jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第103部分

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ved　forward。　Terry　found　it　difficult　to　stay　focused　on　the　city。　His　eyes　seemed　to　fix　on　the　hills　shining　beyond　the　city。　Then　the　buildings　began　to　fade。　Terry　blinked　to　bring　the　image　back；　but　it　continued　to　fade　until　it　was　gone。　Bill　slowed　the　helicopter；　hovering　again；　staring　at　the　forest　where　the　city　had　been。
　〃Hallucination？〃　Bill　asked。
　〃Two　people　sharing　a　hallucination　is　extremely　rare。　Maybe　a　mirage。〃
　〃We're　low　on　fuel。　A　couple　more　passes；　then　we　need　to　head　back。〃
　Bill　turned　back　to　resume　his　spiral　search　pattern　and　Terry　returned　to　his　watch；　surprised　at　how　easily　he　could　put　the　vanishing　city　out　of　his　mind。　It　was；　he　realized；　just　one　facet　of　a　mystery　that　had　consumed　his　son；　and　perhaps　his　wife。
　
　62。　　CAPTURED
　
　It　happened　mid　morning　when　everyone　was　about　their　daily　tasks。　Suddenly　burning　planks　began　to　fall　from　the　sky。　The　fiery　planks　were　of　similar　width；　but　varied　in　length；　and　all　were　aflame。　The　planks　were　quickly　extinguished。　The　villagers　turned　to　the　priest；　fearing　witchcraft　and　seeking　explanation；　but　he　had　none　to　offer。
　…Francois　Delaine；　Province　of　Tournaine；　France；　August　15；1670
　
　Forest；　former　site　of　Portland；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；；　10：05　A。M。　PST
　
　　Ellen；　you　look　like　shit。　You　gotta　take　better　care　of　yourself。〃
　Kishton　was　holding　Ellen's　hands　behind　her　back　and　Carl　was　looking　her　over　like　she　was　a　piece　of　meat。　Which　she　felt　like　now…bloodied　from　a　hundred　tiny　wounds；　with　dirt　covering　her　arms　and　legs　and　tattered　blouse　and　pants。　But　as　his　eyes　smoldered；　Ellen　knew　the　dirt　didn't　matter　to　Carl。
　Ripman　stirred　and　sat　up；　drawing　Carl's　attention。　He　had　been　lying　on　the　ground　unconscious；　but　the　bow　was　still　slung　over　his　shoulder。　Carl　jerked　it　off　angrily。
　〃So　you're　the　sonofabitch　that　shot　me。　You　fucked　up　our　bikes　too；　didn't　you？〃
　Ellen　saw　that　Ripman's　eyes　showed　no　surprise　at　the　mention　of　the　bikes。　Had　he　slipped　into　their　camp　while　Angie　and　she　slept？
　〃He　killed　Bobby；〃　Miller　added；　and　then　kicked　Ripman　in　the　side；　knocking　him　over　again。　〃You　shot　him　in　the　back。　That　ain't　the　way　it's　done。〃
　Ripman　pushed　himself　into　a　sitting　position　again　and　looked　up　at　Miller。　The　right　side　of　his　face　was　swelling。
　〃Sorry。　What's　the　right　way　to　kill　a　rapist？〃
　〃Sonofabitch！〃　Miller　shouted；　and　kicked　Ripman　again。
　Carl　pushed　Miller　back　and　took　center　stage。
　〃Rapist？　Hell；　they　were　asking　for　it！〃　Carl　shouted　in　Ripman's　face。　〃They　sure　as　hell　weren't　no　virgins。　Did　you　see　the　size　of　Angle's　tits？〃　Carl　said。　〃And　the　way　she　was　wigglin'　around？　She　wanted　it；　and　we　have　it。　A　match　made　in　heaven。　By　the　way；〃　Carl　asked；　lowering　his　rifle　so　it　pointed　at　Ripman's　head；　〃where　is　Big　Tits？〃
　Ripman　gave　Ellen　a　look　she　couldn't　interpret　and　then　jumped　up　and　shouted　in　the　direction　they　had　e。
　〃Run；　Angie；　hide！　Run！〃
　A　blow　from　Carl's　fist　sent　him　back　to　the　ground。
　〃I'll　get　her；　Carl；〃　Miller　volunteered。　〃Sounds　like　fun　to　me；〃
　Miller　headed　off　recklessly；　climbing　over　and　under　trees。　Ellen　looked　in　the　direction　of　Ripman's　shout；　trying　to　spot　the　dinosaur；　but　an　isolated　patch　of　standing　trees　was　blocking　the　view。　How　far　had　they　e　while　she　was　semiconscious？　Was　the　dinosaur　gone？　Was　it　following　like　before？
　Carl　grabbed　a　fistful　of　Ellen's　blouse；　pulling　her　close。　She　could　feel　his　hot　breath　and　could　smell　liquor。
　〃Let's　you　and　me　go　someplace　more　fortable。〃　He　shoved　Ellen　ahead　of　him。　〃Kishton；　bring　Robin　Hood；　and　watch　him　close。　You　can　kill　him　if　you　want　to。〃
　Kishton　looked　scathingly　at　Ripman；　but　there　was　no　murder　in　his　eyes。　Talking　of　killing　someone　was　easy。　Actually　killing　was　hard。　Only　Carl　was　sociopath　enough　to　do　it　in　cold　blood。　Pulling　Ripman　to　his　feet；　Kishton　shoved　him　in　the　direction　of　Carl　and　Ellen。
