jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第86部分

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rful　of　the　nightmares　Pat's　grisly　death　might　generate。
　Ron　sat　up　and　looked　behind　him　again　for　signs　the　orcas　were　following。　Pat　was　surely　enough　to　fill　the　killer　whale　pack；　Ron　assured　himself；　but　looked　anyway。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　pack。　Ron　looked　ahead　and　got　a　shock…he　could　see　land；
　〃Look！　We　made　it！　We　made　it！〃
　The　others　roused　themselves　and　looked　past　Patty's　head　to　the　thin　line　of　brown　along　the　shore。　Hidden　reservoirs　of　energy　were　released　and　the　Tubmans　cheered　and　hugged　one　another。
　〃Good　old　Patty；〃　Rosa　said；　leaning　down　to　rub　her　sides。　〃I'm　so　sorry　about　Pat。〃
　The　family　watched　the　shore　creep　closer；　Ron　estimating　the　spot　where　they　could　make　it　to　shore　in　case　something　happened　to　Patty。　Carmen　turned　to　Ron；　her　mouth　open　to　speak；　but　said　nothing。　She　was　staring　past　him　to　the　sea。　Ron　turned　to　see　a　flock　of　birds　in　the　distance。　It　took　him　a　moment　to　understand　the　importance。　The　orca　pack　was　following。
　Looking　back　to　shore　Ron　realized　it　would　be　close。　The　kids　picked　up　on　their　parents'　looks　and　were　soon　as　worried　as　Ron　and　Carmen。
　〃They're　ing；　Dad。〃
　〃I　know；　Chris。　But　we're　close　to　shore。〃　Ron　didn't　add　they　weren't　close　enough。　〃We　can　swim　if　we　have　to。〃　Chris　didn't　look　reassured。
　Soon　the　flock　was　close　enough　to　make　out　individual　birds；　but　the　shore　remained　despairingly　far。　Suddenly　the　sleek　form　of　a　killer　whale　leapt　from　the　water　and　splashed　the　Tubmans。　There　were　no　other　whales　in　sight；　but　Ron　knew　the　others　would　be　there　soon。　The　whale　breached　again；　by　Patty's　head；　and　she　bleated　from　fear。　Then　the　whale　leapt　across　her　path　and　Patty　heeled　over；　nearly　throwing　her　passengers　into　the　sea。
　Ron　feared　she　would　be　driven　off　course；　but　quickly　she　came　around　again。　The　orca　leapt　again；　but　this　time　Patty　wouldn't　be　driven　off。　Two　more　tries；　and　two　more　failures；　then　the　orca　gave　up　and　simply　swam　alongside；　waiting。
　Now　the　flock　was　nearly　overhead；　and　they　could　see　the　fins　of　the　pursuing　whales。　They　split　into　two　groups；　one　ing　up　on　each　side。
　〃Hang　on；　everybody。〃
　The　family　flattened；　ready　for　the　attack。　Just　as　before　the　orcas　went　for　the　legs。
　Patty's　shudder　announced　the　first　blow；　and　her　scream　the　second。　The　orcas　angled　in；　diving　deep　and　then　jetting　up；　attacking　Patty's　dangling　legs。　The　blows　continued；　and　soon　Patty　was　streaming　blood　from　all　four　limbs。　Still　she　strug…gled　toward　the　nearing　shore。
　Three　blows　in　quick　succession　rocked　Patty；　and　she　rolled　to　the　right；　nearly　tossing　the　family；　before　she　righted。　Patty　lost　all　sense　of　direction　and　swam　aimlessly　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　turned　toward　shore　again。
　It　was　close　now；　Ron　could　make　out　buildings　behind　the　beach。　〃e　on；　Patty！〃　Ron　whispered。　〃You　can　make　it。〃
　The　whales　picked　up　the　attack；　sensing　the　nearing　shore。　Quivering　silently　now　with　the　blows；　Patty　continued　her　struggle。　The　water　was　red　now；　not　pink；　but　still　she　swam。　Then　an　orca　hit　her　undulating　neck；　severing　an　artery。　When　the　neck　cleared　the　surface　between　waves　blood　spurted　from　the　wound。　In　a　few　minutes　her　head　began　to　sag；　and　her　body　listed　to　the　right。
　〃Time　to　get　off？〃
