jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第68章

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　than　his　own。
　〃Maybe　it's　just　a　little　farther　ahead；〃　John　suggested。　Cubby　pursed　his　lips　considering。
　〃I　don't　know；　John；　we　should　at　least　be　able　to　see　those　skyscrapers。〃　Cubby　looked　around　intently。　Then　he　pointed　up　at　the　hill　to　the　south。　〃Let's　climb　up　to　those　fallen　trees。　Maybe　we　can　get　a　look　around　from　up　there。〃
　John　hesitated；　then　followed　Cubby；　though　his　stomach　was　rumbling；　and　his　muscles　plaining。　After　another　crested　hill；　he　was　just　about　to　quit　when　they　came　to　a　clearing　amidst　fallen　timber。　Trees　lay　every　which　way；　and　their　roots　and　crowns　towered　into　the　air；　blocking　the　view。　They　worked　their　way　to　where　the　hill　dropped　off　sharply；　then　climbed　the　jagged　roots　of　a　big　tree　and　stood　on　the　top　of　the　trunk。　They　had　an　unobstructed　view　of　the　valley；　its　floor　a　forest　with　clearings　sprinkled　here　and　there。　In　the　middle　of　the　valley　was　Portland；　wispy　and　still　shimmering；　but　undeniably　there。　Cubby　and　John　shouted　and　whooped　and　jumped　up　and　down。　Then　Cubby　gave　another　shout　and　whoop　and　pointed　to　the　south　of　the　city。　John　looked；　at　first　seeing　nothing　but　buildings　and　trees。　But　then　he　spotted　it。　Separated　from　the　city　by　a　stretch　of　suburbs　was　a。　hill；　and　shimmering　and　flickering　on　its　crest　was　Cubby's　church。　John　stared；　then　looked　for　his　house。　He　knew　there　was　no　way　he　could　see　it　from　here　but　he　looked　anyway。
　〃Thank　you　Lord　Jesus　for　delivering　us；〃　Cubby　prayed　aloud。　John　whispered　an　amen　silently　to　himself。　Enthralled　with　the　feeling　that　something　good　was　about　to　happen；　they　stood　there　staring　at　the　church。　Soon；　John's　thoughts　were　interrupted　by　a　roar…not　the　roar　of　a　dinosaur；　but　the　distant　roar　of　a　jet。
　Spotting　it；　he　watched　it　arc　across　the　sky　above　Portland；　then　it　was　gone。　John　tried　to　estimate　the　distance　to　the　church　and　then　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　nearly　eleven　o'clock。　He　was　sure　they　wouldn't　make　the　church　by　nightfall；　but　like　Cubby；　he　was　willing　to　give　it　a　try。
　They　rushed　into　the　forest；　recklessly　hiking　toward　their　destination。　Still　tired　and　hungry；　but　like　racers　nearing　a　finish　line；　they　found　reservoirs　of　strength。　The　forest　on　the　valley　floor　was　thin；　with　little　underbrush。　They　still　had　to　dodge　razor　grass　and　walk　around　giant　clumps　of　ferns；　but　they　made　good　time。　At　one　point　when　they　heard　something　big　moving　through　the　trees；　they　hid　in　the　undergrowth；　lying　flat　and　praying　that　dinosaurs　have　a　poor　sense　of　smell。　Soon　the　sound　moved　off　in　another　direction；　and　the　boys　quickly　got　back　on　track。
　John　watched　the　sun　sinking　lower　and　lower　as　they　walked　and　began　to　get　nervous。　Here　the　vegetation　was　sparse。　They'd　have　difficulty　finding　a　place　to　hide　for　the　night。　John　heard　the　distant　roar　of　another　jet　and　looked　at　the　sky；　but　couldn't　spot　the　plane。　As　the　roar　of　the　jet　engines　faded　he　heard　the　familiar　sound　of　motors。　Someone　was　driving　through　the　forest。
　〃People；　Cubby。　Listen；　I　can　hear　people。〃
　〃You're　right。　Maybe　we're　near　the　edge　of　the　city。〃　They　listened；　trying　to　locate　the　sounds；　which　suddenly　died。　Cubby　pointed　in　their　direction　and　led　off　through　the　trees　at　a　quick　pace。
　
　They　stopped　in　the　creek　bed　while　Bobby　climbed　the　bank　again。　The　rough　terrain　had　made　Ellen's　sore　bottom　burn　with　pain；　and　she　was　glad　Carl　finally　stopped。　Bobby　had　just　disappeared　when　they　heard　a　shout。
　〃I'll　be　damned。　You've　got　to　see　this。　e　on　up　here。〃　Following　Bobby's　track　up　the　bank；　they　found　themselves　in　a　large　clearing。　There；　shimmering　faintly　in　the　background；　was　the　Portland　skyline。　Ellen　felt　hope　flood　her　body。　She　had　been　slowly　reconciling　herself　to　the　loss　of　her　son…but　maybe；　just　maybe；　there　was　hope。
　
　Now　John　felt　better。　If　they　were　near　the　edge　of　the　city　he　could　catch　a　ride　to　his　house　and　spend　the　night　there。　John　and　Cubby　found　themselves　climbing　yet　another　hill；　a　gradual　one　so　the　climbing　was　easy。　On　the　other　side；　the　trees　thinned；　and　they　found　themselves　staring　into　a　large　clearing。
