flora；　temporarily　subduing　his　friend。　Petra　came　out　of　the　RV　and　shook　her　head　before　anyone　could　ask　about　contact。　Suddenly　Colter　yelled；　〃Hey　you；　e　here！〃
　The　others　turned　to　see　Colter　running　in　circles　through　the　tall　grass；　yelling　and　chasing　something　through　the　meadow。　Occasionally　he　stopped　abruptly　and　leaned　down　with　his　arms　outstretched。　Petra　began　running　toward　him；　though　Dr。　Piltcher　called　after　her　to　wait。　Dr。　Coombs　trailed　after　her；　his　well…conditioned　body　carrying　him　like　a　younger　man　as　Dr。　Piltcher　stumbled　along　behind。　Colter　bent　down　again；　jerked　up　and　sprinted　ahead；　and　then　he　dove；　disappearing　in　the　grass　as　a　pigtike　squeal　erupted。　Then　Colter　came　up　on　one　knee；　and　then　stood　holding　a　squirming　animal　none　of　them　had　ever　seen　before。
　It　was　eighteen　inches　in　length；　its　skin　a　bright　green。　Colter　held　it　by　its　thick　tail…which　was　a　third　of　its　length…and　its　thick　neck。　Its　head　was　a　little　larger　than　the　neck；　and　the　face　resembled　a　parrot；　with　a　beak　that　curved　over　the　lower　jaw。　The　eyes　on　either　side　of　the　head　were　covered　with　thick　lids。　Its　two　oversized　back　legs　contrasted　with　two　thin　front　ones。　The　animal　was　using　its　clawed　front　feet　on　Colter's　hand；　and　from　Colter's　reaction　the　claws　were　sharp。
　The　others　jogged　up　to　Colter；　staring　openmouthed。
　〃What　is　that？〃　Petra　asked。
　〃It's　an　omithopod；〃　said　Dr。　Coombs；　his　voice　bubbling　with　excitement。
　〃Psittacosaurus；　I　believe；〃　Dr。　Pilteher　added；　just　as　excited。　〃But　the　color　seems　wrong。　I　wouldn't　have　expected　it　to　be　this　bright　green。〃
　〃Too　bright　by　far；　Chester；〃　Dr。　Coombs　agreed。　〃But　notice；　the　color　is　fading。　Like　a　chameleon　perhaps？〃
　〃I　do　believe　you're　right；　George。　It　seems　to　be　adapting　to　the　blue　of　Colter's　shirt。〃
　〃e　on；　you　guys！〃　Colter　hollered。　〃I　can't　hold　this　thing　forever。　Do　you　want　it　or　not？〃
　〃Yes；　of　course　we　want　to　study　it；〃　Dr。　Pilteher　said。　〃But　what　do　we　do　with　it？〃
　Without　a　better　idea　they　led　Colter　to　the　RV；　the　creature　struggling　every　step　of　the　way。　Then　they　decided　to　put　the　psittacosaurus　in　the　back；　where　the　beds　were；　and　block　off　the　front。　They　used　the　mattresses　to　create　a　wall；　and　then　Colter　leaned　over　and　dropped　the　psittacosaurus　on　the　other　side。　As　soon　as　it　hit　the　floor　it　stopped　squealing　and　came　up　running。　The　little　beast　ran　through　the　back　of　the　RV　on　its　two　back　legs；　leaning　forward　with　forelegs　outstretched；　looking　for　an　escape　route。　The　only　way　out；　however；　was　past　the　mattresses；　and　the　four　heads　peering　over　them。　Still；　the　beast　would　not　give　up　and　its　panic　grew。
　〃The　poor　thing's　scared；〃　Petra　said。　〃Maybe　we　better　let　it　go。〃
　〃No；　not　yet；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　pleaded。　〃I　want　to　study　it。　Just　for　tonight。　We　can　let　it　go　in　the　morning。〃
　Petra's　conscience　pricked　her　because　the　little　animal　was　suffering。　〃Maybe　we　should　give　it　something　to　eat；〃　Petra　suggested。
　Dr。　Coombs　suggested　fruit　or　eggs；　and　Colter　came　up　with　a　peach。　They　rolled　it　across　the　floor　to　the　psittacosaurus；　but　it　ignored　the　fruit　and　continued　to　search　for　an　escape　route。
　〃What　did　you　call　this　thing　again？〃　Colter　asked。
　〃Psittacosaurus；〃　Dr。　Coombs　replied。
　〃Let's　just　call　it　Sid；〃　Colter　suggested。　〃How　e　I've　never　seen　anything　like　Sid　before？〃
　〃Because；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　began　with　forced　slowness；　〃they've　been　extinct　since　the　Cretaceous　age；〃
　〃Wasn't　that　prehistoric　times？〃　Colter　asked　Dr。　Piltcher。　〃Then　what's　it　doing　here？〃
　With　that　one　question　Colter　cut　right　through　the　fog　of　excitement　that　had　clouded　their　thinking。　What　was　it　doing　here？
　Dr。　Coombs　and　Dr。　Piltcher　retreated　to　the　front　of　the　RV　and　sat　in　the　bucket　seats。　Colter　and　Petra　followed；　Colter　a　little　put　out　that　they　hadn't　answered　his　question　directly。　Despite　his　naivete；　however；　he　had　learned　how　to　fit　into　the　group；　and　knew　it　was　time　for　him　to　fade　into　the　background。
