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〃People； Cubby。 Listen； I can hear people。〃
〃You're right。 Maybe we're near the edge of the city。〃 They listened； trying to locate the sounds； which suddenly died。 Cubby pointed in their direction and led off through the trees at a quick pace。
They stopped in the creek bed while Bobby climbed the bank again。 The rough terrain had made Ellen's sore bottom burn with pain； and she was glad Carl finally stopped。 Bobby had just disappeared when they heard a shout。
〃I'll be damned。 You've got to see this。 e on up here。〃 Following Bobby's track up the bank； they found themselves in a large clearing。 There； shimmering faintly in the background； was the Portland skyline。 Ellen felt hope flood her body。 She had been slowly reconciling herself to the loss of her son…but maybe； just maybe； there was hope。
Now John felt better。 If they were near the edge of the city he could catch a ride to his house and spend the night there。 John and Cubby found themselves climbing yet another hill； a gradual one so the climbing was easy。 On the other side； the trees thinned； and they found themselves staring into a large clearing。
Near the far edge were parked several motorcycles。 Eight people stood near the bikes； and even from this distance； John could tell two were women； and one seemed familiar。 When she moved he knew it was his mother。
〃It's my mom；〃 he said； starting past Cubby into the clearing。 Cubby's hand on his arm stopped him。
〃Wait； John； something's not right。〃
Maybe it was the motorcycles…John and Cubby had seen many biker movies…or maybe they'd developed natural caution in the forest。 But John and Cubby just stood and watched。
* * *
Ellen and Angie were excited by the presence of the city； but the guys seems disappointed； and even angry。
〃Thought you were going to find us a mama dinosaur； Coop；〃 Carl said in a threatening tone。
〃Yeah；〃 Kishton added menacingly。 Ellen could see that some of the razor grass cuts were still bleeding。 〃I missed out on the first hunt； and I came out here looking for some excitement。〃
He was off his bike and approaching Coop； who urged Angie off； then confronted Kishton。
〃I found you one dinosaur； I didn't say I could find you two。〃
〃Well that's not good enough； Coop。 If you can't find dinosaurs for us； just what the hell are you good for？〃
〃Coop didn't let us down； Kishton；〃 Carl said； walking up in front of Coop。 〃He found us a dinosaur。 And not only that but he brought us some more fun。〃 Then he chuckled。
Coop's face was drawn； his lips tight； his eyes fearful。
〃Good buddy Deputy Dawg brought us Ellen and Angie。 Two of the hottest babes in the county。〃
〃At least Angie is；〃 Kishton said； walking up behind her。
〃Hey； Kishton； you and the others can have her。 Ellen straightens out my pecker。〃
〃Knock off that kind of talk； Carl；〃 Coop said； his voice trembling。 〃They might think you're serious。〃
Carl grabbed his crotch and gave it a shake。 〃Don't I look serious； Coop？〃 The others laughed。
〃Don't touch them； Carl。〃 Coop dropped his hand to the butt of his gun。
〃You gonna stop me； Deputy Dawg？〃
〃I'm the law…〃
〃Coop； you weren't much law back in Carlton and you sure ain't the law out here。 I'm the law here。〃
Then； without any warning； Carl dropped his hand to his gun； pulled it and fired it into Coop's chest。 Coop dropped to the ground； twisting left and falling into the deep grass。 Ellen knew he would never move again。
The other guys stood still； shocked； Ellen imagined they would have willingly beat up Coop； de…pantsed him； tarred and feathered him； or even tied him to a tree naked and left him。 But she believed only Carl would have killed Coop in cold blood。 Carl's ruthlessness was probably what made him their leader。 But now that he'd murdered Coop； how much further were they willing to go？ Kishton answered the question by grabbing Angle's arms； and pulling them behind her back。
〃Give me a hand here； will you； Butler？〃
Butler hesitated。 Then a big smile crossed his face； and he stepped forward and grabbed Angie's breasts。
〃Oh mama；〃 he said； 〃we're going to have some fun。〃
With that Butler tore Angie's blouse open。 She didn't scream or cry out； but she began to struggle and kick。 Butler jammed himself up close to Angie； so she couldn't kick him between the legs； and tore her blouse down to her waist。
Ellen； frozen in disbelief； now saw Carl's face turn toward her and took off running。 Heavy footsteps behind her urged her to run faster。 She headed for the treeline； hoping to lose herself in the underbrush。 In the twilight she might be able to hide herself。
Halfway to the trees Carl tackled her。 She went down hard on her stomach； her chin striking the ground； her teeth aching from the impact。 Still； she kicked and pushed to keep Carl from getting a solid grip on her。 He laughed； enjoying her struggle。 When Bobby arrived； the two men flipped her onto her back。 Carl sat on her； pinning her solidly to the ground； and then timed his grabs to seize her flailing arms。 Then Bobby pulled them above her head。 Carl leaned back； putting more weight on her stomach； staring at her breasts； smiling in anticipation。 Thinking quickly； she relaxed a little； encouraging Carl to lean back some more； then she jerked her knee sharply upward； cracking Carl in the back。 Carl yelped with the pain。 His eyes flashed and he slapped Ellen hard across the face； twice。 Suddenly she felt Carl's hands on her chest； tearing； her blouse open。
〃Hot damn！〃 Carl said。 He looked up at Bobby。 〃I think we made the right choice。 Besides； we can always have a go at Angie later。〃
Carl reached down； trying to pull off Ellen's bra。 The straps held； cutting into Ellen's back。 Finally； the clasp gave； and she felt Carl's rough hands on her breasts。 Bobby was giggling uncontrollably by now； and Carl rocked back and forth； inching his way down so he could get at Ellen's pants。
Then Bobby screamed。
He reached around to his back and stood； almost falling into Ellen and Carl； his mouth opening and closing。 But the screaming had stopped； replaced by short gurgling breaths。 He collapsed to his knees； then fell sideways onto his face。 Ellen could see an arrow sticking out of his back。 Carl leapt to his feet； pulling his gun。 He was looking past Ellen into the trees when another arrow flew over Ellen's head and buried itself into his calf。 Now he too fell to the ground with a scream； dropping the gun and grabbing at his leg。
Ellen rolled to her stomach and then came up onto her feet running。 She bolted toward the darkness of the treeline； listening for pursuit but heard only her own blood pulsing through her system。 She made the trees and ran wildly； not looking where she was going。 Bushes and branches swiped at her face as she ran。 When she stumbled to her knees； gasping for breath； she looked behind her。 Someone was crashing through the trees； a strange half…naked figure。 Ellen realized it was Angie。
〃Thank God；〃 Ellen sobbed。 〃I'm sorry； Angie； I'm sorry I left you。〃 Ellen felt guilty for getting Angie into this mess in the first place； and for thinking only of herself when a chance to escape had e。
〃Nonsense；〃 Angi