jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第58节

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　Ellen　and　Angie　met　Coop's　〃off…road　recreational　enthusiasts〃　early　the　next　morning。　The　group　turned　out　to　look　like　a　backwoods　motorcycle　gang…the　five　men　besides　Coop　all　looked　as　if　they　made　their　living　with　their　hands。　Only　Coop　had　bothered　to　shave；　and　their　clothes　looked　as　if　they　had　never　been　washed。　All　of　them　were　wearing　leather　work　boots；　jeans；　and　flannel　shirts　topped　with　sweatshirts　or　down　vests。　When　the　women　approached　some　of　the　men　started　clapping　and　howling　at　Angie。　Even　in　a　coat　and　jeans　Angie　had　an　aura　of　sensuality。　Coop　stepped　forward　as　they　approached　and　introduced　them。
　〃These　are　the　ladies　I　was　telling　you　about。　This　is　Angie。〃　Two　of　the　men　whistled　in　appreciation；　〃And　this　here's　Ellen。　Ellen　has　a　young　progeny　somewhere　in　the　Portland　vicinity；　and　she　needs　assistance　in　reconnoitering　the　area。　I　said　we　would　facilitate。〃　Ellen　didn't　mention　that　her　little　boy　was　seventeen　years　old。
　As　Coop　spoke　Ellen　noticed　two　things　that　bothered　her。　First；　the　group　was　heavily　armed。　The　motorcycles　were　fitted　with　rifle　sheaths；　and　every　sheath　had　a　gun　sticking　out　of　it。　Two　of　them　were　also　wearing　holsters。　Why　would　crosscountry　motorcyclists　need　weapons？
　Second；　one　of　the　men　wasn't　staring　at　Angie；　he　was　staring　at　Ellen　with　the　kind　of　look　the　other　men　were　giving　Angie。　Angie　may　be　used　to　that　kind　of　look；　Ellen　thought；　but　I　don't　like　it。　Coop　had　introduced　the　man　as　Carl。　He　was　as　tall　as　Coop　but　muscular；　with　dark　hair　slicked　back　on　both　sides　of　his　head　and　curls　hanging　down　covering　his　forehead。　His　face　was　covered　with　a　dark　stubble　and　his　eyes　were　staring　at　Ellen。
　Looking　straight　back　at　Carl　she　asked；　〃What　do　you　need　all　those　guns　for？　Expecting　to　run　into　a　gun　show？〃
　Carl　smiled。　〃The　big　city's　a　real　dangerous　place；　right　guys？　Country　boys　like　us　can't　go　into　town　unprotected。　Besides；　we've　got　you　women　folk　to　look　out　for。　Right　guys？〃
　The　others　snickered。
　〃The　guns　are　for　hunting；〃　Coop　said。　Then　he　paused；　as　if　he　were　thinking　about　telling　them　more；　but　he　merely　shrugged　and　muttered；　〃You　never　know　what　you　might　run　into。〃
　There　was　something　going　on　here　that　the　〃guys〃　weren't　telling　the　girls；　making　Ellen　unfortable。　But　the　only　remaining　option　was　walking　into　Portland；　which　could　take　days；　and　she　was　concerned　about　her　son。
　Angie　and　Ellen　followed　the　motorcycles　in　their　Jeep；　winding　through　the　small　residential　section　of　the　town。　Officer　Peters　had　been　right。　Cars　packed　the　streets；　parked　in　every　nook　and　cranny。　They　came　to　what　looked　like　a　dead　end　but　instead　of　stopping　they　drove　down　a　long　driveway　around　a　house　and　to　a　dirt　road。　That　road　led　up　over　a　hill　and　down　into　another　patch　of　forest。　At　the　bottom　of　the　hill　they　came　to　a　small　one…lane　bridge　that　crossed　a　creek。　Before　crossing；　Carl　and　the　guys　stopped　and　gathered　to…gether　talking。　Finally；　Carl　and　Coop　returned　to　the　Jeep。　Ellen　noticed　that　Coop　came　to　Angie's　window　and　Carl　to　hers。
