jdavid.footprintsofthunder-µÚ60½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
h¡¡grip¡¡on¡¡her¡¡arm¡¡stopped¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¨Let¡¡'em¡¡party£»¡¨¡¡Carl¡¡smirked£»¡¡pulling¡¡Ellen¡¡toward¡¡him¡£
¡¡Ellen¡¡put¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡Carl's¡¡chest¡¡and¡¡pushed¡£¡¡Leering£»¡¡Carl¡¡wrapped¡¡his¡¡other¡¡arm¡¡around¡¡her¡¡waist¡¡and¡¡pulled¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡strong¡¡and¡¡could¡¡have¡¡pulled¡¡her¡¡flat¡¡up¡¡against¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡cruel¡¡look¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡told¡¡Ellen¡¡he¡¡was¡¡enjoying¡¡her¡¡struggle¡£¡¡Then¡¡Carl¡¡began¡¡to¡¡exert¡¡more¡¡pressure£»¡¡drawing¡¡Ellen¡¡toward¡¡him¡£¡¡Suddenly£»¡¡he¡¡dropped¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡wrapping¡¡it¡¡around¡¡her¡¡bottom¡¡and¡¡pulling¡¡her¡¡hips¡¡tight¡¡up¡¡against¡¡his¡£¡¡He¡¡held¡¡her¡¡there¡¡briefly¡¡and¡¡then¡¡began¡¡grinding¡¡his¡¡hips¡¡against¡¡hers¡£
¡¡¡¨Stop¡¡it£»¡¡Carl£¡¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡go¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Where¡¡you¡¡going£¿¡¡They're¡¡done¡¡huntin'¡£¡¡Nuthin'¡¡left¡¡to¡¡see¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡find¡¡my¡¡son¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Lady£»¡¡ain't¡¡it¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡you¡¡yet£¿¡¡There's¡¡nuthin'¡¡here¡£¡¡It's¡¡all¡¡gone£»¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡the¡¡people¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡your¡¡son¡£¡¡Looks¡¡like¡¡you're¡¡gonna¡¡need¡¡another¡£¡¡I'll¡¡be¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡help¡¡you¡¡make¡¡one£»¡¨
¡¡As¡¡Carl¡¡shifted¡¡his¡¡weight£»¡¡bending¡¡her¡¡over¡¡backward£»¡¡he¡¡tripped¡¡her¡£¡¡Ellen¡¡crashed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡with¡¡him¡¡on¡¡top¡£¡¡She¡¡could¡¡smell¡¡the¡¡liquor¡¡on¡¡his¡¡breath¡¡again¡£¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡still¡¡looked¡¡cruel¡¡and¡¡his¡¡lips¡¡still¡¡sneered¡£¡¡Now¡¡Ellen¡¡began¡¡to¡¡struggle¡¡again¡¡and¡¡pounded¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡yelped¡¡and¡¡jerked¡¡back¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡his¡¡face£»¡¡Ellen¡¡pounded¡¡harder¡£
¡¡¡¨Get¡¡off¡¡me£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡screamed¡£
¡¡Carl¡¡wasn't¡¡laughing¡¡now£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡dodging¡¡blows¡then¡¡Ellen¡¡heard¡¡someone¡¡else¡¡laughing¡£
¡¡¡¨Carl£»¡¡looks¡¡like¡¡you¡¡bit¡¡off¡¡more¡¡than¡¡you¡¡can¡¡chew¡¡there¡£¡¨
¡¡Ellen¡¡stopped¡¡pounding¡¡and¡¡Carl¡¡dropped¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Kishtori¡¡watching¡¡them¡£¡¡He'd¡¡fallen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sharp¡edged¡¡grass¡¡and¡¡bled¡¡from¡¡dozens¡¡of¡¡cuts¡£¡¡His¡¡face£»¡¡shirt£»¡¡and¡¡pants¡¡were¡¡torn¡¡and¡¡blood¡¡soaked¡£
¡¡¡¨Beat¡¡it£»¡¡Kishton£»¡¡I'm¡¡busy£»¡¨¡¡Carl¡¡snarled¡£
¡¡Ellen¡¡realized¡¡Carl's¡¡ego¡¡was¡¡wounded¡£¡¡After¡¡all£»¡¡Kishton¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡getting¡¡slapped¡¡around¡¡by¡¡a¡¡woman¡£¡¡Now¡¡Carl¡¡would¡¡retaliate¡£¡¡Before¡¡Kishton¡¡could¡¡decide¡¡whether¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡or¡¡watch£»¡¡Coop¡¡came¡¡roaring¡¡up¡£¡¡Angie¡¡immediately¡¡jumped¡¡off¡¡and¡¡helped¡¡Ellen¡¡off¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡Without¡¡a¡¡word¡¡to¡¡Carl£»¡¡she¡¡just¡¡pulled¡¡Ellen¡¡off¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side£»¡¡asking¡¡if¡¡she¡¡was¡¡okay¡£