　Ron　asked；　rather　than　ordered。　Carmen　hesitated　briefly；　looking　at　the　crimson　water　and　then　the　attacking　orcas。
　〃All　right；　kids；〃　Carmen　announced。　〃Down　the　side。〃
　The　kids　didn't　hesitate。　Rosa　checked　the　catches　on　her　life　jacket；　folded　her　left　arm　across　her　chest；　and　then　slid　down　Patty's　side　into　the　water。　She　pushed　herself　a　few　feet　away　and　waited　for　Chris。　Patty　was　still　swimming；　and　Rosa　was　falling　behind。　Carmen　checked　Chris's　life　jacket　and　then　pushed　him　down　the　side。　Rosa　immediately　swam　to　Chris　and　began　towing　him　away　from　Patty's　bloody　wake。
　Carmen　turned　to　Ron　and　held　out　her　hand。　Ron　took　it　and　smiled。
　〃For　better　or　worse；　isn't　that　what　we　said？〃　Ron　asked。
　〃You　should　have　been　more　specific；〃　Carmen　responded；　then　slid　down；　pulling　Ron　down　after　her。　They　were　still　swimming　when　Patty's　screams　started　again；　and　kept　on　until　they　were　outside　what　they　considered　the　orca's　circle。　They　finally　stopped；　exhausted。　They　were　pletely　spent；　and　the　adults　hung　on　to　the　kids'　life　jackets　to　keep　their　heads　above　water。
　Patty　swam　slowly　in　circles；　suffering　the　constant　attacks　of　the　orcas。　They　could　see　her　shudder　with　every　piece　of　flesh　torn　from　her　body。　Shortly　she　fell　silent　and　rolled　over　in　the　sea；　her　head　disappearing　into　the　waves。　Her　blood　slowly　diffused　through　the　water；　and　soon　the　Tubmans　were　swimming　away；　fearing　the　orcas；　but　also　sharks　and　other　predators。
　The　family　swam　for　shore；　under　a　canopy　of　screeching　seabirds。　They　were　coated　with　Patty's　blood　and　left　a　pink　trail　of　their　own；　and　Ron　worried　something　might　follow　it。　Slowly　the　waves　washed　them　clean　and　Ron　switched　to　worrying　about　making　it　to　the　beach。　It　was　there；　tantaliz　ingly　close；　but　they　had　little　strength。
　They　lost　speed　with　each　stroke；　and　soon　were　doing　only　a　slow　crawl。　Without　life　jackets；　Ron　and　Carmen　struggled　through　the　waves。　Ron　found　he　didn't　have　the　strength　to　ride　the　waves；　and　they　began　breaking　over　him。　Each　time　he　went　under　it　took　longer　to　e　up。
　Ron　popped　to　the　surface　to　see　Chris　well　ahead　of　him；　Rosa　right　behind。　Carmen　was　to　his　right。　As　he　watched；　a　wave　caught　the　kids　and　washed　them　toward　shore；　pushing　them　well　ahead。　They　would　make　it；　he　knew…he　didn't　know　about　himself　and　Carmen。　Ron　relaxed　between　waves；　then　stroked　furiously；　trying　to　catch　a　wave　and　bodysurf　in。　Without　enough　speed；　the　waves　kept　washing　over　him。
　Ron　was　semiconscious　when　he　felt　hands　pulling　him。　Rosa　and　Chris　dragged　him　through　the　surf；　then　dropped　him　in　the　shallows。　Ron　crawled　the　rest　of　the　way　to　shore　and　turned　to　see　the　kids　helping　Carmen　out　of　the　surf。　Soon　they　were　lying　side　by　side　on　the　warm　sand；　thankful　to　be　alive。
　The　joy　of　survival　renewed　Ron's　strength；　and　he　pushed　himself　into　a　sitting　position。　The　remains　of　a　shattered　dock　littered　the　beach　and　a　parking　lot。　Behind　that　was　what　was　left　of　a　small　town…it　had　been　hit　by　a　tidal　wave。
　〃e　on；　everyone；〃　Ron　urged。　〃Let's　find　something　to　drink。〃
　〃And　eat；〃　Rosa　added。
　〃Do　they　have　a　McDonald's？〃　Chris　asked。
　Then　a　bloody　wave　washed　over　them　and　they　hunkered　down　to　keep　from　being　sucked　back　to　sea。　Turning；　Ron　saw　Patty　thrashing　in　the　surf。　She　struggled　to　get　what　was　left　of　her　legs　under　her　and　stand。　Weak　from　blood　loss；　she　couldn't　lift　her　long　neck；　and　only　her　head　was　held　above　the　waves。
