jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第2部分

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　that　was　funny　when　you're　drunk　but　seemed　dumb　the　next　morning。　Still；　none　of　the　other　residents　tore　the　signs　down　for　months。
　He　found　his　dark　blue　Toyota　in　the　parking　lot。　The　odometer　had　twenty…eight　thousand　miles　on　it；　but　it　had　rolled　over　two　years　ago。　The　upholstery　was　shot；　and　the　passenger　win'　dow　was　stuck　closed；　but　the　car　would　not　quit。　He　was　briefly　apprehensive…in　all　his　careful　planning　he　had　never　considered　the　possibility　that　his　ten…year…old　Toyota　might　be　the　weak　link；　trapping　him　with　the　unbelievers。　Now　he　pumped　it　twice；　relieved　when　as　usual　it　started　the　second　time。
　As　he　was　pulling　out　of　the　parking　slot；　he　noticed　a　yellow　bumper　sticker　on　the　Escort　parked　next　to　him。　Written　in　calligraphy；　it　read　simply　Shit　Happens。　Kenny　forced　a　nervous　laugh。　〃You　got　that　right；〃　he　said　out　loud。　〃You　sure　got　that　right。〃　Then　Kenny　left　the　parking　lot　for　the　last　time。
　When　he　reached　Dr。　Piltcher's　house；　Phat；　Colter；　and　Petra　were　already　there；　packing　the　RV　and　the　van　for　their　trip。　Kenny　found　Dr。　Piltcher　and　Dr。　Coombs　staring　at　a　puter　screen。　Kenny　could　see　the　simulation　he　and　Phat　had　developed　running　on　the　screen。　A　well…worn　copy　of　an　ancient　manuscript　lay　open　next　to　the　puter。　It　made　an　odd　sight；　the　ancient　and　the　modern　sitting　side　by　side。　The　two　scientists　looked　up　when　Kenny　came　into　the　study。　There　were　dark　bags　under　their　eyes。
　〃Have　you　been　running　the　simulation　all　night？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　said。　〃Dr。　Coombs　and　I　fed　in　more　of　the　Zorastrus　data。　It　didn't　make　any　difference。　It's　going　to　happen。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Kenny　said。
　There　was　nothing　more　to　say；　so　Kenny　left　the　scientists　to　help　the　others。　While　they　were　packing；　Mrs。　Wayne　arrived　with　Ernie　Powell　in　Ernie's　pickup　truck；　its　bed　loaded　with　more　supplies。　Dr。　Piltcher　had　advised　them　all　to　prepare　for　the　worst。
　When　everything　was　packed　it　came　time　for　good…byes。　Dr。　Coombs　shook　Kenny's　hand　without　a　word；　but　Kenny　knew　Dr。　Piltcher　would　have　something　to　say。
　〃Won't　you　change　your　mind；　Kenny？〃　Dr。　Piltcher　asked。　〃e　with　us。　We　should　be　together　when　it　happens。　I　think　you　need　to　be　with　the　group。〃
　Kenny　knew　Dr。　Piltcher's　concern　was　genuine。　Kenny　had　bee　introspective　as　the　summer　wore　on。　By　the　season's　end　he　rarely　participated　in　the　group　discussions；　and　even　Phat　couldn't　draw　him　out。　Kenny　had　tried　to　stay　engaged　but　wasn't　like　the　others。　He　couldn't　partmentalize　his　life；　set　aside　his　fears　and　live　normally。　In　fact；　now　his　fears　were　his　life。　He　needed　family；　not　friends。　He　didn't　understand　why；　so　he　said　simply；　〃I　need　to　be　with　my　family。〃
　〃So　you're　going　to　go　through　with　it？〃　Dr。　Piltcher　asked；　not　expecting　an　answer。　〃Take　this　with　you；　I　copied　some　of　the　Apocrypha　of　Zorastrus　for　you。　It　might　help。〃
　Kenny　took　the　sheaf　of　papers　from　his　friend　and　mentor　and　placed　them　next　to　his　backpack。
　〃Be　careful；　Kenny。　We'll　look　for　you　after　it　happens。　。　。　if　we　can。〃
