jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第56章

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tion　across　the　country　was　disrupted；　they　had　very　little　information　to　work　with；　and　as　a　result　the　list　of　potential　sites　was　small。　There　was　an　Alaskan　site　southeast　of　Nome　described　as　having　sparse　vegetation。　It　was　on　the　list　because　of　unconfirmed　reports　that　a　pack　of　dinosaurs　was　attacking　a　herd　of　elk　there。
　The　second　site　was　in　northeastern　Washington；　where　a　huge　glacier　now　covered　parts　of　Washington；　Idaho；　and　Canada。　However；　the　detonation　site　was　unfortably　near　the　Canadian　border。　The　third　site　was　what　had　been　Portland；　Oregon。　Gogh　announced　that　they　were　expecting　aerial　photos　any　minute　to　confirm　the　eyewitness　reports；　but　so　far　it　appeared　to　be　a　displacement　populated　by　dinosaurs。
　The　discussion　moved　on　to　the　preparation　efforts。　The　military　was　using　overflights　of　the　potential　sites　to　develop　the　bit　maps　that　would　guide　the　cruise　missiles　to　their　target　area。　Since　the　missiles　would　be　launched　by　both　ships　and　B…l　bombers　and　would　have　to　travel　different　distances　over　a　variety　of　terrain；　timing　would　be　tricky　and　need　highly　accurate　maps。
　Nick　felt　dazed。　His　mind　had　not　switched　over　to　the　practical　side　of　the　plan；　he　couldn't　get　the　image　of　one　hundred　bombs　going　off　at　once　out　of　his　mind。
　Nick　paled　at　the　thought　of　the　impact　on　any　site；　but　especially　Portland。　Bombing　uninhabited　sections　of　Alaska　or　eastern　Washington　was　horrifying；　but　the　thought　of　its　effect　on　a　metropolitan　area　sickened　him。　Abruptly；　he　decided　to　risk　expulsion　from　the　council　and　broke　in　at　the　first　pause。
　〃Since　the　sites　are　unstable；　sometimes　they　are　the　present　and　sometimes　the　past。　How　will　you　be　sure　to　deliver　the　bombs　to　the　past？〃
　Gogh　smiled　at　the　question。　Clearly　he　had　thought　of　this　and　prepared　an　answer。
　〃The　missiles　are　terrain　guided。　They　will　be　programmed　with　the　terrain　from　the　past。　If　they　do　not　identify　the　terrain　as　matching　their　program　they　will　not　arm　their　warheads。　Instead；　the　missiles　will　harmlessly　pass　over　the　site；〃　Gogh　said；　and　then　swept　his　audience　with　his　eyes。　〃Thus　guaranteeing　the　detonations　will　occur　in　the　past。〃
　Nick　conceded　to　himself　that　it　could　work。　Still；　from　what　he　knew　of　the　programming　of　cruise　missiles　Gogh　wasn't　telling　the　whole　story。
　〃Dr。　Gogh；　isn't　it　true　that　under　bat　conditions　cruise　missiles　often　arrive　at　their　target　after　previous　attacks　have　significantly　altered　the　terrain？〃
　Gogh　looked　at　Nick　suspiciously；　as　if　he　knew　where　Nick　was　leading　him。
　〃Can　you　tell　the　council　how　the　missile's　programming　handles　that　contingency？〃　Nick　continued。
　He　glared　at　Nick；　leaving　unfortable　silence　in　the　room。　Finally；　Dr。　Gogh　answered　in　a　monotone。　〃When　the　missile　nears　its　termination　point；　and　the　terrain　ceases　to　match　the　digitized　map；　the　missile　can　exercise　an　option　to　use　the　last　confirmed　position　to　estimate　distance　and　direction　to　target。〃
　Many　of　those　at　the　table　began　murmuring；　but　Nick　wanted　to　make　sure　everyone　knew　full　well　what　Gogh's　missiles　would　do。
　〃In　other　words；　Dr。　Gogh；　if　the　missiles　get　lost；　they　will　guess。〃
　This　time　everyone　murmured。
　
　47。　　DEATH　FOR　DINNER
　
　Our　decoys　were　bringing　the　flock　down　and　we　were　ready　to　fire；　when　there　was　a　flash。　Suddenly；　we　were　pelted　by　roosted　ducks…burned；　feathers　and　all。
　…Reuben　Black；　Winston；　Maine；　1972
　
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　　The　sounds　of　the　feeding　were　horrifying；　but　the　thought　of　who　was　being　eaten　was　worse。　Dr。　Piltcher　sat　in　a　crumpled　heap；　broken　by　the　thought　of　the　fate　of　his　friend。　Petra　kept　her　arm　around　his　shoulder　while　he　stared　at　his　hands　in　his　lap。　Her　words　were　no　fort　to　him；　but　Petra〃　continued　speaking　softly；　as　if　to　soothe　herself。　Colter　stood　nearby；　holding　his　spear　like　a　talisman；　but　soon　he　returned　to　the　others　and　squatted。