　〃You　can　make　it；　Patty！〃　Rosa　yelled。
　〃Yeah；　you　can　make　it！〃　came　Chris's　echo。
　But　she　couldn't。　The　orcas　hit　her　again　from　the　oceanside　and　Patty　staggered　through　the　waves　and　then　fell　onto　her　side；　washing　the　family　with　another　bloody　wave。　Her　head　came　up　out　of　the　water　briefly；　then　slipped　below　the　surface　for　the　last　time。
　Hoping　she　would　recover；　they　stood　silently　and　watched　for　a　long　time。　Then　Carmen　took　charge　and　turned　them　toward　the　remains　of　the　town。　Ron　looked　back　at　the　mound　resting　in　the　sea　and　felt　sadness；　as　if　he'd　lost　a　family　member。　She'd　saved　his　family；　but　he　could　do　nothing　for　her　or　poor　Pat。　He　regretted　that；　but　it　also　made　him　cherish　his　own　family　more。　Stepping　closer　to　Rosa　he　said；　〃Well；　Rosa；　how　do　you　like　sailing？〃
　Rosa　turned　and　smiled；　then　reached　out　and　took　his　hand。
　
　65。　　MAGIC　MOUNTAIN
　
　Early　one　morning；　a　young　woman　looked　through　the　mist　to　see　a　herd　of　buffalo　approach。　Then　an　opening　appeared　in　the'mountain　and　inside　she　could　see　the　world　as　fresh　and　green　as　it　once　had　been。　The　buffalo　walked　into　the　opening；　and　the　mountain　closed　behind　them。
　…Kiowa　legend
　
　The　I…5　Mountain；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　11：32　A。M。　PST
　
　　Kyle　needed　a　bath　and　a　night's　sleep。　Instead；　he　found　himself　staring　up　the　sheer　face　of　a　mountain；　preparing　to　climb　into　the　unknown。　Kyle　had　listened　to　the　stories　of　the　I…5　mountain　with　mild　interest。　He　liked　a　mystery　as　well　as　the　next　person　。　。　。　until　it　involved　him。　And　it　involved　him　when　the　little　girl　had　been　carried　up　the　mountain　by　the　bird…thing。
　The　state　police　had　taken　charge　at　the　mountain　and　were　trying　to　send　trapped　motorists　back　down　I…5。　Many　of　the　motorists　were　resisting；　however；　preferring　to　stay　and　watch　the　drama　with　the　little　girl　unfolding。　The　congested　traffic　had　dissolved　a　little；　but　it　still　meant　driving　up　the　median。　To　Kyle；　the　mountain　looked　like　a　scene　from　Disneyland。　Right　where　the　freeway　should　continue　was　a　tall　rock　mountain；　surrounded　by　boulders　and　a　small　meadow。　Hundreds　of　people　milled　around　the　clearing；　radiating　fear　and　excite'　ment　in　the　air。　Kyle　half…expected　to　see　hot　dog　vendors。
　〃It　looks　like　a　carnival；〃　Shirley　whispered。
　〃It　looks　like　the　Twilight　Zone；'　〃　Kyle　responded。
　A　state　police　officer　named　Murphy　was　giving　orders　and　greeted　Kyle　and　the　other　climbers。　He　talked　directly　to　Kyle；　ignoring　Shirley　and　the　others。
　〃Thanks　for　ing。　You　can　see　the　situation；〃　Murphy　said。　〃We　got　no　idea　where　this　sucker　came　from；〃　he　said；　jerking　his　thumb　toward　the　mountain；　〃and　no　way　of　getting　up　the　damn　thing。　The　little　girl　makes　noises　once　in　a　while；　so　we're　pretty　sure　she's　still　alive。　We've　tried　climbing　up；　but　we　can　get　only　about　a　third　of　the　way。　Can't　get　good　footholds。〃
　〃What　about　this　bird　that　picked　up　the　little　girl？〃　Kyle　asked。　〃Not　many　birds　could　do　that。〃
　〃You　got　that　right；〃　Murphy　assured　him。　〃It　was　a　big　sucker　for　sure。　Had　wings　fifteen　or　twenty　feet　across。　Funny　thing　though；　it　seemed　to　have　trouble　picking　up　that　little　girl。　Like　it　didn't　have　much　strength。　Witnesses　said　it　kind　of　floated　her　up。〃
　〃What　kind　of　bird　was　it？〃　Shirley　asked。
　〃They　said　it　was　a　diseased　condor。　Didn't　have　any　feathers；　but　it　was　too　big　to　be　anything　but　a　condor。〃