jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第72章

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esh　blood。　The　fish　was　confused。　Probably　few　of　its　meals　bled。　It　sniffed　higher　up　onto　her　back　and　then　pushed　her　again。　This　time　she　resisted　slightly；　trying　to　mimic　rigor　mortis。　After　one　more　push；　the　fish　snorted；　the　warm　wet　spray　from　its　nostrils　coating　Petra's　back。　As　Petra　lay　there；　eyes　wide　open；　the　fish　padded　to　the　pool　and　splashed　into　tne　water。
　Petra　counted　to　five　hundred　and　then　moved　slowly。　Her　head　throbbed　when　she　rolled　over　and　sat　up；　but　she　hung　on　to　consciousness。　The　pool　was　glowing　much　brighter　now；　making　Petra　wonder　how　long　she　had　been　in　the　den。　She　scooted　her　bottom　across　the　stone　until　her　feet　were　dangling　in　the　water；　so　cold　it　brought　out　the　ache　in　her　ankle。　It　also　revived　her；　however。　She　sat　there　breathing　deeply；　trying　to　oxygenate　her　blood　for　what　might　be　a　long　swim。　Her　own　feeble　efforts　might　nor　be　enough　to　reach　the　surface。　Finally　she　sucked　in　air；　filling　her　lungs；　and　let　her　body　slip　down　into　the　pool。
　As　soon　as　she　was　below　the　surface；　she　pushed　off　hard　from　the　edge　of　the　pool。　Only　one　leg　was　working；　so　she　had　little　speed。　She　kept　her　eyes　open；　focused　on　the　brightest　glow　ahead　of　her。　Mostly　she　pulled　herself　along　by　grasping　on　the　rocks　that　lined　the　entry　tunnel。　She　made　slow　progress；　however；　and　her　air　was　running　out。　The　glow　was　brighter；　she　was　sure　of　that；　but　a　ceiling　still　hung　over　her。　She　kicked　and　pulled　again；　desperate　to　clear　the　overhang。　She　had　only　seconds　of　air　left　when　she　turned；　swam　out；　and　kicked　upward。　Her　lungs　demanded　air　and　she　felt　faint…　then　she　broke　the　surface。
　
　
　He　made　the　treeline　a　few　steps　ahead　of　the　monster　and　darted　around　the　trunks。　Still　the　beast　came　on；　shearing　off　limbs　and　bulldozing　smaller　trees。　This　time　it　wasn't　going　to　let　the　forest　keep　him　from　his　prey。　Colter　knew　he　was　little　more　than　snack…size　for　this　beast；　but　this　wasn't　about　hunger；　his　tormentor　had　a　personal　mission。　That　was　fine　with　Colter；　his　was　personal　too。
　At　the　lake　shore；　the　enraged　monster　was　still　forcing　itself　through　the　trees。　It　was　perfect。　The　beast　had　little　maneuvering　room　and　Colter　could　hide　behind　a　tree　and　take　his　time　pumping　out　lead；　one　well…placed　shot　at　a　time。　A　large　limb　lay　at　the　edge　of　the　little　wood；　and　Colter　turned　toward　it。　The　monster　was　still　ing；　still　angry；　the　snapping　of　big　and　small　limbs　filled　the　air。
　
　
　Petra　gasped　and　sucked　in　fresh；　oxygen…rich　air。　Her　starved　brain　cleared　itself　and　her　headache　faded　slightly。　Now　she　found　herself　too　weak　to　tread　water　and　kicking　with　only　one　leg　was　nearly　useless。　Petra　turned　in　the　water；　scanning　for　the　fish；　and　saw　the　shore　was　close。　She　stretched　out　in　the　water　and　began　swimming；　one　weak　stroke　at　a　time。
　The　shore；　with　its　grove　of　trees；　inched　closer。　Petra　thought　it　might　be　the　grove　where　Dr。　Piltcher　had　died。　She　knew　there　was　a　tree　there　she　could　climb。　It　wouldn't　save　her　from　that　big　monster；　Dr。　Piltcher　had　proved　that；　but　it　would　keep　her　safe　long　enough　to　rest　and　get　some　strength　back。　Suddenly　something　moved　in　the　woods　ahead。　A　figure　jumped　over　a　large　fallen　branch　and　then　turned　its　back　to　the　lake。　She　recognized　it：　Colter。
　Colter　was　exhilarated　as　he　planned　the　perfect　shot。　He　decided　to　aim　about　where　a　lung　should　be。　That　should　slow　it　down　incase　he　had　to　run　again。　A　lungful　of　blood　should　cut　you　down　to　size；　he　silently　told　his　enemy。
　Colter　smiled　and　began　to　squeeze　the　trigger；　but　then　he　heard　something　new。　It　was　ing　from　behind　him；　the　sound　of　splashing　and　dripping　water。　Something　was　ing　out　of　the　lake。