¡¡Coop¡¡looked¡¡angry¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡the¡¡hell¡¡were¡¡you¡¡doing£»¡¡Carl£¿¡¡We're¡¡here¡¡to¡¡assist¡¡her¡¡in¡¡locating¡¡her¡¡boy£»¡¡remember£¿¡¡You¡¡perpetrate¡¡something¡¡like¡¡that¡¡again¡¡and¡¡I'll¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡I'll¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You'll¡¡what£¿¡¡Arrest¡¡me£¿¡¡You¡¡see¡¡any¡¡fuckin1¡¡jails¡¡around¡¡here£¿¡¡Shee¡it£»¡¡you're¡¡not¡¡even¡¡a¡¡real¡¡deputy¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Am¡¡so¡£¡¡I'm¡¡a¡¡reserve¡¡officer¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨Coop£»¡¡you¡¡ain't¡¡nuthin'¡¡but¡¡a¡¡pain¡¡in¡¡Sheriff¡¡Peter's¡¡ass¡£¡¡The¡¡only¡¡reason¡¡he¡¡keeps¡¡you¡¡around¡¡is¡¡cause¡¡me¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡won't¡¡work¡¡for¡¡the¡¡slave¡¡wages¡¡he¡¡pays¡¡you¡£¡¡Are¡¡you¡¡that¡¡stupid£»¡¡Coop£¿¡¡He's¡¡offered¡¡me£»¡¡Kishton¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡nearly¡¡every¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡others¡¡your¡¡job¡¡at¡¡one¡¡time¡¡or¡¡another¡£¡¡Ain't¡¡that¡¡right£»¡¡Kishton£¿¡¡I'll¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡something¡¡else£»¡¡Coop£»¡¡I'm¡¡thinkin'¡¡we¡¡don't¡¡need¡¡you¡¡anymore¡£¡¡We¡¡got¡¡the¡¡dinosaur¡£¡¡Just¡¡what¡¡else¡¡are¡¡you¡¡good¡¡for£¿¡¨
¡¡His¡¡tone¡¡sounded¡¡final£»¡¡and¡¡Angie¡¡and¡¡Ellen¡¡pulled¡¡each¡¡other¡¡closer¡£¡¡Coop¡¡had¡¡never¡¡had¡¡much¡¡authority£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡that¡¡was¡¡eroding¡¡fast¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡sent¡¡Coop¡¡back£»¡¡or¡¡worse£»¡¡nothing¡¡would¡¡keep¡¡Carl¡¡from¡¡Ellen¡£¡¡Coop¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡nervously¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡Kishton¡¡would¡¡intervene¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡interrupted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡grisly¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡Butler¡¡roaring¡¡up¡¡with¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dinosaur¡¡strapped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡motorcycle¡£¡¡The¡¡others¡¡followed£»¡¡each¡¡with¡¡a¡¡dinosaur¡¡leg¡¡strapped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡bike¡£
¡¡¡¨You¡¡call¡¡that¡¡baby¡¡a¡¡dinosaur£¿¡¨¡¡Ellen¡¡asked¡£¡¡All¡¡heads¡¡turned¡¡toward¡¡her¡£
¡¡¡¨Baby£¿¡¨¡¡Butler¡¡said£»¡¡jerking¡¡his¡¡head¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡head¡¡on¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡bike¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡call¡¡this¡¡mother¡¡a¡¡baby£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨That's¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡Ellen¡¡continued£»¡¡¡¨they¡¡grow¡¡much¡¡bigger¡¡than¡¡this¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡are¡¡as¡¡big¡¡as¡¡a¡¡three¡story¡¡building¡£¡¡They¡¡e¡¡so¡¡big£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡doubt¡¡you're¡¡man¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡one¡¡down¡£¡¡Isn't¡¡that¡¡right£»¡¡Coop£¿¡¡I¡¡bet¡¡you¡¡could¡¡find¡¡us¡¡a¡¡bigger¡¡one£»¡¡couldn't¡¡you£»¡¡Coop£¿¡¨
