jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第88部分

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est　and　hold　the　bird。　He　made　sure　his　feet　were　secure；　detached　his　rope　and　secured　it　in　the　rock；　and　pushed　up　slowly　with　his　legs。
　When　Shirley　started　to　lower　the　bird's　wing；　the　pteranodon's　mouth　opened　in　a　high…pitched　screech。　Then　it　lunged　at　Shirley；　using　its　beak　like　a　spear。　Shirley　flinched；　bringing　her　hands　up　to　deflect　the　thrust；　but　the　bird　was　too　fast…as　her　hands　grasped　the　beak；　the　momentum　of　the　thrust　carried　the　beak　into　her　chest；　knocking　her　over　the　edge。　Controlling　his　panic；　Kyle　reacted　by　pushing　himself　up　and　flopping　onto　the　ledge。　As　soon　as　Kyle's　chest　hit　the　rock；　the　pteranodon　twisted　to　look　at　him。　The　crest　was　suddenly　out　of　Kyle's　reach　and　he　found　himself　staring　down　the　three…foot　beak　into　a　pair　of　black；　angry　eyes。
　The　bird　screeched　again　and　began　hopping；　its　unfolded　left　wing　partially　obscuring　Kyle's　view。　Kyle　pulled　both　legs　up　onto　the　ledge　as　the　pteranodon　hopped　trying　to　get　at　him。　It　was　handicapped　by　its　huge　wingspan　and　its　crippled　wing。　Now　it　began　beating　at　Kyle　with　its　good　wing。　Then　the　bird　lunged　again。
　Kyle；　stumbling　backward；　tripped　over　loose　rock；　falling　against　the　cliff　wall。　The　bird　danced　around　and　Kyle　saw　the　beak　ing　at　his　stomach。　He　leapt　sideways　and　grabbed　the　beak　with　both　hands；　holding　it　closed。　The　huge　wings　slapped　at　his　body　and　face；　but　he　kept　his　head　down　and　let　his　shoulders　absorb　the　blows。　He　was　gaining　confidence　when　something　tore　through　his　shirt　and　sliced　the　skin　on　his　right　shoulder。
　In　sudden　pain；　Kyle　realized　the　creature　had　small　clawed　feet　attached　to　its　wing。　Wincing；　Kyle　maneuvered　himself　to　his　left　and　away　from　the　good　wing；　in　a　frantic　dance　with　the　pteranodon；　keeping　it　at　arm's　length。　Around　and　around　they　went　until　the　partners　collapsed　in　exhaustion。
　Still；　Kyle　held　on；　feeling　the　deep；　rapid　breaths　ing　out　of　its　nostrils。
　He　was　still　considering　the　options　when　he　heard　a　voice。
　〃I　want　my　mommy。〃
　Kyle　looked　around　but　couldn't　see　where　the　voice　was　ing　from。
　〃Chrissy？　Where　are　you；　honey？〃
　〃I'm　here。　I　hurt。〃
　Kyle　could　hear　the　voice；　but　the　wing　was　blocking　his　view。　Desperately；　he　searched　vainly　for　an　option。　Then　Shirley's　head　appeared。
　She　pulled　herself　up　over　the　ledge；　flopped　onto　her　stomach　and　then　rolled　to　her　back；　smiling。
　〃I　saw　you　dancing　with　that　thing；　Officer　Kyle。　And　while　on　duty　too。　You　two　made　such　a　lovely　couple；〃　she　drawled　sarcastically。
　Kyle　felt　foolish　but　spoke　authoritatively。　〃The　little　girl's　here　somewhere；　I　heard　her　voice。　See　if　you　can　find　her。〃
　Shirley　nodded　and　crawled　to　look　under　the　massive　wings；　then　poked　her　head　up　and　looked　at　Kyle　mischievously。　〃Hey；　Kyle；　give　me　a　hand；　will　you？〃
　When　she　picked　up　the　wing；　the　pteranodon　began　twisting　sideways。
　〃Mommy？〃
　At　the　sound；　Shirley　abruptly　turned　around　and　crawled　to　the　cliff　wall；　reaching　for　the　broken　wing。
　Kyle　tightened　his　grip。　When　Shirley　lifted　the　bird's　injured　wing；　Kyle　could　feel　the　bird's　whole　body　shudder。　Now　Shirley　lay　on　her　stomach　looking　down　into　a　crack　between　the　ledge　and　the　cliff　wall。
　〃Hello；　Chrissy；〃　she　said。　〃Your　mommy　sent　us　to　get　you。〃
　〃I　hurt。〃
　〃Where；　Chrissy？　Where　do　you　hurt？〃
