jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第76章

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　〃Let　the　woman　and　the　kid　go。　We　have　no　interest　in　you。〃
　At　the　word　we　Ellen　felt　hope。　Whoever　they　were；　they　couldn't　be　any　worse　than　Carl　and　the　guys。　Ripman；　his　head　down；　showed　no　reaction。　Carl　and　Kishton　were　taking　too　much　time。　If　they　didn't　act　soon　they　wouldn't　be　able　to　release　her　and　Ripman　and　make　it　to　the　forest　themselves　before　the　dinosaur　caught　up。
　〃All　right；　all　right！〃　Carl　shouted　to　the　forest。
　Then　to　Ellen　and　Ripman　he　said；　〃This　isn't　over。　Now　you　go；　and　you　go　fast；　or　I'll　shoot　you　in　the　back　just　like　you　did　Bobby。〃
　As　soon　as　they　climbed　on　top　of　the　log；　the　dinosaur　spotted　them　and　picked　up　its　pace。　Its　enthusiasm　spoke　of　an　acquired　taste　for　people；　Ellen　realized；
　〃Hurry　it　up！〃　Carl　shouted　behind　them。　〃Hurry　it　up　or　I'll　shoot　you！〃
　Ripman　was　slowing　them　down。　His　swollen　face　impaired　his　vision；　and　Ellen　had　to　help　him　climb　and　guide　him　toward　the　forest。　But　if　she　held　his　arm　too　firmly　or　too　long；　Ripman　pushed　it　away。　When　they　went　around　the　foliage　of　the　last　fallen　tree；　they　ran　into　the　forest。
　Now　a　familiar　voice　whispered　to　them；　and　a　hand　motioned　from　a　tree。　Ellen　guided　Ripman　there　and　around　the　other　side。
　At　the　sight　of　her　son　her　knees　went　weak　and　she　collapsed　into　his　arms。　After　a　long　relieved　squeeze　Ellen　opened　her　eyes　to　see　Cubby　holding　a　pistol。
　〃Hello；　Mrs。　Roberts。〃
　The　voice　wasn't　as　deep　as　the　one　shouting　from　the　forest；　but　she　realized　both　were　Cubby's。　He　smiled　at　her；　then　turned　to　Ripman。
　〃Ripman；　you　look　like　crap。〃
　Ripman　turned　his　head　to　look　at　Cubby　with　his　good　eye。　〃We'll　all　be　crap　tomorrow　if　that　dino　eats　us　today。〃
　In　her　relief　Ellen　had　forgotten　about　the　dinosaur。　She　leaned　out　around　the　tree　to　see　Carl　and　Kishton　climbing　over　a　log；　moving　fast。　But　so　was　the　dinosaur。
　〃It's　ing　。　。　。　they're　ing。〃
　Cubby　leaned　around　the　tree　and　fired　three　times　at　Carl　and　Kishton；　who　were　running　the　length　of　a　trunk　to　reach　another　tree　and　dove　between　the　two　logs。　Cubby　fired　another　shot　before　the　gun　clicked　on　an　empty　chamber。
　〃Time　to　go；〃　he　said　and　ran　off　through　the　trees。
　As　they　followed　Cubby；　semiautomatic　rifle　fire　echoed　through　the　trees；　quickly　drowned　by　roaring　and　bellowing。　Carl　and　Kishton　were　putting　up　a　fight。
　Ripman's　breathing　was　heavy　and　ragged　and　he　stumbled　frequently。　Ellen　and　John　bracketed　him；　taking　turns　supporting　him；　but　he　didn't　tolerate　their　touch　for　long　and　pushed　their　hands　away。
　The　rifle　fire　continued　behind　them；　the　sharp　cracks　and　pops　peting　with　the　screaming　roars　of　the　enraged　dinosaur。　Then　a　tremendous　crash　and　splintering　drowned　out　the　gunshots。　When　the　new　noise　faded；　the　rifle　fire　and　the　screams　were　gone。
　Cubby　pulled　up　behind　a　tree　and　plopped　down；　pretending　to　catch　his　breath　but　keeping　his　eye　on　Ripman。　He　remained　standing；　leaning　against　the　tree；　but　slowly　sank　onto　his　bottom　like　the　rest　of　them；　looking　down　to　avoid　eye　contact。　Ellen　knew　he　was　in　pain；　some　of　it　physical；　but　most　of　it　emotional。　He　hated　needing　their　help；
　After　a　few　minutes；　Cubby　took　charge　again。
　〃Let's　get　going。　Maybe　we　can　still　make　it　to　my　house。〃
　〃Your　house？〃　Ellen　asked。　She　was　puzzled。　Could　Cubby's　house　be　in　this　primeval　forest　somewhere？　〃Your　house　is　still　here？〃
　〃It's　over　that　way　a　few　miles。　We　saw　my　dad's　church　yesterday；　isn't　that　right；　John？〃
