jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第70部分

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　After　fifteen　minutes　she　came　to　the　fundamental　questions。
　〃Why　did　this　happen？　Is　it　over？　Will　it　happen　again？　Where　did　the　people　go　who　were　where　the　dinosaurs　are　now？〃
　Puglisi　explained　as　best　he　could　about　the　effect　of　dense　matter；　the　time　waves　and　the　displacement。　He　told　her　about　the　various　theories　and　the　extension　he　made　in　the　Gomez　model　and　how　it　might　affect　the　moon。　When　he　reported　his　contact　with　Dr。　Paulson；　Carrollee　looked　at　him　skeptically　but　seemed　to　realize　that　was　no　more　impossible　than　dinosaurs　showing　up　in　the　modern　age。
　〃So　what　are　you　looking　for　up　here？〃　she　asked。
　〃Support　for　the　theory。　Evidence　that　the　effect　on　the　moon　is　reversed。　Any　data　that　can　help　fill　in　the　picture。　Dr。　Paulson　seemed　particularly　interested　in　the　data。　He　didn't　say　getting　it　was　urgent；　but　he　put　some　time　into　arranging　it；　time　he　could　have　used　for　any　number　of　tasks。　So　if　it's　important　to　him；　it's　important　enough　for　me　to　climb　this　ugly　Popsicle　to　get　it。〃
　Carrollee；　silent；　slipped　into　one　of　her　rare　pensive　moods。　After　a　few　minutes　Emmett　missed　her　conversation。
　〃What　are　you　thinking；　Carrollee？〃
　Carrollee　shook　herself　out　of　her　mood　and　sat　straight　up　in　her　seat。
　〃I'm　　thinking　about　my　family　on　　the　mainland…my　mother　and　my　sister。　I　haven't　been　able　to　reach　them；　but　I　know　there　have　been　telephone　problems。　I　figured　they　were　probably　safe。　Now　I'm　thinking　they　may　not　be　there　at　all。　Not　dead；　just　gone。　Gone　somewhere　in　time。　Is　that　what　you're　saying？　It　makes　me　wonder　if　it　could　happen　again？　If　it　did；　I　wouldn't　want　to　be　sent　off　to　the　future　by　myself。　So；　I　guess　I　should　stick　pretty　close　to　someone　I　would　want　to　disappear　with。〃
　〃I　don't　think　it　will　happen　again；　not　if　we　don't　start　nuclear　testing　again。〃
　But　Emmett　began　thinking　of　people　he　would　want　to　be　near　if　he　were　displaced。　He　didn't　have　any　immediate　family；　only　an　uncle　in　Iowa。　After　considering　and　discarding　several　names；　he　realized　he　was　sitting　with　the　only　person　who　had　a　certain　spot　on　the　list。
　The　switchbacks　became　sharper　and　more　irregular；　telling　them　they　were　near　the　summit。　The　landscape　was　a　monotony　of　frosted；　cracked；　black　lava。　The　winds　continued　to　pick　up；　blowing　white　granular　material　across　the　road。
　〃Is　that　snow？〃　Carrollee　asked。　〃Incredible。　Snow　in　the　tropics。　I　knew　it　was　up　here　of　course；　but　I　guess　I　never　really　believed　it。〃
　The　summit　appeared　suddenly。　The　flat　of　the　barren　lava　dome　was　sprinkled　with　the　high　technology　toys　of　civilization。　Half　a　dozen　observatory　domes　were　spaced　across　the　peak；　most　perched　on　square　bases　that　housed　support　facilities。　Other　support　buildings　were　situated　nearby。　It　gave　an　altogether　eerie　effect；　as　if　time　displacement　had　shifted　the　trappings　of　a　high…tech　civilization　to　the　cooling　lava　of　the　ancient　earth。　Each　of　the　domes　they　could　see　had　a　four…wheel…drive　vehicle　or　two　parked　at　it；　but　Emmett　was　unsure　of　where　Bridgette　might　be。　Four　cars　were　parked　in　a　level　area　at　the　end　of　the　road　by　the　administrative　building；　and　Emmett　decided　to　start　there。
