jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第67章

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are。
　〃You　one　of　us　or　not；　Coop？〃
　〃You　know　I'm　with　you；　Carl；〃　Coop　said　weakly。　But　it　was　being　clear　to　Ellen　that　Coop　had　bought　his　way　into　this　group　with　his　knowledge　of　the　dinosaur。
　Poor；　nerdy；　Coop　was　beginning　to　look　like　Ellen　felt。　The　deeper　they　got　into　the　forest；　and　further　from　civilization；　the　less　civilized　the　〃guys〃　were。
　The　dinosaur　hunt　was　on。　Briefly；　the　creature　watched　the　cycles　ing　toward　it；　then　it　bolted　in　the　other　direction。　As　it　ran；　Ellen　watched　intently。　Running　on　two　legs；　it　was　faster　than　a　man…about　eight　feet　tall　with　long　forelegs　and　a　domed　head。
　The　cyclists　split　up；　racing　to　each　side　of　the　running　dinosaur；　trying　to　cut　it　off　before　it　reached　the　forest。　One　cyclist；　burly；　balding　Butler；　who　seldom　spoke；　skidded　to　a　stop　and　fired　his　rifle。　The　shot　missed；　but　the　sound　made　the　running　dinosaur　bolt　to　the　right；　forcing　Kishton　to　swerve。　As　he　did　he　clipped　a　clump　of　ferns；　and　the　front　wheel　of　the　bike　buried　into　the　patch；　launching　him　over　the　handlebars。
　Butler　fired　again；　and　this　time　the　dinosaur　dropped　to　its　knees；　skidding　and　then　bouncing　onto　its　long　neck。　Now　Butler　jumped　on　his　bike　and　raced　after　the　remaining　cyclists　as　they　closed　in；　but　before　they　could　shoot　him　again　the　dinosaur　was　up　and　racing　toward　the　trees。　Too　far　away　to　see　the　action；　Coop　started　up　his　bike；　Angie　climbing　on　behind　him。　But　Carl　made　no　move　to　follow；　and　Ellen　had　no　intention　of　squeezing　up　behind　him　unless　she　absolutely　had　to。
　The　motorcyclists　cut　the　dinosaur　off　again；　and　it　raced　toward　the　center　of　the　clearing。　Anguished；　Ellen　could　see　blood　running　down　its　right　rear　leg。　She　gave　up　hope　of　saving　it　and　wished　now　they　would　kill　it　and　get　it　over　with。　But　the　bikers　were　enjoying　the　hunt。
　The　dinosaur　circled　back　toward　Carl　and　Ellen；　ing　straight　for　them。　Ellen　had　a　good　view　now　as　the　dinosaur　closed　on　them；　but　suddenly　another　shot　rang　out；　and　the　dinosaur　went　down；　dropping　onto　its　right　side　and　struggling　to　get　up。　Its　back　legs　seemed　to　be　working　but　the　front　ones　could　not　support　its　weight；　and　they　collapsed；　creating　a　pivot；　and　the　dinosaur　went　into　a　spin。
　The　animal's　blood　soaked　the　ground　as　it　flattened　a　circle　of　grass；　going　round　and　round。　The　hunters　gathered；　pointing　and　laughing　at　the　spectacle…until　Coop　joined　them。
　Coop　got　off　his　bike；　angrily　confronting　Bobby；　who　pushed　his　face　within　inches　of　Coop's　and　began　shouting。　Angie　wrapped　her　arms　around　Coop's　waist　and　pulled　him　back；　then　Bobby　said　something　that　made　the　others　laugh。　The　hunters　went　back　to　enjoying　the　dinosaur's　struggle。　After　Angie　and　Coop　talked　for　a　second；　Coop　turned；　pulled　his　revolver；　and　emptied　it　into　the　dinosaur。
　The　hunters　jumped　back　at　the　sound　of　the　revolver　and　watched…then　they　turned　on　him。
　Even　from　this　distance　Ellen　could　feel　their　anger。　Ellen　started　forward；　fearing　for　Angle's　safety；　but　a　rough　grip　on　her　arm　stopped　her。
　〃Let　'em　party；〃　Carl　smirked；　pulling　Ellen　toward　him。
　Ellen　put　her　hands　on　Carl's　chest　and　pushed。　Leering；　Carl　wrapped　his　other　arm　around　her　waist　and　pulled。　He　was　strong　and　could　have　pulled　her　flat　up　against　him；　but　the　cruel　look　in　his　eyes　told　Ellen　he　was　enjoying　her　struggle。　Then　Carl　began　to　exert　more　pressure；　drawing　Ellen　toward　him。　Suddenly；　he　dropped　his　hand；　wrapping　it　around　her　bottom　and　pulling　her　hips　tight　up　against　his。　He　held　her　there　briefly　and　then　began　grinding　his　hips　against　hers。
　〃Stop　it；　Carl！　Let　me　go。〃
　〃Where　you　going？　They're　done　huntin'。　Nuthin'　left　to　see。〃
　〃I've　got　to　find　my　son。〃
　〃Lady；　ain't　it　clear　to　you　yet？　There's　nuthin'　here。　It's　all　gone；　the　city；　the　people　。　。　。　your　son。　Looks　like　you're　gonna　need　another。　I'll　be　glad　to　help　you　make　one；〃