　John　responded　with　a　reluctant　nod；　and　Ellen　realized　there　was　something　her　son　was　holding　back。　Ellen　looked　around　the　woods。　It　was　like　nothing　she'd　ever　known。　Some　of　the　trees　were　the　size　of　the　biggest　redwoods　in　the　nation；　and　there　were　thousands　of　them。　The　plants　were　strangely　unfamiliar；　and　the　insect　and　small　animal　life　seemed　alien　from　an　ancient　world；　one　ruled　by　dinosaurs　and　gone　for　sixty…five　million　years。　Yet　Cubby　talked　of　going　home；　home　to　a　parsonage。　The　impossibility　of　what　had　happened　hit　her　hard。
　〃Well；　if　you're　sure　it's　there；　and　it's　not　too　far；　I　guess　we　should　head　for　it。〃
　She　said　it　without　conviction。　Her　own　inclination　was　to　make　directly　for　the　nearest　piece　of　confirmed　civilization。　At　last　Ripman　lifted　his　eyes　and　used　the　good　one　to　stare　at　Cubby。
　〃I　wouldn't　say　it's　there；　and　I　wouldn't　say　it's　not　there；〃　he　muttered　thickly　through　his　swollen　lips。
　Cubby　turned　on　him　angrily。
　〃I'm　not　buying　that　rapture　crapola　of　yours；　Cubby；〃　Ripman　continued；　〃I'm　just　telling　you　what　I've　seen。　I've　seen　Portland　too；　I've　seen　it　e　and　go。〃
　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃　Cubby　snarled　in　his　deepest　voice。
　〃It　means　what　it　means。　Sometimes　it's　there　and　sometimes　it's　not。　Even　if　it　is　there　it　doesn't　look　right。〃
　〃I　saw　it。　John　saw　it。〃
　〃That　right；　John？〃　Ripman　turned　his　good　eye　to　John；　defying　him　to　support　Cubby。　〃Did　it　look　all　right　to　you？〃
　〃It　was　there　。　。　。　but　it　was　。　。　。　hazy。〃
　〃See；　John　saw　it。　Now　give　it　a　rest；　Ripman；　we're　going　to　my　place。〃
　Ripman　turned　his　head　back　and　forth；　reading　facial　expressions　with　his　good　eye。
　〃If　it's　there　why　haven't　we　run　into　any　of　the　people　from　Portland？〃
　〃It's　too　far　away；　that's　why。〃　Cubby　spoke　with　conviction；　but　no　one　shared　his　certainty。
　〃It's　not　that　far　away。　You're　sitting　on　Mount　Tabor。〃
　Cubby's　eyes　went　wide　and　he　mouthed　〃Mount　Tabor〃　silently。　Ellen　had　been　to　Cubby's　church　on　several　occasions；　and　she　knew　it　was　on　the　hill　just　south　of　Mount　Tabor。　Now；　Ripman　stood　and　threw　a　rock　into　the　forest。
　〃That　means　your　house　is　about　that　far　away。　You　see　your　house？　Your　church？　It's　gone；　Cubby；　gone。　Get　used　to　it。　Better　yet；　get　out　of　here。　You　don't　belong　here；　none　of　you　do。　Get　out　of　here　before　you　get　me　killed。〃
　Ripman　collapsed　back　onto　the　ground；　pulled　his　knees　to　his　chest；　burying　his　head　between　his　knees。　Ellen　impulsively　reached　out　to　put　her　arm　around　him　but　held　back。　Her　gesture　would　only　add　to　his　pain。　Ellen　didn't　know　how　to　fort　Cubby　either。　She　only　knew　that　it　was　time　to　get　out　of　the　forest。
　She　turned　to　John　to　ask　for　his　support；　but　a　new　noise　pulled　their　attention　to　the　sky…the　distinctive　thump；　thump；　thump　of　a　helicopter；　flying　low。　She；　John；　and　Cubby　spread　out　looking　for　a　thin　spot　in　the　canopy　to　attract　the　attention　of　the　pilot。　Ripman　remained　under　the　tree　with　his　head　between　his　knees。　The　thumping　got　louder　when　the　helicopter　was　nearly　overhead。　Then　leaves　began　fluttering　out　of　the　trees；　hundreds　of　them；　blocking　her　view。　As　they　drifted　toward　her　she　realized　these　were　long　elongated　leaves；　and　that　evergreens　have　needles；　not　leaves。
　The　whirling　blades　were　directly　above　them　when　the　first　of　the　leaves　drifted　down　to　head　height。　Suddenly　the　leaf　changed　course　and　swooped　to　Ellen's　shoulder。　She　turned　to　find　an　eight…inch　lizard　staring　her　in　the　face；　its　tongue　slithering　in　and　out。　It　was　a　mottled　green　with　a　brown　bone　collar　around　its　neck。　Spines；　extending　from　its　neck　on　either　side；　were　folded　flat　along　its　body。　Screaming；　Ellen　knocked　it　from　her　shoulder；　but　its　claws　snagged　her　blouse　and　it　hung　upside　down　by　its　back　legs。　Then　it　extended　the　spines　from　its　side；　stretching　the　attached　webbing　wide。　Its　claws　released　and　it　rolled　and　glided　to　the　ground；　reared　on　its　back　legs　and　ran　into　the　underbrush。　Other　lizards　landed　nearby　and　ran　off；　some　scrambling　up　trees　and　disappearing　into　the　foliage。　Another　scored　a　direct　hit　on　Ellen's　head；　its　claws　enmeshed　in　her　hair。　Ellen；　in　panic；　tried　to　pull　it　free；　and　when　it　came　loose　with　a　hunk　of　hair　in　each　fist；　Ellen　flung　it　to　the　ground；　where　it　ran　off　with　the　others。　The　lizard　flights　diminished；　and　when　the　air　raid　ended　the　helicopter　was　gone。
