jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第95部分

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　The　dinosaur　examined　its　kill；　licking　its　lips；　perhaps　tasting　the　blood　of　a　mammal　for　the　first　time。　Then　the　dinosaur　began　its　meal。　Petra　had　no　desire　to　watch　another　bloody　feast；　so　she　put　the　RV　in　gear　and　gave　it　some　gas。　When　the　engine　revved　the　dinosaur　looked　up　and　watched　the　RV　drive　away。
　Petra　continued　down　the　road；　now　aware　the　forests　of　Oregon　were　a　different　place。　The　radio　reports　told　of　patches　of　prehistoric　land　here　and　there　all　over　the　state。　The　dinosaurs　must　be　exploring　the　turf　of　the　mammals。　There　were　no　fences　to　prevent　it；　and　no　fence　would　stop　some　of　those　dinosaurs。　The　question　now　was　could　they　live　in　this　new　climate？　Oregon　winters　were　mild　along　the　coast；　not　like　east　of　the　Cascade　Mountains。　Certainly　dinosaurs　in　Florida　or　closer　to　the　equator　could　live；　but　Oregon's　dinosaur　would　struggle。　Petra　wondered　if　the　government　would　try　to　kill　them　or　save　them。　All　levels　of　government　were　working　on　survival…restoring　transportation　for　food　and　fuel；　restoring　munication；　and　restoring　order。　But　soon　it　would　have　to　deal　with　the　marauding　dinosaurs。
　The　dirt　road　intersected　a　gravel　road。　A　forest　service　sign　directed　Petra　to　the　left；　and　soon　she　had　the　RV　up　to　forty　miles　per　hour。　Even　at　that　speed　the　gravel　pounded　away　at　the　underside　of　the　RV。　Still　her　little　family　slept；　oblivious　to　the　rock　rhythm　being　pounded　out　on　the　floorboard。　After　they　drove　through　a　couple　of　miles　of　forest；　the　road　intersected　blacktop；　which　led　through　a　small　valley　dotted　with　dairy　farms。　Dairy　cows　watched　with　disinterested　eyes　from　behind　barbed　wire　fences　as　the　RV　passed。　Petra　left　the　valley　and　entered　another　stretch　of　woodland；　winding　up　a　hill　and　then　back　down。　As　she　started　down　she　could　see　the　ocean　ahead。　They　were　almost　there。
　Petra　lost　sight　of　the　ocean　as　she　wound　down　the　hill　and　through　the　woods　again；　but　then　suddenly　there　was　the　coast　highway；　and　there　on　the　other　side　was　the　Pacific　Ocean；　Petra　felt　a　sudden　sense　of　freedom　cleanse　her　soul。　She　could　almost　forget　what　had　happened　to　her；　and　to　the　others。　She　always　felt　this　way　by　the　ocean…renewed；　or　at　least　recharged。　Petra　turned　left；　heading　south。　There　were　few　cars　on　the　road。　Gas　was　rationed　and　only　necessary　trips　were　taken。　The　RV　was　an　obscene　use　of　fuel；　but　it　served　as　both　home　and　transportation。　Petra　had　asked　Colter　how　he　managed　to　get　its　three　fuel　tanks　filled；　but　he　had　only　smiled　and　mumbled　something　about　the　golden　rule。
　Petra　gave　the　RV　more　gas　and　soon　was　doing　fifty　miles　per　hour。　Colter　stirred；　disturbing　Moose；　who　scrambled　from　Colter's　shoulder　to　his　place　on　the　dash。　Soon　Colter's　eyes　flickered　open。　He　remained　slumped　in　the　seat　for　a　minute　and　then　pushed　。himself　up。　Peaches　still　cuddled　in　his　arms。　When　he　was　upright　he　discovered　the　ocean。
　〃All　right；　we　made　it。　How　far　is　it？〃
　〃We're　almost　there。〃
　Colter　watched　the　ocean　in　silence　for　a　few　minutes；　stroking　Peaches's　head。　The　baby　dinosaur　kept　its　eyes　closed　but　make　a　little　squeaking　sound　with　each　stroke。　Colter　scratched　behind　its　little　collar　eliciting　more　squeaking；　then　he　leaned　over　and　put　Peaches　on　the　blanket　next　to　Sarah　and　went　into　the　back　of　the　RV。　Petra　heard　the　refrigerator　open。