　They　were　nearly　out　of　the　fallen　trees　when　they　heard　three　quick　shots；　followed　by　a　roar。　As　they　all　turned　and　looked　back；　a　loud　thumping　and　crunching　sound　nearly　frightened　them　off　the　log　they　were　standing　on。　Then　Miller　appeared　around　the　corner　of　the　tree　stand；　his　rifle　in　one　hand；　climbing　one　fallen　log；　and　then　jumping　from　tree　to　tree。　Another　roar　trumpeted　and　a　dinosaur　came　around　the　tree　stand；　the　one　that　killed　Angie。　It　had　trouble　negotiating　the　fallen　trees　and　picked　its　way　slowly。　Miller　tripped　over　a　trunk　and　disappeared；　then　popped　back　up；　steadied　his　rifle　across　the　trunk；　and　fired　another　three　quick　shots。　When　the　dinosaur　bellowed　in　pain；　Carl　and　Kishton　brought　their　guns　to　their　shoulders　and　fired；　missing　it。
　Miller　raced　to　another　fallen　tree　looking　for　a　way　over；　then　began　climbing　limbs　recklessly。　The　dinosaur　swiped　at　him；　but　too　late；　and　Miller　jumped　down　between　trunks。　Before　Miller　reappeared　the　animal　stepped　up　on　one　trunk；　and　then　another；　and　another。　Then；　poised　precariously　on　two　logs；　it　looked　down。　As　the　tail　slammed　down；　acting　as　a　stabilizer；　the　dinosaur　bent　its　head　between　its　feet；　using　the　forelegs　to　swipe。　Two　quick　shots　came　from　beneath　the　trunk。
　〃Reload；　Miller；　reload！〃　Kishton　shouted。
　Miller's　first　scream　was　shorter　than　Angle's；　but　he　got　two　more　out　before　the　digging　claws　silenced　him。
　〃Move　it！〃　Carl　yelled；　shoving　Ellen　again。　〃And　you；　you　sonofabitch！〃　Carl　screamed；　kicking　Ripman　in　the　groin　and　knocking　him　to　the　ground。　〃You　did　that　on　purpose。　You　knew　that　thing　was　there！〃　Ripman　groaned；　then　whimpered　as　Carl　kicked　him　in　the　back。
　〃He　wanted　to　be　with　Angie；　didn't　he？〃　Ellen　said；　hoping　to　distract　Carl。　〃Now　they'll　always　be　together。〃
　Carl　whipped　around　at　the　sound　of　her　voice；　his　face　red　with　fury；　the　lust　in　his　eyes　replaced　by　murder。　Ellen's　mind　raced　as　she　searched　for　a　way　out。
　〃I　think　it's　ing　this　way；〃　she　lied。
　Carl's　head　snapped　back　to　the　dinosaur；　which　still　had　its　head　poked　under　a　log。
　〃You'll　pay　for　this！　You'll　both　pay；〃　Carl　hissed。
　Carl　shoved　Ellen　and　once　again　they　were　climbing　toward　rhe　forest。　Everyone　except　Ripman　kept　looking　back。　Occasionally　the　animal　glanced　in　their　direction；　but　it　was　preoccupied　with　eating。
　Again　Ellen　was　facing　what　her　psychologist　husband　would　call　an　avoidance…avoidance　conflict。　If　she　tried　to　escape　she　would　probably　be　killed　by　Carl　or　Kishton；　and　if　she　did　escape；　this　dinosaur；　or　some　other…；　would　probably　eat　her　just　like　Angie。　But　if　she　didn't　escape　she　would　end　up　being　gang　raped　first　and　then　killed。　Then　there　was　Ripman。　He　could　have　left　her　and　Angie　to　the　dinosaur。　Instead　he　tried　to　help　them。　Now　it　looked　like　Carl　and　Kishton　would　beat　him　to　death。　If　she　escaped；　she　resolved；　it　would　be　with　Ripman。
　The　standing　forest　was　only　a　few　logs　away　when　a　bullet　slammed　into　a　fallen　tree　next　to　Ellen；　followed　by　the　report　of　a　pistol。　Confused；　Carl　and　Kishton　looked　in　all　directions。　Two　more　bullets　whined　over　their　heads；　and　all　four　people　ducked　behind　the　nearest　log。　Then　a　voice　rang　out　of　the　forest；　a　deep　menacing　voice；　a　voice　that　was　vaguely　familiar　to　Ellen。
　〃Let　the　woman　and　boy　go！〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Carl　shouted　back。　The　voice　repeated　its　demand。　Carl　gave　Kishton　a　quizzical　look；　but　Kishton　merely　shrugged。　Carl　then　turned；　his　rifle　on　Ripman。　
　〃Who's　out　there；　kid？〃
　The　right　side　of　Ripman's　face　was　swollen　and　purplish。　He　could　scarcely　move　his　lips；　but　he　whispered；　〃Someone　with　a　gun。〃
　Carl　slapped　Ripman　across　his　discolored　cheek。　As　Ripman　grimaced　with　pain　he　gasped　and　moaned。　Satisfied　momentarily；　Carl　turned　to　Ellen；　who　flippantly　offered；　〃Someone　with　a　gun　and　an　attitude？〃
　Carl　slapped　her　down；　then　jerked　her　up　by　her　hair。
　〃They　ain't　gonna　get　you。　You're　mine。〃
　Two　more　shots　echoed　out　of　the　forest；　and　the　bullets　whined　overhead。　From　the　log；　Carl　fired　three　quick　shots　in　response。
　〃e　and　get　them；　if　you　want　them！〃　he　shouted。　〃We　got　plenty　of　ammunition；　and　we　ain't　movin'。〃
　〃Look　behind