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She flopped back down and froze； trying to remember the position she had been in。 The water of the pool sloshed violently enough to splash her ankles。 She began to tremble with fear and bit her lip； trying to stop the shaking。 Suddenly there was a loud splash and the wet sound of blowing air…she could feel the walking fish behind her。 It puffed and blew a couple of more breaths； tasting the air of its den as if to make sure it had not been disturbed。 Petra knew her only chance was to play dead； but reflexively she wanted to run or fight。
Still； she suppressed her instincts as the fish pulled its body from the water。 She heard its flipper…feet pad across the wet surface； its body or tail dragging across the floor of the den。
Then something pushed her in the back。 Petra tried to remain limp； but she panicked again。 Rigor mortis。 She should be stiff； shouldn't she？ Too late。 She couldn't change her act now。 It pushed her again； this time higher in the back。 Petra rocked gently again； acting limp。 She'd play stiff later。 Then the fish walked forward and began rummaging around in the back of the den。 Soon Petra heard the sounds of chomping and eating。 Relief swept her body。 She was too big for an after…dinner snack； so unless it planned to taste her； she didn't think she was on tonight's menu。 From the smell of the cave this prehistoric fish liked its food well deposed。
When the fish finished its meal it rummaged around a bit longer； then padded back toward Petra。 She held perfectly still when it approached； but then to her horror； it plopped down behind her； its back pressed against hers。 She waited for it to move； but it didn't。 After a few minutes she heard rhythmic breathing。 It was asleep； its back against Petra。 Now she couldn't move。 She was trapped。
55。 PAT AND PATTY
The killer whale has no peer； it fears nothing in its domain and has no qualms about attacking any other beast it makes contact with； even the true whale。 Would it kill a man？ Probably yes。
…James B。 Sweney； Sea Monsters and Other Dangerous Marine Life
West of Naples； Florida
POSTQUILT： WEDNESDAY； 7：12 A。M。 EST
Hey look； a fin！〃 Chris yelled。 Ron woke to see a black fin break the surface； and then disappear again。 Another fin appeared farther out and then another。
〃Are they sharks？〃 Carmen asked。
〃No；〃 Rosa answered。 〃They're too big。〃
〃They're over here too；〃 Chris said excitedly。
Ron looked right to see two more fins。 Then one of the animals leapt out of the water。 It was black on the top but white on the bottom； the clear markings of orca。 It was a pack of killer whales…there were at least ten。
The whales circled Patty and Pat； ing closer with each pass。 Then Chris shouted and pointed straight down。 Ron looked to see a black shape shoot between Patty and her baby。 Another orca followed； but this one rammed Pat； driving him away from his mother。 More whales swam between Pat and Patty； driving the baby farther away from its mother。
〃They're after the baby；〃 Rosa said sadly。 〃We've got to help it。〃
Suddenly the baby let out an ear…piercing squeal。 The mother immediately whipped her head around； wrenching her body into a partial turn。 Ron and the others dropped spread…eagled； to keep from being thrown off。
When the mother was satisfied the baby was still following she resumed her course。 Ron looked down at the baby and heard rapid； deep breathing； punctuated by a slight whine。 Rosa pointed silently to the baby's wake； everyone saw that Pat was leaving a pink trail in the water。
Suddenly Pat dipped deep into the water； nearly submerging his head； and screamed again。 Chris put his hands to his ears to block the horrible sound； but Patty wrenched around again and Chris had to spread his arms wide to keep from rolling off。 Ron looked back to see two more fins rushing toward Pat。 Now the fins dipped below the surface and a few seconds later Pat shuddered twice in quick succession。
Pat screamed continuously now； and his wake was a crimson stream far into the distance。 The orcas were in a blood frenzy and the pack circled closer。 The flashing orcas were designed for this kind of attack。 Sleek and powerful； they darted in and out； biting into the struggling Pat； who squealed with every blow。 Patty's huge tail might have been formidable on land； but in the water it was nearly useless in the defense of Pat。 Occasionally Patty's tail would break the surface and slam down into the sea with a deafening slap。 The orcas seemed bothered by the sound at first； but then ignored it； dodging it every time。
The kids were horrified。 But Ron realized that to the orcas it was just feeding time； and Pat was the target。 Even in the civilized world justice is fleeting； in the animal world it is meaningless。
The attack on Pat was going on at a leisurely pace。 The orcas were enjoying the hunt； streaking up from below…their attacks drenching Patty's passengers with bloody spume。
〃I want to get out of here；〃 Chris moaned。
〃Me too；〃 Rosa said。 〃Let's swim away。〃
Ron had never heard of orcas eating people； but he wasn't sure anyone had ever swum through a feeding frenzy； covered in the blood from the kill。 Apparently Carmen agreed。
〃We're still safer here； kids；〃 she said。 〃If we get in that water they might e after us。 Let's stay up here as long as we can。〃
Ron nodded。 He decided now was the time to use the last of the water and passed the bottle to the kids。 They each drank about a quarter and passed the bottle to Carmen…who started to refuse； but Ron frowned at her。 There was no point in saving the little that was left。 After Carmen drank her share she passed the bottle back to Ron。 As he drank the last of the water； he noticed dozens of seabirds gathered overhead。 They must have been following the killer pack； scavenging the remains of their victims。 The birds circled and screeched； waiting like vultures。
Pat was barely moving now； although he still seemed to have little trouble floating。 Patty was getting frantic； and began bleating defiantly at the circling orcas。 Then as Pat slowed to a near stop； Patty turned in a wide circle； around him。 Carmen yelled for everyone to lie flat； to get as much traction as possible。 Patty； even with the long dragging tail； couldn't e close to encircling her baby。
The orcas paused； apparently considering Patty's new strategy。 As Patty circled； Pat floated in the reddening water； squealing for his mother's help。 Ron began to think it was time to get off。
〃Here they e again！〃 Carmen shouted。
Ron turned to see an orca darting toward Pat； skimming along just below the surface； timing its attack to just clear Patty's massive tail。 They could feel the muscles along her spine bunch as she suddenly lifted her tail and stopped swimming。 The whale continued forward； confident it would clear Patty's tail； but Ron realized the orca had miscalculated。 The refugees felt the collision when several tons of tail slammed into the attacking orca； and then her whole body wrenched to the side。
The whole family cheered。
〃You show them you're the mama！〃 Carmen shouted。
〃Way to go； Patty！〃 Rosa yelled。
〃Yeah； way to go；〃 Chris echoed； and then added； 〃one down； n