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by was severely depressed； and scared。 He was breathing rapidly and sweating； his only sounds were rapidly mumbled prayers for forgiveness。 He wouldn't respond to John and was losing touch with the world around him； drifting into a place no one would be able to reach him。 John was scared too； but not immobilized by it like Cubby； who had convinced himself of the worst。 John still had hope； or its cousin； doubt。
Now he walked down the road toward town； to get away from Cubby's incessant praying…there was something particularly pitiful when a guy as big as Cubby was so terrified。
It was nearly dawn when John spotted Ripman ing up the road； carrying a big load。 He stopped twice on his way up the hill。 John met him part way； and helped him。 Ripman had three of everything…stuffed packs； bows； quivers of arrows； and canteens。
〃Where did you get all this； Ripman？ You stole it； didn't you？〃
〃I midnight requisitioned it from the sporting goods store。〃
〃Jeez； guns would have been better； Ripman。〃
〃You don't run out of ammunition with a bow。 Besides； the guns were chained up。 How's Cubby doing？〃
〃About the same； but at least he's not getting any worse。 I think that's a good sign。〃
〃Don't you know？ Your dad's a shrink； ya know。〃
〃Up yours； Ripman！ I'm not my dad。〃
Ripman ignored him and walked over to Cubby； dropping his share of the booty on the ground。 〃All right； Cubby； it will be light soon。 I'm going to prove to you that this isn't the second ing and there hasn't been any rapture。〃
Cubby stopped mumbling his prayers and looked up at Ripman； eyes puffy； and tear streaks on his face。
〃How are you going to prove it； Ripman？ It couldn't he anything else；〃 he said with resignation。
〃First of all； Newberg is still full of people。 They're in there digging through the wreckage。〃
〃That only proves how ignorant you are； Ripman。 God isn't going to take sinners in the rapture； only the followers of Christ。 Of course there will still be people around； the sinners。 It's my fault； I let you guys down。 I knew the path to follow and I didn't even try to follow it myself； let alone show you two。 Now we've got to face the tribulation。〃
Ripman blew out a deep breath。 〃Cubby； use your head。 It's the road that disappeared； not the people。〃
Cubby looked back at the forest； confusion edging out a little of the fear。 Ripman saw the opening and pressed on。
〃I'm not saying I believe in this rapture stuff； but if I did I don't think God would want whores and drunks。〃
〃Of course God would want them！ Ripman； you really don't know anything about Christianity at all。 God wants anyone who repents； confesses their sin； and asks Jesus into their hearts。〃
〃Cubby； do you remember that strip joint we passed on the way here？ It had a big sign outside that said NUDE…GIRLS…NUDE。 There were pickup trucks parked all around it。 Would God take those people？ If they were there； they hadn't repented right？〃
〃No 。。。 I wouldn't think so。〃
〃Damn right； God wouldn't want them。 So let's go see。 It's only a few miles from here。 If the strip joint's gone then I'm right and you have to shut up about this rapture crapola。〃
John could see hope in Cubby's face； and some of the tough look started to e back。 Hiking into the forest to the strip joint was something to do； and John was pretty sure his dad would approve of occupation therapy。 Cubby was already drawing strength from the idea。
Ripman had them divide up the supplies。 They all ended up with portions of energy bars and trail mix。 Everyone had a hunting knife and sheath； John carried a snake bite kit； and Ripman had a first aid kit。 Everyone got a pass； a space blanket； disposable flashlight； and matches。 The light from the sun wasn't filtering to the floor of the forest yet； so they spent time practicing with the bows。 John had never used a bow like the one stolen by Ripman。 As a kid； he'd learned the shooting basics with a fiberglass bow； but these new ones had pulleys on each end； and the string wound back and forth； making three places to notch your arrow。
John wasn't surprised to find that Ripman was proficient with his bow。 He showed John and Cubby how to hold the bows； and shoot。 The arrows were definitely for hunting； with wicked…looking steel triangles for heads。 Ripman pulled his bow back； aimed at a piece of cardboard along the road forty feet away； and shot the arrow smack into the target。 John went next and found pulling this bow harder than his old fiberglass one。
〃e on； you wuss；〃 Ripman prodded。
John's arm was shaking； and he still hadn't pulled the bowstring all the way back to his ear。 Suddenly his arm snapped the rest of the way back； and he saw Ripman smiling。
〃Got easy all of a sudden； didn't it？ That's why they have the pulleys； so you can hold the arrow back longer。 It lets you wait for the best shot。〃
John aimed carefully and then let the arrow fly。 It disappeared into the grass ten feet short of the cardboard。 Cubby didn't have any trouble pulling his string back but his arrow flew way high and buried itself into the hill。 They each tried a few more shots； but Cubby and John didn't get better。
The light from the rising sun was sending shafts through the trees when they started into the forest。 The beams interwove with the trees creating a fabric of light and wood。 Ripman went first； using his hunting knife like a machete； but the undergrowth was sparse and he soon put the knife away。 A variety of ferns stood two to four feet in the air； and some clumps of grasses grew head high。 The ground felt soft and mushy； as if they were walking through mulch。 Occasionally they ran into tall grasses that were stiffer and sharp edged； like pampas grass。 They quickly learned to go around these。 The trees were all of one type； with coarse fibrous bark。 Many were big enough to drive a car through。 Ripman stopped by one and cut the bark with his knife。
〃Look here； Cubby。 This is nothing but a redwood tree； I've seen them in California。 Nothing supernatural here。〃
〃Yeah？ How did it get to Oregon？〃
Ripman ignored Cubby and led off again。 John trailed behind Cubby； wishing Ripman had an answer to Cubby's question。 John had never heard of giant redwoods in Oregon。 As he set a fast pace up the hill； Ripman soon had them puffing with the exertion。 Ripman reached the top of the hill well ahead of Cubby and John； and when they caught up； Ripman was kneeling and looking up into the trees。
〃Get down you guys； and be quiet。〃
Cubby and John squatted down next to Ripman。 〃What are we being quiet for？〃 John asked； still gasping from exertion。
〃Look around。 Do you see them？〃
John and Cubby looked around； first at the ground； and then following Ripman's gaze。 Cubby slowly lifted his arm and pointed into the tree in front of them。 About halfway up； perched on a limb； was a lizard…but like none John had ever seen。 It was reddish brown on top and dusky green on the bottom； so it blended in with the tree limb。 It had long back legs and shorter front legs； and around its head was a bony flared collar； with short spines protruding from the top。 Most striking of all was its size。 It was three feet long。 John suddenly realized that another similar l