　Near　the　far　edge　were　parked　several　motorcycles。　Eight　people　stood　near　the　bikes；　and　even　from　this　distance；　John　could　tell　two　were　women；　and　one　seemed　familiar。　When　she　moved　he　knew　it　was　his　mother。
　〃It's　my　mom；〃　he　said；　starting　past　Cubby　into　the　clearing。　Cubby's　hand　on　his　arm　stopped　him。
　〃Wait；　John；　something's　not　right。〃
　Maybe　it　was　the　motorcycles…John　and　Cubby　had　seen　many　biker　movies…or　maybe　they'd　developed　natural　caution　in　the　forest。　But　John　and　Cubby　just　stood　and　watched。
　
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　Ellen　and　Angie　were　excited　by　the　presence　of　the　city；　but　the　guys　seems　disappointed；　and　even　angry。
　〃Thought　you　were　going　to　find　us　a　mama　dinosaur；　Coop；〃　Carl　said　in　a　threatening　tone。
　〃Yeah；〃　Kishton　added　menacingly。　Ellen　could　see　that　some　of　the　razor　grass　cuts　were　still　bleeding。　〃I　missed　out　on　the　first　hunt；　and　I　came　out　here　looking　for　some　excitement。〃
　He　was　off　his　bike　and　approaching　Coop；　who　urged　Angie　off；　then　confronted　Kishton。
　〃I　found　you　one　dinosaur；　I　didn't　say　I　could　find　you　two。〃
　〃Well　that's　not　good　enough；　Coop。　If　you　can't　find　dinosaurs　for　us；　just　what　the　hell　are　you　good　for？〃
　〃Coop　didn't　let　us　down；　Kishton；〃　Carl　said；　walking　up　in　front　of　Coop。　〃He　found　us　a　dinosaur。　And　not　only　that　but　he　brought　us　some　more　fun。〃　Then　he　chuckled。
　Coop's　face　was　drawn；　his　lips　tight；　his　eyes　fearful。
　〃Good　buddy　Deputy　Dawg　brought　us　Ellen　and　Angie。　Two　of　the　hottest　babes　in　the　county。〃
　〃At　least　Angie　is；〃　Kishton　said；　walking　up　behind　her。
　〃Hey；　Kishton；　you　and　the　others　can　have　her。　Ellen　straightens　out　my　pecker。〃
　〃Knock　off　that　kind　of　talk；　Carl；〃　Coop　said；　his　voice　trembling。　〃They　might　think　you're　serious。〃
　Carl　grabbed　his　crotch　and　gave　it　a　shake。　〃Don't　I　look　serious；　Coop？〃　The　others　laughed。
　〃Don't　touch　them；　Carl。〃　Coop　dropped　his　hand　to　the　butt　of　his　gun。
　〃You　gonna　stop　me；　Deputy　Dawg？〃
　〃I'm　the　law…〃
　〃Coop；　you　weren't　much　law　back　in　Carlton　and　you　sure　ain't　the　law　out　here。　I'm　the　law　here。〃
　Then；　without　any　warning；　Carl　dropped　his　hand　to　his　gun；　pulled　it　and　fired　it　into　Coop's　chest。　Coop　dropped　to　the　ground；　twisting　left　and　falling　into　the　deep　grass。　Ellen　knew　he　would　never　move　again。
　The　other　guys　stood　still；　shocked；　Ellen　imagined　they　would　have　willingly　beat　up　Coop；　de…pantsed　him；　tarred　and　feathered　him；　or　even　tied　him　to　a　tree　naked　and　left　him。　But　she　believed　only　Carl　would　have　killed　Coop　in　cold　blood。　Carl's　ruthlessness　was　probably　what　made　him　their　leader。　But　now　that　he'd　murdered　Coop；　how　much　further　were　they　willing　to　go？　Kishton　answered　the　question　by　grabbing　Angle's　arms；　and　pulling　them　behind　her　back。
　〃Give　me　a　hand　here；　will　you；　Butler？〃
　Butler　hesitated。　Then　a　big　smile　crossed　his　face；　and　he　stepped　forward　and　grabbed　Angie's　breasts。
　〃Oh　mama；〃　he　said；　〃we're　going　to　have　some　fun。〃
　With　that　Butler　tore　Angie's　blouse　open。　She　didn't　scream　or　cry　out；　but　she　began　to　struggle　and　kick。　Butler　jammed　himself　up　close　to　Angie；　so　she　couldn't　kick　him　between　the　legs；　and　tore　her　blouse　down　to　her　waist。
　Ellen；　frozen　in　disbelief；　now　saw　Carl's　face　turn　toward　her　and　took　off　running。　Heavy　footsteps　behind　her　urged　her　to　run　faster。　She　headed　for　the　treeline；　hoping　to　lose　herself　in　the　underbrush。　In　the　twilight　she　might　be　able　to　hide　herself。
　Halfway　to　the　trees　Carl　tackled　her。　She　went　down　hard　on　her　stomach；　her　chin　striking　the　ground；　her　teeth　aching　from　the　impact。　Still；　she　kicked　and　pushed　to　keep　Carl　from　getting　a　solid　grip　on　her。　He　laughed；　enjoying　her　struggle。　When　Bobby　arrived；　the　two　men　flipped　her　onto　her　back。　Carl　sat　on　her；　pinning　her　solidly　to　the　ground；　and　then　timed　his　grabs　to　seize　her　flailing　arms。　Then　Bobby　pulled　them　above　her　head。　Carl　leaned　back；　putting　more　weight　on　her　stomach；　staring　at　her　breasts；　smiling　in　antic