　As　Carl　shifted　his　weight；　bending　her　over　backward；　he　tripped　her。　Ellen　crashed　to　the　ground　with　him　on　top。　She　could　smell　the　liquor　on　his　breath　again。　His　eyes　still　looked　cruel　and　his　lips　still　sneered。　Now　Ellen　began　to　struggle　again　and　pounded　on　the　sides　of　his　head。　As　he　yelped　and　jerked　back　to　protect　his　face；　Ellen　pounded　harder。
　〃Get　off　me！〃　she　screamed。
　Carl　wasn't　laughing　now；　he　was　dodging　blows…then　Ellen　heard　someone　else　laughing。
　〃Carl；　looks　like　you　bit　off　more　than　you　can　chew　there。〃
　Ellen　stopped　pounding　and　Carl　dropped　his　hands　to　see　Kishtori　watching　them。　He'd　fallen　in　the　sharp…edged　grass　and　bled　from　dozens　of　cuts。　His　face；　shirt；　and　pants　were　torn　and　blood　soaked。
　〃Beat　it；　Kishton；　I'm　busy；〃　Carl　snarled。
　Ellen　realized　Carl's　ego　was　wounded。　After　all；　Kishton　had　seen　him　getting　slapped　around　by　a　woman。　Now　Carl　would　retaliate。　Before　Kishton　could　decide　whether　to　leave　or　watch；　Coop　came　roaring　up。　Angie　immediately　jumped　off　and　helped　Ellen　off　the　ground。　Without　a　word　to　Carl；　she　just　pulled　Ellen　off　to　one　side；　asking　if　she　was　okay。
　Coop　looked　angry。　〃What　the　hell　were　you　doing；　Carl？　We're　here　to　assist　her　in　locating　her　boy；　remember？　You　perpetrate　something　like　that　again　and　I'll。　。　。　I'll。　。　。〃
　〃You'll　what？　Arrest　me？　You　see　any　fuckin1　jails　around　here？　Shee…it；　you're　not　even　a　real　deputy。〃
　〃Am　so。　I'm　a　reserve　officer…〃
　〃Coop；　you　ain't　nuthin'　but　a　pain　in　Sheriff　Peter's　ass。　The　only　reason　he　keeps　you　around　is　cause　me　and　the　boys　won't　work　for　the　slave　wages　he　pays　you。　Are　you　that　stupid；　Coop？　He's　offered　me；　Kishton　here；　and　nearly　every　one　of　the　others　your　job　at　one　time　or　another。　Ain't　that　right；　Kishton？　I'll　tell　you　something　else；　Coop；　I'm　thinkin'　we　don't　need　you　anymore。　We　got　the　dinosaur。　Just　what　else　are　you　good　for？〃
　His　tone　sounded　final；　and　Angie　and　Ellen　pulled　each　other　closer。　Coop　had　never　had　much　authority；　and　even　that　was　eroding　fast。　If　they　sent　Coop　back；　or　worse；　nothing　would　keep　Carl　from　Ellen。　Coop　was　watching　nervously　to　see　if　Kishton　would　intervene。　They　were　interrupted　by　the　grisly　sight　of　Butler　roaring　up　with　the　head　of　the　dinosaur　strapped　to　the　back　of　his　motorcycle。　The　others　followed；　each　with　a　dinosaur　leg　strapped　to　the　back　of　his　bike。
　〃You　call　that　baby　a　dinosaur？〃　Ellen　asked。　All　heads　turned　toward　her。
　〃Baby？〃　Butler　said；　jerking　his　head　toward　the　head　on　the　back　of　his　bike。　〃You　call　this　mother　a　baby？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Ellen　continued；　〃they　grow　much　bigger　than　this。　Some　of　them　are　as　big　as　a　three…story　building。　They　e　so　big；　that　I　doubt　you're　man　enough　to　bring　one　down。　Isn't　that　right；　Coop？　I　bet　you　could　find　us　a　bigger　one；　couldn't　you；　Coop？〃
　Angie　chimed　in。　〃I've　seen　these　things　in　movies　and　I　know　they　e　bigger　than　this。　Did　you　ever　see　that　King　Kong　movie？　Think　they　get　that　big；　Coop？〃
　No　one　was　listening　to　Coop's　answer。　The　men　were　talking　among　themselves。　Someone　dug　a　bottle　of　Old　Crow　out　of　a　saddlebag　and　they　started　passing　it　around；　reliving　the　hunt　and　planning　the　next　one。　As　they　talked　Carl　gave　Ellen　a　look　that　said　there　was　unfinished　business　between　them。
　After　the　men　fortified　themselves　they　were　back　on　the　cycles。　Ellen　had　only　two　choices；　and　she　swallowed　back　her　fear　and　climbed　up　behind　Carl。　Angie　gave　her　a　look　that　said　she　would　trade　places；　but　Ellen　couldn't　do　it　to　her。　Besides；　Ellen　thought；　Angie　seemed　to　be　handling　Coop　quite　well；　and　they　needed　whatever　control　over　the　guys　he　had　left。
　
　John　felt　as　if　they　had　been　walking　for　hours　when　Cubby　finally　stopped　again。
　〃Something's　not　right；　John。　We　should　be　to　Portland　by　now。　This　is　where　we　saw　it。〃
　John　looked　around　but　recognized　nothing。　He　could　tell　they　were　down　in　a　valley；　since　hills　were　visible　to　the　right　and　left；　covered　with　tumbled…down　trees。　The　forest　was　thick；　but　it　looked　level。　Was　it　the　Willamette　valley？　Cubby　was　sure　of　it；　and　John；　as　usual；　trusted　Cubby's　instincts　better　than　his　own。
　〃Maybe　it's　just　a　little　farther　ahead；〃　John　suggested。　Cubby　pursed　his　lips　co