jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第92节

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　〃Run；　Angie；　hide！　Run！〃
　A　blow　from　Carl's　fist　sent　him　back　to　the　ground。
　〃I'll　get　her；　Carl；〃　Miller　volunteered。　〃Sounds　like　fun　to　me；〃
　Miller　headed　off　recklessly；　climbing　over　and　under　trees。　Ellen　looked　in　the　direction　of　Ripman's　shout；　trying　to　spot　the　dinosaur；　but　an　isolated　patch　of　standing　trees　was　blocking　the　view。　How　far　had　they　e　while　she　was　semiconscious？　Was　the　dinosaur　gone？　Was　it　following　like　before？
　Carl　grabbed　a　fistful　of　Ellen's　blouse；　pulling　her　close。　She　could　feel　his　hot　breath　and　could　smell　liquor。
　〃Let's　you　and　me　go　someplace　more　fortable。〃　He　shoved　Ellen　ahead　of　him。　〃Kishton；　bring　Robin　Hood；　and　watch　him　close。　You　can　kill　him　if　you　want　to。〃
　Kishton　looked　scathingly　at　Ripman；　but　there　was　no　murder　in　his　eyes。　Talking　of　killing　someone　was　easy。　Actually　killing　was　hard。　Only　Carl　was　sociopath　enough　to　do　it　in　cold　blood。　Pulling　Ripman　to　his　feet；　Kishton　shoved　him　in　the　direction　of　Carl　and　Ellen。
　They　were　nearly　out　of　the　fallen　trees　when　they　heard　three　quick　shots；　followed　by　a　roar。　As　they　all　turned　and　looked　back；　a　loud　thumping　and　crunching　sound　nearly　frightened　them　off　the　log　they　were　standing　on。　Then　Miller　appeared　around　the　corner　of　the　tree　stand；　his　rifle　in　one　hand；　climbing　one　fallen　log；　and　then　jumping　from　tree　to　tree。　Another　roar　trumpeted　and　a　dinosaur　came　around　the　tree　stand；　the　one　that　killed　Angie。　It　had　trouble　negotiating　the　fallen　trees　and　picked　its　way　slowly。　Miller　tripped　over　a　trunk　and　disappeared；　then　popped　back　up；　steadied　his　rifle　across　the　trunk；　and　fired　another　three　quick　shots。　When　the　dinosaur　bellowed　in　pain；　Carl　and　Kishton　brought　their　guns　to　their　shoulders　and　fired；　missing　it。
　Miller　raced　to　another　fallen　tree　looking　for　a　way　over；　then　began　climbing　limbs　recklessly。　The　dinosaur　swiped　at　him；　but　too　late；　and　Miller　jumped　down　between　trunks。　Before　Miller　reappeared　the　animal　stepped　up　on　one　trunk；　and　then　another；　and　another。　Then；　poised　precariously　on　two　logs；　it　looked　down。　As　the　tail　slammed　down；　acting　as　a　stabilizer；　the　dinosaur　bent　its　head　between　its　feet；　using　the　forelegs　to　swipe。　Two　quick　shots　came　from　beneath　the　trunk。
　〃Reload；　Miller；　reload！〃　Kishton　shouted。
　Miller's　first　scream　was　shorter　than　Angle's；　but　he　got　two　more　out　before　the　digging　claws　silenced　him。
　〃Move　it！〃　Carl　yelled；　shoving　Ellen　again。　〃And　you；　you　sonofabitch！〃　Carl　screamed；　kicking　Ripman　in　the　groin　and　knocking　him　to　the　ground。　〃You　did　that　on　purpose。　You　knew　that　thing　was　there！〃　Ripman　groaned；　then　whimpered　as　Carl　kicked　him　in　the　back。
　〃He　wanted　to　be　with　Angie；　didn't　he？〃　Ellen　said；　hoping　to　distract　Carl。　〃Now　they'll　always　be　together。〃
　Carl　whipped　around　at　the　sound　of　her　voice；　his　face　red　with　fury；　the　lust　in　his　eyes　replaced　by　murder。　Ellen's　mind　raced　as　she　searched　for　a　way　out。