¡¡Angie¡¡chimed¡¡in¡£¡¡¡¨I've¡¡seen¡¡these¡¡things¡¡in¡¡movies¡¡and¡¡I¡¡know¡¡they¡¡e¡¡bigger¡¡than¡¡this¡£¡¡Did¡¡you¡¡ever¡¡see¡¡that¡¡King¡¡Kong¡¡movie£¿¡¡Think¡¡they¡¡get¡¡that¡¡big£»¡¡Coop£¿¡¨
¡¡No¡¡one¡¡was¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡Coop's¡¡answer¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡were¡¡talking¡¡among¡¡themselves¡£¡¡Someone¡¡dug¡¡a¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡Old¡¡Crow¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡saddlebag¡¡and¡¡they¡¡started¡¡passing¡¡it¡¡around£»¡¡reliving¡¡the¡¡hunt¡¡and¡¡planning¡¡the¡¡next¡¡one¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡talked¡¡Carl¡¡gave¡¡Ellen¡¡a¡¡look¡¡that¡¡said¡¡there¡¡was¡¡unfinished¡¡business¡¡between¡¡them¡£
¡¡After¡¡the¡¡men¡¡fortified¡¡themselves¡¡they¡¡were¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cycles¡£¡¡Ellen¡¡had¡¡only¡¡two¡¡choices£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡swallowed¡¡back¡¡her¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡climbed¡¡up¡¡behind¡¡Carl¡£¡¡Angie¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡a¡¡look¡¡that¡¡said¡¡she¡¡would¡¡trade¡¡places£»¡¡but¡¡Ellen¡¡couldn't¡¡do¡¡it¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡Besides£»¡¡Ellen¡¡thought£»¡¡Angie¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡handling¡¡Coop¡¡quite¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡needed¡¡whatever¡¡control¡¡over¡¡the¡¡guys¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡£
¡¡
¡¡John¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡walking¡¡for¡¡hours¡¡when¡¡Cubby¡¡finally¡¡stopped¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¨Something's¡¡not¡¡right£»¡¡John¡£¡¡We¡¡should¡¡be¡¡to¡¡Portland¡¡by¡¡now¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡where¡¡we¡¡saw¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡John¡¡looked¡¡around¡¡but¡¡recognized¡¡nothing¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡they¡¡were¡¡down¡¡in¡¡a¡¡valley£»¡¡since¡¡hills¡¡were¡¡visible¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡and¡¡left£»¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡tumbled¡down¡¡trees¡£¡¡The¡¡forest¡¡was¡¡thick£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡looked¡¡level¡£¡¡Was¡¡it¡¡the¡¡Willamette¡¡valley£¿¡¡Cubby¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡John£»¡¡as¡¡usual£»¡¡trusted¡¡Cubby's¡¡instincts¡¡better¡¡than¡¡his¡¡own¡£
¡¡¡¨Maybe¡¡it's¡¡just¡¡a¡¡little¡¡farther¡¡ahead£»¡¨¡¡John¡¡suggested¡£¡¡Cubby¡¡pursed¡¡his¡¡lips¡¡considering¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡know£»¡¡John£»¡¡we¡¡should¡¡at¡¡least¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡see¡¡those¡¡skyscrapers¡£¡¨¡¡Cubby¡¡looked¡¡around¡¡intently¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡pointed¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡£¡¡¡¨Let's¡¡climb¡¡up¡¡to¡¡those¡¡fallen¡¡trees¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡we¡¡can¡¡get¡¡a¡¡look¡¡around¡¡from¡¡up¡¡there¡£¡¨
