jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第46章

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　John　was　still　talking　when　Cubby　fell　silent；　staringvat　Portland；　Concerned；　John　followed　his　friend's　gaze。　Portland　was　there　in　the　gap；　shimmering　and　shifting。　Then　John　saw　something　else…the　hills　on　the　other　side　of　Portland。　No…the　hills　through　Portland；
　〃I　can　see　through　it；〃　he　said　aloud。
　〃No　you　can't。〃
　〃Cubby；　I　can　see　through　those　buildings。〃
　〃It's　an　illusion。　You　can't　see　through　a　building。〃
　John　didn't　argue　with　Cubby；　but　he　was　sure　the　image　was　transparent。　How　could　it　be？　he　asked　himself。　But　then　there　couldn't　be　dinosaurs　either。
　Cubby　led　off　down　the　hill　without　speaking；　John　following；　but　his　enthusiasm　dampened。
　The　trip　downhill　was　more　difficult　than　it　had　seemed　from　the　bald　peak。　The　sparse　forest　suddenly　gave　way　to　a　section　of　trees　crisscrossed　in　every　direction；　and　Cubby　and　John　had　to　climb　over　and　under　them。
　Suddenly；　a　high…pitched　roar　pierced　their　ears　and　rattled　the　trees。　They　turned　in　time　to　see　two　dinosaurs　racing　out　of　the　woods。　The　one　in　front　had　a　domed　head　and　a　short　thick　neck。　Bipedal；　pumping　hard　to　get　away；　it　was　easily　fifteen　feet　high；　and　the　biggest　dinosaur　John　had　seen。　Until　he　saw　what　was　behind　it。　Towering　ten　feet　above　the　domed　head　were　massive　gaping　jaws　John　recognized　as　belonging　to　Tyrannosaurus　rex。　Blood　was　running　down　the　side　of　the　dome…headed　dinosaur；　and　it　ran　out　of　the　forest　with　a　limping　gait。　When　it　reached　the　edge　of　the　fallen　section　it　slowed　its　pace。　John　could　see　it　was　weakening；　the　tyrannosaurus　would　have　it　soon。
　John　and　Cubby　ran　for　a　pile　of　fallen　trees　and　crawled　underneath。　The　ground　began　to　shake；　and　the　smaller　dinosaur　began　to　scream。　Cubby；　peeking　between　the　logs；　jerked　on　John's　sleeve。　Scared　to　look；　but　too　scared　not　to；　he　pushed　himself　up　into　a　squat　and　peeked　out。　The　dinosaurs　were　fighting　seventy…five　yards　away；　the　tyrannosaurus　crunching　the　neck　of　the　dome　head。　The　dome　head　was　screaming　in　pain　and　struggled　violently　to　break　the　grip　of　the　tyrannosaur；　swinging　wildly　with　its　tail。　The　tyrannosaur　rotated　away　from　the　blows　and　repeatedly　slammed　its　own　tail　to　counterbalance　its　victim's　moves。　Chunks　of　turf　and　debris　were　kicked　up　and　rained　down　on　the　boys　as　the　dinosaurs　struggled。
　Blood　streamed　down　the　neck　of　the　dome　head；　across　its　chest　and　legs；　making　its　skin　a　slick　red。　The　tyrannosaur　kept　its　lock　on　the　dome　head's　neck　as　dome　head's　struggles　weakened　and　its　screams　softened。　The　dome　head　collapsed　to　its　knees　and　then　to　the　ground。　The　painful　screams　of　the　dome　head　became　a　mournful　whine；　and　then　the　whine　died　with　its　last　breath。　The　tyrannosaur　kept　its　jaws　tightly　clamped　on　the　still　form　for　another　minute　and　then　shook　the　body　several　times。　Only　then　did　it　release　the　still　form。　John　expected　the　tyrannosaur　to　raise　its　head　and　bellow　in　triumph；　but　instead　the　tyrannosaur　took　a　long　lingering　lick　across　the　neck　of　the　dead　dinosaur；　soaking　its　tongue　in　blood。　Then　it　slurped　in　its　tongue　and　smacked　its　jaws　loud　enough　to　echo　through　the　forest。　When　Cubby　whispered　〃God　protect　us；〃　the　dinosaur's　head　snapped　around　and　it　stared　at　their　hideaway；　as　if　it　heard。
　〃Don't　move；〃　Cubby　whispered。
　John　wanted　to　shout　at　Cubby　to　shut　up　but　instead　he　froze。　After　a　long　hard　stare　the　tyrannosaur　turned　back　to　its　meal。　John　slipped　silently　to　the　floor；　Cubby　next　to　him。　John　watched　his　hand　shake；　thinking　he　couldn't　get　any　more　afraid。　Then　the　sounds　of　eating　echoed　through　their　hiding　place。　The　tyrannosaur　made　great　smacking　and　slobbering　sounds；　but　the　worst　sounds　of　all　were　of　flesh　ripping　and　bones　crushed　in　massive　jaws。
　
　30。　　DEBRIS
　
　Towns　will　be　turned　upside　down　and　the　below　ground　will　bee　the　above　ground。
　…Zorastrus；　Prophet　of　Babylon
　
　Off　Naples；　Florida
　POSTQUILT：　MONDAY；　10：15　A。M。　EST
　
