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d a motel pool waiting for Bill。 Go on back； I can handle it from here。 I don't trust themeither； but I'd make a deal with the devil to get to my son。 I've got to know if he's there； if he's somewhere。〃
〃You want me to ride with Carl。〃
〃Angie； I said you didn't have to go。〃
〃I heard you honey； now who do you want to ride with？〃
Ellen smiled at Angie and then leaned over and hugged her。
〃I'll ride with Carl。 You work your magic on Coop。〃
〃He'll be homy enough to hump a tree by the time this motorcycle ride's over。〃
Ellen was sure about that。 She only hoped Carl wouldn't feel the same way。
When she and Angie climbed on the bikes the other guys grunted their approval with 〃all rights〃 and 〃way to go〃s。 All of them were looking at Angie and Coop except Carl； who made a disgusting 〃smacking〃 sound and then winked at her。 Ellen hated riding behind Carl。 When she spread her legs wide to squeeze in beside him； Carl pressed between her legs and made another disgusting sound。
The other bikers led off across the bridge and then turned and dropped down the sharp bank to the rocky creek bed。 Ellen tried hanging on to the seat； but the terrain was rough and bouncy。 She hated putting her arms around him； so she grabbed his coat； only leaning against him occasionally to keep her balance。 Ellen noticed that Angie wasn't as picky…she had her arms around Coop and her chest pressed up against his back。
After a while Ellen relaxed a little。 She began to trust Carl… at least his riding skills。
After what seemed like hours the lead rider； a big man called Bobby； stopped and rode back to talk with Coop。 Bobby had powerful…looking suntanned arms； and scraggly blond hair； with a half…grown beard on his boyish face。 Bobby asked about something being 〃around here somewhere？〃 and Coop pointed up over the bank。 Bobby rode out into the creek a little way； then the motorcycle jumped forward and roared up the bank； actually being airborne as he cleared the rim and he disappeared over the top。 After a while he reappeared and signaled the others to follow。 One by one the bikers launched themselves over the edge。
Coop and Carl waited for the others； and then Coop leaned back and said something to Angie； who wrapped her arms tighter and leaned into him。 Coop too roared up the bank； the bike fishtailing and then straightening as it continued up over the edge。
Carl turned to Ellen and said； 〃Do it like Angie did； hang on tight and lean into me as we climb。〃
Ellen wanted to get off and climb the bank herself。 It would make more sense than making a risky climb with two on a cycle built for one。 But she knew the bikers didn't care。 This wasn't about climbing a hill； it was some sort of macho thing； and all the guys were waiting to see if Carl could make the climb。 The fact that Coop； the nerd； had done it with Angie on his bike made it imperative that Carl do the same。
If Ellen was to handle Carl； she could not risk damaging his ego。 Being married to Terry meant picking up bits and pieces of psychology whether you want to or not。 Ellen knew that the best way to turn someone violent was to wound his ego。
Carl gunned the engine and pointed the fork of the bike at the lowest part of the bank。 Swallowing her revulsion； she wrapped her arms around Carl's waist and leaned into him； hoping he was too preoccupied to feel her breasts flatten against his back。 Then Carl released the clutch。 The bike flew forward and suddenly the front end of the bike tilted up at a sharp angle。 The speed of the bike fell quickly and the engine began to strain。 Just as they slowed to a near stop； the front of the bike dropped back flat； and they were over the top。
The other bikers were watching them clear the bank。 Carl raced down the line of bikes for a victory lap and then turned around and stopped in front of the line。 Bobby and the rest of the bikers applauded and yelled； 〃All right。〃 Then Bobby stared right at Ellen。
〃Looks like she's ing round； Carl。〃
Ellen realized she still had her arms wrapped around Carl。 She let go and sat back； giving Bobby a piercing look。 He just smiled。
They cut through a sparse stand of Douglas fir to a field of strawberry plants。 Running along the far side was a forest。 Ellen had heard about it on the CB； but seeing it made it even more unbelievable。 The trees were not the expected fir or yew； and she realized they were huge。 As the forest loomed above her she identified the trees as redwood； as big as any she had seen along the Avenue of Giants in California。 The guys stopped their bikes at the edge； staring at the trees in awe。 The undergrowth was sparse but oversize。 Some ferns grew nearly as tall as Ellen； and big patches of grass climbed nearly six feet in height。 Elephant grass？ she wondered。
Ellen thought back to the kid in the cave。 It seemed like a hundred years ago。 〃The end of the world；〃 that's what he had said。 Ellen looked at the forest and wondered if he had been talking about this。 Mountains on I…5； a redwood forest dropped on Portland？ Is this how the world was to end？ In confusion？
Even the guys were surprised by the forest。 When they started off again Coop led； with Carl right behind。 They rode across the strawberry rows； crushing the plants as they followed the edge of the forest。 Worried about the damage； Ellen looked around for a farmhouse but saw no buildings。 She was so close to her son now； she didn't。want to get stopped for trespassing。 Finally； Coop cut into the forest and Ellen could see what he had been looking for…a clearing on the other side。 They rode to the middle of it； where Coop stopped。 Carl pulled up next to him and the guys pulled up on both sides。
〃I saw him right over there；〃 Coop said； pointing。
Ellen wondered what 〃him〃 they were talking about。
〃Bullshit；〃 said the one called Kishton。 He was the shortest of the group but probably the strongest； his upper arms and chest were muscular； forming a body builder's classic V shape。 He also had the only full beard in the group。
〃I still say it's bullshit。〃
〃Coop wouldn't lie to us； would you； Coop？〃 Carl said。
Kishton shut up and looked around。
This is the classic adolescent friendship pattern； Ellen thought。 How had Terry described it？ 〃A like…minded group of males loosely associated for the purpose of fellowship； with no formal leader。〃 As Ellen remembered it； the individuals of the group would adamantly deny there was a leader； yet to an outsider the leader was clearly discernible。 Carl was the leader here。 Ellen knew leadership depended on having something the other males prized…being the strongest； having the best car； or making it with girls。 Ellen studied Carl and decided he wasn't the toughest。 Kishton probably was； or maybe Bobby。 Carl didn't look that tough； yet he was clearly the leader。 Why？ Kishton started talking again。
〃All right； if he's here； how do we find the mother？〃
〃Coop'll find him； won't you Coop？〃
It wasn't really a question。 Carl was telling Coop to deliver what they were looking for； or else。
They seemed to have forgotten about Ellen's son； so she spoke up。 〃I thought you were going to help me find my son。 What about us？〃
Carl turned to Ellen and smiled b