　〃That's　not　Dr。　Coombs。　I　mean　what　we're　listening　to。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　continued　to　stare　at　his　hands；　but　Petra　looked　up。
　〃What？　How　would　you　know？〃
　〃Well。　。　。　there's　just　too　much　eating　going　on。　Don't　take　this　wrong　。　。　。　but　if　that　was　Dr。　Coombs　he　would　have　been　gone　a　long　time　ago。　Know　what　I　mean？〃
　Petra　was　sickened　by　the　logic；　but　it　made　sense。　The　dinosaur　that　terrorized　them　was　so　big；　Dr。　Coombs　would　have　provided　just　a　snack；　and　the　gruesome　sounds　ahead　indicated　several　feeding　dinosaurs。　Dr。　Piltcher　remained　oblivious　to　Colter's　suggestion　until　Petra　took　his　hands　in　hers。　He　looked　up　then；　his　eyes　puffy　and　red。　Petra　was　going　to　speak　but　Colter　cut　her　off。
　〃Doc；　Dr。　Coombs　would　be　an　appetizer；　and　whatever's　up　there　is　eating　a　six…course　dinner。〃
　That　brought　Dr。　Piltcher　to　his　feet；　his　cheeks　reddening；　but　he　turned　to　Petra；　not　Colter。　When　he　spoke　his　voice　trembled。
　〃Monoclonius　was　a　herbivore。　It　wouldn't　eat　my　friend；　it　would　only　kill　him。〃　Dr。　Piltcher　paused　to　control　his　grief。　When　he　spoke　again　it　was　with　anger。　〃If　you　want　my　opinion；　somewhere　in　there；〃　he　said；　pointing　toward　the　noises；　〃is　a　pack　of　small　scavengers　making　a　meal　of　my　best　friend。〃
　〃Uh…uh。〃　Colter　argued。　〃Whatever　is　up　there　is　big；　and　they're　having　a　feast；　not　a　snack。　Let　me　make　it　plain　for　you。　If　that　was　Dr。　Coombs；　those　mono…monsters　would　be　picking　their　teeth　with　his　bones　by　now。〃
　Petra　watched　as　Dr。　Piltcher's　face　flushed　again。　This　time　he　turned　to　face　Colter；　staring　him　in　the　eye。　When　he　found　his　voice　it　came　in　a　near　shout。
　〃What　do　you　know；　Colter？　In　all　the　time　I've　known　you；　you've　shown　an　interest　in　only　one　thing。〃　He　turned　and　pointed　at　Petra；　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　but　then　turned　back　to　Colter。　〃Colter；　you　are　what　you　are；　an　ignorant　young　man　who's　biggest　acplishment　will　be　seducing　a　young　woman　I　admire　。　。　。　and　love。　Why　she　chose　you　。　。　。　chose　to　carry　you；　I'll　never　know。　But　I'm　telling　you；　George　。　。　。　Dr。　Coombs；　is　dead。〃
　Colter　flushed　this　time；　but　when　he　spoke　it　was　in　a　whisper。
　〃He　may　be；　Dr。　Piltcher。　I　never　said　he　wasn't　dead。　I'm　just　telling　you　what　they're　eating　up　there　isn't　him。〃　Colter　paused；　collecting　his　thoughts。　He　wasn't　angry；　but　he　was　hurt。　〃As　for　being　ignorant；　I　guess　I　am　when　I'm　back　in　the　city。　Sitting　around　discussing　all　that　crap　you　guys　think　is　so　important；　I　probably　looked　pretty　dumb。　I　admit　it；　I　wouldn't　have　been　there　if　it　wasn't　for　Petra。　But　you　tell　me；　Dr。　Piltcher；　who's　the　ignorant　one　out　here？　Who　wouldn't　let　me　go　get　a　gun？　And　who　is　whispering　and　who　was　shouting　when　there's　a　pack　of　dinosaurs　about　a　hundred　yards　away？〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　stared　back　defiantly；　but　had　no　answer。　In　the　city　his　vast　storehouse　of　the　arcane　had　given　him　cult　status　and　a　circle　of　followers　who　marveled　at　his　knowledge　and　wisdom。　But　here　in　this　strange　world；　book　learning　meant　nothing。　It　didn't　matter　whether　it　was　monoclonius　or　triceratops　that　had　impaled　and　carried　off　his　friend。　What　mattered　was　having　the　knowledge　to　keep　it　from　happening　again。　If　Colter　had　his　way　they　would　be　walking　through　the　brush　with　rifles　and　George　would　still　be　alive。　Instead　George　was　dead；　and　their　only　weapon　fashioned　by　the　one　he　had　called　ignorant。　As　if　to　confirm　it；　Petra　turned　and　spoke　to　Colter。