　〃I　think　it's　ing　this　way；〃　she　lied。
　Carl's　head　snapped　back　to　the　dinosaur；　which　still　had　its　head　poked　under　a　log。
　〃You'll　pay　for　this！　You'll　both　pay；〃　Carl　hissed。
　Carl　shoved　Ellen　and　once　again　they　were　climbing　toward　rhe　forest。　Everyone　except　Ripman　kept　looking　back。　Occasionally　the　animal　glanced　in　their　direction；　but　it　was　preoccupied　with　eating。
　Again　Ellen　was　facing　what　her　psychologist　husband　would　call　an　avoidance…avoidance　conflict。　If　she　tried　to　escape　she　would　probably　be　killed　by　Carl　or　Kishton；　and　if　she　did　escape；　this　dinosaur；　or　some　other…；　would　probably　eat　her　just　like　Angie。　But　if　she　didn't　escape　she　would　end　up　being　gang　raped　first　and　then　killed。　Then　there　was　Ripman。　He　could　have　left　her　and　Angie　to　the　dinosaur。　Instead　he　tried　to　help　them。　Now　it　looked　like　Carl　and　Kishton　would　beat　him　to　death。　If　she　escaped；　she　resolved；　it　would　be　with　Ripman。
　The　standing　forest　was　only　a　few　logs　away　when　a　bullet　slammed　into　a　fallen　tree　next　to　Ellen；　followed　by　the　report　of　a　pistol。　Confused；　Carl　and　Kishton　looked　in　all　directions。　Two　more　bullets　whined　over　their　heads；　and　all　four　people　ducked　behind　the　nearest　log。　Then　a　voice　rang　out　of　the　forest；　a　deep　menacing　voice；　a　voice　that　was　vaguely　familiar　to　Ellen。
　〃Let　the　woman　and　boy　go！〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Carl　shouted　back。　The　voice　repeated　its　demand。　Carl　gave　Kishton　a　quizzical　look；　but　Kishton　merely　shrugged。　Carl　then　turned；　his　rifle　on　Ripman。　
　〃Who's　out　there；　kid？〃
　The　right　side　of　Ripman's　face　was　swollen　and　purplish。　He　could　scarcely　move　his　lips；　but　he　whispered；　〃Someone　with　a　gun。〃
　Carl　slapped　Ripman　across　his　discolored　cheek。　As　Ripman　grimaced　with　pain　he　gasped　and　moaned。　Satisfied　momentarily；　Carl　turned　to　Ellen；　who　flippantly　offered；　〃Someone　with　a　gun　and　an　attitude？〃
　Carl　slapped　her　down；　then　jerked　her　up　by　her　hair。
　〃They　ain't　gonna　get　you。　You're　mine。〃
　Two　more　shots　echoed　out　of　the　forest；　and　the　bullets　whined　overhead。　From　the　log；　Carl　fired　three　quick　shots　in　response。
　〃e　and　get　them；　if　you　want　them！〃　he　shouted。　〃We　got　plenty　of　ammunition；　and　we　ain't　movin'。〃
　〃Look　behind　you！〃　the　deep　disembodied　voice　called。
　They　all　turned　to　see　the　dinosaur　looking　in　their　direction。　When　it　stepped　toward　them　Kishton　kicked　Ripman　twice　more。
　Carl　looked　around　wildly　for　another　escape　route；　but　Ellen　could　see　they　were　trapped　and　hoped　Carl　was　smart　enough　to　see　it　too。　They　could　move　parallel　to　the　forest　until　they　were　out　of　range　of　the　gun；　but　there　was　no　way　to　know　that　the　man　in　the　forest　wouldn't　follow　them。　And　it　would　be　slow；　and　the　dinosaur　was　getting　better　at　walking　through　the　fallen　trees。
　〃What　we　gonna　do；　Carl？　Maybe　we　better　let　them　go？〃　Kishton　offered　hopefully。
　〃Let　me　think。　Just　shut　up　and　let　me　think！〃
　Ellen　was　watching　the　dinosaur；　afraid　1t　was　moving　faster　than　Carl　could　think。
　Carl　finally　shouted　into　the　forest　defiantly；　〃If　we　let　them　go；　how　do　we　know　you'll　let　us　out　of　here　before　the　dinosaur　gets　us？〃
