jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第83部分
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Petra sifted through her own memories； but the only image that came to mind all had long thin necks and huge flippers。 This mass didn't look like that。 Instead it looked like something the size of a shark。 Freshwater sharks？ Realizing she was only scaring herself； she saw it wasn't attacking； and the only thing more important than that was the approaching shore。
〃Colter； it's gone。 Do you see it？〃
〃No。 Man； I wish I knew if that was good or bad。 Just keep swimming。〃
Petra gritted her teeth against the pain in her aching muscles and kicked even harder。 As she swam she watched left and right； vowing not to give herself up to some fish when she had beaten a monster like the one that killed Dr。 Piltcher。
Not just killed； she reminded herself； but eaten。 Why did being eaten horrify her more than just simple death？ Surely it didn't matter to Dr。 Piltcher and Dr。 Coombs； they were both beyond caring。 But to Petra it did matter。 Maybe she wanted something to bury and mourn。 But most of all she was repulsed by the idea of humans being used as food。 Humans weren't food。 At least they weren't in their own world。 Here the human place in the food chain was still being worked out and the humans hadn't done well so far。
〃It's back； Petra；〃 Colter announced。 〃It just cut between us。 I think it's trying to separate us。 Just keep going； I'll stay close behind。〃
Petra tried； but she had no more energy。 She was making her best possible speed…a snail's pace。 Suddenly Colter gasped； and Petra turned to see him struggling back up onto his float。 He was coughing and sputtering。
〃I'm okay。 It scraped me too。 I think it's tasting us。〃
〃Shut up； Colter； and swim！〃
Petra turned toward shore again and forced herself back into her rhythm。 Something rushed by her legs； creating powerful swirls around her dangling feet。 Petra kept up her pace； but then it rushed by again； closer this time。
Petra could feel the attack ing and then Colter shouted； 〃This is it！ Swim for it； Petra！〃
Confused and scared； Petra wanted to shout she was swimming but had no energy。 Colter was facing the other way。 She couldn't see the fish but its wake was rushing toward Colter； whose float； she realized； was gone。 She turned； let go of her float； and began arm stroking toward shore； finding her rested arms had more energy left than her nearly useless legs。 Despite her loud splashing； she heard the attack behind her； violent thrashing in the water。 Petra was too afraid for herself to think about Colter。 Instead she repeated to herself； left； right； left right。 Soon； her arms tired and her speed dropped off。
A new sound came behind her now； a rhythmical splashing Petra began to cry。 Her arms moved mechanically； and with every stroke she lost a little speed。 Her vision was blurring Before she had seen the blue murk of the depths。 Now a greenish fuzz hung before her eyes； drifting up to meet her； and then on her next stroke she hit it。 It was the bottom。
She folded at the waist trying to get her legs under her； but she was too near the shore。 Now she found herself kneeling in the water； chest deep。 Still； she felt as if she were onshore； safe from the lake's menaces。 Then she heard splashing behind her；
She spun to see Colter wading through the water； spreading his arms as he approached。 Petra stood to take his embrace； but instead Colter turned her toward shore。 With his arm around her they walked along the lake bottom toward the meadow beyond。
As their bodies met the cool air； they began to shiver。 Petra wanted to run to shore and into the grass of the meadow for warmth； but Colter held her back。
〃Let's make sure something's not waiting for us。〃
The breeze was chilly； so Petra squatted in the water to warm herself。
〃What happened back there； Colter？ I thought that fish had you for sure。〃
〃It almost did。 I stuffed my Levi's into its mouth。 It tore them up something bad； but while it was wasting its time I took off。〃
〃I'm sorry I didn't stop to help you。〃
Colter turned when she said that； anger flashing across his face。
〃Don't be sorry。 Petra； everything I've done； I've done for you。 Dr。 Piltcher is right 。 。 。 was right。 I'm not that smart； not like you。 I didn't really belong in the group。 I was only there for you。 Now all I want is to get you out of here。〃
〃Get us out of here；〃 Petra corrected。 〃Let's get out of here and see if my dorm room is still there。〃
Pushing herself out of the water as she spoke； she stood in her soaking bra and panties； holding out her arms。 Colter； nearly naked himself and covered with wounds； stepped into her arms。 They hugged； enjoying the warmth of each other's bodies； and rocked gently against each other； their eyes closed； lest something distract them from their internal sensations。 The released libido warmed them slightly； giving them fort and pleasure。
Then Petra pushed her hips against Colter and leaned her head back。 Colter bent his head to kiss her； but never got the chance。 When Colter moved to kiss Petra he saw something ing out of the water behind her。 It was the fish。
This was like no fish he had ever seen。 It had a fish shape； but it was armored from head to tail； with four flippers it used like legs to run along the lake bottom。 Colter started to push Petra aside； but it was too late。 The fish hit her from behind； clamping its jaws down on her left leg。 The blow knocked Petra into Colter and he stumbled back； falling into the shallows。 Screaming from the shock and the pain； Petra's leg was jerked out from under her as the killer fish pulled her toward the depths。 In vain； Colter charged after them。
〃Kick at it； Petra；〃 he shouted in desperation。
Petra mouthed something Colter never heard and then her head was pulled beneath the surface。 Diving into the water； Colter saw Petra pulled deeper into the laket her arms outstretched； reaching for him。 He stroked and kicked after her； reaching out to grab her retreating hands； but it was no use。 He watched her pleading eyes and reaching hands fade into the murky depths； until she was gone。
50。 RESCUE
You have confessed your prognostications of doom。 Have you forgotten I am a god？ Would not I know the future if it was to be known？
…King of Babylon to Zorastrus
Forest； former site of Portland； Oregon
POSTQUILT： TUESDAY； 5：20 P。M。 PST
They were running through the trees away from the camp。 Ripman led the way； moving through the forest with a familiarity that was natural； not acquired； and Ellen and Angie struggled to keep up。 Both women still had on their shoes and pants； but Angie's blouse was pletely gone and Ellen's had no buttons。 Branches and tall grasses scratched tender skin unaccustomed to exposure。
When they first followed Ripman into the forest； Carl and the guys fired recklessly。 Ripman had darted from one giant tree to the next； Angie and Ellen mimicking his moves。 The crack of gunshots and the whine of bullets…sometimes slamming into nearby trees…covered the sounds of their movements。 Ripman angled them up the hill and away from the guys； and soon the gunfire became distant thunder。
He kept the pace long after the gunfire ended。 Ellen's fear was diminishing as was her adrenalin…fed strength。 Exhaustion filled her body。 The sun was gone now and the forest had bee one unending shadow。 Their eyes adapted to the dark but Ripman's pace meant stumbles and falls。 Ellen was about to ask him for a rest when his hand came up； signaling for them to stop。
They were near the crest of the hill by a rocky outcrop。 A huge fallen tree lay there and disappeared into the forest in a tangle of broken limbs。 Ripman circled the tree； climbing toward the massive exposed roots。 When he disappeared over the rocks； suddenly Ellen's fear returned。 Ripman had been their savior and protector。 Though no older than her son； John； his petence was evident in every move he made。
He soon reappeared at the top of the outcrop； motioned them up and then signaled for quiet。 Angie and Ellen pushed and pulled each other up the rocks。 Around the exposed root of the tree； they could see fresh dirt； as if the tree had fallen that morning。 Ripman led them down and under the overhanging roots； into a hollow。
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