jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第115章

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　Tears　welled　up　in　Petra's　eyes。　It　was　only　a　couple　of　sentences　but　Petra　knew　the　rest　of　what　he　could　never　say。　She　wrapped　her　arms　around　him　and　hugged　him；　and　then　pretended　to　be　mad　at　him。
　〃Oh　great。　Someone　dies　and　you　immediately　hold　a　garage　sale。　What　am　I　supposed　to　do　for　clothes？〃
　〃I　like　you　the　way　you　are。〃
　〃1　don't　like　being　the　only　one　naked。〃
　〃I　can　fix　that；〃　Colter　offered。
　〃Don't　bother。　Neither　of　us　is　in　any　shape　for　that。〃
　Petra　turned　and　opened　several　cabinets　until　she　found　one　of　Colter's　sweatshirts　and　pulled　it　over　her　head。　Though　it　hung　down　covering　her　bottom；　she　still　felt　exposed　and　she　never　wanted　to　feel　that　way　again。　Colter's　pants　were　way　too　big；　but　she　put　on　a　pair　of　his　boxer　shorts。　The　flap　gaped　open　when　she　tried　sitting　in　them；　so　she　found　a　safety　pin　and　pinned　it　closed。　It　would　have　to　do　until　she　could　get　to　a　town。
　Then　Petra　opened　a　can　of　peaches　and　mashed　them　up；　pushing　spoonfuls　into　the　baby　dinosaur's　mouth。　It　chewed　reflexively。　When　Petra　was　sure　it　had　swallowed　enough；　she　poured　in　some　of　the　juice　from　the　can。　Most　ran　down　its　neck　and　pooled　in　the　collar。　Colter　watched　the　feeding　with　amusement。
　〃Moose　and　Sarah　aren't　this　sloppy；〃　Colter　said。
　〃It's　just　a　widdle　thing；〃　Petra　said　in　baby　talk。
　〃Just　what　are　you　gonna　call　the　little　orphan？〃
　Petra　set　the　can　of　peaches　to　the　side　and　put　the　little　dinosaur　on　the　floor。　The　baby　got　to　its　feet　and　wobbled　a　few　steps。　Then　it　stopped　and　licked　at　the　peach　juice　on　its　chin。
　〃Well；　what　if　we　call　her　Peaches？〃
　〃Her？〃
　〃Her　until　we　know　better。　We　should　get　a　bottle　somewhere　for　this　poor　thing。〃
　He　rolled　his　eyes；　nodded；　and　moved　to　the　driver's　seat　and　started　the　engine。　Petra　sat　down　in　the　passenger　seat　gingerly；　holding　the　sleeping　baby　dinosaur　in　her　lap。　Now　that　she　was　rested；　she　was　beginning　to　feel　every　bruise；　cut；　and　aching　muscle。　Colter；　she　knew；　was　feeling　his　pain　as　well。
　They　were　about　to　leave　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　padding　feet。　Petra　flinched　when　Moose　scrambled　up　the　dash　and　stretched　out　in　the　window。　Sarah　waddled　forward　and　looked　perturbed　that　Petra　had　taken　her　place；　so　instead　she　curled　up　on　the　floor　between　the　seats。　Petra　and　Colter　looked　at　each　other　and　smiled。
　〃Well；　honey；〃　Colter　said。　〃It's　been　quite　a　vacation。〃
　〃Yes；　dear；〃　Petra　replied。　〃But　the　kids　are　exhausted。　Let's　go　home。〃
　Then　they　drove　away　from　the　clearing　and　back　up　the　road。
　
　68。　　CHOICES
　
　In　the　age　of　no　time；　what　came　before　will　e　again；　and　what　is　yet　to　e；　will　e　before。　I　do　not　understand　it　myself；　hut　I　know　it　will　be　heralded　by　a　great　fire。
　…Zorastrus；　Prophet　of　Babylon
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　5：05　P。M。　PST
　
　They　walked　with　a　new　confidence。　Someone　watching　would　say　it　was　the　rifles　that　gave　them　confidence；　a　store…bought；　machine…made　and　polished　confidence。　But　this　was　homemade　confidence。　Everything　and　nothing　in　their　experience　had　prepared　them　for　what　they　had　gone　through　over　the　last　few　days；　but　what　they　found　inside　had　been　enough；　even　more　than　enough。
　They'd　had　a　happy　victory　celebration　after　Ripman　left　with　Ellen。　Exchanging　insults；　they　argued　over　who　should　get　credit　for　bungling　the　sabotage　on　the　motorcycle；　since　that　had　saved　them　from　One　Eye　and　now　was　saving　John's　Mom。　But　as　they　moved　toward　the　rendezvous　point；　Cubby　fell　silent。
　Cubby　and　John　could　hear　the　helicopter　e　back；　circling；　its　thumping　sounds　reverberating　down　the　valley。　But　the　rendezvous　point　was　in　a　different　direction；　so　the　noise　grew　fainter　as　they　moved　away。　An　occasional　lizard　skittered　across　a　log　or　glided　from　tree　to　tree　above　them。　Once　a　crashing　and　thumping　in　the　distance　sent　them　running　for　cover；　but　the　sounds　finally　moved　off。