　The　others　assumed　their　reflective　poses　and　took　turns　looking　at　each　other；　waiting　for　someone　to　say　what　they　were　all　thinking。　All　except　Colter；　who　stood　impatiently　waiting。　As　usual　Dr。　Piltcher　finger…bed　his　hair；　and　then　spoke　first。
　〃Well；　we　knew　something　was　going　to　happen；　but　I　admit　I　hadn't　considered　this。〃
　〃What　has　happened？〃　Petra　asked。
　Dr。　Piltcher　turned　and　smiled　at　Petra。　In　Dr。　Piltcher's　eyes　she　could　do　no　wrong；　and　he　treated　even　her　simplest　questions　with　the　same　consideration　that　he　gave　to　scholarly　discussions。
　〃We　must　investigate　further；　of　course。　But　from　the　primitive　nature　of　the　flowering　plants　in　the　meadow；　and　of　course　our　friend　the　psittacosaurus；　we　seem　to　be　sitting　in　a　piece　of　the　Cretaceous　period。　We　anticipated　some　temporal　dislocation；　that　fits　with　the　theory；　but　I　rather　expected　massive　amounts　of　material　falling　out　of　the　sky。　Instead；　we　seem　to　have　sitting　all　around　us　a　piece　of　the　past　somehow　transported　to　the　present。〃
　〃There　is　another　possibility；〃　Dr。　Coombs　added。　〃We　could　be　in　a　section　of　our　present　that　has　been　transported　to　the　past。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　raised　his　eyebrows　but　didn't　say　anything　for　a　full　minute。　Then　he　spoke　with　thoughtful　deliberation。
　〃If　we　were　transported；　then　a　huge　portion　of　land　was　transported　with　us。　We　drove　through　miles　of　it；　not　to　mention　the　radio　reports　from　afar。　If　that　much　has　heen　transported　to　the　past；　then　it　makes　little　difference　to　us　practically。　The　same　would　be　true　if　this　piece　of　the　Cretaceous　period　is　extensive；　but　again　the　radio　reports　suggest　otherwise。〃
　〃True　enough；　Chester；　but　it　raises　other　interesting　questions。　If　we　are　sitting　on　a　piece　of　the　Cretaceous　period；　plete　with　wildlife；　then　where　is　the　land　that　it　replaced？　In　the　Cretaceous　period？　And　more　important；　where　are　Mrs。　Wayne　and　Ernie　Powell？〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　was　about　to　respond　when　a　loud　crunching　sound　broke　up　the　conversation。　Petra　immediately　turned　and　ran　to　the　mattress　barrier；　motioning　for　the　others　to　join　her。　They　crowded　together　just　in　time　to　see　the　psittacosau…rus　bite　down　again　on　the　peach　pit。　Nothing　else　of　the　peach　remained。　The　pit　broke　in　two。
　〃Sid's　got　quite　a　bite；〃　Colter　noted。
　〃Good　thing　he　didn't　get　hold　of　one　of　your　fingers；〃　Petra　said　and　then　retrieved　another　peach　from　the　refrigerator。　〃Here；　Sid；　knock　yourself　out；〃　she　said；　and　tossed　it　to　him。
　Sid　ran　from　the　peach；　trying　to　hide　in　a　corner。　He　looked　around　fearfully；　then　defecated；　leaving　a　wet　gray　pile　of　solids　on　the　floor；　then　ran　over　to　the　peach。　Sid　sank　his　jaws　into　it　and　then　carried　it　to　a　clean　corner　and　began　systematically　biting　off　chunks　while　leaning　back　on　his　tail　and　holding　the　peach　with　his　forearms。　Deftly　he　rotated　it　between　bites；　working　efficiently　to　pick　the　pit　clean。　Then；　as　before；　used　his　jaws　to　break　the　pit　in　two。　After　breaking　the　pit　into　smaller　pieces　Sid　tasted　two；　then　ignored　them。　Though　he　remained　in　his　corner　he　seemed　less　fearful　now　and　watched　his　captors　with　his　black　eyes。　Colter　pulled　a　piece　of　bread　from　the　bag；　tore　off　the　crust；　and　threw　it　to　Sid；　but　the　animal　hesitated；　looking　around　fearfully。　Seeing　no　sudden　movement　in　his　captors　he　snatched　up　the　crust；　opened　his　beak　and　snapped　it　up。　He　didn't　hesitate　to　snatch　up　the　second　piece　Colter　gave　him。
　〃See　there；　Chester；〃　Dr。　Coombs　said；　〃he's　blending　into　the　brown　of　the　background。〃
　〃I　do　believe　you're　right；　George。　I　wonder　how　many　species　of　the　Cretaceous　period　had　this　ability？〃
　〃Man；　those　turds　stink；〃　Colter　plained。　〃We　should've　put　some　paper　down。〃
　Flinching；　Dr。　Piltcher　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　but　Petra　cut　him　off。
　〃Outside！　Something　just　ran　by。〃
　They　all　piled　out　of　the　RV；　scanning　the　meadow。
　〃There；　that　way！〃　Dr。　Coomb