　〃Thanks。　The　group　meant　a　lot　to　me。〃　Kenny's　voice　cracked；　so　he　immediately　lowered　his　head；　holding　back　the　rest　of　what　he　had　planned　to　say。　Instead　he　and　Dr。　Piltcher　stared　at　their　shoes　for　a　full　minute　and　then　Kenny　managed　to　steady　his　voice　long　enough　to　tell　them；　〃I'm　going　now。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　nodded　and　then　shook　Kenny's　hand；　as　did　everyone　in　the　group　except　Mrs。　Wayne；　who　knocked　his　hand　away　and　wrapped　her　arms　around　him。　When　she　finally　released　him　he　saw　tears　in　her　eyes。　Turning　away　quickly　to　hide　the　moisture　in　his　own；　he　climbed　into　his　battered　Toyota。　He　backed　slowly　down　the　driveway；　knowing　he　probably　wouldn't　see　any　of　them　again。　They　were　all　still　waving　good…bye　when　he　turned　onto　the　main　road　and　drove　out　of　sight。
　
　2。　　THE　ENTREPRENEUR
　
　Until　meteorites　fell　in　1803；　scientists　were　certain　that　reports　of　stones　falling　from　the　sky　were　legends。　It　makes　one　wonder　what　other　mysteries　should　be　revisited。
　…E。Suzuki；　Belief　and　Behavior
　
　Naples；　Florida
　PREQUILT：　SATURDAY；　9：03　A。M。　EST
　
　　The　Entrepreneur　was　a　thirty…five…foot　fiberglass　deep…water　sailboat；　rigged　for　the　open　sea。　The　original　production　hull　had　been　modified　with　a　three…foot　cabin　extension；　bowsprit　and　pulpit；　and　webbing　of　double　lifelines。　The　mast　was　forty…five　feet　of　extruded　aluminum　supported　by　one…quarter…inch　stainless　steel　shrouds。　A　gleaming　white；　slim　hulled　beauty　with　a　fin　keel；　the　Entrepreneur　was　everything　Ron　Tubman　always　wanted　in　a　yacht；　and　more；　and　it　was　finally　his。
　Carmen　and　her　daughter　were　aboard；　stowing　gear　for　the　voyage。　Ron　still　thought　of　Rosa　as　Carmen's　daughter；　though　they　had　been　a　blended　family；　or　at　least　mixed；　for　eighteen　months　now。　Everyone　was　consciously　trying　to　blend；　and　Chris　had　surprised　him；　warming　up　to　Carmen　as　quickly　as　Ron　had。　He　remembered　joking　with　Carmen　about　her　close　relationship　with　her　new　son；　suggesting　a　reconsideration　of　Freud's　theory　about　Oedipal　conflicts。
　Rosa　was　a　different　story；　however；　with　no　sign　of　an　Electra　plex　toward　Ron。　She　was　cordial　with　her　new　brother　Chris；　even　affectionate　at　times。　Brother　and　sister　roles　were　new　to　both　of　them；　and　they　had　quickly　formed　a　bond。　Even　before　the　marriage；　Rosa　had　gone　out　of　her　way　to　do　things　with　Chris…just　as　she　went　out　of　her　way　to　avoid　Ron。　Maybe；　Ron　thought；　it　was　the　age　difference　between　Rosa　and　Chris　that　made　it　easy　for　them　to　be　friends。　Rosa　was　six　years　older　than　Chris；　and　they　had　different　interests　and　roles　in　the　family。　The　spliced　siblings　had　never　peted　for　affection　from　their　parents。　But　Rosa　remained　deliberately　distant；　cool　and　aloof　to　Ron。　She　visited　her　father　every　other　weekend　and　made　it　clear　she　didn't　need　another。　Ron　didn't　know　if　Rosa　had　harbored　fantasies　about　her　parents　reuniting　after　their　divorce；　but　Carmen's　remarriage　would　have　abruptly　ended　such　a　dream。
　Still；　Rosa　had　shown　feint　glimmerings　of　interest　in　the　sailboat；　and　that　tiny　spark　was　more　than　Ron　had　seen　in　eighteen　months。　Now　he　was　hoping　that　the　time　at　sea；　away　from　the　distractions　of　school；　television；　and　boys；　would　help　him　form　a　bond　with　Rosa。　If　not；　at　least　he'd　have　the　pleasures　of　sailing。
　Ron　shouted　down　the　dock　at　Chris；　who　was　leaning　over　the　bow　swishing　a　piece　of　line　in　the　water。
　〃Hey；　Chris！　Permission　to　e　aboard？〃
