jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第7章

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asses　out　of　his　pocket；　perched　them　on　his　nose；　and　began。
　The　lecture　described　how　fossil　remains　of　hippos　were　found　in　West　Yorkshire；　England；　1450　feet　above　sea　level。　Dr。　Piltcher　pointed　out　the　absurdity　of　hippopotami　in　the　northern　latitudes　of　England；　climbing　the　hills　to　their　resting　place　so　far　from　the　sea。　Dr。　Piltcher　argued　the　only　reasonable　explanation　was　geologic　catastrophe。　In　the　past　when　the　climate　of　the　earth　was　uniform　from　pole　to　equator　to　pole；　the　poles　were　thirty　degrees　warmer　than　they　are　today。　Under　those　conditions　the　planet　would　support　near…tropical　growth　from　the　equator　to　near　the　poles。　In　that　era；　Dr。　Piltcher　theorized；　there　was　no　tilt　to　the　earth's　axis。　But　the　passage　of　a　large　et　or　planet　changed　all　that。　The　resulting　tilt　cooled　the　poles；　warmed　the　equator；　and　created　the　distinct　seasons　we　experience。
　Kenny　found　himself　absorbed。　Soon　he　realized　he　was　beginning　to　feel　the　same　way　about　the　hippopotami　as　he　had　when　the　corn　fell　out　of　the　sky。
　The　lecture　was　followed　by　a　debate　between　Dr。　Coombs　and　Dr。　Piltcher；　Dr。　Coombs　argued　that　the　presence　of　hippopotami　remains　could　be　explained　by　a　migration　of　hippos　leaving　North　Africa；　perhaps　by　the　Nile。　Dr。　Coombs　argued　the　animals　could　have　swum　ever　northward；　pausing　in　their　migrations　in　the　winter；　swimming　north　only　during　the　warm　summer　months。　Eventually　they　would　have　reached　England　and　worked　their　way　to　the　places　in　England　where　they　were　found。
　But　Dr。　Piltcher　immediately　and　vehemently　disagreed。　〃What　would　motivate　the　hippopotami　to　move　from　warm　equatorial　waters　to　the　frigid　waters　of　the　North　Atlantic？〃　he　thundered。　〃How　could　a　hippo　survive　in　such　a　radically　different　climate？〃
　〃They　did　not　survive；〃　responded　Dr。　Coombs。　〃Isn't　that　the　point？　The　hippos　could　not　survive　in　the　climate　they　had　migrated　to。〃
　〃But　what　motivation？　What　instinct　would　drive　them　north？　And　when　they　reached　the　north；　what　would　drive　them　inland　and　up　the　hills　and　mountains　to　die？〃
　〃Why　do　whales　beach　themselves？〃　Dr。　Coombs　challenged　him。　〃Perhaps　if　they　had　legs　they　would　not　only　beach　themselves　but　crawl　up　the　nearest　mountain。〃
　〃So　why　do　we　not　see　hippopotami　migrating　today？〃　came　Dr。　Piltcher's　reply。
　The　debate　went　back　and　forth　for　twenty　minutes。　As　Kenny　listened　he　realized　it　held　no　acrimony。　Rather；　it　seemed　like　a　well…orchestrated　performance；　with　Dr。　Piltcher　given　the　more　dramatic　role。　Dr。　Coombs　responded　reasonably　but　without　Dr。　Piltcher's　passion　and　volume。
　Afterward　a　few　people　went　up　to　talk　with　Dr。　Piltcher　and　Dr。　Coombs；　but　Kenny　held　back；　embarrassed　to　speak　of　his　experience　in　front　of　strangers。　Most　of　the　people　had　gone　except　Mrs。　Wayne；　Petra；　and　Dr。　Coombs；　who　seemed　to　be　preparing　to　leave　with　Dr。　Piltcher；　Kenny　swallowed　his　embarrassment　and　called　out　Dr。　Piltcher's　name　when　he　passed。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Dr。　Piltcher　replied。
　〃Something　happened　that　I　wanted　to　tell　you　about　。　。　。　this　corn　just　started　falling　out　of　the　sky。。。　I　mean　it　was　strange　。　。　。　right　out　of　the　blue。　I'm　not　making　this　up。　It　really　happened！　And　I　have　a　theory　of　why　it　happened　。　。　。　only　an　idea；　really。　I　thought　you　might　be　able　to　help　me　understand　it　better。〃
　Kenny　paused；　wishing　he　had　thought　out　ahead　of　time　what　he　was　going　to　say。　It　sounded　so　lame　to　him；　so　vague。　Kenny　paused；　waiting　to　get　brushed　off　again；　or　worse。　He　expected　a　blank　look　or　exasperation　from　Dr。　Piltcher　and　amusement　from　Dr。　Piltcher's　followers。　To　his　amazement　he　found　interest　in　their　eyes　and　wele　from　Dr。　Piltcher。
