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t's the mate。 Probably gave up when the other one died。 I don't think you have anything to worry about。 If it es back while you're climbing； we'll give you cover fire。〃
Kyle found no fort in the thought of Murphy and his men blasting away over his head。
〃Murphy； when we're up there I don't want any cover fire。 I don't want any fire at all。 I don't want to risk a ricochet or bringing some of that mountain down in an avalanche。〃
Murphy didn't exactly disagree； so Kyle began hauling the climbing gear over to the mountain。 As he walked a man separated from the crowd and joined him； a tall thin pale man with black…rimmed glasses。 He obviously had something to say。 〃It's not a condor。〃
〃What？〃
〃I said； it's not a condor。 I got here just before those fools over there shot the first one。〃 The pale man jerked his head toward the two civilians with rifles； who began following within earshot。 〃Those two brainless wonders blew the wing off a living； breathing pterosaur。〃
Kyle stopped in his tracks and stared at the man。 〃What are you talking about？ Are you trying to tell me it was a dinosaur？ A pterodactyl？〃
〃Certainly not。 It was too big to be a pterodactyl。 Surely it was part of the pterosaur family； but it most assuredly wasn't a pterodactyl。 More likely it was a pteranodon。 They were much bigger。 Cretaceous period； I believe。〃
Kyle stared incredulously as the pale man continued talking。 〃It was magnificent。 So graceful in the air； and so huge。 Nature's finest flying creation； perfectly designed to conserve every ounce of energy。 The aerodynamics involved stagger the imagination。 You see as the wingspan increases； the weight increases exponentially。 Theoretically anything this big shouldn't fly at all。 Even with the hollow bone structure。 But it uses the surface area of its wings to maximize use of the thermal…〃
〃What about the little girl？〃 Kyle cut in。
〃Well； they were most likely scavengers。 Carrion eaters。 I imagine that little girl was too tempting a target to ignore； just small enough to lift off the ground。 The way it swept down and grabbed her 。 。 。 nature's perfect flying machine。 And those two men shot it。 They should be shot； not that beautiful pterodon。〃 Kyle couldn't stand it。 He turned and walked back to the two men with guns。
〃You the two that shot that thing？〃 The two nodded nervously。 〃Well； I'm going up there to see if that little girl's all right and when I get back I want to punch that man；〃 he said； pointing at the pale one behind him。 〃Just in case I don't e back； will you see that it gets done？〃
The two men looked at each other and then smiled。 The pale man turned even paler and then walked hurriedly toward the crowd； the two following。
What had the jerk called it？ Kyle wondered。 A pterodon？ Kyle had heard strange reports of disasters ing through the station house； but they were explainable。 But what could explain dinosaurs flying around？
When Jay and Kimberly carried the rest of the equipment to the base of the mountain； Kyle tried to examine the rock face。 It would be an easy climb over the boulders and loose rock at the bottom； but above that the rock face quickly became vertical。 Shirley returned from talking to the mother while he was still mapping his climbing route。
〃She's terrified。 We'd better get up there quick and settle this one way or another。〃 Shirley looked up to the overhang where the girl had disappeared。 〃We can do this free climb。〃
〃No we can't；〃 Kyle responded quickly。
Shirley looked at him and raised her eyebrows。
〃There's two of them； remember？ We want to be anchored if the other one es after us。〃
Sure that Shirley saw right through him； Kyle quickly changed the subject。
〃Not only that； but that guy back there；〃 he said nodding to the pale man； 〃well； he said the bird up there was a dinosaur。 Really！ He called it a pterodon。〃
〃No such thing； Officer Kyle。〃
〃You think a condor could lift a little girl？〃
〃Depends on。how much she weighs；〃 Shirley said thoughtfully。 〃But I doubt it in this case。 Chrissy is three years old。 I'll bet she weighs thirty pounds。〃
〃Then what lifted her up this mountain？〃
Shirley frowned； then turned to Kyle with an infectious smile。
〃I give up。 Let's go see。〃
〃Another thing； Shirley。 I want you to take a gun。〃
〃No thanks。 I don't know how to use one anyway。 I'd probably end up shooting you。 I'll take the first aid pack；〃 she said holding out her hand。
Kyle had no intention。of getting shot； so he quickly agreed with Shirley。 The first part would be a free climb through the loose rock and boulders。 Then they would take separate routes up the face； setting pitons。 Once the first piton was set Jay and Kimjberly could belay their fall。 Because of the size difference it was decidedJay would act as belayer for Kyle and Kimberly for Shirley。
Kyle stood at the base of the mountain； running over his training in his mind。 His climbing skills were a tool； not a hobby； and seldom used。 Shirley and the others； however； spent weekends scaling mountains for fun。
When Kimberly and Jay were ready； Kyle followed Shirley； who was scrambling up the boulders to the beginning of the rock face。 Kyle followed easily enough but found himself breathing hard when he caught up with her。 Shirley was examining the rock above her and mapping her route。 Kyle picked a spot thirty feet from Shirley and checked the rock face。 It would be easier for Shirley。 The cracks weren't made for a size eleven climbing boot。
〃Climbing！〃
Kyle turned to see Shirley with her toe fitted into a crack about knee high。
〃Hey； Shirley！〃 Kyle called； stopping her before she could get started。 〃You like movies？〃 Shirley nodded her head and smiled like she'd just been asked out on a date。
〃Me too。 I saw one once with a dinosaur like that one up there in it；〃 Kyle said； jerking his thumb upward。
Shirley looked at him quizzically。 〃What happened？〃
〃It swooped down and swallowed a person whole。〃
Shirley shook her head； then smiled and patted her own bottom。
〃Race you to the top； Officer Kyle。〃
Kyle yelled； 〃Climbing！〃 and Jay's 〃climb〃 followed immediately。 Kyle jammed his right toes into a good…size crack and then felt for others wide enough to grip with his fingers。 When he found a satisfactory one he pulled himself up； ready to set his other foot。
Kyle made good progress。 He was fifteen feet up when he noticed that Shirley was ahead of him。 He managed a couple more steps before he heard Shirley yell 〃slack；〃 and set her first anchor。 Kyle picked up his pace and climbed to a spot a few feet above Shirley's anchor to set his own。 He clipped a D carabiner to it and passed his rope through the spring catch。 A wave of relief came as he realized his fall would now be limited by the anchor。
Only after his third anchor was Kyle climbing ahead of Shirley； which gave him great satisfaction。 They continued seesawing up the rock face； setting pitons； clipping carabiners； and looping kermantle。 As they approached the outcropping they angled in toward it with one of them on either side。 Twenty feet below the ledge Kyle motioned for Shirley to stop and be quiet。 He listened intently but heard nothing…no little girl； no p