　Tears　filled　Ellen's　eyes。　She　resolved　then　and　there　to　take　no　steps　that　didn't　lead　out　of　this　hell。　She　saw　the　same　desire　in　her　son。　Cubby　looked　mostly　confused；　and　Ripman　was　still　hiding　his　emotions。　Ellen　regarded　the　boys　in　a　new　light。　They　were　still　young　in　many　ways；　struggling　for　an　identity；　not　sure　of　their　direction。　She　had　depended　on　them；　and　they　had　saved　her。　Ripman　had　tried　to　save　Angie　too；　he'd　been　remarkable；　and　so　had　her　son。　But　now　they　needed　her。　She　was　going　to　lead　them　out　of　there。
　Before　she　could　act；　she　heard　a　new　sound；　growing　louder。　Cubby　and　John　looked　at　each　other　accusingly。
　〃It　was　your　bike；〃　Cubby　said。
　〃Uh…uh！　It　was　yours；〃　John　replied　defensively。
　Ellen　didn't　have　time　to　ask　what　they　were　talking　about。　Cubby　pulled　Ripman　to　his　feet　and　into　the　forest　while　John　grabbed　her　arm　and　dragged　her　along　behind。　The　sound　grew　loud　enough　for　her　to　recognize。　It　was　a　motorcycle。
　
　63。　　OSCILLATIONS
　
　Einstein's　failure　to　explain　time's　arrow　。　。　。　is　closely　linked　to　the　concept　of　causality　。　。　。　the　notion　that　effects　never　precede　their　causes。　Consider　a　world　in　which　causality　is　violated；　it　might　mean　that　a　pebble　could　levitate　off　the　ground　so　that　you　could　grasp　it；　worse　than　that；　you　might　be　struck　down　by　a　stone　before　it　fell；　or　kill　your　own　grandmother　before　you　were　born。
　…Peter　Coveney　and　Roger　Highfield；　the　Arrow　of　Time
　
　Washington；　D。C。
　POSTQUILT：　WEDNESDAY；　1：15　P。M。　EST
　
　The　PresNet　was　rich　with　data　now。　Scientists　who　had　been　absent　from　their　labs　studying　local　phenomena　were　back　on…line　providing　reports。　They　were　still　mostly　descriptive　but　some　included　analysis　and　theorizing。　Unidentified　plant　life；　unusual　microscopic　sea　life；　dinosaur　sightings…the　reports　went　on　and　on。　They　were　fascinating　and　seductive　but　Nick　needed　to　concentrate　on　cause；　not　effects；　so　he　programmed　his　puter　to　screen　for　messages　on　Gomez's　theory。
　That　theory　was　receiving　both　support　and　criticism。　A　physicist　at　the　University　of　Virginia　had　organized　mentary　into　confirming　responses　and　invalidating　arguments。　Nick　skimmed　the　listings；　but　there　was　none　for　E。　Puglisi。　A　few　minutes　later　a　messenger　delivered　an　envelope。
　It　was　from　E。　Puglisi。　Nick　tore　it　open　and　extracted　a　thick　stack　of　photos　and　a　two…page　typed　report。　Puglisi　wrote　in　an　efficient　style　and；　like　a　good　science　writer；　began　with　a　summary　of　the　entire　report。　Nick　read　the　summary；　excitement　building　with　each　word。　When　he　finished；　he　dropped　the　report　and　thumbed　through　the　pictures；　finding　the　photo　the　summary　referred　to　but　unable　to　see　the　details。　His　hands　shaking　nervously；　he　brought　a　magnifying　glass　down　over　the　crater　named　Flamsteed　until　it　came　into　focus。　There　it　was。
　Nick　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　stared　at　the　ceiling；　trying　to　take　in　the　implications。　He　had　been　somewhat　vague　when　he　asked　Puglisi　to　make　the　survey；　but　Puglisi　had　immediately　taken　the　initiative。　Puglisi's　report　noted　that　he　and　his　colleague　Chen…Slater　had　reasoned　that　only　three　types　of　changes　to　an　airless　body　like　the　moon　could　be　passed　from　the　future　to　the　present。　Changes　from　internal　events；　like