jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第90章

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e　was　in　a　den。　She　was　part　of　the　food　supply　of　that　walking　fish　that　snatched　her。　Somewhere　on　the　trip　to　the　den　she　had　passed　out；　but　she　hadn't　drowned。　At　least　not　quite。　Her　head　told　her　she　had　been　without　oxygen　for　a　while。　She　worried　briefly　about　brain　damage　but　realized　there　was　a　more　immediate　problem。　She　was　part　of　some　prehistoric　fish's　larder；　and　she　didn't　want　to　be　its　main　course　at　the　next　meal。
　Petra　lay　still；　listening　as　hard　as　she　could；　but　heard　nothing。　She　was　pretty　sure　the　fish　wasn't　in　the　den　with　her。　There　were　no　sounds　that　weren't　her　own。　She　reasoned　that　if　the　fish　could　walk　out　of　water；　and　snatch　her　and　other　land　animals；　that　it　must　be　an　air　breather。　The　only　sounds　of　breathing　were　her　own。　No；　this　den　was　filled　with　death　and　rot；　not　life。　Except　her　life。
　Petra　lifted　her　head　slowly；　pausing　frequently　to　let　the　stars　clear　from　her　eyes。　The　pain　kept　her　at　the　edge　of　tears；　but　she　was　almost　to　a　sitting　position　when　her　head；　with　a　dizzying　pain；　hit　the　ceiling。　It　seemed　to　be　made　of　sticks　and　mud。　There　was　air　in　here；　she　realized；　stale　putrid　air；　but　air。　She　must　be　near　the　surface　of　the　lake。　She　thought　about　digging　through　the　roof　but　didn't　know　what　was　above。　Could　this　part　be　under　the　lake？　Surely　not；　if　it　was　made　of　mud。
　She　sat　semireclined；　holding　her　body　up　with　her　hands；　and　looked　around。　It　seemed　brighter　now。　But　where　was　the　light　ing　from？　Petra　looked　above　and　behind；　seeing　nothing　but　the　gloom。　Then　she　spread　her　knees　apart　and　looked　between。　There　was　a　soft　glow　on　the　floor　of　the　den。　It　took　her　a　minute　to　realize　she　was　looking　at　a　pool　of　water；　and　the　pool　was　glowing　softly。　That　was　the　way　out。　But　even　if　she　could　stay　conscious；　could　she　swim　far；　weakened　as　she　was　and　with　a　crushed　ankle？　She　was　debating　whether　to　try　it　when　the　light　suddenly　disappeared　and　the　water　began　to　ripple。　Something　was　swimming　up　the　tunnel。
　She　flopped　back　down　and　froze；　trying　to　remember　the　position　she　had　been　in。　The　water　of　the　pool　sloshed　violently　enough　to　splash　her　ankles。　She　began　to　tremble　with　fear　and　bit　her　lip；　trying　to　stop　the　shaking。　Suddenly　there　was　a　loud　splash　and　the　wet　sound　of　blowing　air…she　could　feel　the　walking　fish　behind　her。　It　puffed　and　blew　a　couple　of　more　breaths；　tasting　the　air　of　its　den　as　if　to　make　sure　it　had　not　been　disturbed。　Petra　knew　her　only　chance　was　to　play　dead；　but　reflexively　she　wanted　to　run　or　fight。
　Still；　she　suppressed　her　instincts　as　the　fish　pulled　its　body　from　the　water。　She　heard　its　flipper…feet　pad　across　the　wet　surface；　its　body　or　tail　dragging　across　the　floor　of　the　den。
　Then　something　pushed　her　in　the　back。　Petra　tried　to　remain　limp；　but　she　panicked　again。　Rigor　mortis。　She　should　be　stiff；　shouldn't　she？　Too　late。　She　couldn't　change　her　act　now。　It　pushed　her　again；　this　time　higher　in　the　back。　Petra　rocked　gently　again；　acting　limp。　She'd　play　stiff　later。　Then　the　fish　walked　forward　and　began　rummaging　around　in　the　back　of　the　den。　Soon　Petra　heard　the　sounds　of　chomping　and　eating。　Relief　swept　her　body。　She　was　too　big　for　an　after…dinner　snack；　so　unless　it　planned　to　taste　her；　she　didn't　think　she　was　on　tonight's　menu。　From　the　smell　of　the　cave　this　prehistoric　fish　liked　its　food　well　deposed。
　When　the　fish　finished　its　meal　it　rummaged　around　a　bit　longer；　then　padded　back　toward　Petra。　She　held　perfectly　still　when　it　approached；　but　then　to　her　horror；　it　plopped　down　behind　her；　its　back　pressed　against　hers。　She　waited　for　it　to　move；　but　it　didn't。　After　a　few　minutes　she　heard　rhythmic　breathing。　It　was　asleep；　its　back　against　Petra。　Now　she　couldn't　move。　She　was　trapped。
　
　55。　　PAT　AND　PATTY
　
　The　killer　whale　has　no　peer；　it　fears　nothing　in　its　domain　and　has　no　qualms　about　attacking　any　other　beast　it　makes　contact　with；　even　the　true　whale。　Would　it　kill　a　man？　Probably　yes。
