jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第26章

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leave　on　his　own　accord。〃
　〃Don't　you　want　to　study　him　some　more？〃　Colter　asked　with　a　smirk。
　They　worked　outside　for　the　rest　of　the　afternoon。　When　supper　time　approached　they　found　Moose　still　on　top　of　the　cabinet。　They　tried　catching　him　again；　but　this　time　Dr。　Coombs　ended　up　with　a　nipped　finger。　Finally　they　gave　up。
　They　agreed　they　might　attract　too　many　unknown　animals　by　cooking　outside；　so　Dr。　Coombs　prepared　spaghetti　and　meatballs　in　the　camper。　When　dinner　was　ready；　they　settled　down　in　the　cramped　RV；　but　halfway　through　dinner；　some　thing　banged　against　the　door。　Petra　got　up　and　looked　out　the　window　but　could　see　nothing。　Then　it　banged　again。　Petra　opened　the　door　slowly；　all　of　them　watching　curiously。　She　was　about　to　close　the　door　again　when　a　small　dinosaur　trotted　into　view；　then　out　again；　and　then　back。　Then　another　one　trotted　into　view　behind　the　first。　One　of　the　dinosaurs　was　Sid。　He　had　e　for　dinner；　and　he　had　brought　a　friend。
　
　23。　　　MOUNTAIN　MYSTERY
　
　As　I　approached　the　Lang　farm　I　could　see　my　friend　David　working　in　his　field。　His　family　was　near　the　house　and　waved　in　greeting。　When　David　turned　toward　me　he　suddenly　disappeared。　The　Lang　family　joined　me　in　the　field　to　search　but　we　found　no　trace　of　him。
　…Judge　August　Peck；　September　23；　1880
　
　North　of　Grant's　Pass；　Oregon
　POSTQUILT：　SUNDAY；　10：30　A。M。　PST
　
　　It　was　a　mountain　all　right；　Terry　conceded　to　himself。　Even　if　the　word　might　be　a　bit　grandiose　for　the　pile　of　rocks　in　front　of　him。　Rather　than　towering　snow…capped　peaks　rising　above　the　timberline；　Terry　was　staring　at　a　huge　pile　of　boulders　that　looked　as　if　they　had　been　poured　into　the　middle　of　the　interstate。　It　could　have　been　the　result　of　an　avalanche；　except　the　pile　towered　above　the　nearest　hill。　Then　there　was　the　problem　of　the　vegetation。　Leading　up　to　the　towering　rock　pile　was　a　carpet　of　sparse　clump　grass；　but　it　didn't　match　the　surrounding　vegetation。　Would　an　avalanche　have　deposited　a　green　carpet　of　scrawny。grass？
　Terry　and　Ellen　had　been　skeptical　when　they　left　the　parking　lot　at　the　Oregon　Caves；　even　as　the　CB　reports　of　the　mountain　were　confirmed　by　other　motorists　with　CBs。　But　still　it　was　hard　to　believe。　They'd　driven　only　a　few　miles　north　of　Grant's　Pass　before　they　realized　the　traffic　in　the　southbound　lanes　was　very　light。　The　farther　north　they　drove；　the　lighter　it　became　until　the　traffic　stopped　pletely。　Shortly　after　that　they　came　to　a　traffic　jam。
　The　traffic　was　at　a　dead　stop；　and　northbound　drivers　were　abandoning　their　cars　and　walking　forward　through　the　extemporaneous　parking　lot。　Terry　and　Ellen　had　to　walk　nearly　a　mile　before　they　saw　the　mountain。　It　was　set　a　little　to　the　east　of　the　interstate　with　the　mountain　tumbled　down　to　the　west。　A　hundred　people　were　milling　around　in　front　of　it。　Many　of　them　were　taking　pictures　or　videos。　Parents　posed　their　children　on　boulders　or　in　the　clearing；　trying　to　get　as　much　of　the　mountain　in　their　shot　as　possible。　Other　children　chased　around　the　clearing　or　climbed　rocks。
　Terry　and　Ellen　joined　the　crowd　of　happy　gawkers；　but　Terry　couldn't　share　their　partying　mood。　Only　here　and　there　were　other　concerned　faces　like　Terry's。　This　mountain　wasn't　just　a　road　hazard　that　prevented　tourists　from　logging　their　four　hundred　miles　a　day。　It　represented　something　far　larger；　something　Terry　did　not　understand。　Something　impossible。