　Coop　said；　〃You'll　have　to　abandon　your　vehicle　here。　We're　going　to　follow　the　creek　bed。　You　can　go　double　with　Carl　and　me。〃
　The　thought　or　riding　with　Carl　made　Ellen　shudder。　〃What　about　the　road？　Why　don't　we　just　stay　on　the　road　and　follow　it？〃
　Carl　leaned　in　Ellen's　window　to　speak。　When　he　did；　she　smelled　stale　beer　on　his　breath　and　flinched　back　in　revulsion。　Her　reaction　made　Carl　smile。　Carl　was　missing　an　eye　tooth；　and　from　the　brown　crust　between　his　other　teeth；　she　judged　he'd　be　missing　more　soon。
　〃Hey；　what's　a　matter？　Don't　you　trust　us？　We're　gonna　get　you　to　your　boy。　There　just　ain't　more　road　to　use。　Coop　and　I　been　down　there；〃　he　said　nodding　over　the　bridge。　〃You　can　get　another　half　mile　and　then　nuthin'　but　forest。　You'd　never　get　this　mother　through　those　trees；〃　he　said　as　he　banged　the　door　of　the　Jeep　with　his　knee。　Carl　smiled　sweetly　and　then　turned　serious。　〃Better　to　e　with　us。　We'll　follow　the　creek　bed　and　use　it　like　a　road。　It'll　get　us　closer　to　where　we'll　jump　off　and　head　through　the　forest。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Angie　said；　〃we'll　get　our　stuff　together。〃
　Carl　and　Coop　drifted　back　up　with　the　guys　and　started　talking　with　them。　The　guys　kept　looking　back　at　the　Jeep　and　laughing　as　Carl　gestured　obscenely。　Angie　then　turned　to　Ellen。
　〃Honey；　I'm　getting　a　bad　feeling　about　this。　I　trust　that　Coop；　I　can　handle　him；　but　Carl　and　the　guys　are　a　different　story。　And　what　are　they　doing　with　all　those　guns？　Did　you　notice　two　of　them　are　carrying　assault　rifles？　I'm　not　saying　I　won't　go　with　you；　don't　think　that　for　a　minute；〃　Angie　was　saying。　〃I　just　want　you　to　know　what　we're　getting　into。　Carl　and　his　buddies　are　just　having　a　good　time　now；　a　chance　to　get　away　from　some　mill　or　factory　job；　and　cat　around。　Maybe　Coop　can　keep　them　in　line…probably　he　can。〃
　〃Angie；　you've　done　enough。　You've　brought　me　all　the　way　across　the　state　on　back　roads；　spent　your　time　and　money　when　you　could　have　been　lounging　around　a　motel　pool　waiting　for　Bill。　Go　on　back；　I　can　handle　it　from　here。　I　don't　trust　themeither；　but　I'd　make　a　deal　with　the　devil　to　get　to　my　son。　I've　got　to　know　if　he's　there；　if　he's　somewhere。〃
　〃You　want　me　to　ride　with　Carl。〃
　〃Angie；　I　said　you　didn't　have　to　go。〃
　〃I　heard　you　honey；　now　who　do　you　want　to　ride　with？〃
　Ellen　smiled　at　Angie　and　then　leaned　over　and　hugged　her。
　〃I'll　ride　with　Carl。　You　work　your　magic　on　Coop。〃
　〃He'll　be　homy　enough　to　hump　a　tree　by　the　time　this　motorcycle　ride's　over。〃
　Ellen　was　sure　about　that。　She　only　hoped　Carl　wouldn't　feel　the　same　way。
　When　she　and　Angie　climbed　on　the　bikes　the　other　guys　grunted　their　approval　with　〃all　rights〃　and　〃way　to　go〃s。　All　of　them　were　looking　at　Angie　and　Coop　except　Carl；　who　made　a　disgusting　〃smacking〃　sound　and　then　winked　at　her。　Ellen　hated　riding　behind　Carl。　When　she　spread　her　legs　wide　to　squeeze　in　beside　him；　Carl　pressed　between　her　legs　and　made　another　disgusting　sound。