¡¡John¡¡hesitated£»¡¡then¡¡followed¡¡Cubby£»¡¡though¡¡his¡¡stomach¡¡was¡¡rumbling£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡muscles¡¡plaining¡£¡¡After¡¡another¡¡crested¡¡hill£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡just¡¡about¡¡to¡¡quit¡¡when¡¡they¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡clearing¡¡amidst¡¡fallen¡¡timber¡£¡¡Trees¡¡lay¡¡every¡¡which¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡roots¡¡and¡¡crowns¡¡towered¡¡into¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡blocking¡¡the¡¡view¡£¡¡They¡¡worked¡¡their¡¡way¡¡to¡¡where¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡dropped¡¡off¡¡sharply£»¡¡then¡¡climbed¡¡the¡¡jagged¡¡roots¡¡of¡¡a¡¡big¡¡tree¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trunk¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡an¡¡unobstructed¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valley£»¡¡its¡¡floor¡¡a¡¡forest¡¡with¡¡clearings¡¡sprinkled¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡was¡¡Portland£»¡¡wispy¡¡and¡¡still¡¡shimmering£»¡¡but¡¡undeniably¡¡there¡£¡¡Cubby¡¡and¡¡John¡¡shouted¡¡and¡¡whooped¡¡and¡¡jumped¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡£¡¡Then¡¡Cubby¡¡gave¡¡another¡¡shout¡¡and¡¡whoop¡¡and¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡John¡¡looked£»¡¡at¡¡first¡¡seeing¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡buildings¡¡and¡¡trees¡£¡¡But¡¡then¡¡he¡¡spotted¡¡it¡£¡¡Separated¡¡from¡¡the¡¡city¡¡by¡¡a¡¡stretch¡¡of¡¡suburbs¡¡was¡¡a¡£¡¡hill£»¡¡and¡¡shimmering¡¡and¡¡flickering¡¡on¡¡its¡¡crest¡¡was¡¡Cubby's¡¡church¡£¡¡John¡¡stared£»¡¡then¡¡looked¡¡for¡¡his¡¡house¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡way¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡it¡¡from¡¡here¡¡but¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡anyway¡£
¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you¡¡Lord¡¡Jesus¡¡for¡¡delivering¡¡us£»¡¨¡¡Cubby¡¡prayed¡¡aloud¡£¡¡John¡¡whispered¡¡an¡¡amen¡¡silently¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡Enthralled¡¡with¡¡the¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡something¡¡good¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡happen£»¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡there¡¡staring¡¡at¡¡the¡¡church¡£¡¡Soon£»¡¡John's¡¡thoughts¡¡were¡¡interrupted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡roar¡not¡¡the¡¡roar¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dinosaur£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡roar¡¡of¡¡a¡¡jet¡£
¡¡Spotting¡¡it£»¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡it¡¡arc¡¡across¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡above¡¡Portland£»¡¡then¡¡it¡¡was¡¡gone¡£¡¡John¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡estimate¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡church¡¡and¡¡then¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡his¡¡watch¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡eleven¡¡o'clock¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡they¡¡wouldn't¡¡make¡¡the¡¡church¡¡by¡¡nightfall£»¡¡but¡¡like¡¡Cubby£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡give¡¡it¡¡a¡¡try¡£
¡¡They¡¡rushed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡recklessly¡¡hiking¡¡toward¡¡their¡¡destination¡£¡¡Still¡¡tired¡¡and¡¡hungry£»¡¡but¡¡like¡¡racers¡¡nearing¡¡a¡¡finish¡¡line£»¡¡they¡¡found¡¡reservoirs¡¡of¡¡strength¡£¡¡The¡¡forest¡¡on¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡floor¡¡was¡¡thin£»¡¡with¡¡little¡¡underbrush¡£¡¡They¡¡still¡¡had¡¡to¡¡dodge¡¡razor¡¡grass¡¡and¡¡walk¡¡around¡¡giant¡¡clumps¡¡of¡¡ferns£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡made¡¡good¡¡time¡£¡¡At¡¡one¡¡point¡¡when¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡something¡¡big¡¡moving¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡they¡¡hid¡¡in¡¡the¡¡undergrowth£»¡¡lying¡¡flat¡¡and¡¡praying¡¡that¡¡dinosaurs¡¡have¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡smell¡£¡¡Soon¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡moved¡¡off¡¡in¡¡another¡¡direction£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡quickly¡¡got¡¡back¡¡on¡¡track¡£