　〃That's　a　story　I'd　like　to　hear；　but　not　here。　I　need　my　coffee。〃
　Kenny　followed　the　chiropractor's　minivan　to　the　edge　of　Klamath　Falls。　Down　a　long　drive；　a　two…story　frame　house　sat　in　an　unkempt　cluttered　yard。　Inside　Dr。　Piltcher's　home　every　wall　was　covered　with　floor…to…ceiling　bookshelves。　More　books　and　boxes　filled　with　papers　and　journals　were　stacked　on　the　floor；　almost　concealing　a　soiled　flowered　carpet。　The　others　in　the　group；　experienced　visitors；　picked　up　stacks　of　books　and　papers　off　the　overstuffed　furniture　and　added　them　to　the　piles　on　the　floor。　Kenny　followed　their　lead　and　made　space　in　a　lumpy　armchair。　While　Mrs。　Wayne　and　Dr。　Piltcher　disappeared　from　the　room　to　make　coffee；　the　others　discussed　the　debate　over　the　hippo　fossils。　Kenny　listened；　but　felt　unfortable　and　ignored。　When　Dr。　Piltcher　and　Mrs。　Wayne　returned；　Dr。　Piltcher　turned　immediately　to　Kenny。
　〃Well；　Kenny。　Tell　us　about　what　happened　to　you；〃　he　urged　encouragingly。
　Feeling　more　at　ease；　Kenny　started　into　his　story　slowly；　describing　the　hunting　trip　and　the　strange　corn　shower；　how　he　was　led　to　research　other　strange　events　through　books　and　articles。　As　he　talked　they　listened　with　rapt　attention；　no　disbelief　on　their　faces；　until　he　found　himself　not　only　describing　the　event　but　also　his　feelings。　He　shared　his　awe　and　fear　when　the　corn　fell。　He　described　his　estrangement　from　his　father；　friends；　and　finally　his　sister。
　He　could　tell　by　their　eyes　that　almost　everyone　in　this　cluttered　room　had　shared　his　experience；　they　all　actively　listened。　When　he　was　done　there　was　silence。　He　watched　for　reactions　from　the　group；　but　they　all　turned　to　Dr。　Piltcher；　who　sat　bing　his　thinning　hair　with　his　fingers。　Then　he　spoke。
　〃Sound　familiar　to　you；　George？〃
　Dr。　Coombs　was　rocking　in　his　chair；　with　his　arms　folded　behind　his　head；　studying　the　ceiling。　Ten　years　younger　than　Dr。　Piltcher；　balding　and　gray…templed；　Dr。　Coombs　stopped　rocking　long　enough　to　answer。　〃That　it　does；　Chester。〃
　〃Let's　start　with　the　easy　one；　shall　we？〃　Dr。　Piltcher　suggested。　〃Burning　sulfur　falling　on　Sodom　and　Gomorrah。　Destroyed　the　whole　damned　city…pun　intended。　Your　turn；　George。〃
　〃Frogs　falling　on　Egypt；　as　recorded　in　the　Bible　and　Midrash。〃　Dr。　Coombs　said　it　without　taking　his　eyes　off　of　the　ceiling。
　〃The　biblical　plagues　are　too　easy。　Locusts　and　flies　also　came　out　of　nowhere。　Too　easy！　How　about　the　hail　of　hot　stones　as　recorded　in　the　Mexican　Annals　of　Cuauhtitlan？〃
　〃Could　have　been　meteorites；〃　Dr。　Coombs　countered。
　〃Nonsense。　Thousands　of　hot　stones　falling　like　hail　and　bouncing　around　setting　things　on　fire？　Meteorites　burn　up　in　the　atmosphere　more　often　than　not；　and　even　if　they　reach　the　ground　they　most　assuredly　don't　fall　in　groups　like　hail。　Your　turn；　George。〃
　〃Manna　from　heaven；〃　Coombs　suggested；　then　leaned　forward　and　spoke　to　the　group。　〃Manna　was　described　by　the　Israelites　as　a　yellowish　seed　that　tasted　like　oily　honeyb。　Most　likely　it　was　the　seed　of　a　plant；　but　no　one　has　been　able　to　explain　why　it　fell　from　the　sky。　e　to　think　of　it　there's　no　reason　it　couldn't　have　been　corn。〃
　Dr。　Coombs　turned；　his　pale　eyes　gleaming　in　his　well…tanned　face；　looking　straight　at　Kenny　and　disconcerting　him。　〃They　did　grind　it　and　bake　bread　with　it　just　like　corn；〃　Coombs　added。　〃And　they　certainly　wouldn't　have　seen　corn　before。〃
　〃Not　bad；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　said。　〃You're　still　pulling　from　the　Bible　and　the　Talmud；　but　it's　creative。　Let　me　take　ambrosia　from　you。　Homer　and　Hesiod　both　refer　to　honey　from　heaven。〃
　〃The　hymns　of　Rig…Veda　refer　to　madhu　falling　from　clouds。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　cleared　his　throat　derisively。　〃That's　just　another　name　for　ambrosia。〃