　〃Is　there　any　chance　Dr。　Coombs　is　still　alive？〃
　〃Slim。　If　we　want　to　know；　we　need　to　see　what's　going　on　up　ahead。　Why　don't　you　wait　here　while　I　scout　it　out。〃
　Petra　looked　at　Dr。　Piltcher　and　back　to　Colter；　and　then　shook　her　head。
　〃I　think　we　better　stick　together。　But　as　soon　as　we　know　for　sure　one　way　or　another；　let's　get　out　of　here。〃
　Colter　shrugged　and　led　off；　resuming　his　slow；　stealthy　approach。　The　sounds　grew　louder　and　more　terrible。　The　gurgling　and　growling　repelled　them；　and　they　had　to　force　themselves　forward　against　their　natural　inclination　to　run。　Suddenly；　Colter　bolted　several　feet　and　then　knelt　behind　a　dense　bush。　He　stared　straight　ahead　for　a　minute　and　then　signaled　to　the　others。　They　quietly　crept　up　behind　him；　but　the　sounds　of　the　feeding　were　so　loud　now　that　they　could　have　driven　a　car　up　and　not　been　heard。
　When　they　were　all　together　Colter　reached　out　and　gently　pushed　a　limb　aside；　revealing　the　clearing　where　they　found　the　egg。　On　the　far　side　of　the　mound　was　the　dinosaur　who　had　attacked　the　RV　and　carried　off　Dr。　Coombs。　She　had　returned　to　her　nest；　and　then　finished　bleeding　to　death。　Her　lifeless　form　was　lying　on　its　side　and　its　body　was　nothing　but　shredded；　bloody　meat。　Half　a　dozen　bipedal　dinosaurs　were　tearing　off　huge　hunks　of　flesh；　or　gnawing　on　ribs　torn　from　the　carcass。　The　biggest　ones　were　fifteen　or　twenty　feet　high。　Smaller　bipeds；　no　more　than　two　or　three　feet　high；　circled　around　the　outside；　darting　in　to　grab　dropped　pieces　of　flesh；　or　bits　of　bone。　The　larger　carnivores　snapped　and　snarled　at　the　little　ones；　but　were　too　slow　to　stop　them。　There　was　more　than　enough　meat　anyway。
　Something　moved　through　the　brush　near　them　and　they　froze　in　fear。　One　of　the　smaller　dinosaurs　darted　through；　then　ran　into　the　clearing　and　began　circling　the　dinner　party；　looking　for　a　chance　to　snag　a　helping。　They　sighed　with　relief　when　it　passed　and　then　backed　away　slowly　until　they　felt　safe　enough　to　talk　softly。　Petra　spoke　first。
　〃I　didn't　see　Dr。　Coombs's　body　there。　Maybe　he　got　off　somehow。〃
　〃If　he　did；〃　Colter　suggested；　〃he'd　be　back　along　that　blood　trail。　It　may　be　risky　to　search　there。　We　don't　know　if　any　more　of　these　things　are　following　it　to　supper。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　and　Petra　understood　the　implications。　Every　second　they　spent　among　the　dinosaurs　was　a　risk；　but　walking　along　a　blood　trail　could　be　suicidal。　Still　no　one　wanted　to　be　the　first　to　give　up　on　Dr。　Coombs。　Colter　took　the　now　familiar　role　of　leader。
　They　backed　well　away　from　the　clearing　before　circling　around　to　the　trail；　which　was　heavily　trampled　by　the　gathering　scavengers。　Though　the　blood　was　drying；　it　was　still　crimson　on　the　green　grass。　Quickly；　before　they　met　another　predator；　they　backtracked　toward　where　they　left　the　trail　originally。　But　suddenly　something　cut　across　the　path；　and　they　gasped　in　fear。　The　three　were　about　to　start　off　again　when　Colter　turned；　looking　to　where　the　little　dinosaur　had　disappeared。　He　took　a　couple　of　steps　off　the　path　and　then　squatted。　Petra　knelt　next　to　him　as　Dr。　Piltcher　looked　over　his　shoulder；　and　they　saw　blood　on　the　grass。
　〃More　blood。　So　what；　Colter？〃　Petra　asked。
　〃How　did　it　get　here？　The　trail's　back　there。〃　Colter　stood　and　walked　a　few　more　steps。　〃Here's　more　of　it。〃
　Then；　without　another　word；　Colter　trotted　off　through　the　brush。　Petra　and　Dr。　Piltcher　looked　at　each　other；　suddenly　realizing　it　was　another　blood　trail。　A　hundred　yards　away　they　found　him　staring　at　a　pack　of　small　dinosaurs　in　the　grass　ahead。
　It　took　Petra　and　Dr。　Piltcher　a　minute　to　recognize　Dr。　Coombs's　remains。　The　small　dinosaurs　had　shredded　his　clothes　and　picked　his　bones　nearly　clean。　Even　his　skull　had　been　peeled　of