　Terry　squatted　at　the　end　of　the　interstate　and　examined　the　edge。　It　was　a　nice　sharp　break。　On　one　side　you　had　a　four…lane　freeway　and　on　the　other　side　coarse　grass　leading　up　to　the　mountain。　Terry　began　looking　for　a　way　around　the　mountain。　He　certainly　couldn't　drive　around　it；　but　he　was　curious　how　big　a　blockage　this　was。　He　was　about　to　suggest　a　walk　to　Ellen　when　he　heard　a　familiar　voice；　and　he　looked　up　to　see　the　towering　figure　of　Bill　Conrad。
　〃If　you're　wondering　if　the　road　continues　on　the　other　side；　it　does。　I　just　don't　know　how　far　you　have　to　go。　The　CB　channels　are　buzzing　with　southbound　truckers　and　travelers　talking　about　the　landslide　blocking　I…5。〃
　〃You　read　my　mind　correctly　on　that　one。　Now　try　the　next　question。〃
　〃I　don't　have　any　idea　where　this　came　from　or　what　is　going　on。〃
　Terry　laughed　and　nodded。　It　was　reassuring　to　know　Bill　was　as　confused　as　he　was。　Bill　Conrad　had　been　in　his　element　in　the　cave；　prepared　for　his　role　by　his　training。　But　out　here　on　the　road；　standing　in　front　of　a　mountain　that　magically　appeared　on　an　interstate　highway；　Bill　wasn't　any　more　petent　than　Terry　or　anyone　else。　Terry　spotted　Ellen　talking　to　Angie。　They　were　laughing　and　smiling；　as　if　they　were　old　friends。
　〃It　makes　you　wonder　about　that　kid　in　the　cave；　doesn't　it？〃　Bill　said。　〃I　mean　I　wonder　if　this　is　what　he　was　talking　about？〃
　Until　Bill　Conrad　had　suggested　it；　Terry　had　never　connected　the　kid　in　the　cave　with　the　mountain。　Now；　he　was　having　trouble　relating　them。
　〃I　don't　know；　Bill；　the　kid　was　delusional；　and　he　was　pretty　specific　about　what　was　going　to　happen。　The　world　was　supposed　to　end。〃
　〃The　sister　said　something　about　things　falling　from　the　sky。〃
　〃This　couldn't　have　fallen　。　。　。　impossible。〃
　Bill　made　a　nonmittal　murmur；　but　his　mind　was　working。　Asserting　himself；　Terry　decided　to　demonstrate　his　own　specialty。
　〃I'd　guess　that　kid　was　paranoid　schizophrenic。　He　exhibited　the　classic　symptoms；　the　secret　knowledge　that　only　he　could　understand；　the　certainty　that　no　one　would　believe　him。　These　types　are　often　pretty　successful　at　fitting　into　society。　They're　delusional；　though；　and　their　worldview　only　makes　sense　to　themselves。〃
　Bill　was　singularly　unimpressed　by　Terry's　diagnosis。
　〃Are　you　a　psychiatrist？〃
　〃Psychologist。〃
　〃Mmmm。　If　someone　believes　the　world　is　going　to　end　and　it　doesn't；　he's　delusional。　What　if　he　thinks　the　world　is　going　to　end　and　it　does？　That's　not　delusion；　that's　prophecy。〃
　〃But　the　world　didn't　end。〃
　〃But　something　sure　as　hell　happened。　How　do　you　explain　that；　doc？〃　Bill　said　jerking　his　head　toward　the　mountain。
　Terry　conceded　Bill　had　a　good　point。　〃I'm　not　saying　I　know　what　has　happened；〃　Terry　responded。　〃I'm　only　suggesting　the　two　events　are　not　necessarily　related。〃
　〃Mmmm。　Peculiar　coincidence。〃
　Bill　walked　over　to　Ellen　and　Angie；　who　were　still　talking　animatedly。　The　three　of　them　laughed　together　for　a　while　before　the　conversation　turned　serious。　Then　they　approached　Terry。
　Bill　began。　〃We're　thinking　of　heading　back　to　Medford　and　finding　that　kid　from　the　cave。　It　may　be　he　knows　more　than　people　are　giving　him　credit　for。〃
　〃I　told　you；　Bill；　that　kid　is　delusional；　and　even　if　he　did　know　something　it　will　be　difficult　for　him　to　municate　it。〃
　〃No　problem。　We've　got　a　psychiatrist　to　go　with　us。〃　Bill　winked　and　grinned　cynically。
　〃Psychologist；〃　Terry　answered　curtly。
　〃Whatever。〃
　〃If　he　gives　us　any　trouble；〃　Terry　offered　more　genially；　〃we've　got　a　marine　to　shoot　him。〃
　〃Air　force。〃
　〃Whatever。〃
　〃e　on；　Terry；　let's　go　with　them；〃　Ellen　said。　〃We　can't　get　through　this　way　anyway；　and　we'll　have　to　find　another　way　around。〃
　Ellen　was　right。　There　really　was　no　reason　to　stay　where　they　were；　and　they　could　hardly　backtrack。　Terry　relented　and　Bill　and　Angie　fed　the　way　back　to　the　cars。　Bill；　more　resourceful　than　Terry；　had　driven　up　the　median　close　to　the　mountain。　They　all　climbed　in　for　a　ride　to　Terry's　car。