　…James　B。　Sweney；　Sea　Monsters　and　Other　Dangerous　Marine　Life
　
　West　of　Naples；　Florida
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　　Hey　look；　a　fin！〃　Chris　yelled。　Ron　woke　to　see　a　black　fin　break　the　surface；　and　then　disappear　again。　Another　fin　appeared　farther　out　and　then　another。
　〃Are　they　sharks？〃　Carmen　asked。
　〃No；〃　Rosa　answered。　〃They're　too　big。〃
　〃They're　over　here　too；〃　Chris　said　excitedly。
　Ron　looked　right　to　see　two　more　fins。　Then　one　of　the　animals　leapt　out　of　the　water。　It　was　black　on　the　top　but　white　on　the　bottom；　the　clear　markings　of　orca。　It　was　a　pack　of　killer　whales…there　were　at　least　ten。
　The　whales　circled　Patty　and　Pat；　ing　closer　with　each　pass。　Then　Chris　shouted　and　pointed　straight　down。　Ron　looked　to　see　a　black　shape　shoot　between　Patty　and　her　baby。　Another　orca　followed；　but　this　one　rammed　Pat；　driving　him　away　from　his　mother。　More　whales　swam　between　Pat　and　Patty；　driving　the　baby　farther　away　from　its　mother。
　〃They're　after　the　baby；〃　Rosa　said　sadly。　〃We've　got　to　help　it。〃
　Suddenly　the　baby　let　out　an　ear…piercing　squeal。　The　mother　immediately　whipped　her　head　around；　wrenching　her　body　into　a　partial　turn。　Ron　and　the　others　dropped　spread…eagled；　to　keep　from　being　thrown　off。
　When　the　mother　was　satisfied　the　baby　was　still　following　she　resumed　her　course。　Ron　looked　down　at　the　baby　and　heard　rapid；　deep　breathing；　punctuated　by　a　slight　whine。　Rosa　pointed　silently　to　the　baby's　wake；　everyone　saw　that　Pat　was　leaving　a　pink　trail　in　the　water。
　Suddenly　Pat　dipped　deep　into　the　water；　nearly　submerging　his　head；　and　screamed　again。　Chris　put　his　hands　to　his　ears　to　block　the　horrible　sound；　but　Patty　wrenched　around　again　and　Chris　had　to　spread　his　arms　wide　to　keep　from　rolling　off。　Ron　looked　back　to　see　two　more　fins　rushing　toward　Pat。　Now　the　fins　dipped　below　the　surface　and　a　few　seconds　later　Pat　shuddered　twice　in　quick　succession。
　Pat　screamed　continuously　now；　and　his　wake　was　a　crimson　stream　far　into　the　distance。　The　orcas　were　in　a　blood　frenzy　and　the　pack　circled　closer。　The　flashing　orcas　were　designed　for　this　kind　of　attack。　Sleek　and　powerful；　they　darted　in　and　out；　biting　into　the　struggling　Pat；　who　squealed　with　every　blow。　Patty's　huge　tail　might　have　been　formidable　on　land；　but　in　the　water　it　was　nearly　useless　in　the　defense　of　Pat。　Occasionally　Patty's　tail　would　break　the　surface　and　slam　down　into　the　sea　with　a　deafening　slap。　The　orcas　seemed　bothered　by　the　sound　at　first；　but　then　ignored　it；　dodging　it　every　time。
　The　kids　were　horrified。　But　Ron　realized　that　to　the　orcas　it　was　just　feeding　time；　and　Pat　was　the　target。　Even　in　the　civilized　world　justice　is　fleeting；　in　the　animal　world　it　is　meaningless。
　The　attack　on　Pat　was　going　on　at　a　leisurely　pace。　The　orcas　were　enjoying　the　hunt；　streaking　up　from　below…their　attacks　drenching　Patty's　passengers　with　bloody　spume。
　〃I　want　to　get　out　of　here；〃　Chris　moaned。
　〃Me　too；〃　Rosa　said。　〃Let's　swim　away。〃
　Ron　had　never　heard　of　orcas　eating　people；　but　he　wasn't　sure　anyone　had　ever　swum　through　a　feeding　frenzy；　covered　in　the　blood　from　the　kill。　Apparently　Carmen　agreed。
　〃We're　still　safer　here；　kids；〃　she　said。　〃If　we　get　in　that　water　they　might　e　after　us。　Let's　stay　up　here　as　long　as　we　can。〃
　Ron　nodded。　He　decided　now　was　the　time　to　use　the　last　of　the　water　and　passed　the　bottle　to　the　kids。　They　each　drank　about　a　quarter　and　passed　the　bottle　to　Carmen…who　started　to　refuse；　but　Ron　frowned　at　her。　There　was　no　point　in　saving　the　little　that　was　left。　After　Carmen　drank　her　share　she　passed　the　bottle　back　to　Ron。　As　he　drank　the　last　of　the　water；　he　noticed　dozens　of　seabirds　gathered　overhead。　They　must　have　been　following　the　killer　pack；　scavenging　the　remains　of　their　victims。　The　birds　circled　and　screeched；　waiting　like　vultures。
　Pat　was　barely　moving　now；　although　he　still　seemed　to　have　little　trouble　floating。　Patty　was　getting　frantic；　and　began　bleating　defiantly　at　the　circling　orcas。　Then　as　Pat　slowed　to　a　near　stop；　Patty　turned　in　a　wide　circle；　around　him。　Carmen　yelled　for　everyone　to　lie　flat；　to　get　as　much　tractio