jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第56章
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Ellen had heard stories like this on the CB all the way to Carlton。 They still frightened her； but that fear created only a stronger need to find her home and her son。 She had no idea when Terry and Bill would get back； and she was still angry with Terry for going in the first place。
Angie blinked worriedly； stepped closer； and slid her hand through the officer's arm。 〃I know it's been tough on you。 Officer 。 。 。 Peters？ I'm not asking you to let us through； but maybe you could tell us if there are any other roads into Portland from here？ Any other way we could get in to look for her son？〃
The cop's voice softened as Angle's charm took effect。
〃I do sympathize；〃 he said； giving Ellen a quick look and a nod of his head； 〃but this isn't just the road that's gone； it's everything。 Portland isn't there anymore。 Every road we've checked just ends。〃
Ellen was tired of being ignored。
〃We've been listening to the CB and some people say Portland is there；〃 she said defensively。 〃Besides； how do you know the city isn't there； you can't see it from here can you？〃
〃Ladies； I'm tired of people not believing me； I've talked myself blue。 I don't give a damn what you do； just don't try to bring a car into this town。〃
With that Officer Peters walked off a short distance and began to attract another crowd of people as Ellen felt hope leave with him。 They were so near； yet miles from her home。 The Jeep might take them closer； but all the fields they had seen were ringed by either forests or fences。 If they had to cut their way through with a chain saw and wire cutters it would take days。 The only option left was to walk。
〃 'Scuse me； ladies。〃
Ellen turned to see the other officer staring at Angie； or more precisely at Angle's cleavage。 Tall and thin； he had a small head； and his nose and chin poked out too far。 He wore a pair of glasses with one of those straps basketball players wear； to keep them from falling off。 Other generations would have called the man geek； nerd； queer； square。 He seemed to be all of those and more。
〃I couldn't help but overhear your situation and I might just be able to offer you some assistance。 I happen to know a group of off…road recreational enthusiasts who are planning a little excursion into the Portland area。 I'm sure they would be willing to help you once I explain your situation。〃
Ellen didn't know what to make of the offer。 The name tag on the uniform said STANLEY COOPER and the look in his eyes suggested sincerity。 Still； the man seemed decidedly strange and made Ellen unfortable。 Angie was looking him over； too。 Now he wasn't staring at Angie's cleavage； but he was sneaking occasional glances。
〃Could this excursion take us into southeast Portland？〃 Ellen asked。
〃If it's there。〃
Apparently Angie had made up her mind and accepted for both women as she slipped her arm through the cop's and leaned into him so that her breasts were pressed firmly against his arm。
〃Could you really help us？〃 she asked in her little girl voice。 〃We'd feel so much safer if you could take us； Stanley。〃
〃Call me Coop。〃
〃Okay； Coop。 Coop； that's cute；〃 Angie giggled。 Ellen didn't know whether to laugh or throw up。
〃Coop； we can't thank you enough；〃 Angie said squeezing his arm in her hands and giving him a peck on the cheek as Ellen nearly gagged。
Coop used a police car to lead Angie's Jeep up the left side of the road； getting them closer to town。 The women ended up spending the night in the Jeep。 It was unfortable and they slept fitfully。 Ellen spent the night alternating between worry about her son and daughter and anger at her husband。 Mostly she wondered about her son； she knew where her husband was and knew he was checking on their daughter； but she had no idea where her son was or what had happened to him。
36。 JAWS
I deployed 3000 reinforcements across the Yangtze River to defend the bridge and the town。 The next morning only a small pocket of 100 could be found。 The sentries stationed on the bridge reported no crossings during the night； and when we were overrun the Japanese claimed no contact with my troops。 Perhaps my vanished army could have saved Nanking from the rape that followed。
…Colonel Li fu Sien； December 1937
Forest； former site of Portland； Oregon
POSTQUILT： MONDAY； 4：10 P。M。 PST
It was late afternoon when the rex finished and wandered off down the valley。
〃Thank God he went the other way；〃 John whispered。 Cubby whispered； 〃Amen；〃 then urged his friend； 〃we've got to move； John。〃
〃No way。 We're safe here。〃
〃That carcass will attract scavengers all night long。 They could find us too。〃
John desperately wanted to stay where he was。 He didn't even know how to deal with bears； or lions； let alone dinosaurs。 Now if Ripman was here； he might know what to do。 After all； he knew about survival； he knew about animals； he knew about being elemental。
But Cubby persisted。 〃John； every dinosaur from ten miles around heard that rex make a meal out of that other one。 They're probably already thinking about the leftovers。 Let's get out of here before they get here。〃
John was nearly persuaded when a noise outside distracted him。 It grew louder； stopped； and then something started sniffing at the opening。 John cringed and backed into Cubby； and they both fell back against the logs that made up the back wall。 Suddenly a three toed claw appeared in the opening； each toe tipped with curved spikes； ripping away chunks of dirt； first on the left； then on the right。 To John's horror the opening was already doubled。 The claws dug methodically several more times； then disappeared； and Cubby and John froze in fear。 Cubby feverishly whispered a prayer。 Then they both screamed as a giant triangular head jammed its way into the opening。
John was about to be eaten。 The head in the opening strained forward； trying to get at Cubby and him。 The gaping maw； blood red with a double row of jagged teeth； exhaled； filling the small enclosure with the smell of rotting flesh。 Both boys were paralyzed with fear and indecision。 Suddenly the head pulled out； and the paws returned to make the opening larger。 John turned in panic and started pushing through the spaces between the logs； trying to find a way out。 The biggest space would acmodate only his arms and his head。 Try as he might； he couldn't push his shoulders through the opening。 If he was going to die he didn't want to be eaten from the bottom up。 He'd rather have his head go first and get it over with。
John pulled back in to look； but he saw no other way out except where the giant claws were diligently excavating。 Cubby knelt on the ground and began fumbling with his bow and quiver； notching an arrow and preparing to use his bow 。 。 。 his weapon。 Seeing him； John did likewise； pulling an arrow out of his quiver。 There wasn't enough room to stand； and he tried to figure out a good position to shoot from…assuming he could； because his hands were shaking terribly。
Cubby held the bow diagonally； because he couldn't hold it vertically without hitting the roof。
With a wham and a roar the animal's head was back。 The roar stretched every nerve in John's body to the breaking point。 The head roared again； its warm sour…smelling breath in John's face。 It wriggled back and forth in the opening； shifting the logs。 From a few feet away； Cubby let his arrow fly into the green scaly flesh above its eye。 The dinosaur didn't even flinch。 It just kept wriggling and ing closer and closer。 Shaking； John fumbled an arrow into place。 Unable to stand； he put his feet on the bow and pushed until he felt the pound bow give into its ready position。
〃Shoot it； John； shoot it！〃 Cubby shouted； fumbling with another arrow。
The dinosaur lunged again； and this time the logs shifted。 John suddenly slipped； rocking onto his back。 He shook his head to clear it and looked between his legs。 Inches from his feet was the biggest eye he had ever seen。 Screaming； he let go of the bowstring。
Twelve inches away； the razor sharp arrowhead penetrated the eye of the dinosaur； who screamed and reared。 The roof gave way under the pressure and the back wall collapsed and rolled away。 Cubby yelled a warning and pointed to an
