jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第100章

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dn't　carry　these　kinds　of　memories。
　Still；　she　sat　motionless。　Depression　weighed　her　to　the　ground。　She　sat　and　riddled　with　the　gun　listlessly。　One　part　of　her　mind　was　working　on　how　to　reload　it　while　the　rest　of　her　mind　flowed　from　one　unhappy　pool　of　memories　to　the　next。　Finally；　she　found　the　clip　release　and　replaced　the　expended　clip　with　the　one　Colter　had　thrown　her。　She　was　about　to　leave　when　she　heard　a　muffled　sound。
　Suddenly　alert　for　danger；　her　head　snapped　up。　She　worked　the　bolt　again；　still　awkward；　hoping　she　wouldn't　have　to　fire　off　several　rounds　in　quick　succession。　Petra　held　perfectly　still；　facing　the　jungle　and　waiting　for　the　sound　again。　It　came　from　behind　her。　She　turned；　holding　her　breath　to　hear　better；　the　noise　came　from　under　the　dead　dinosaur。　She　ran　along　the　dinosaur's　hack　to　where　she　estimated　she　had　last　seen　Colter；　and　the　sound　was　louder　near　the　dinosaur's　shoulder。
　〃Colter；　is　that　you？〃
　When　Colter　yelled　back　it　was　with　a　touch　of　irritation。
　〃Of　course　it　is；　you…〃
　Petra　couldn't　make　out　the　last　word　but　smiled　anyway。　She　didn't　care　what　he　said　as　long　as　he　was　alive。
　〃Can…you…dig…me…out…of…here？〃　he　screamed　one　word　at　a　time。
　It　came　out　muffled；　but　Petra　understood　and　shouted　back　she　would。　With　her　hands　she　made　slow　progress。　She　tried　Colter's　dog　paddle　technique；　but　this　wasn't　the　soft　pile　of　humus　where　they　found　the　egg。　One　by　one　Petra's　fingernails　broke　off；　two　of　them　leaving　bloody　tips。　When　the　last　one　broke　Petra　paused　and　found　a　stick；　then　alternated　with　the　stick　and　her　hands。　Still　the　progress　was　slow。　Her　arms　ached　and　she'd　dug　only　a　small　depression。　Still　she　avowed　she　would　dig　alt　night　if　she　had　to。
　She　was　digging　out　cupped　handfuls　of　dirt　when　something　ran　by　in　her　peripheral　vision。　Dropping　the　dirt；　she　picked　up　the　rifle；　standing　slowly。　The　dead　dinosaur　was　too　big　to　see　over；　so　she　began　walking　along　the　dinosaur　toward　the　tail；　the　rifle　pointed　in　front　of　her。
　Suddenly　she　heard　a　growling　and　tearing　sound。　She　froze；　trying　to　locate　it；　but　it　came　from　somewhere　near　her。　Another　growl　sounded　followed　by　more　tearing　and　chomping　sounds。　Petra　moved　forward　one　step　at　a　time。　She　heard　Colter's　muffled　yell　behind　her；　but　whatever　was　making　the　sounds　ahead　either　couldn't　hear　Colter；　or　didn't　care。　Petra　took　a　few　more　steps　and　then　knelt　and　crawled　along　the　tail　until　she　was　sure　she　could　stand　and　look　over　it。　Two　carnivores　were　on　the　other　side　of　the　carcass；　burying　their　teeth　into　the　flesh　of　the　monster's　belly。　As　she　watched；　a　bigger　carnivore　came　out　of　the　forest　and　snarled　at　the　others。　The　smaller　ones　snarled　back　but　moved　toward　Petra　a　few　steps。　Once　the　big　one　had　the　space　it　demanded；　the　new　dinosaur　tore　into　the　belly　of　the　carcass。
　Petra　squatted　back　down　and　continued　crawling　along　the　spine。　Halfway　back　to　Colter；　a　three…foot　dinosaur　with　a　huge　head　ran　between　the　trees　toward　her。　Petra　pointed　the　rifle　at　it；　but　it　ignored　her　and　ran　along　the　length　of　the　tail　and　to　the　other　side。　Petra　sighed　and　continued　her　crawl；　her　bare　knees　scraped　and　jabbed　by　rocks　buried　in　the　grass　and　her　body　scratched　by　small　branches。　As　soon　as　she　could　stand　she　got　up　and　tiptoed　along　the　dinosaur's　back。　When　she　heard　Colter's　muffled　call；　she　wanted　to　yell　for　him　to　be　quiet　but　couldn't　risk　it。　The　sounds　on　the　other　side　of　the　dinosaur　suggested　a　gathering　horde。　Another　small　dinosaur　ran　through　the　woods　and　to　the　other　side。　Petra　sighed　again；　then　began　to　dig。　But　another　movement　caught　her　attention　and　she　turned　to　see　a　fifteen…foot　dinosaur　ing　at　her　through　the　trees。
　Petra　lifted　the　rifle　and　pointed　it　at　the　dinosaur's　chest。　Shooting　it　would　only　attract　the　other　dinosaurs'　attention。　She　hated　to　leave　Colter；　but　didn't　see　any　options。　Keeping　the　rifle　on　the　carnosaur；　she　inched　along　the　body　toward　the　head。　The　creature　watched　her；　but　it　wasn't　going　to　trade　an　appetizer　for　a　meal。　Finally；　she　limped　into　the　trees。
