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him help her。
〃It's not too bad；〃 he assured her。
〃Good。 Give me some of my clothes to put on。〃
Petra turned； covering her small breasts with her arms as Colter stared at her with a strange look on his face。
〃Well 。 。 。 I 。。。〃
Colter never got to finish。 Something rattled behind him。 He turned and looked for what was making the noise in the front of the RV。 Petra cringed behind Colter as they walked forward； looking for the sound。
Colter stooped； reaching down to a cabinet door near the floor； hesitated and then yanked it open。 A baby dinosaur rolled out； its lower half still in the eggshell。 About a foot long； its skin was the bright green of spring leaves。 The wet little baby had a small flexible neck collar and a short stubby tail； its snout tipped with a small hooked horn。 It was clearly a baby monoclonius。
Colter reached down and pulled the rest of the eggshell away and then wiped it with the towel he had been using on Petra's bottom。
〃It's cute； isn't it； Colter？〃
〃Cute now； sure。 It won't be so cute when it weighs a few tons。〃
Colter picked it up and handed it to Petra。 It was heavier than it looked and wriggled in her grasp。
〃What do we feed it？〃
〃I dunno。 Probably some mashed fruit。 Maybe some milk。 Moose and Sarah seem to eat everything。〃
〃We'll figure that out in a minute。〃 Petra put the baby down on Sarah's blanket； and she sniffed at the baby； but wasn't hostile。 Then turning to Colter Petra said； 〃First； where are my clothes？〃
〃Well 。 。 。 you see I was kind of upset when I thought you were dead。 I mean； I didn't know you were alive。 How did you get away from that fish anyway？〃
〃Don't change the subject。 Where are my clothes？〃
〃I kind of threw them away。〃
〃Colter！ Why would you do that？〃
Finally he got the courage to look Petra in the eyes and tell her。
〃Your things kept reminding me of you； and how you were dead and stuff。 It was too hard for me。 It hurt pretty bad。〃
Tears welled up in Petra's eyes。 It was only a couple of sentences but Petra knew the rest of what he could never say。 She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him； and then pretended to be mad at him。
〃Oh great。 Someone dies and you immediately hold a garage sale。 What am I supposed to do for clothes？〃
〃I like you the way you are。〃
〃1 don't like being the only one naked。〃
〃I can fix that；〃 Colter offered。
〃Don't bother。 Neither of us is in any shape for that。〃
Petra turned and opened several cabinets until she found one of Colter's sweatshirts and pulled it over her head。 Though it hung down covering her bottom； she still felt exposed and she never wanted to feel that way again。 Colter's pants were way too big； but she put on a pair of his boxer shorts。 The flap gaped open when she tried sitting in them； so she found a safety pin and pinned it closed。 It would have to do until she could get to a town。
Then Petra opened a can of peaches and mashed them up； pushing spoonfuls into the baby dinosaur's mouth。 It chewed reflexively。 When Petra was sure it had swallowed enough； she poured in some of the juice from the can。 Most ran down its neck and pooled in the collar。 Colter watched the feeding with amusement。
〃Moose and Sarah aren't this sloppy；〃 Colter said。
〃It's just a widdle thing；〃 Petra said in baby talk。
〃Just what are you gonna call the little orphan？〃
Petra set the can of peaches to the side and put the little dinosaur on the floor。 The baby got to its feet and wobbled a few steps。 Then it stopped and licked at the peach juice on its chin。
〃Well； what if we call her Peaches？〃
〃Her？〃
〃Her until we know better。 We should get a bottle somewhere for this poor thing。〃
He rolled his eyes； nodded； and moved to the driver's seat and started the engine。 Petra sat down in the passenger seat gingerly； holding the sleeping baby dinosaur in her lap。 Now that she was rested； she was beginning to feel every bruise； cut； and aching muscle。 Colter； she knew； was feeling his pain as well。
They were about to leave when they heard the sound of padding feet。 Petra flinched when Moose scrambled up the dash and stretched out in the window。 Sarah waddled forward and looked perturbed that Petra had taken her place； so instead she curled up on the floor between the seats。 Petra and Colter looked at each other and smiled。
〃Well； honey；〃 Colter said。 〃It's been quite a vacation。〃
〃Yes； dear；〃 Petra replied。 〃But the kids are exhausted。 Let's go home。〃
Then they drove away from the clearing and back up the road。
68。 CHOICES
In the age of no time； what came before will e again； and what is yet to e； will e before。 I do not understand it myself； hut I know it will be heralded by a great fire。
…Zorastrus； Prophet of Babylon
Forest； former site of Portland； Oregon
POSTQUILT： WEDNESDAY； 5：05 P。M。 PST
They walked with a new confidence。 Someone watching would say it was the rifles that gave them confidence； a store…bought； machine…made and polished confidence。 But this was homemade confidence。 Everything and nothing in their experience had prepared them for what they had gone through over the last few days； but what they found inside had been enough； even more than enough。
They'd had a happy victory celebration after Ripman left with Ellen。 Exchanging insults； they argued over who should get credit for bungling the sabotage on the motorcycle； since that had saved them from One Eye and now was saving John's Mom。 But as they moved toward the rendezvous point； Cubby fell silent。
Cubby and John could hear the helicopter e back； circling； its thumping sounds reverberating down the valley。 But the rendezvous point was in a different direction； so the noise grew fainter as they moved away。 An occasional lizard skittered across a log or glided from tree to tree above them。 Once a crashing and thumping in the distance sent them running for cover； but the sounds finally moved off。
Finally they reached the dry riverbed Ripman had described。 It disappeared around a bend to the southwest and then into the forest。 The boys surveyed silently from the bank； scouting the forest on either side for animal signs。 Then Cubby tugged on John's arm and pointed。
A movement caught John's eye。 In the shadow on the far bank were several animals； four…legged with long tails； and long necks； resembling brontosauri； but only a fraction of the size。 Occasionally a head would appear towering over the bank； look around； and then dip back down。 The animals appeared to be grazing。 Cubby and John finally stepped out of the shadow onto the bank； fully exposing themselves。 A minute later a head came up； spotting them and grunting。 Then three more heads popped up。 The dinosaurs and the people stared at one another； then one by one the dinosaurs went back to eating。
Ripman was nowhere to be seen； so Cubby and John found a pile of rocks to settle on。 They had no food； but large puddles in the riverbed would provide enough water for now。 At least； if Ripman came back。
After a long wait the engine of the motorcycle announced Ripman's return。 First the heads of the dinosaurs all popped up again； and they moved up the riverbed out of sight。 Finally；