¡¡John¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡sinking¡¡lower¡¡and¡¡lower¡¡as¡¡they¡¡walked¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡get¡¡nervous¡£¡¡Here¡¡the¡¡vegetation¡¡was¡¡sparse¡£¡¡They'd¡¡have¡¡difficulty¡¡finding¡¡a¡¡place¡¡to¡¡hide¡¡for¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡John¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡roar¡¡of¡¡another¡¡jet¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡but¡¡couldn't¡¡spot¡¡the¡¡plane¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡roar¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jet¡¡engines¡¡faded¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡familiar¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡motors¡£¡¡Someone¡¡was¡¡driving¡¡through¡¡the¡¡forest¡£
¡¡¡¨People£»¡¡Cubby¡£¡¡Listen£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡hear¡¡people¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You're¡¡right¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡we're¡¡near¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¨¡¡They¡¡listened£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡locate¡¡the¡¡sounds£»¡¡which¡¡suddenly¡¡died¡£¡¡Cubby¡¡pointed¡¡in¡¡their¡¡direction¡¡and¡¡led¡¡off¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡at¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡pace¡£
¡¡
¡¡They¡¡stopped¡¡in¡¡the¡¡creek¡¡bed¡¡while¡¡Bobby¡¡climbed¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡again¡£¡¡The¡¡rough¡¡terrain¡¡had¡¡made¡¡Ellen's¡¡sore¡¡bottom¡¡burn¡¡with¡¡pain£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡Carl¡¡finally¡¡stopped¡£¡¡Bobby¡¡had¡¡just¡¡disappeared¡¡when¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡shout¡£
¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡be¡¡damned¡£¡¡You've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡see¡¡this¡£¡¡e¡¡on¡¡up¡¡here¡£¡¨¡¡Following¡¡Bobby's¡¡track¡¡up¡¡the¡¡bank£»¡¡they¡¡found¡¡themselves¡¡in¡¡a¡¡large¡¡clearing¡£¡¡There£»¡¡shimmering¡¡faintly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡background£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Portland¡¡skyline¡£¡¡Ellen¡¡felt¡¡hope¡¡flood¡¡her¡¡body¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡been¡¡slowly¡¡reconciling¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡her¡¡son¡but¡¡maybe£»¡¡just¡¡maybe£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡hope¡£
¡¡
¡¡Now¡¡John¡¡felt¡¡better¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡were¡¡near¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡he¡¡could¡¡catch¡¡a¡¡ride¡¡to¡¡his¡¡house¡¡and¡¡spend¡¡the¡¡night¡¡there¡£¡¡John¡¡and¡¡Cubby¡¡found¡¡themselves¡¡climbing¡¡yet¡¡another¡¡hill£»¡¡a¡¡gradual¡¡one¡¡so¡¡the¡¡climbing¡¡was¡¡easy¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side£»¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡thinned£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡found¡¡themselves¡¡staring¡¡into¡¡a¡¡large¡¡clearin