　〃Here。　And　here。〃
　In　the　dim　light；　Shirley　could　see　the　child's　gestures。
　〃I'll　be　right　back；　Chrissy；〃　Shirley　said　soothingly。　〃She's　in　pretty　good　shape；〃　she　announced。　She　rolled　to　face　Kyle。　〃Some　cuts　and　abrasions。　Her　shoulder　looks　the　worst；　but　her　arm's　hurt　too。〃　Looking　at　Kyle　and　the　pteranodon；　she　frowned。
　〃Since　you've　got　your　hands　full；　I　guess　I'll　take　care　of　her。〃
　〃Shirley；　get　my　gun　and　shoot　it。　Then　I　can　help。〃
　Shirley　thought　it　over　for　a　second；　and　then　shook　her　head。
　〃I　don't　know　how　to　use　it。　Besides；　you've　got　it　under　control。　Why　kill　it？〃
　Shirley　grinned。　Then　she　rolled　over；　reached　down　into　the　hole　and　began　checking　Chrissy's　injuries　while　Kyle　watched　helplessly。　After　a　few　minutes　she　slowly　pulled　the　child　out　of　the　crack；　pausing　to　reassure　Chrissy　when　she　began　to　cry。
　Chrissy　started　to　sit　up；　but　Shirley　restrained　the　child；　talking　soothingly　as　she　splinted　the　right　arm；　put　it　in　a　sling；　and　tied　it　across　Chrissy's　chest。　Next　she　bandaged　a　wound　on　Chrissy's　head；　then　cut　away　at　her　shirt；　exposing　the　injured　shoulder。　It　was　caked　in　dried　blood　and　Shirley　shook　her　head。　She　was　still　looking　at　the　injury　when　a　shadow　passed　over　the　ledge。
　Kyle　looked　up　to　see　another　pteranodon。　The　newer　looked　like　a　727　orbiting　above　them。
　〃We've　got　pany；　Shirley。〃
　Shirley　didn't　pause。　Instead　she　quickly　bandaged　the　shoulder　and　then　got　Chrissy　to　the　edge　and　propped　her　up。
　〃Kyle；　we　don't　need　a　backboard；　so　I'm　going　to　take　her　down　myself。〃　Then　Shirley　looked　up　at　the　circling　pteranodon。　〃Maybe　you　could　hold　one　in　each　hand。〃
　A　shot　rang　out；　followed　by　a　ricochet。　The　captive　pteranodon　began　twisting　and　turning　and　Kyle　tightened　his　grip　until　it　settled　down。　Waving　her　hands；　Shirley　stood　up　slowly；　leaning　out　over　the　ledge　to　shout。　〃No　firing！　We're　ing　down！　We've　got　the　little　girl。〃
　Kyle　knew　the　last　sentence　would　mean　new　hope　to　a　mother　down　in　the　clearing。　Shirley　pulled　Chrissy　to　her　chest　and　began　crisscrossing　kermantle　to　secure　her。　Kyle　watched　helplessly；　his　frustration　growing　with　each　second。　Another　shadow　passed　over　them。　Kyle　looked　up　to　see　the　pteranodon　closer　than　before。　The　shadow　passed　twice　more；　growing　bigger　each　time。　〃It's　ing；〃　Kyle　warned。
　Shirley　ignored　him　and　finished　strapping　the　little　girl　firmly　to　her　chest；　the　injured　arm　safely　tucked　between　her　own　and　Chrissy's　body。
　〃Gotta　go　now。　Hang　in　there；　I'll　be　back。〃
　Kyle　was　about　to　answer　when　the　second　pteranodon　swooped　low　over　the　edge；　knocking　Shirley　backward　onto　a　loose　pile　of　rocks。　Shirley　gasped　with　pain。　The　fall　set　off　spasms　of　pain　in　Chrissy；　who　began　sobbing　wildly。　Desperate；　Kyle　got　to　his　feet　and　began　dragging　the　pteranodon　toward　the　edge。　If　he　couldn't　shoot　it；　and　if　he　couldn't　let　go　of　it；　he　was　going　to　throw　it　over　the　ledge。　Sensing　the　danger；　the　pteranodon　renewed　its　struggle。　For　Kyle；　this　wasn't　a　dance；　it　was　a　tug　of　war。　The　pteranodon　used　its　good　wing　to　push　back　and　beat　at　Kyle；　but　it　was　losing　the　fight；　and　Kyle　pulled　it　closer　to　the　ledge。　As　he　struggled；　Shirley　slid　over　the　side　and　disappeared。　Kyle　took　another　step　and　stumbled　over　a　rock；　falling　to　his　knees　but　holding　on　to　the　bird。　He　was　ready　to　stand　when　a　rush　of　wind　behind　him　announced　the　other　pteranodon。　Then　he　felt　a　jab　of　pain。