　They　parked　in　the　lot　and　then　dressed　more　warmly。　Car…roilee's　red　checked；　sweater　would　only　be　adequate　for　a　short　walk　in　this　kind　of　weather。　When　they　opened　the　doors　the　cold　dry　air　immediately　sucked　out　moisture　and　warmth。　Carrollee　led　the　way；　trotting　to　the　building　and　bursting　through　the　door。　Inside　they　found　chairs　and　tables　making　up　a　rudimentary　lounge。　It　was　empty；　but　music　drifted　down　the　hall；　then　a　man　came　toward　them；　tall　and　slender；　balding；　with　glasses　pushed　up　on　his　forehead。　He　paused　when　he　saw　the　visitors；　staring　at　Carrollee；　amused。
　〃We're　here　to　see　Dr。　LaSalle。〃
　〃I'll　tell　her　you're　here。〃　The　man　continued　to　survey　Carrollee；　but　with　another　amused　glance　he　turned　and　walked　back　down　the　hall。　While　they　waited；　Carrollee　wandered　around；　picking　up　astronomy　journals　and　leafing　through　them。　Suddenly　the　door　opened。
　Bridgette　was　as　beautiful　and　sexy　as　Emmett　remembered　her。　She　was　wearing　what　must　have　been　designer　overalls；　baby　blue　and　trimmed　in　white。　Her　matching　jacket　was　trimmed　in　what　looked　to　be　needlepoint。　She　was　as　color　coordinated　as　Carrollee；　but　more　understated。　Bridgette　would　draw　attention；　Carrollee　screamed　for　it。　Bridgette's　figure　pushed　and　pulled　at　the　fabric　in　ways　that　made　Emmett's　body　long　for　their　old　days　together。
　When　the　look　on　her　face　said　she　had　none　of　those　old　feelings　left　for　Emmett；　his　lustful　reminiscence　evaporated。　Then　Bridgette　turned　to　look　at　Carrollee；　eyeing　her　from　the　big　bow　on　her　head　to　her　matching　red　socks。
　〃Qui　est…ce　que　cela　pourrait…etre；　Emmett？　Elle　reassemble　a　Minnie　Mouse。〃
　Emmett　wanted　to　laugh；　but　bit　his　lip。　He　had　to　admit　that　Carrollee　did　look　like　Minnie　Mouse；　with　the　short　brown　hair；　and　the　red　checked　outfit　topped　with　a　big　checked　bow。　You　wouldn't　have　to　know　any　French　to　pick　out　the　reference　to　Minnie　Mouse。　Carrollee's　face　was　red；　but　with　anger；　not　embarrassment。　You　couldn't　dress　like　Carrollee　and　be　easily　embarrassed。　Emmett　held　his　breath　when　Carrollee's　mouth　opened。
　〃It's　so　nice　to　meet　you；　Dr。　LaSalle；　I've　heard　a　lot　about　you　from　Emmett。　He　said　you　were　so　。　。　。　well　。　。　。　easy　。　。　。〃
　Emmett　waited　for　Carrollee　to　add　〃to　get　to　know〃　but　she　just　let　her　unfinished　sentence　hang　in　the　air。　Bridgette　bristled；　but　rushed　on；　as　if　she　had　not　understood。
　〃How　did　you　get　Dr。　Paulson　to　go　along　with　this？　If　he　hadn't　called　I　never　would　have　consented　to　。　。　。　this　。　　。　　。　abominable　waste。〃
　〃It　was　Dr。　Paulson's　idea　to　confirm…〃
　〃It　doesn't　matter　whose　idea　it　was；　it　is　a　waste　of　resources。　e　here；　I　want　to　show　you　something。〃
　Bridgette　turned　and　walked　outside。　Emmett　turned　to　follow；　catching　Carrollee's　eyes。
　〃Minnie　Mouse！　Everyone　knows　Minnie　wears　only　polka　dots　and　never　checks！〃　Carrollee　snorted。　〃Warm；　isn't　she？〃　she　continued。　〃She　must　have　been　awfully　good　in　bed　for　you　to　put　up　with　that　kind　of　crap。〃
　Emmett　didn't　answer。　He　just　followed　Carrollee　out　the　door。
　〃Look　over　there；〃　Bridgette　was　saying；　pointing　to　a　dome　set　apart　from　the　others；　a　road　curving　up　to　its　rectangular　base。　〃That's　NASA's　IRTF。　Infrared　telescope；〃　she　translated；　looking　directly　at　Carrollee。　〃The　only　single…mirror　infrared　telescope　bigger　than　NASA's　is　right　there；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　another　dome　that　blended　smoothly　into　its　base。　〃And　over　there；〃　she　continued；　〃is　the　seventh　largest　optical　telescope　in　the　world。　And　do　you　know　what　this　telescope　is　doing　right　now？〃
