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tioned for Shirley to stop and be quiet。 He listened intently but heard nothing…no little girl； no prehistoric bird。
They proceeded up on either side of the outcrop； neither willing to hammer in a piton this close to the pteranodon。 Now Kyle and Shirley had to climb out and up； and they lost sight of each other。 As Kyle neared the top he debated whether to pop up suddenly； jump onto the ledge； and then pull his gun； or peek over the top slowly。 He decided on slow and cautious。 Caution was natural for Kyle。
He found toeholds and fingerholds and then slowly pulled his head above the rim of the outcrop。 The first thing he saw was the massive head of the pteranodon…six feet of it lying against Kyle's rock。 Two enormous eyes were set in the middle of the spear…shaped face。 Kyle sighed with relief when he saw the eyes were closed。
The pteranodon's wings filled nearly the entire ledge； concealing the little girl。 Across the other side of the ledge he saw Shirley。 First her eyes appeared searching for the child。 Then she stared at the pteranodon； caught Kyle's eye； shook her head in disbelief； and mouthed； 〃Is it dead？〃 Kyle mouthed back； 〃I think so。〃 Shirley nodded； and then pushed herself up a little higher and took hold of the collapsed wing of the pteranodon。 As she lifted it； stretching it out so that she could look under it for the little girl； the creature blew air through the nostrils in its beak。
Kyle dropped his head down and froze。 It was alive。 He thought about shooting it； but he couldn't and still hang on。
Kyle pulled his head up again to find himself staring at the back of the pteranodon's head。 It had moved； its head was up now and its beak pointed at Shirley。 The crest that protruded out the back was inches from Kyle's face。 Kyle followed the creature's stare to Shirley； who had lifted the wing and was looking under the membrane for the little girl。 As she started to lift another piece of wing； she looked up to find the pteranodon staring at her； and she froze。 Kyle decided to grab the crest and hold the bird。 He made sure his feet were secure； detached his rope and secured it in the rock； and pushed up slowly with his legs。
When Shirley started to lower the bird's wing； the pteranodon's mouth opened in a high…pitched screech。 Then it lunged at Shirley； using its beak like a spear。 Shirley flinched； bringing her hands up to deflect the thrust； but the bird was too fast…as her hands grasped the beak； the momentum of the thrust carried the beak into her chest； knocking her over the edge。 Controlling his panic； Kyle reacted by pushing himself up and flopping onto the ledge。 As soon as Kyle's chest hit the rock； the pteranodon twisted to look at him。 The crest was suddenly out of Kyle's reach and he found himself staring down the three…foot beak into a pair of black； angry eyes。
The bird screeched again and began hopping； its unfolded left wing partially obscuring Kyle's view。 Kyle pulled both legs up onto the ledge as the pteranodon hopped trying to get at him。 It was handicapped by its huge wingspan and its crippled wing。 Now it began beating at Kyle with its good wing。 Then the bird lunged again。
Kyle； stumbling backward； tripped over loose rock； falling against the cliff wall。 The bird danced around and Kyle saw the beak ing at his stomach。 He leapt sideways and grabbed the beak with both hands； holding it closed。 The huge wings slapped at his body and face； but he kept his head down and let his shoulders absorb the blows。 He was gaining confidence when something tore through his shirt and sliced the skin on his right shoulder。
In sudden pain； Kyle realized the creature had small clawed feet attached to its wing。 Wincing； Kyle maneuvered himself to his left and away from the good wing； in a frantic dance with the pteranodon； keeping it at arm's length。 Around and around they went until the partners collapsed in exhaustion。
Still； Kyle held on； feeling the deep； rapid breaths ing out of its nostrils。
He was still considering the options when he heard a voice。
〃I want my mommy。〃
Kyle looked around but couldn't see where the voice was ing from。
〃Chrissy？ Where are you； honey？〃
〃I'm here。 I hurt。〃
Kyle could hear the voice； but the wing was blocking his view。 Desperately； he searched vainly for an option。 Then Shirley's head appeared。
She pulled herself up over the ledge； flopped onto her stomach and then rolled to her back； smiling。
〃I saw you dancing with that thing； Officer Kyle。 And while on duty too。 You two made such a lovely couple；〃 she drawled sarcastically。
Kyle felt foolish but spoke authoritatively。 〃The little girl's here somewhere； I heard her voice。 See if you can find her。〃
Shirley nodded and crawled to look under the massive wings； then poked her head up and looked at Kyle mischievously。 〃Hey； Kyle； give me a hand； will you？〃
When she picked up the wing； the pteranodon began twisting sideways。
〃Mommy？〃
At the sound； Shirley abruptly turned around and crawled to the cliff wall； reaching for the broken wing。
Kyle tightened his grip。 When Shirley lifted the bird's injured wing； Kyle could feel the bird's whole body shudder。 Now Shirley lay on her stomach looking down into a crack between the ledge and the cliff wall。
〃Hello； Chrissy；〃 she said。 〃Your mommy sent us to get you。〃
〃I hurt。〃
〃Where； Chrissy？ Where do you hurt？〃
〃Here。 And here。〃
In the dim light； Shirley could see the child's gestures。
〃I'll be right back； Chrissy；〃 Shirley said soothingly。 〃She's in pretty good shape；〃 she announced。 She rolled to face Kyle。 〃Some cuts and abrasions。 Her shoulder looks the worst； but her arm's hurt too。〃 Looking at Kyle and the pteranodon； she frowned。
〃Since you've got your hands full； I guess I'll take care of her。〃
〃Shirley； get my gun and shoot it。 Then I can help。〃
Shirley thought it over for a second； and then shook her head。
〃I don't know how to use it。 Besides； you've got it under control。 Why kill it？〃
Shirley grinned。 Then she rolled over； reached down into the hole and began checking Chrissy's injuries while Kyle watched helplessly。 After a few minutes she slowly pulled the child out of the crack； pausing to reassure Chrissy when she began to cry。
Chrissy started to sit up； but Shirley restrained the child； talking soothingly as she splinted the right arm； put it in a sling； and tied it across Chrissy's chest。 Next she bandaged a wound on Chrissy's head； then cut away at her shirt； exposing the injured shoulder。 It was caked in dried blood and Shirley shook her head。 She was still looking at the injury when a shadow passed over the ledge。
Kyle looked up to see another pteranodon。 The newer looked like a 727 orbiting above them。
〃We've got pany； Shirley。〃
Shirley didn't pause。 Instead she quickly bandaged the shoulder and then got Chrissy to the edge and propped her up。
〃Kyle； we don't need a backboard； so I'm going to take her down myself。〃 Then Shirley looked up at the circling pteranodon。 〃Maybe you could hold one in each hand。〃
A shot rang out； followed by a ricochet。 The captive pteranodon began twisting and turning and Kyle tightened his grip until it settled down。 Waving her ha