jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第47章
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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。
〃Ron！ There's a dozen of them！〃
Ron drove the first one under with one blow； but it came up snarling。 Two more blows sent it down for good； but others were taking its place。 Ron struck violently； delivering blow after blow。
〃Over here！〃 Carmen screamed。
Ron spun； batting one off the lip of the raft。 As it fell it slashed an air cell。 Chris's scream brought him around to see the other side of the raft suddenly dip。 A head appeared and Ron fought to keep his balance； swinging with all his might。 The blow stunned the beast； but its claws clung to the side。 Turning the paddle sideways； Ron cracked its skull with the blade； the lifeless form slipping into the water。
Ron knocked two more off from behind and then heard Chris scream again。 Another animal was crawling up his side。 。 〃Duck； Chris！〃
Chris flopped into the bottom of the raft just as the paddle cleared his head； catching the lizard just under the jaw； snapping the neck。 Ron swung recklessly now； smacking head after head； driving them back into the sea and away from the raft。 The assault ended when another log floated near； and the remaining lizards scrambled aboard。 Quickly paddling away； they soon found themselves alone in the fog again。
〃What were they； Dad？〃
Shaking his head； Ron said 〃I don't know。 They came from the island； I guess。〃
Suddenly a clawed arm reached over the side； tangling Rosa's hair。
〃It's got me！〃 she screamed。
Another claw appeared； followed by a head。 Rosa sank lower； her hair still tangled in the claw。
The jaws opened； exposing wicked teeth。 Ron struggled to his feet； the soft bottom rocking from his efforts。 Grabbing the paddle； Ron struck just as a leg flopped over the side； splintering the paddle on its skull。 Stunned； the animal hung briefly； then screamed in Ron's face。 Instinctively； Ron brought the handle up and jammed it down its throat。 The jaws snapped shut just missing his fingers。 Its forelegs frantically clawed at the handle embedded in its throat； as it tottered on the side。 Then Carmen jammed the knife in its neck。 Without another weapon Ron lunged； shoving with all his might； pushing the lizard back into the sea。 It squawked and splashed noisily until it slipped beneath the waves。
Exhausted from fear； the family flopped in the bottom of the raft； Carmen still holding the bloody knife。 Ron stroked Chris's head and hoped they wouldn't need the knife again。 Soon everyone was asleep。
〃Uh…oh！ Something's ing again；〃 Chris shouted； waking the others。
Carmen and Rosa instinctively moved to see。
〃Don't move！〃 Ron shouted。 〃We don't want to capsize。 Carmen； you look； and Rosa； stay where you are for now。〃
Carmen scooted a little closer to Chris to see what he'd seen。
〃I think he's right。 It's splashing through the water a couple of waves away。〃
〃Is it like the others？〃
〃I can't tell； but it's bigger。 Ron； you better take a look at this。〃
Ron and Chris changed places。 Ron had trouble spotting it in the fog。 Like the others； it looked monstrous； with a human…sized lizard head； and a partially opened mouth lined with sharp teeth。 It was having trouble in the water as it splashed inefficiently with small legs。
Ron turned； looking for another weapon。 There was； nothing but the knife； a pitiful weapon。
〃Ron； it's here！ Oh it's big。 Real big！〃
Ron turned to see Carmen backing up； motioning for the kids to move to the other end of the raft。 Suddenly the raft wall was pulled down violently； and the massive head appeared。 Chris screamed and stumbled back into Ron。 The lizard was snapping its jaws； and at the same time scrabbling with its clawed forearms to pull itself into the raft。 As the claws shredded the raft； the air emptied from cell after cell。 That lowered the side and the lizard pulled itself forward。 The raft flooded； but the lizard continued to scramble。 Then a huge rear leg appeared。
〃We've got to get out；〃 Ron said。 〃Over the side。〃
But Carmen was already helping Chris into the water； and Rosa rolled off backward like a skin diver。 Ron looked back to see the lizard struggling into the raft。 It didn't look vicious； it looked scared…just trying to survive like Ron and his family。
Ron was about to jump when he remembered the survival supplies。 Quickly； he grabbed a net bag and jammed four plastic quart bottles of water in it and jumped over the side。 They had to push debris out of their way as they swam。 When they were far enough away to feel safe； they turned to see the raft had collapsed； the lizard's weight pulling the sides in over its head。 As they watched； the lizard continued to struggle frantically； succeeding only in wrapping itself more and more tightly in the shredded fabric。 Finally it sank from sight； the raft as its shroud。
The family bobbed in the water in stunned silence。 With no life jackets to support their weight； Carmen and Ron soon began to tire。 The family formed itself into a ring； the parents using the children's life jackets to support as much of their weight as possible。 It was at best a temporary solution。
The wind was still strong； but the sea had settled some。 They were still riding a roller…coaster ocean； but the dips were smaller。 The sky remained black； and the fog thick and sulfurous。
〃Hey； Mom；〃 Rosa said。 〃There's something over there。〃
Ron looked at the same time as Carmen。 Something dark was moving slowly through the water…shaped like the inverted hull of a ship； about twice the size of the Entrepreneur's。
〃It looks like another capsized boat；〃 Ron volunteered。 〃Swim for it。〃
They angled toward the moving mound； gently brushing up against it。 Carmen tried climbing up the side first； but the movement of the mound made it difficult。
〃Ron； this doesn't feel like Fiberglas。〃
〃Just climb； Carmen。 We've got to get out of the water。〃
Finally； Carmen lay spread…eagled on the side of the mound and reached down and managed to pull Chris up next to her； but Rosa and Ron found themselves falling behind； Ron struggled to get Rosa up on the side； but she could only use one arm effectively； and the net bag with the bottles was heavy。 Ron realized the mound might pass them by and he panicked at the picture of Carmen and Chris floating off； out of sight。
Desperately； he pushed on Rosa with little strength。 Then his foot hit something。 He planted both feet and heaved Rosa up； hearing her gasp from pain as she flopped on her side。 Ron pushed her higher and then inched up next to her； repeating his efforts until they joined Chris and Carmen。 The four linked hands and lay flat against the surface。
Ron was so exhausted it took time to realize Carmen was right； this was not the surface of any boat he had ever seen。 It was smooth； but still rougher than a fiberglass or painted surface。 He put his cheek to it and felt definite； almost mechanical rhythm。 A right…and…left rocking motion。 He was still trying to figure out what it meant when he heard a splashing behind him。
Ron turned to see another lizard angling toward them。 This one was much smaller but had the same large head and a bony collar around its neck。 About a quarter the size of the larger one； it looked like it was going to climb up on the mound with them。
As the lizard used razor sharp claws to climb its way up the side； Ron thought he felt the mound shudder。 The lizard was twenty inches long with a triangular head； bony neck collar； and fat stubby body。 A foot of tail trailed behind it。 Ron kicked the lizard full in the side with every bit of strength he had left。 But the lizard was quicker than it looked。 As the blow knocked it back into the water the claws； raked across Ron's leg leaving three gashes。 Though the lizard came up swimming； it fell behind； and Ron could see it wouldn't catch up。 He felt sad。 He had just condemned it to a fate he and his family were fighting to avoid。
Ron returned to his family and lay back down again； totally exhausted。 He fell asleep only to be shaken awake by Rosa。
〃Wake up； wake up！ But be quiet。 Mom says we're in trouble。〃
He started to