　Bill　Conrad's　demeanor　worked　its　magic　again　at　the　sheriffs　department。　The　receptionist/dispatcher　turned　out　to　be　a　woman　named　Karon；　who　would　only　say　the　suspect's　name　was　Kenny　Randall；　a　student　at　Oregon　Institute　of　Technology；　and　he　had　not　been　taken　to　the　police　station。　She　was　reluctant　to　give　any　information　about　Kenny's　current　whereabouts；　but　then　Bill　flashed　his　military　ID；　spoke　in　a　clipped；　brisk　manner；　and　found　out　that　Kenny　was　at　the　munity　hospital。
　The　hospital　staff　buckled　just　as　easily　under　Bill's　demeanor；　and　the　two　couples　found　themselves　outside　Kenny's　door　talking　to　the　sheriff　and　a　doctor。
　The　sheriff　turned　out　to　be　a　refugee　from　the　big　city。　He　had　migrated　from　the　Chicago　police　force　to　Portland　and　then　to　Medford。　Well…educated；　professional；　and　not　intimidated　by　big；　loud；　black　air　force　officers；　at　six　feet　two　he　could　almost　look　Bill　in　the　eye。
　〃Sheriff；　this　is　official　business。　You　know　what's　happened　to　I…5　don't　you？　Well　the　air　force　believes　there　may　be　some　connection　between　the　two　events。〃
　Bill　was　bluffing；　but　he　was　so　good　at　it　Terry　began　to　wonder　what　he　did　for　the　military。
　〃You're　talking　to　the　wrong　person；〃　the　sheriff　insisted。　〃We're　only　holding　the　suspect　until　the　FBI　can　transport　him。　I　don't　have　the　authority　to　admit　you。〃
　〃It　doesn't　matter　anyway；〃　the　doctor　cut　in。　〃He　was　severely　agitated；　so　we　sedated　him。　He　won't　be　conscious　for　a　few　hours。　When　he　does　wake　up　I　wouldn't　expect　much。　He　isn't　responsive。〃
　〃Catatonic？〃　Terry　asked。
　〃Not　yet；　but　that's　the　direction　he's　headed。〃
　Bill　argued　with　them　until　he　got　a　〃maybe　you　can　see　him〃　out　of　them　and　strode　back　to　the　elevator　as　if　he　had　a　sense　of　purpose。
　Terry　lagged　behind；　unsure　of　what　to　do　next。　Ellen　was　down　in　the　lobby　talking　to　Angie；　and　Terry　supposed　he　should　collect　his　wife　and　try　to　work　his　way　over　to　highway　101　and　head　north　along　the　Oregon　coast。　It　would　be　slower　than　I…5；　but　at　least　there　weren't　any　new　mountain　detours。　Still；　Terry　had　an　irrational　feeling　of　unfinished　business。　Wherever　that　mountain　had　e　from…and　Terry　could　not　even　remotely　guess…he　couldn't　move　it　and　had　no　idea　of　how　to　go　around　it。　He　might；　however；　be　of　some　use　with　Kenny　Randall。　Paranoid　schizophrenia　wasn't　normally　what　he　dealt　with；　but　his　residency　had　exposed　him　to　most　of　the　psychoses。　Still；　there　were　more　petent　people　than　Terry　to　deal　with　Kenny's　problem。　Terry　had　nearly　convinced　himself　to　head　home　when　Bill　said；　〃You　ing？〃　Terry　followed　him；　feeling　like　Tonto。
　While　Angie　and　Ellen　waited　in　a　coffee　shop；　Bill　and　Terry　headed　south；　to　search　Kenny's　dormitory　room。
　To　Terry　it　seemed　that　the　easiest　way　to　find　Kenny　Randall's　room　was　to　ask　the　administration。　But　Bill　instead　started　asking　students　if　they　knew　Kenny。　Everyone　did；　and　everyone　rolled　their　eyes　at　the　mention　of　his　name。　The　third　person　they　talked　to　directed　them　to　Residence　Hall。　Bill　had　to　ask　only　two　people　before　he　found　out　which　room　was　Kenny's。　The　reason　Bill　avoided　the　administration　building　became　clear　as　they　stood　outside　Kenny's　room　and　Bill　pulled　a　credit　card　out　and　opened　the　locked　door。
　〃Bill；　this　is　breaking　and　entering！〃
　〃No；　it's　only　entering。〃
　〃Oh；　that　makes　me　feel　much　better。　Why　are　we　playing　burglar？〃
　〃I　doubt　the　dean　would　let　us　in；　and　as　soon　as　the　police　or　the　FBI　think　of　it　they'll　seal　this　room。　They're　probably　on　their　way　here　now。〃
　〃What　if　someone　catches　us　in　here？〃　Terry　worried　out　loud。
　〃Don't　worry；　I'm　licensed　to　kill；〃　Bill　said；　wiggling　his　eyebrows。
　The　room　looked　much　like