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s the best defense。 Colter smiled。 These poor dumb bastards were too stupid even to save themselves。 He walked down the line to the next dinosaur。 When he was directly in front； it pawed the ground。 Colter raised his rifle and was about to shoot when a dinosaur in the back moved out of line and ran behind the one he was about to kill。 Colter froze but held the moving dinosaur in his scope。 The newer trotted up to the dead one； pushed it in the back with its horns； then raised its head and bellowed； prodding the carcass again and again。 It then turned toward Colter； put its head down； and charged。
This time Colter's life was on the line。 The huge monster was picking up speed and closing fast； so he kept the rifle aimed between its eyes； fired； and then dove to the side。 When he hit the grass he rolled to get well clear of the monster； and swung his rifle up to fire another shot if needed。 It wasn't。 The bullet had hit the dinosaur in the head； killing it instantly； but the momentum carried it into a skid； then a tumble。
Colter crawled forward and then stood； using the dinosaur's body to steady his gun。 He sighted on another dinosaur and fired。 This time the shot was wide and buried itself somewhere in the dinosaur's neck； but it roared in pain and began swinging its head； then turned and staggered away。 Now the rest of the herd bolted for the tall brush and were soon at a full gallop。 Colter fired another round at the wounded dinosaur； hitting it in the rump； it roared again but kept walking even as blood streamed down its left rump and leg。 When Colter put another round into it； the retreating dinosaur only whimpered and Colter was disappointed； but at least it bled more。 Another shot got no further response； and as Colter watched； the bleeding dinosaur walked across the clearing and disappeared into the tall brush。
Colter was satisfied。 It was heading into the heart of the dinosaur land and bleeding bad enough to attract a pack of scavengers。 He smiled。 This was one dinner party he planned on crashing。
He returned to the RV and packed some water； a little food； and a box of ammunition。 Then he stretched out on a mattress on the floor to take a nap； his hands behind his head。 He wanted to give the scavengers time to gather before he went after them。 Besides； he was days behind in his sleep。 Sarah came out from under a pile and sniffed all around Colter； looking for food。 When she was sure there wasn't any； she flopped down next to him； pushing her head into the warmth of his armpit。 Her closeness bothered Colter； bringing back memories of Petra； but he soon fell asleep。
When he woke； Moose was stretched out on his chest； but as soon as he stirred the animal was up the wall to the top of the cabinet。 Sarah stirred but didn't wake。 Colter realized she was shivering and he covered her with a blanket。 It was just too cold for them； he realized。 Colter remembered Dr。 Coombs or Dr。 Piltcher talking about the extinction of the dinosaurs。 He remembered one of the theories was that a et slammed into the earth； kicking up enough debris to block out the sun and bring winter to the entire planet。 The dinosaurs just plain froze to death。 Colter hadn't paid much attention to the theory then； but he could see that Moose and Sarah weren't equipped for an eastern Oregon fall； let alone winter。 They were both lethargic and slept much of the time。
Of course there's another thing that might have happened to the dinosaurs； Colter told himself； something Dr。 Piltcher or Dr。 Coombs never would have thought of。 Maybe the dinosaurs died off because they all came to the future and were blown away 。 。 。 by me！ Colter frowned as a memory of Petra drifted through his mind。 Then he put out a bowl of water and more fruit for Moose and Sarah and left。
Outside the RV； the position of the sun told him he had been asleep for hours。 The carcasses nearby were still intact。 Probably the gunfire had scared the scavengers deeper into the forest。 But there was still the one that got away； leaving a blood trail； and it should have drawn a crowd by now。 Checking that all his clips were fully loaded； Colter slid a hunting knife in a sheath onto his belt； picked up his pack； and left the RV。 The trail was easy to follow。 It led him straight into the tall brush； and toward the clearing where the big carnivore had eaten Dr。 Piltcher。 It also led toward the lake where that walking fish had killed Petra。 That suited Colter fine。 First he would kill the dinner guests； and then he would camp by the lake and wait。 If he had to； he'd wade out into the lake making himself bait。 But he wasn't leaving until that walking fish paid for what it did to Petra。
There was so much blood； Colter guessed the animal must have a severed artery； but the track went on and on。 He was approaching the clearing when he heard growling。 Making sure the rifle had a bullet in the chamber； he crept forward。 The monoclonius had made it through to the clearing and its carcass…picked nearly clean from neck collar to tail…was fifty feet from the brush line。 All of its ribs were bare。 Three of the fifteen…foot carnivores were in the clearing chewing on rib bones； and half a dozen of the three…footers were reaching around looking for tidbits。 It was just what Colter wanted； a shooting gallery。
Colter crept right to the edge of the clearing； crawling under a bush until he had a clear shot。 Then he lined up his first one； aiming at the head of one of the fifteen…footers。 As its head came up with something red from the body cavity it turned to look around。 When the head was parallel to Colter he fired and it screamed in pain。 The other dinosaurs froze at the sound of the rifle； trying to spot the danger； their heads pointed up。 Colter realized that in this food chain； none of them would think to look under a bush for an enemy。
The wounded dinosaur was using its small front legs to paw at his jaw。 Colter； skilled from his first killing spree； turned and shot another of the fifteen…footers in the side； leaving the first wounded dinosaur for later。 The second dinosaur screamed like the first and spun； looking for its attacker。 Blinded by its pain and rage it sunk its teeth into its wounded brother's neck。 The first dinosaur crumped and bellowed and the fight was on。 The dinosaurs fell； rolling to the ground。 The first one still had its teeth in the neck of its friend； but the one on the bottom was using its three toes to rip at the belly of its attacker。 The noise was deafening； but Colter couldn't have been happier。 He loved it。 They were killing each other。
Colter decided to add the last dinosaur to the fight； the one who had backed off a few feet and was watching the fight from a safe distance。 He put a slug into its chest。 But this dinosaur simply shuddered and stood dumbly； watching。 Colter shot it in the leg； trying to get a reaction。 This time it spun around and Colter shot it in the tail。 When it spun again； Colter excitedly repeated the tail shot…again and again as the beast whirled and shrieked； ten times in all。 It took two shots at the head before he dropped the spinner。
By now； the dinosaur fight was over。 The one on the bottom had died in the grasp of its brother。 Colter