　Finally　they　reached　the　dry　riverbed　Ripman　had　described。　It　disappeared　around　a　bend　to　the　southwest　and　then　into　the　forest。　The　boys　surveyed　silently　from　the　bank；　scouting　the　forest　on　either　side　for　animal　signs。　Then　Cubby　tugged　on　John's　arm　and　pointed。
　A　movement　caught　John's　eye。　In　the　shadow　on　the　far　bank　were　several　animals；　four…legged　with　long　tails；　and　long　necks；　resembling　brontosauri；　but　only　a　fraction　of　the　size。　Occasionally　a　head　would　appear　towering　over　the　bank；　look　around；　and　then　dip　back　down。　The　animals　appeared　to　be　grazing。　Cubby　and　John　finally　stepped　out　of　the　shadow　onto　the　bank；　fully　exposing　themselves。　A　minute　later　a　head　came　up；　spotting　them　and　grunting。　Then　three　more　heads　popped　up。　The　dinosaurs　and　the　people　stared　at　one　another；　then　one　by　one　the　dinosaurs　went　back　to　eating。
　Ripman　was　nowhere　to　be　seen；　so　Cubby　and　John　found　a　pile　of　rocks　to　settle　on。　They　had　no　food；　but　large　puddles　in　the　riverbed　would　provide　enough　water　for　now。　At　least；　if　Ripman　came　back。
　
　
　After　a　long　wait　the　engine　of　the　motorcycle　announced　Ripman's　return。　First　the　heads　of　the　dinosaurs　all　popped　up　again；　and　they　moved　up　the　riverbed　out　of　sight。　Finally；　John　saw　Ripman　riding　around　the　bed　of　the　riverbed。　Cubby　and　John　cheered；　then　Cubby　put　his　fingers　in　his　mouth　and　blew　several　shrill　whistles。
　Ripman　pulled　up　in　front　of　them　revving　the　engine　loudly。　His　face　was　still　swollen；　he　was　cut　and　bruised　and　covered　with　dirt；　yet　he　was　also　proud；　even　arrogant；　and　Cubby　and　John　loved　it。　He　finally　let　the　engine　die　and　untied　a　grocery　bag　from　the　back　of　the　bike。
　〃How's　my　mom；　Ripman？〃
　〃She's　fine。　There's　a　bunch　of　houses　over　that　way；〃　he　said；　pointing。　〃The　forest　goes　right　up　to　their　front　doors。　Some　of　the　houses　have　been　smashed　up　pretty　good。　It　looks　like　some　of　the　dinosaurs　came　to　visit。　The　people　who　live　there　have　blocked　the　streets　with　cars。　There's　cops　there　too；　keeping　people　out；　and　keeping　the　dinosaurs　in。　The　police　took　your　mom　to　the　hospital。〃
　Ripman　opened　the　pack　and　tossed　cans　of　Coke　Classic　to　Cubby　and　John；　John　drank　a　third　of　his　in　three　gulps。　When　the　carbonation　burned　his　throat　and　nose　he　belched；　but　Cubby　soon　belched　a　belch　that　put　John's　to　shame。　Ripman　kept　digging；　passing　out　another　can　of　Coke　to　each；　and　then　threw　his　friends　a　package　of　Twinkies　and　a　Three　Musketeers　bar。　They　tore　into　the　junk　food　till　finally　their　ravenous　gobbling　turned　to　slow　savoring。
　〃Where'd　you　get　the　goodies；　Ripman？〃　Cubby　asked。
　〃Hey；　there's　civilization　out　there。　After　I　got　John's　mom　to　the　cops；　they　wouldn't　let　me　e　back。　They　were　going　to　round　up　some　volunteers…mount　a　rescue　mission。　Jeez；　you'd　think　it　was　some　big　deal。　So　I　had　to　find　a　way　around。　I　ran　into　a　7…Eleven　down　the　road。　It　was　semiopen；　so　I　picked　up　some　supplies。〃
　〃You　pay　for　these？〃　Cubby　asked　suspiciously。
　〃They　gave　me　a　bag；　didn't　they？〃
　〃You　stole　the　bag　too；　didn't　you？〃　John　suggested。
　〃Hey；　you　don't　want　the　stuff；　give　it　back。〃　Ripman　said　it　good…naturedly。
　John　and　Cubby　knew　he　craved　to　be　thought　bad；　and　they　were　willing　to　support　him。　The　sugar　quickly　replenished　their　strength　and　they　joked　and　kidded　for　a　few　more　minutes。　Then　Cubby　began　praying　in　whispers。　When　done　he　turned　to　the　others。
　〃I'm　not　leaving。　I'm　going　into　Portland。　My　family　is　in　there　somewhere　。　。　。　my　church。〃
　John；　uncertain　how　to　respond；　sat　silent；　watching　a　two…foot　lizard　slither　down　the　bank　and　into　a　puddle。　Ripman　finally　spoke；　but　gently；　looking　at　Cubby　with　his　good　eye。
　〃Cubby；　Portland's　not　right。　I　watched　it。　It　seems　to　e　and　go　。　。　。　sometimes　it's　there；　sometimes　it　isn't；　and　it's　going　away。　Even　if　we　headed　to　it；　we'd　probably　go　right　through　it。　I　think　it's　just　some　sort　of　mirage。〃
　〃Maybe；　Ripman；　but　I've　got　to　know。　I've　got　to　know！〃
　〃It's　not　the　second　ing；　Cubby。〃
　〃I　know；　but　God's　hand　is　in　this。〃
　〃Maybe。〃
　That　〃maybe；〃　John　realized；　was　the　only　concession　to　the　possibility　of　God's　existence　Ripman　had　ever　made。　Ripma