jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第112章
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〃I know the city doesn't look right； Ripman； but it's something；〃 Cubby said。 〃My family is in there； my mom and dad。 This isn't the rapture； I'll admit that。 But it's something； something only God could do。 There's a purpose behind this； a plan。 My dad will understand it； he's probably explaining it right now。 You guys don't have to e with me；〃 Cubby finished。 〃I'm going into Portland。〃
Cubby's decision sounded as firm as Ellen's； but she wanted to give him options。
〃Cubby； you can e with us； live with us as long as you want。 I know your mom has relatives in Georgia or someplace； we can get in touch with them。 You too； Ripman。 We'll move down to the beach until someone figures out what is going on。〃 Ellen could tell by their faces they were looking for a kind way to say no。
The return of the helicopter spared them for a moment。
When Ellen heard the distant sound she sprinted ahead looking for thin canopy and began waving her arms。 The helicopter never passed within sight of their group； but when the sounds faded they heard the brief distant roar of an engine； which soon died； replaced by the silence of the forest。 The machine roar returned； and then faded； only to e back again。 The rhythm continued； the sounds ing closer and closer。
〃They're tracking us；〃 Ripman said。 〃We better find a place we can defend。〃
Ripman lead off； but his injuries kept his pace down。 As tired and hungry as he was； even Ellen could keep up with him。 She was more than just physically tired； she was tired of being afraid； and tired of being a victim。
Something moved in the trees up ahead。 Ripman spotted it with his good eye and veered to the right。 The others followed his lead。 Ellen spotted a long green tail protruding from behind a tree； but no head was visible。 Whatever it was； it was content； and they ran on ignoring it； Ripman led them into a tiny clearing and to an ancient fallen tree on the far side； which had sprouted new trees along its entire length。 Ripman paused looking around rapidly。
〃This is as good as…〃 He stopped in midsentence； distracted by the noise behind him。
They all followed Ripman's gaze to see a dinosaur ing through the trees。 It was half the size of the one that had gotten Angie； but its jaws were still big enough to bite a person in half。 Cubby was pointing his gun at it； waiting for a clear shot。
〃Don't shoot it with that； Cubby； you'll only make it mad。 Everyone spread out； back away slowly；〃 Ripman ordered。
Ellen fought down the urge to run and obeyed him； looking to see where John was。 She was next to Ripman； then Cubby； and John was on the far side。 She punished herself mentally for letting John get so far away。 The dinosaur stepped into the clearing； walking on two huge hind legs； dragging a long muscular tail behind。 Its forelegs were small but powerful looking。 Its triangular head had massive gaping jaws showing rows of pointed teeth； its breath came in liquid heaves。 Most noticeable were its eyes…its eye。 The left was a brown orb barely distinguishable from the olive skin； but the right eye was a large crusted scab。 Blackened blood stained the right side of its face down to its shoulder。 John gasped； and Ellen heard Cubby say； 〃It's One Eye。〃
The animal was swinging its head from side to side； keeping its good left eye on them all。 As they backed away it became more difficult for it to keep them in sight and the arc of its swings increased。 Seeming confused； it paused at the edge of the clearing； its head continuing to swing； watching them inch backward。
The four continued backing slowly while the dinosaur watched。 They were only a few yards from the trees when the dinosaur started forward again。 Ellen watched its head swing wide； tracking each of them； and it gave her an idea。 If they waited until the head started its swing away； and they peeled off in sequence； it would give them a precious few seconds head start。 She was about to yell instructions to the others when Cubby tripped and fell backward； the gun in his hand firing wildly into the air。
Now the dinosaur screamed and charged directly toward Cubby； who was struggling to his feet。 Ripman began hollering and waving his arms； and Ellen followed his lead； but the dinosaur's dead eye was blind to Ellen and Ripman； and its own screams drowned out their voices。 Cubby started firing at the creature's chest。 Either the impact of the lead slugs or the report of the pistol froze the dinosaur in its charge； stopping just in front of Cubby； its head thrown back into a scream；
John yelled something to Cubby but no one could hear him。 Cubby emptied the last bullet into the dinosaur and then rumbled with the gun； trying to eject the clip； forgetting John had the spare one。
All Ellen could do was yell and wave her arms。 Blood； from the bullet holes； speckled the dinosaur's chest。 The creature took the last step toward Cubby； its gaze fixed on the boy's head； its jaws opening。 Cubby threw the useless gun into the gaping mouth and turned； stumbled to his feet； and ran。
The dinosaur shook its head throwing the gun out toward Ellen and Ripman。 Ellen jumped for it； forgetting that it wasn't loaded。 But as she moved she saw John charging at the dinosaur from the other side； a stick in his hand。 Blind to Ellen； the dinosaur swung to take John's charge； but as it turned the tail swept toward Ellen； catching her as she bent looking for the gun； tumbling her over her right shoulder into the fallen tree。 Her ribs flexed； absorbing enough of the impact to keep them from breaking； but the blow knocked the wind from her。 When she collided with the log； she put out her right arm to absorb the shock。 But her arm slipped； breaking as it slammed against the wood。
In agony； flat on her back； she saw the tail fly over her head splintering tree limbs above。 When the tail fell toward Ellen； she screamed； then rolled up on her broken arm； flattening her body against the log。 The tail slammed behind her and then was gone。 She slipped back toward the ground； but arms encircled her chest and began pulling her through the grass。 They were Ripman's arms。 Through her tears she saw Cubby and John dancing in front of the dinosaur； poking sticks at it； wide apart； with Cubby keeping on the blind side； so the dinosaur had to keep swinging its head to keep track of him。
With a roar the motorcycle entered the clearing； carrying two riders； and Ellen's dread became hope。 The animal did a quick； powerful pivot to face the new threat； its tail sweeping through the clearing。 Diving into the grass to avoid it； Cubby and John disappeared。
With Ripman's help Ellen was up and running。 The boy stopped inside the forest and leaned Ellen against a tree； then turned to check behind them。 A rifle fired rapidly three times and Ellen saw the dinosaur charging the motorcycle as Butler revved the engine and Carl stood behind the bike firing his semiautomatic until the dinosaur collapsed to the ground screaming in pain。
Carl yelled in triumph。 Butler said something to Carl that Ellen couldn't hear and then reached down to pull his rifle from the sheath。 As he did the engine died。 In the silence Ellen could hear the wet gurgling breathing of the dying dinosaur and the triumphant 〃all rights〃 of Carl and Butler as they walked forward to deliver the coups de grace。
Ripman pulled on her arm to go； but Ellen hesitated； her eyes searching for her son。 John and Cubby were nowhere to be seen。 Ripman pulled harder； and as she started to turn she noticed the dinosaur's back legs were pulled up under its body； its tail still moving slightly。 With a paralyzing roar its head jerked up； its one good eye targeting Carl。and Butler； and then its muscular hind legs launched at its executioners。 Butler shouldered his rifle and fired two quick shots。 At the same time Carl threw himself out of the dinosaur's path。 Butler dropped his rifle at the last second and brought his arms up in a futile attempt to protect himself before he disappeared under the dinosaur's falling body。
Ellen tried running but the movement bounced her arm； blurring her vision with pain。 Finally； Ripman circled her waist with his arm to support her。 Her ribs； bone bruised； ached nearly as badly as her arm； and