　Something　moved　to　her　left；　so　she　dodged　right。　A　tree　with　a　low　overhanging　branch　loomed　ahead　and　she　pulled　herself　up　on　it；　balancing　the　gun　on　the　limb。　She　kept　climbing　until　she　was　sure　she　was　out　of　the　reach　of　most　of　the　predators；　then　wedged　herself　between　a　limb　and　the　trunk　with　the　gun　across　her　lap；　and　relaxed　for　the　first　time　in　days。
　
　60。　　GUARD　DUTY
　
　Before　long　everything　will　be　organized；　but　not　in　the　evil　century　of　the　great　year。
　…Nostradamus
　
　Medford；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　9：37　A。M　PST
　
　The　dispatcher's　call　pulled　Deputy　Kyle　away　from　his　post　　in　front　of　the　grocery　store。　Guard　duty　was　usually　easy；　but　the　world　had　gone　mad；　and　nothing　was　easy　duty　now。　Food　purchases　were　limited　to　prevent　hoarding；　leaving　customers　frightened　and　frustrated。　Kyle　knew　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time　before　a　riot　broke　out。
　Karon　was　vague　about　his　recall；　referring　to　some　sort　of　〃special　duty。〃　Kyle　didn't　want　any　more　special　duty；　especially　after　the　cave　incident。　Kyle's　worst　fears　were　confirmed　when　he　saw　Shirley　in　the　parking　lot　wearing　climbing　clothes。　Kyle　tried　to　slip　into　the　station；　but　she　intercepted　him。
　〃How's　your　nose；　Deputy？〃
　〃Fine；〃　Kyle　said；　his　face　reddening。　〃I　can't　talk　now；　I'm　needed　inside。〃
　〃I'm　why　you're　here。　We　need　your　climbing　skills　again。〃
　Shirley　smiled　when　she　said　it；　and　Kyle　fought　to　keep　from　smiling　back。　Whatever　she　wanted　was　going　to　be　hard　work　and　dangerous。
　〃Shirley；　I'm　needed　here。　You're　pulling　me　out　of　a　potentially　volatile　situation。〃
　〃Anyone　can　stand　in　front　of　a　grocery　store　and　look　tough。〃
　Kyle　was　embarrassed。　Shirley　had　a　way　of　making　him　look　ridiculous；
　〃There's　more　to　it　than　that；〃　he　said　defensively。
　〃Maybe；〃　she　conceded　with　a　smile；　〃but　I've　got　a　job　only　you　can　do。〃
　〃It　involves　climbing；　doesn't　it。〃
　〃There's　a　little　girl　trapped　up　on　a　ledge。　We　need　to　go　up　and　get　her。〃
　Shirley's　smile　faded　when　she　mentioned　the　little　girl。
　〃Is　the　girl　hurt？〃
　〃Maybe；　but　we　won't　know　until　we　get　there；〃
　Kyle　felt　Shirley　was　holding　something　back。
　〃A　little　girl；　huh？　All　right；　I'll　get　my　climbing　gear　out　of　the　station。〃
　〃It's　already　in　my　car；〃　Shirley　said。
　〃Okay；　then。　Let　me　get　something　to　eat…〃
　〃Got　something　already；〃　Shirley　said；　reaching　into　the　car　and　holding　up　a　McDonald's　bag。
　〃I　thought　they　were　closed。〃
　〃I've　got　connections。〃　She　looked　proud　and　mischievous。
　〃Get　me　something　to　drink？〃
　Shirley　smiled　and　reached　in　the　window　and　came　out　with　a　large　soft　drink。　She　seemed　a　little　too　efficient　for　Kyle；　but　he　liked　the　way　she　thought　of　his　needs。　He　lowered　his　eyes；　taking　in　Shirley's　figure。　Yes；　there　was　a　lot　to　like　about　her。
　〃I　hope　that's　a　Big　Mac　in　there。〃
　〃Large　fries　too。〃
　Kyle　was　into　the　fries　before　they　were　out　of　the　parking　lot。　pared　to　what　was　going　on　in　town；　rescuing　an　injured　little　girl　didn't　sound　too　bad。　In　fact；　Kyle　thought　as　he　stuffed　another　fry　into　his　mouth；　this　might　be　the　closest　thing　to　easy　duty　left　in　the　world。　Kyle　was　just　starting　on　the　Big　Mac　when　they　turned　onto　I…5　and　headed　north。
　
　61。　　HELICOPTER
　
　The　railroad　workmen　were　cutting　the　way　with　dynamite　and　a　steam　shovel　when　they　discovered　the　cavern。　It　was　filled　with　a　strange　assemblage　of　animal　remains。　Animals　from　cool　northern　climates；　wolverine；　lemming；　long…tailed　shrew；　mink；　red　squirrel；　muskrot；　porcupine；　hare　and　elk；　were　mingled　with　animals　from　warmer　climates；　peccary；　crocodilid；　and　tapir。　How　species　of　such　diverse　climates　all　came　to　be　in　the　enclosed　cavern　is　a　mysteriy。
　　　　　　…J。　W。　Gridley；　Cumberland；　Maryland；　1912
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　10：00　A。M。　PST
　
　The　demarcation　between　the　time…quilted　area　and　Portland　was　not　as　sharp　as　in　New　York。　Portland　was　a　small　town　busting　out　of　its　britches；　but　from　the　air　the　city　looked　li