　The　second　one　had　stabbed　him　in　the　butt　with　its　beak。　Kyle　flinched　and　screamed；　letting　go　of　the　first　to　protect　himself　from　the　attacker。　When　he　released　its　bill　the　dinosaur　tumbled　backward；　finally　winning　the　tug　of　war。　Kyle　turned　in　time　to　dodge　another　jab；　stumbling　backward　and　falling　onto　his　wounded　behind。　Both　birds　now　screamed　simultaneously；　deafeningly；　but　he　picked　up　a　rock　and　hit　the　pteranodon　who　had　stabbed　him。　Spreading　its　mammoth　wings；　it　launched　itself　off　the　edge；　only　to　float　back　up　and　hover；　looking　down。　Kyle　remembered　his　pistol　and　fired；　punching　an　insignificant　hole　in　the　webbing。　The　sound　drove　the　pteranodon　off；　and　it　floated　out　of　sight。
　Kyle　turned　to　race　the　injured　pteranodon；　his　pistol　still　in　his　hand。　But　when　he　swung　around；　the　pteranodon　was　thrusting　at　him　with　its　beak。　As　Kyle　brought　his　arms　up　to　deflect　the　jab；　the　dinosaur's　mouth　opened　revealing　rows　of　needlelike　teeth；　and　then　closed　them　over　his　gun　arm　just　above　the　wrist。　Then　the　dinosaur　jerked　its　head　back。　When　it　did　Kyle　pulled　his　arm　out；　the　rows　of　teeth　shredding　three　inches　of　skin。　Overwhelmed　by　pain；　Kyle　dropped　his　gun…just　as　the　pteranodon　jabbed　into　Kyle's　sternum；　knocking　the　wind　out　of　him。　The　beak　stabbed　once　more；　jamming　between　two　ribs。　Kyle　grabbed　the　beak　and　pushed　it　back。　His　bottom；　chest；　and　wrist　were　throbbing；　and　he　was　in　a　fight　for　his　life。　The　adrenalin　poured　into　his　system。　Then　he　stood　and　dragged　the　pteranodon　toward　the　edge　again。
　Twisting　savagely；　Kyle　pulled　the　beak　close　to　his　chest；　flexing　his　arms；　and　threw　the　dinosaur　away　from　him。　Only　the　good　wing　held　it　to　the　ledge；　its　body　suspended　in　air。　Kyle　walked　to　the　edge；　ready　to　break　the　wing　with　his　boot　and　send　it　over；　but　he　paused。　It　was　truly　helpless　now　and　no　threat　to　him；　except　that　it　was　hanging　over　his　rope。　He　was　considering　a　different　way　down　when　he　heard　Chrissy　scream。
　Kyle　raised　his　boot　and　broke　the　wing　with　a　quick　stomp。　Shrieking；　the　dinosaur　dropped　over　the　edge；　fluttering　and　twisting　in　the　air　until　it　hit　the　rocks；　then　it　lay　silent　and　motionless。
　Kyle　leaned　out　looking　for　Shirley　and　Chrissy　but　couldn't　see　them。　The　ledge　must　still　be　obscuring　his　view；　he　hoped　fervently。　But　now　the　other　pteranodon　floated　by　below　him；　circled；　and　headed　back　toward　the　cliff。　He　heard　another　scream　when　it　disappeared；　but　then　it　floated　below　him　again。　Kyle　looked　back　for　his　gun。　When　he　started　away　from　the　edge　to　find　it；　another　scream　spun　him　in　his　tracks。
　Picking　up　the　rope；　he　wrapped　it　around　his　good　wrist　and　arm；　and　when　the　pteranodon　appeared　below　him　a　second　later；　he　jumped；　pushing　out　with　his　legs；　to　avoid　the　rocks。　Kyle　yelled；　〃Falling；〃　and　prayed　Jay　was　awake　on　the　belay。　Kyle　fell　toward　the　pteranodon；　angling　head　down；　his　rope　trailing　out　behind　him　like　a　bungee　cord…but　kermantie　rope　has　very　little　give。　His　stomach　elevatored　as　he　dropped　and　the　cliff　flashed　by。　The　pteranodon　was　rushing　up　toward　him；　but　laterally　away　from　him。　He　hoped　it　was　far　enough。
　As　he　fell　below　the　ledge；　he　could　see　Shirley　and　Chrissy　dangling　on　the　other　side；　being　lowered　down　by　Kimberly　on　the　ground。　The　pteranodon　continued　to　rush　toward　him。　Stretching　out　his　arms；　he　angled　down；　trying　to　close　the　distance　with