　〃Petra；　want　a　Pepsi？〃
　〃I'll　split　one　with　you；〃　Petra　offered：
　Colter　came　back　with　two　cans　of　Pepsi；　opened　one　and　put　it　on　the　dash。
　〃Drink　as　much　as　you　can；　I'll　finish　the　rest。〃
　Petra　shook　her　head。　〃Colter；　we　better　start　taking　it　easy　on　some　of　this　stuff。　You've　heard　all　the　reports　on　the　shortages　and　all　the　rationing。〃
　〃They　aren't　rationing　pop。〃
　〃That's　because　it's　not　a　necessity。〃
　〃That's　what　you　think。〃
　Colter　opened　his　can　and　swigged　down　half　of　it。　When　he　was　done；　he　saw　her　watching　him；　and　frowned。　〃All　right；　from　now　on　you're　in　charge　of　supplies；〃　he　said。
　〃I　don't　want　to　be　in　charge；　I　just　want　you　to　take　it　easy。〃
　〃I　want　you　to　be　in　charge。　You　know；　and　I　know；　I　don't　have　any　self…control。〃
　Petra　could　see　he　was　serious…he　was　asking　for　her　help。　This　was　a　new　Colter。　She　knew　she　would　never　be　the　same　person；　but　she　had　wondered　about　Colter。　She　appreciated　his　new　self…awareness　but　hoped　some　of　the　reckless　courage　and　other　traits　remained。　She　had　fallen　in　love　with　the　old　Colter。　Then　he　opened　his　mouth　and　loosed　a　long；　loud　belch。　Yes；　some　of　the　old　Colter　remained。
　The　sun　was　nearing　the　horizon　when　they　came　to　the　turnoff　and　followed　the　road　around　a　hill　to　the　parking　area；　The　lot　sat　on　a　little　bluff　overlooking　the　ocean。　A　narrow　gray　sand　beach　separated　the　ocean　from　the　massive　piles　of　driftwood　directly　below。　There　was　one　other　car　in　the　parking　lot　but　looked　abandoned。　Colter　opened　the　door；　and　the　cool　sea　air　rushed　in；　cleansing　the　RV　of　animal　smells。　When　the　door　opened　Moose　quickly　retreated　deeper　into　the　RV　out　of　the　cool　air。　Sarah　roused　herself　from　her　blanket　and　waddled　down　the　aisle　to　the　back。　Petra　picked　up　Peaches　and　found　a　snug　corner　for　her　next　to　Sarah。　Sarah　wriggled　around　until　she　was　fortable　with　Peaches　next　to　her。
　Petra　could　hear　Colter　outside　getting　the　shovel。　She　pulled　the　blue　and　white　plastic　cooler　out　of　the　cabinet　and　checked　the　contents　again。　It　was　all　there。　Petra　closed　the　cooler　and　headed　for　the　door。　When　she　reached　it　she　turned　and　went　back　for　the　rifle；　then　joined　Colter　outside。　The　air　was　cool　and　the　sky　overcast。　When　was　the　sky　not　overcast　at　the　Oregon　coast　Petra　reminded　herself。
　〃What's　the　rifle　for？〃　Colter　asked。
　〃In　case　there's　any　deer　hunting　going　on。　Never　mind；　I'll　explain　later。〃
　Colter　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　said　impatiently；　〃Let's　get　this　over　with。〃
　Two　paths　led　from　the　parking　lot。　One　well…traveled　path　led　to　the　beach；　but　the　other　path　wound　up　the　hill　into　the　trees。　Colter　followed　the　path　uphill。　It　was　a　gentle　climb；　marked　frequently　with　signs　identifying　the　vegetation。　A　quarter　mile　up　the　trail　they　left　the　path；　turning　into　the　trees。　Soon　they　could　see　the　ocean　again　on　their　right　and　a　rocky　cliff　to　their　left。　Colter　stopped　by　a　small　fir　tree；　looking　out　to　sea；　and　then　turned　and　looked　at　the　cliff。　Then　he　walked　to　another　young　fir；　looking　again　in　all　four　directions。
　〃This　is　the　spot；　right。〃
　Petra　stepped　behind　the　fir　and　looked　out　to　sea；　lining　the　fir　up　with　a　large　rock　formation　just　offshore。　Then　she　stepped　to　the　other　side　and　lined　the　fir　up　with　a　large　crack　in　the　rocks　of　the　cliff　behind　them。　Finally　she　stood　to　one　side　and　made　sure　the　fir　lined　up　with　a　notch　in　the　distant　hills。