　　Saltwater；　thick　with　sticks　and　leaves；　washed　over　the　family；　shocking　them　awake。　It　was　late　morning　but　the　dense　cloud　cover　and　fog　made　it　as　dark　as　night。
　〃Put　down　the　sides　to　keep　the　waves　out；〃　Carmen　said。　〃Rosa？　Can　you　sit　up？〃
　Ron　looked　at　Chris。　His　eyes　were　open；　but　he　looked　groggy。　The　gash　on　his　forehead　was　surrounded　by　a　large　swelling。　〃Chris；　are　you　okay？　Can　you　move　down；　opposite　Rosa？〃
　Chris　didn't　speak；　but　he　nodded　and　scooted。　Ron　worked　opposite　Carmen　to　drop　the　sides　of　the　raft；　which　were　tied　up　at　the　top　of　the　canopy。　It　wouldn't　keep　out　an　entire　wave；　but　it　would　cut　down　on　the　sea　spray。　When　Ron　stretched　up　to　unite　the　top　he　spotted　another　large　wave　ing　toward　them。
　〃Everyone　hang　on！〃　he　yelled。
　They　all　grabbed　for　the　cords　strung　around　the　inside　of　the　rait。　Carmen　wrapped　an　arm　around　Chris　and　Ron　hooked　Rosa's　arm　with　his。　They　all　hunkered　down；　and　the　wave　broke　over　them…another　muddy　one；　and　full　of　debris。　Leaves　and　twigs　slapped　them　on　their　heads　and　arms。　The　raft　tossed　and　rocked　violently。　After　the　wave　had　passed；　Ron　broke　out　a　bailing　cup　and　went　to　work　while　Carmen　and　the　others　lifted　out　the　branches　and　the　other　debris。
　Rosa　was　having　trouble　lifting　her　left　arm　over　her　head；　and　finally　gave　up　and　used　only　her　right　one。　Ron　suspected　cracked　or　broken　ribs。　Chris　was　helping　too；　scooping　up　handfuls　of　leaves　and　twigs　and　dropping　them　over　the　side；　when　he　stopped；　staring　into　the　gloom。
　〃Hey；　there's　a　lot　of　smoke　out　there。〃
　Ron　turned　to　see　a　cloud　bank　broiling　toward　them。　〃Everyone　hang　on　again。〃
　The　family　ducked　down　as　the　raft　rocked　violently；　hot　moist　steam　enveloping　them。　The　steam　was　sulfurous　and　they　coughed；　their　noses　and　throats　　burning。　The　pitching　slowed　and　the　air　cleared　slightly。　Ron　looked　over　the　side　but　could　see　nothing　in　the　dense　fog。
　〃It's　just　steam；〃　he　said　reassuringly。　〃Nothing　to　worry　about。〃　He　didn't　add　that　they　had　enough　to　worry　about　already；
　Ron　helped　clear　debris　and　bail　out　the　raft。　Then　he　checked　the　supplies。　There　were　cans　of　water；　food；　a　pocket　knife；　four　flares；　fishing　tackle；　and　a　paddle。　He　was　repacking　the　supplies　when　something　rammed　the　raft。
　〃It's　a　log；〃　Carmen　yelled。　〃Help　me　push　it　away。〃
　Ron　used　the　paddle。　The　branches　were　thick　and　Ron　had　trouble　getting　a　solid　push。　Finally；　the　raft　drifted　off　only　to　spin　around　and　butt　up　against　the　bare　trunk。　Ron　wedged　the　paddle　again　and　pushed。　Suddenly；　something　came　running　the　length　of　the　trunk。　Green；　lithe；　and　frantic；　it　was　a　foot…tall　lizard。　Ron　instinctively　swung　with　the　paddle；　knocking　it　off　its　feet。　The　lizard　hung　over　the　side　of　the　log　briefly；　its　tail　in　the　water；　then　it　launched　itself　again。　Ron　was　ready　and　hit　it　with　a　full　swing；　knocking　it　into　the　water。　The　lizard　churned　the　water；　trying　to　reach　safety。　Ron　pushed　off　from　the　log；　and　then　paddled　furiously；　leaving　the　log　in　the　haze。
　〃What　was　that？〃　Carmen　asked。
　〃I'd　never　seen　one　before。　Its　head　was　huge。〃　Ron　didn't　add　it　had　a　wicked　set　of　teeth。　〃It's　gone　now。　We're　fine。〃
　The　kids　settled　back　but　Carmen　and　Ron　exchanged　worried　looks。
　Exhausted　from　the　night　before；　the　family　rested　silently；　worrying　privately。　Chris　soon　leaned　over　the　edge；　watching　the　waves。
　〃He　looks　better；〃　Carmen　said。
　〃His　color's　good。　I　wish　we　could　get　him　to　a　doctor。〃
　Helpless；　the　parents　fretted。
　〃There's　another　lizard　out　there！〃　Chris　suddenly　shouted。
　Rosa　popped　up　next　to　him　and　confirmed　it。　〃It　looks　like　more　than　one。〃
　〃Switch　with　us；　kids；〃　Ron　ordered。　Quickly；　Ron　realized　the　creatures　were　ing　toward　the　raft。　〃Hand　me　the　paddle；　Rosa。〃
　Paddling　furiously；　Ron　futilely　tried　to　move　the　raft　away。　A　thick　soup　of　debris　made　paddling　difficult。　Looking　back；　Ron　could　see　the　bobbing　heads　gaining；　but　there　were　more　than　two。　Carmen　appeared　next　to　him　armed　with　the　knife。
　Paddling　only　slowed　the　inevitable。　The　bobbing　green　heads　were　mostly　jaw；　with　small　black　eyes…eyes　fixed　on　the　raft。　Finally；　Ron　raised　the　paddle　for　battle。
　〃Ro