　He　turned　at　the　sounds　behind　him　to　see　a　ghostly　stick　figure　emerging　from　the　water。　It　was　a　human　figure；　pale；　white；　and　deathly；　and　looked　zombielike　as　it　walked　through　the　shallows。　Most　horrifying　of　all；　though；　was　its　resemblance　to　Petra。　Colter　knew　he　was　losing　his　mind。　Petra　was　dead。　She　had　been　at　the　bottom　of　the　lake　since　yesterday。　She　couldn't　be　alive。　Yet　here　was　her　body　returning　from　its　watery　grave。　Unnerved；　he　slumped　to　the　ground　with　his　back　to　the　fallen　limb　and　stared　at　the　phantom；　forgetting　about　the　dinosaur　behind　him。
　
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　Petra　staggered　along　the　bottom　toward　Colter；　wading　through　the　water　and　pushing　herself　along　with　her　hands。　She'd　just　about　made　it　to　shore　when　Colter　suddenly　turned　and　pointed　a　rifle　at　her。　Petra　froze　when　she　saw　the　look　on　Colter's　face；　he　meant　to　kill　her。　Then　she　saw　the　monster　behind　him；　and　it　was　ing。
　
　
　Now　the　dead　body　limped　through　knee…high　water；　favoring　its　left　leg。　Colter　remembered　the　fish　chomping　down　on　that　leg。　It　must　still　hurt　Petra；　Colter　thought。　But　why　would　a　corpse　limp？　No；　death　was　a　painless　state。　That's　the　only　way　it　made　sense。　That　realization　snapped　him　up　short　and　he　stood　and　stepped　toward　Petra。
　〃Petra？　Petra？　Is　that　you？〃　Colter　shouted。
　It　was。　And　she　was　alive。　As　he　watched；　Petra　pointed　a　finger　at　something　behind　him；　but　before　she　could　speak　there　was　movement　in　the　water　behind　her；　the　walking　fish　was　racing　toward　Petra。
　〃Run；　Petra！〃　Colter　shouted。　〃It's　behind　you！〃
　Petra's　eyes　were　still　fixed　beyond　Colter；　but　at　his　warning　she　glanced　behind。　She　broke　into　a　run…but　the　pitiful　run　of　an　exhausted；　lame　person。　The　walking　fish　was　in　the　shallows　now；　and　using　its　flipper　legs　to　splash　after　Petra；　its　powerful　tail　helped　to　propel　it　forward。　Colter　took　two　steps　to　the　right　to　make　sure　his　shot　would　be　well　clear　of　Petra　and　raised　his　rifle　and　fired；　the　shot　sailing　over；　the　fish's　body　and　into　the　water。　He　jacked　another　round　into　the　chamber　and　raised　the　rifle　again；　but　the　fish　had　e　close　to　Petra。　Colter　hesitated；　but　fired　a　slug　into　the　fish's　back；　near　the　tail。　The　fish　flinched；　slowed　for　a　second；　and　then　lunged　for　Petra's　flailing　legs；　tripping　her；　and　she　belly　flopped　into　the　shallow　water。　When　the　fish　lunged　again；　Petra's　left　foot　disappeared　between　its　powerful　jaws。
　Her　head　vanished　in　the　water　but　she　came　up　screaming。　Now　she　was　again　too　close　to　the　fish　but　Colter　once　more　raised　the　rifle；　aimed　at　Petra；　moved　the　sight　slightly　to　the　right；　and　fired。　This　time　the　slug　hit　the　fish's　body　dead　center；　and　it　began　to　thrash；　still　holding　on　to　Petra's　leg。　Colter　fired　again；　hitting　the　fish　just　behind　its　jaw。　The　violent　thrashing　continued；　whipping　Petra's　legs　back　and　forth。　She　kicked　at　the　fish；　trying　to　dislodge　her　foot；　and　suddenly　she　was　free；　and　pushing　herself　away　with　her　good　leg。　Colter　opened　fire　again；　putting　three　more　slugs　into　the　fish；　and　finally　it　lay　still。
　〃Yes！　I　got　you；　you　sonovabitch！〃　Colter　rejoiced。　He　was　still　celebrating　when　he　heard　Petra　yelling；　and　he　remembered　the　other　dinosaur。
　He　spun　to　see　a　huge　three…toed　clawed　foot　swinging　to…ward　his　head　and　started　to　raise　his　rifle；　but　there　wasn't　nearly　enough　time。　Instead；　he　dropped　the　rifle　and　dove　forward。　He　hit　the　ground　and　rolled　toward　the　limb　he'd　been　hiding　behind；　clear　of　the　foot　but　not　the　huge　tail；　which　swung　to　the　left　as　the　dinosaur　turned。　Colter　crouched　low　beneath　the　limb；　hoping　it　would　protect　him；　but　the　tail　knocked　it　sideways。　He　covered　his　head　with　his　hands　while　the　branches　tore　at　his　shirt　and　skin。　Colter　felt　the　limb　break　and　its　weight　and　the　beast's　tail　pounding　him。