　〃Yeah；　this　is　the　spot。〃
　Colter　stood　with　his　back　to　the　tree　and　then　took　two　steps　toward　the　sea。
　〃About　six　feet？〃
　〃Close　enough。〃
　Colter　began　digging　with　the　shovel。　The　ground　was　moist　and　soft　but　there　were　many　rocks；'and　the　digging　wasn't　easy。　When　Colter　looked　disgusted　and　ready　to　call　it　deep　enough；　Petra　took　the　shovel　and　dug。　That　shamed　Colter　into　digging　again。　Finally；　he　buried　the　tip　of　the　shovel　in　the　ground　next　to　the　hole　and　turned　to　Petra。
　〃I　say　that's　three　feet　deep。〃
　Petra　agreed　but　held　back　the　cooler　when　Colter　reached　for　it。　Opening　it　she　checked　the　contents　one　last　time。　Inside　was　a　record　of　what　had　happened。　There　were　newspaper　clippings　about　the　disasters　and　the　sudden　appearance　of　dinosaurs　and　the　sudden　disappearance　of　people。　There　were　also　articles　about　the　bombing　of　Portland　and　the　debate　over　whether　Portland　had　been　destroyed　or　not。　There　were　many　articles　about　the　dinosaurs　and　the　problems　they　were　creating。　Of　all　the　items　in　the　cooler；　however；　the　most　important　was　a　history　Colter　and　Petra　had　written　of　all　that　had　happened　to　them　and　the　group。　They　wrote　of　the　group's　meeting　with　Kenny　Randall　and　his　strange　story　of　corn　falling　from　the　sky。　They　wrote　of　the　group's　research；　and　their　discovery　of　Zorastrus。　They　described　the　model　Kenny　and　Phat　had　programmed　and　their　search　for　confirming　evidence。　They　told　the　story　of　a　boy　who　nearly　drowned　in　saltwater　in　the　middle　of　a　prairie　and　of　Yellowstone　and　the　ice　falling　from　the　sky。　Then　after　recapping　the　before　events　they　told　in　even　more　detail　what　happened　next。　How　they　had　divided　into　groups　to　be　as　widely　dispersed　as　possible　when　it　happened。　They　told　of　losing　contact　with　Mrs。　Wayne　and　Ernie　Powell。　They　told　of　their　search　for　their　friends　and　the　discovery　of　the　dinosaurs。　They　told　of　their　discoveries；　especially　Sid；　Moose；　Sarah；　and　Peaches。　Then　in　painful　detail　they　talked　of　the　death　of　Dr。　Coombs　and　Dr。　Piltcher。　Colter　wrote　of　his　adventures　and　Petra　of　her　time　in　the　walking　fish's　den。　When　every　painful　detail　was　down　they　had　taken　the　record；　made　three　copies　of　it；　and　sealed　them　in　plastic。　The　first　copy　had　been　buried　in　Dr。　Piltcher's　backyard。　The　second　was　in　a　small　cave　east　of　Medford；　and　the　third　copy　would　be　buried　here；　by　the　sea。　Like　the　other　two　copies　it　would　be　buried　in　a　plastic　cooler。　Dr。　Piltcher　had　assured　everyone　the　plastic　would　last　for　centuries。
　When　Petra　was　sure　the　record　was　plete　she　put　it　in　the　cooler；　latched　the　top　securely；　and　placed　it　in　the　hole；　Colter　filled　the　hole　in　a　little　at　a　time；　pressing　the　earth　as　he　filled　by　stomping　on　it。　Soon　the　hole　was　firmly　packed　with　earth。　Colter　took　the　shovel　and　scattered　the　leftover　dirt　into　the　trees。　Then　he　spread　pine　needles　and　dried　leaves　over　the　hole。　Finally　he　pried　a　nearby　rock　out　of　the　ground　and　placed　the　rock　on　top　of　the　buried　cooler。　When　he　was　done　he　looked　to　Petra　for　affirmation。
　〃Good　enough；〃　she　said。
　Colter　picked　up　his　shovel　and　Petra　the　rifle　and　the　two　of　them　started　back　down　the　path。　The　clouds　had　broken　up；　letting　the　setting　sun　peek　through；　but　the　air　was　cool　and　evaporated　the　sweat　from　Petra's　body；　making　her　shiver　gently。　Colter　put　his　arm　around　her　shoulder　and　they　walked　to