　〃Let　the　woman　and　the　kid　go。　We　have　no　interest　in　you。〃
　At　the　word　we　Ellen　felt　hope。　Whoever　they　were；　they　couldn't　be　any　worse　than　Carl　and　the　guys。　Ripman；　his　head　down；　showed　no　reaction。　Carl　and　Kishton　were　taking　too　much　time。　If　they　didn't　act　soon　they　wouldn't　be　able　to　release　her　and　Ripman　and　make　it　to　the　forest　themselves　before　the　dinosaur　caught　up。
　〃All　right；　all　right！〃　Carl　shouted　to　the　forest。
　Then　to　Ellen　and　Ripman　he　said；　〃This　isn't　over。　Now　you　go；　and　you　go　fast；　or　I'll　shoot　you　in　the　back　just　like　you　did　Bobby。〃
　As　soon　as　they　climbed　on　top　of　the　log；　the　dinosaur　spotted　them　and　picked　up　its　pace。　Its　enthusiasm　spoke　of　an　acquired　taste　for　people；　Ellen　realized；
　〃Hurry　it　up！〃　Carl　shouted　behind　them。　〃Hurry　it　up　or　I'll　shoot　you！〃
　Ripman　was　slowing　them　down。　His　swollen　face　impaired　his　vision；　and　Ellen　had　to　help　him　climb　and　guide　him　toward　the　forest。　But　if　she　held　his　arm　too　firmly　or　too　long；　Ripman　pushed　it　away。　When　they　went　around　the　foliage　of　the　last　fallen　tree；　they　ran　into　the　forest。
　Now　a　familiar　voice　whispered　to　them；　and　a　hand　motioned　from　a　tree。　Ellen　guided　Ripman　there　and　around　the　other　side。
　At　the　sight　of　her　son　her　knees　went　weak　and　she　collapsed　into　his　arms。　After　a　long　relieved　squeeze　Ellen　opened　her　eyes　to　see　Cubby　holding　a　pistol。
　〃Hello；　Mrs。　Roberts。〃
　The　voice　wasn't　as　deep　as　the　one　shouting　from　the　forest；　but　she　realized　both　were　Cubby's。　He　smiled　at　her；　then　turned　to　Ripman。
　〃Ripman；　you　look　like　crap。〃
　Ripman　turned　his　head　to　look　at　Cubby　with　his　good　eye。　〃We'll　all　be　crap　tomorrow　if　that　dino　eats　us　today。〃
　In　her　relief　Ellen　had　forgotten　about　the　dinosaur。　She　leaned　out　around　the　tree　to　see　Carl　and　Kishton　climbing　over　a　log；　moving　fast。　But　so　was　the　dinosaur。
　〃It's　ing　。　。　。　they're　ing。〃
　Cubby　leaned　around　the　tree　and　fired　three　times　at　Carl　and　Kishton；　who　were　running　the　length　of　a　trunk　to　reach　another　tree　and　dove　between　the　two　logs。　Cubby　fired　another　shot　before　the　gun　clicked　on　an　empty　chamber。
　〃Time　to　go；〃　he　said　and　ran　off　through　the　trees。
　As　they　followed　Cubby；　semiautomatic　rifle　fire　echoed　through　the　trees；　quickly　drowned　by　roaring　and　bellowing。　Carl　and　Kishton　were　putting　up　a　fight。
　Ripman's　breathing　was　heavy　and　ragged　and　he　stumbled　frequently。　Ellen　and　John　bracketed　him；　taking　turns　supporting　him；　but　he　didn't　tolerate　their　touch　for　long　and　pushed　their　hands　away。
　The　rifle　fire　continued　behind　them；　the　sharp　cracks　and　pops　peting　with　the　screaming　roars　of　the　enraged　dinosaur。　Then　a　tremendous　crash　and　splintering　drowned　out　the　gunshots。　When　the　new　noise　faded；　the　rifle　fire　and　the　screams　were　gone。
　Cubby　pulled　up　behind　a　tree　and　plopped　down；　pretending　to　catch　his　breath　but　keeping　his　eye　on　Ripman。　He　remained　standing；　leaning　against　the　tree；　but　slowly　sank　onto　his　bottom　like　the　rest　of　them；　looking　down　to　avoid