　Petra　watched　in　horror。　She　couldn't　see　Colter；　but　the　frantic　turn　of　the　dinosaur　told　her　he　was　still　alive。　She　ran　to　the　side；　then；　above　the　din；　she　heard　Colter's　shout。
　〃Get　the　rifle；　Petra！　Get　the　rifle！〃
　Petra　could　just　make　out　Colter's　body　beneath　a　huge　fallen　tree　limb。　Then　he　threw　something　at　Petra。　It　landed　just　clear　of　the　dinosaur　and　Petra　approached　warily。　But　the　dinosaur　was　single…minded　in　its　attack；　so　Petra　retrieved　the　object…a　loaded　clip　for　the　rifle…and　then　retreated。
　She　spotted　the　rifle　under　the　dinosaur。　There　was　no　way　to　get　to　it　except　by　running　in　the　shadow　of　the　towering　behemoth。
　When　Colter　hollered　for　help　again；　Petra　trembled　in　indecision。
　Now　the　dinosaur　decided　to　get　at　Colter　with　its　feet；　stepping　up　close。　With　its　huge　three…toed　foot；　it　clawed　away　turf。　Its　digging　grew　frenzied；　throwing　huge　hunks　of　dirt　toward　Petra。
　Petra　was　trying　to　time　a　run　for　the　gun　when　the　dinosaur　clawed　up　the　gun　in　a　clod　of　dirt。　Dodging　the　flying　earth；　she　retrieved　the　gun…scratched　and　filthy。　She　hoped　it　would　still　work。
　Suddenly　Colter　screamed　as　if　he　were　being　killed。　Petra　raised　the　gun；　aimed　it　dead　center　at　the　dinosaur's　back；　and　pulled　the　trigger。　As　it　fired　it　knocked　her　to　the　ground；　and　she　saw　the　dinosaur's　head　turning　toward　her。
　Petra　pulled　on　the　bolt　but　it　wouldn't　move。　She　looked　at　the　mechanism；　then　lifting　it；　she　pulled　and　to　her　relief　she　saw　one　bullet　pop　out　of　the　clip；　but　there　wasn't　another　one　behind　it。
　Petra　closed　the　chamber。　The　dinosaur　was　turning　toward　her；　and　she　knew　she'd　be　easy　prey；　with　no　strength　and　little　fight　left。　She　lifted　the　rifle；　her　weak　arms　swaying　under　the　weight；　and　aimed　at　the　dinosaur's　left　leg；　waiting　for　it　to　turn　and　expose　its　chest。　She　had　to　get　the　heart；　but　where　was　the　heart？　In　the　center？　The　left　side？　Would　a　single　bullet　do　enough　damage　to　such　a　huge　animal？　As　the　dinosaur　turned；　Petra　saw　its　head　hung　low。　Suddenly　she　changed　her　mind；　pointed　between　the　beast's　eyes；　and　pulled　the　trigger。
　The　slug　hit　the　dinosaur　above　the　left　eye；　smashing　through　the　thick　skull。　As　bullet　and　bone　fragments　shredded　the　brain　tissue；　the　dinosaur　lost　consciousness；　closed　its　eyes；　and　then　collapsed　to　the　ground。　A　wave　of　hope　and　relief　swept　Petra　until　she　saw　the　dinosaur　was　falling　on　Colter's　hiding　place。　The　few　branches　still　on　the　trees　snapped　off　as　the　limp　monster　crashed　to　the　floor　of　the　little　wood；　and　then　lay　still。
　
　
　Petra　stood　stunned。　She　had　killed　the　dinosaur；　but　she　had　crushed　Colter　beneath　its　mass。　She　ran　around　the　dinosaur　shouting　Colter's　name；　looking　for　some　way　to　get　under　him；　for　some　depression　or　crawl　space。　The　ground　was　uneven　because　of　the　dinosaur's　digging；　but　there　was　no　space　big　enough　for　a　body。　Finally　she　sat　down。　She　had　no　tears　left；　and　no　energy　to　mourn。　Instead；　she　just　let　creeping　blackness　fill　her。
　There　was　no　point　in　staying。　They　were　all　gone　now。　First　Mrs。　Wayne　and　Ernie　Powell；　and　then　Dr。　Piltcher　and　Dr。　Coombs。　And　now　Colter。　She　couldn't　bring　them　back。　Maybe　she　could　find　Phat；　or　perhaps　she　should　go　back　to　Ashland　and　see　if　any　of　her　friends　were　still　alive。　She　knew　she　should　go　see　if　the　RV　was　still　there。　If　it　was；　she　could　get　out　of　here；　away　from　this　nightmare。　She　didn't　know　what　kind　of　world　it　would　be　now；　with　dinosaurs　running　around；　but　whatever　was　out　there　wouldn't　carry　these　kinds　of　memories。
　Still；　she　sat　motionless。　Depression　weighed　her　to　the　grou