　〃Maybe。　But　if　you　won't　give　me　credit　for　it　I'll　take　the　red　dust　that　fell　on　the　Mayas。〃
　〃Let's　stretch　this　a　bit。　Kenny　said　something　about　fish　falling　from　the　sky。　What　if　bigger　things　fell？　What　about　that；　George？　Suggest　anything　to　you？〃　Dr。　Piltcher　paused　and　turned　to　the　rest　of　the　group。　〃Remember　back　to　our　debate　over　the　presence　of　hippos　in　Europe。〃　Dr。　Piltchei　looked　first　at　Petra　and　then　Mrs。　Wayne。　〃Is　there　anothei　way　the　hippopotami　could　get　to　England？〃
　Mrs。　Wayne　cleared　her　throat　and　then　suggested　in　a　high…pitched　voice；　〃They　fell　from　the　sky？〃
　〃Possibly。　Possibly。　If　corn　can　fall；　if　fish　can　fall；　why　not　a　hippo？〃
　Kenny　was　surprised。　Dr。　Piltcher　was　now　willing　to　abandon　the　cosmic　cataclysm　theory　he'd　espoused　only　an　hour　earlier；　a　thesis　that　had　cost　him　much　time　and　effort。　Kenny　had　always　agreed　that　new　theories　were　accepted　only　when　those　defending　the　old　theories　died　off。　But　Dr。　Piltchei　showed　surprising　flexibility　for　a　scientist。
　Dr。　Coombs　rocked　forward　again；　stretching　out　his　feet　and　knocking　over　a　pile　of　books。　〃It　might　explain　some　othei　mysteries。　Did　you　know　they　found　the　skeletons　of　two　whales　in　Michigan？　Michigan！　Awfully　far　from　the　sea；　wouldn't　you　say？〃　Dr。　Coombs　said　to　the　group　while　looking　mostly　at　Kenny。　Not　to　be　outdone；　Dr。　Piltcher　added　to　the　whale　stories。
　〃Found　a　whale　skeleton　in　Quebec　too。　Six　hundred　feet　above　sea　level。　Oh；　now　that　I　think　about　it；　they've　found　whales；　hippopotami；　rhinoceroses；　and　elephants　in　the　most　unlikely　places。　Even　in　Antarctica。　Not　to　mention　the　coniferous　trees　found　in　both　the　arctic　and　antarctic…〃
　〃And；　of　course；　the　most　famous　of　all；〃　Dr。　Coombs　cut　in；　〃the　leopard　on　Mount　Kilimanjaro。〃
　〃George；　what's　the　name　of　that　Babylonian　prophet；　the　one　who　was　stoned　for　knowing　too　much？〃
　〃Zorastrus；　I　believe。〃
　〃Yes；　yes。　Quite　brilliant；　he　collected　events　like　Kenny　has　been　describing　too。　No　one　believed　him　either；　of　course。〃
　Dr。　Coombs　rubbed　his　chin　with　his　hand　and　looked　concerned　for　a　minute　and　then　said；　〃This　Zorastrus　might　be　worth　looking　up；　I　seem　to　remember　he　had　quite　a　lot　to　say　about　the　future。〃
　〃Something　to　pursue　later；　eh　George？　But　you　do　see　what　I'm　getting　at；〃　Dr。　Piltcher　mused。　〃Until　tonight；　finding　animals　in　unlikely　locations　was　explained　either　through　migration；　which　is　highly　unlikely；　or　cataclysm；　like　the　shifting　of　the　earth　on　its　axis；　which　is　also　unlikely。　Having　them　fall　from　the　sky　is　beautiful　in　its　simplicity。　But　the　sky…fall　theory　lacks　a　cause　。　。　。　a　source　for　the　effect。〃
　Dr。　Piltcher　paused　and　turned　to　Kenny；　the　others　in　the　group　all　did　too。　Now　more　fortable　he　told　them　about　the　flower　fall；　and　the　mother　and　the　daughter；　and　his　theory。　As　he　spoke　he　watched　their　faces　light　up。　They　began　to　add　to　it。　They　brainstormed。　And　the　theory　began　to　grow。
　
　Kenny　became　part　of　the　group　that　night。　He　knew　other　people　would　call　the　members　of　that　group　kooks；　or　weirdos；　and　Kenny　would　have　too　a　few　months　ago。　But　he　saw　things　from　the　inside　now。　It　was　an　odd　group　of　people；　but　receptive　and　even　warm。
　After　that　Kenny　spent　every　Saturday　night　with　the　group。　He　got　to　know　Mrs。　Wayne　and　witnessed　her　contacts　with　Shontel；　the　spirit　guide。　He　became　friends　with　Petra。　He　met　others　too。　An　elderly　couple　who　ran　a　local　convenience　store　alternated　ing　on　Saturday　nights。　They　only　listened；　though；　and　never　participated。　Others；　like　Bonnie　Smith；　came　occasionally　but　were　never　part　of　the　core。　Bonnie　showed　up　one　night　with　another　student；　Colter　Swenson；　who　listened　attentively　but　kept　glancing　at　Petra。　The　next　Saturday　Colter　showed　up　with