　〃Taking　pictures　of　the　moon？〃　Carrollee　offered。
　〃That's　right；〃　Bridgette　said　patronizingly；　turning　to　face　Carrollee。
　〃It's　not　my　idea；〃　Carrollee　said　defensively。　〃I　just　came　along　to　keep　Emmett　pany。　If　I　had　my　way　I'd　be　taking　pictures　of　Pluto。〃
　Clearly　Carrollee　was　referring　to　Bridgette's　ments　about　Minnie　Mouse。　But　Bridgette　continued　coolly；
　〃There　are　many　things　in　the　sky　more　worthy　of　an　instrument　of　this　power。　I　would　have　refused　Paulson's　request　outright　if　we　hadn't　had　some　cancellations。〃
　〃Cancellations？〃　Emmett　prompted。
　〃Well；　no　shows　actually。　We　have　some　gaps　in　our　observation　rotation；　and　we've　had　trouble　contacting　those　on　the　waiting　list。〃
　Use　of　the　facilities　was　highly　petitive；　and　not　showing　up　was　unheard　of。　Emmett　understood　why　there　were　gaps　in　Bridgette's　schedule；　but　obviously　Bridgette　was　uninformed　about　what　had　happened　to　the　world　below　her。　He　decided　not　to　tell　her。　He　wanted　his　photographs。
　〃You　said　the　photographic　survey　has　already　begun？　Do　you　need　any　help？〃
　〃We　don't　need　help。　If　you　want　the　plates　developed　and　printed　it　will　take　another　hour　and　a　half。〃
　Emmett　decided　it　was　worth　the　wait。　He　wasn't　sure　he　could　get　the　developing　done　at　the　university；　given　the　situation。
　
　
　Two　hours　later　they　were　traveling　down　off　the　volcano　with　a　sheaf　of　photos。　Carrollee　drove　while　Emmett　shuffled　through　them　futilely；　looking　for　some　obvious　change。
　〃I　just　don't　know　enough　about　moon　topography　to　do　a　good　job　on　this；〃　he　said　finally。　〃Besides；　I'm　getting　car　sick。〃
　〃Emmy　not　take　his　Dramamine？〃　Carrollee　said　in　a　babyish　voice　and　clucked　her　tongue。　〃Just　what　are　you　looking　for；　anyway？〃
　〃Something　different。　Some　kind　of　change。　Something　that　would　support　my　model。　Dr。　Paulson　wasn't　very　specific。〃
　〃Maybe　you　could　ask　someone　to　help　you？〃　Carrollee　suggested。
　〃I　suppose　you　will　be　busy　with　your　babies。〃
　〃Nothing　to　do　now　but　wait。　I　don't　enjoy　staring　at　sand。〃
　Emmett　knew　Carrollee　was　as　hooked　as　he　was　on　the　project。　But　she　wanted　to　know　he　wanted　her　help。
　〃Carrollee；　would　you　help　me　examine　the　photos？〃　Emmett　asked　it　politely　and　seriously；　although　it　came　out　sounding　a　little　forced。
　Carrollee　stifled　a　smile　and　then　said；　〃Oui。〃
　
　53。　　MODERN　DEATH
　
　tt　wasn't　the　wheel　that　gave　man　dominance　over　other　species；　nor　any　other　implement；　save　one；　the　weapon。
　…Sir　John　Hammond；　A　Philosophy　of　History；　1872
　
　Warm　Springs　Indian　Reservation；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　TUESDAY；　10：30　P。M。　PST
　
　　Colter's　survival　instinct　barely　saved　him　from　drowning。　Already　physically　exhausted；　he　dove　repeatedly；　searching　for　any　sign　of　Petra；　but　when　he　found　none；　he　finally　splashed　to　shore　and　collapsed。　He　meant　to　rest　briefly　and　then　search　again　for　Petra；　but　his　good　intentions　faded　with　his　consciousness。　While　his　body　struggled　to　renew　itself；　he　was　near　atose。　Badly　chilled　and　without　food　to　replenish　his　resources；　he　woke　to　find　himself　still　near　exhaustion。
　It　was　nearly　too　much　for　him。　The　loss　of　Ernie　and　Mrs。　Wayne　scarcely　crossed　his　mind　because　he　hadn't　witnessed　it。　The　losses　of　Dr。　Coombs　and　Dr。　Piltcher　were　painful；　but　manageable。　He　had　liked　the　people　in　the　group。　Sure　they　were　kooks；　but　they　were　nice　kooks。　Kind　of　interesting；　if　you　didn't　take　t