　Chris　looked　confused　for　a　minute　and　then　stood　erect；　brought　his　hand　to　his　forehead　in　a　salute；　and　said；　〃Permission　granted。〃　Ron　returned　his　salute　and　then　climbed　over　the　double　railing。　For　perhaps　the　hundredth　time；　Ron　saw　that　Chris　was　a　miniature　version　of　himself；　with　sandy　blond　hair；　blue　eyes；　and　fair…now　sunburned…skin。　It　looked　like　Chris　would　someday　reach　at　least　his　father's　five　foot　ten　inches。　Both　were　dressed　in　nautical　white　T…shirts；　shorts；　and　deck　shoes；　and　Ron　admitted　to　himself　that　father…and　son　outfits　made　him　feel　a　little　silly。
　〃Ready　to　sail；　First　Mate？〃
　〃I've　been　ready　for　an　hour。　。。。I　mean；　everything's　shipshape；　sir。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　check　on　the　stores。〃
　Chris　ran　back　to　whatever　he　was　doing　on　the　bow　while　Ron　stepped　down　into　the　cabin。　With　only　eighty…five　square　feet　of　living　space；　it　was　tightly　packed　with　necessities　and　forts。　A　propane　stove；　a　refrigerator；　and　a　sink　with　foot…pump　faucets；　one　for　freshwater；　and　one　for　saltwater；　made　up　the　Entrepreneur's　galley。　The　table　in　the　center　of　the　cabin　was　actually　the　cover　for　the　two…cylinder　diesel　engine。　The　berths　doubled　as　storage　space；　and　the　head　was　forward　in　the　bow。　A　small　chart　table　folded　down　from　the　wall；　and　the　Entrepreneur's　speedometer；　chronometer；　dinometer；　and　pass　were　mounted　on　the　wall　above　the　folding　chart　table。　The　radio　direction　finder；　depth　finder；　and　the　short'　wave　radio　were　mounted　below　it。
　Carmen　and　Rosa　were　sitting　on　the　opposing　bunks　talking　when　Ron　stepped　down　into　the　cabin；　but　stopped　as　soon　as　he　came　in。　Rosa　and　Carmen　were　nearly　as　similar　as　Ron　and　Chris；　sharing　short　brown　hair；　brown　eyes；　and　thin　arms　and　legs。　But　while　Carmen　was　filled　out；　teenage　Rosa　still　looked　gangly。
　〃Are　you　ladies　ready　to　go？〃
　Rosa　looked　down；　folding　her　hands　into　her　lap；　and　Carmen　gave　Ron　a　〃don't　make　a　big　deal　out　of　this〃　look。
　〃Rosa　doesn't　want　to　go。〃
　〃But　it's　all　set；　and　it's　only　overnight。〃
　〃No；　I　mean　she　doesn't　want　to　make　the　sail　to　Bermuda。　A　month　on　the　ocean　is　a　long　time　to　be　away　from　your　friends。〃
　〃It's　not　just　my　friends；〃　Rosa　said。　She　raised　her　head　and　stared　defiantly　at　Ron。　〃It's　my　dad；　my　real　dad。　I　don't　want　to　be　away　from　him　that　long。　I　mean；　Mom；　you　have　Ron；　and　even　Chris；　but　Dad's　got　no　one　but　me。　If　I'm　gone　he'll　have　no　one。〃
　Out　of　the　er　of　his　eye；　Ron　saw　Carmen　bite　her　lip。　Given　the　history　of　Rosa's　father；　Ron　doubted　the　man　would　be　lonely。　Ron　knew　Carmen's　marriage　had　broken　up　because　of　her　husband's　repeated　affairs。　He　also　knew　Carmen　had　hidden　that　from　Rosa。
　〃You'll　be　together；〃　Rosa　continued；　〃but　he'll　be　alone　for　a　month。　I　just　can't　do　that　to　him。〃
　Ron　wanted　to　protest　that　it　wasn't　a　month　at　sea；　only　a　week。　Well；　he　reflected；　a　week　each　way；　with　a　two…week　layover…but　he　heeded　Carmen's　warning　look。
　This　trip　was　meant　to　be　a　trial　run　for　the　Bermuda　voyage。　They　were　to　sail　out　from　Naples；　Florida；　spend　the　night；　and　then　sail　back。　The　kids　could　get　their　sea　legs；　and　Ron　could　prove　to　the　kids；　and　Carmen；　that　he　could　navigate。　He　even　planned　to　do　it　without　the　RDF　system。　This　was　supposed　to　be　a　warm…up　for　the　big　event；　and　he　wasn't　ready　to　give　up　the　voyage　to　Bermuda　yet。
　〃Well；　I　think　we　can　talk　about　this；〃　Carmen　said。　〃Can't　we；　Ron？〃
　Ron　nodded；　but　hoped　that　after　a　couple　of　days　at　sea　Rosa　would　fall　in　love　with　deep…water　sailing；　just　as　he　had；
　〃Let's　talk　about　it　at　sea；〃　he　suggested。　〃I　think　so　much　more　clearly　when　there　is　nothing　to　see　but　blue　sky　above　and　blu