　The　other　bikers　led　off　across　the　bridge　and　then　turned　and　dropped　down　the　sharp　bank　to　the　rocky　creek　bed。　Ellen　tried　hanging　on　to　the　seat；　but　the　terrain　was　rough　and　bouncy。　She　hated　putting　her　arms　around　him；　so　she　grabbed　his　coat；　only　leaning　against　him　occasionally　to　keep　her　balance。　Ellen　noticed　that　Angie　wasn't　as　picky…she　had　her　arms　around　Coop　and　her　chest　pressed　up　against　his　back。
　After　a　while　Ellen　relaxed　a　little。　She　began　to　trust　Carl…　at　least　his　riding　skills。
　After　what　seemed　like　hours　the　lead　rider；　a　big　man　called　Bobby；　stopped　and　rode　back　to　talk　with　Coop。　Bobby　had　powerful…looking　suntanned　arms；　and　scraggly　blond　hair；　with　a　half…grown　beard　on　his　boyish　face。　Bobby　asked　about　something　being　〃around　here　somewhere？〃　and　Coop　pointed　up　over　the　bank。　Bobby　rode　out　into　the　creek　a　little　way；　then　the　motorcycle　jumped　forward　and　roared　up　the　bank；　actually　being　airborne　as　he　cleared　the　rim　and　he　disappeared　over　the　top。　After　a　while　he　reappeared　and　signaled　the　others　to　follow。　One　by　one　the　bikers　launched　themselves　over　the　edge。
　Coop　and　Carl　waited　for　the　others；　and　then　Coop　leaned　back　and　said　something　to　Angie；　who　wrapped　her　arms　tighter　and　leaned　into　him。　Coop　too　roared　up　the　bank；　the　bike　fishtailing　and　then　straightening　as　it　continued　up　over　the　edge。
　Carl　turned　to　Ellen　and　said；　〃Do　it　like　Angie　did；　hang　on　tight　and　lean　into　me　as　we　climb。〃
　Ellen　wanted　to　get　off　and　climb　the　bank　herself。　It　would　make　more　sense　than　making　a　risky　climb　with　two　on　a　cycle　built　for　one。　But　she　knew　the　bikers　didn't　care。　This　wasn't　about　climbing　a　hill；　it　was　some　sort　of　macho　thing；　and　all　the　guys　were　waiting　to　see　if　Carl　could　make　the　climb。　The　fact　that　Coop；　the　nerd；　had　done　it　with　Angie　on　his　bike　made　it　imperative　that　Carl　do　the　same。
　If　Ellen　was　to　handle　Carl；　she　could　not　risk　damaging　his　ego。　Being　married　to　Terry　meant　picking　up　bits　and　pieces　of　psychology　whether　you　want　to　or　not。　Ellen　knew　that　the　best　way　to　turn　someone　violent　was　to　wound　his　ego。
　Carl　gunned　the　engine　and　pointed　the　fork　of　the　bike　at　the　lowest　part　of　the　bank。　Swallowing　her　revulsion；　she　wrapped　her　arms　around　Carl's　waist　and　leaned　into　him；　hoping　he　was　too　preoccupied　to　feel　her　breasts　flatten　against　his　back。　Then　Carl　released　the　clutch。　The　bike　flew　forward　and　suddenly　the　front　end　of　the　bike　tilted　up　at　a　sharp　angle。　The　speed　of　the　bike　fell　quickly　and　the　engine　began　to　strain。　Just　as　they　slowed　to　a　near　stop；　the　front　of　the　bike　dropped　back　flat；　and　they　were　over　the　top。
　The　other　bikers　were　watching　them　clear　the　bank。　Carl　raced　down　the　line　of　bikes　for　a　victory　lap　and　then　turned　around　and　stopped　in　front　of　the　line。　Bobby　and　the　rest　of　the　bikers　applauded　and　yelled；　〃All　right。〃　Then　Bobby　stared　right　at　Ellen。
　〃Looks　like　she's　ing　round；　Carl。〃
　Ellen　realized　she　still　had　her　arms　wrapped　around　Carl。　She　let　go　and　sat　back；　giving　Bobby　a　piercing　look。　He　just　smiled。
　They　cut　through　a　spar