按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ing tip barely scraping the edge of the nearest rock。 Then two shots rang out。
There was the slightest pause when nothing happened…a tiny piece of time just big enough for hope to die； only to be reborn an instant later when one wing buckled and the bird collapsed against the mountain； sliding down the smooth rock face and disappearing behind an outcropping。
Pandemonium broke out。 The people in the clearing cheered and shouted their approval and Rita felt waves of relief sweep over her。 But where was her daughter now？ Rita looked to see if the bird or Chrissy appeared anywhere below； but nothing but a trickle of gravel came tumbling down the mountain。 Rita ran back and forth under the mountain looking for any sign of Chrissy； but found none。 Other bystanders helped her in her search； and others appeared with binoculars； but no sign of Chrissy or the giant bird was found。
Then； when the noise of the crowd died down； Rita heard something else。 She shouted for quiet； others taking up her cry； and soon she could hear her daughter's distinct crying。 It was the happiest sound Rita had ever heard； and she laughed out loud with the hope。 Others came to her； reassuring her； telling her that her daughter would be okay； and she believed them。 She needed to believe them。
She believed them right up until she heard the shriek。 All heads in the clearing snapped up。 There； just above where the bird and Chrissy had disappeared； was movement。 The people in the clearing all pointed and gasped at once when the head of the bird appeared briefly above the rocks and screamed at them。 The men with rifles raised them again； but the head bobbed back and forth behind the rock； preventing a clear shot。
The bird's screeching drowned out Chrissy's crying。 At least that's what Rita hoped； because they could hear nothing of Chrissy now。 The screeching continued and then suddenly sounded weaker。 The louder screech sounded again； quickly followed by a softer one。 The pattern repeated； the second screech growing louder and louder。 Then above the mountain…top appeared the silhouette of a second giant bird…thing。
49。 PREHISTORIC SHORE
After a hundred years of collecting specimens； we have but a small record of the vast dinosauria。 How many thousands of other forms might have existed； we will never know。
…K。 Carmen Sontog； Nature's Lost Species
Warm Springs Indian Reservation； Oregon
POSTQUILT： TUESDAY； 4：25 P。M。 PST
Petra stood on the limb and leaned out； one hand firmly grasping the overhanging branch。 She could see through the leafy overhang； but couldn't see why the dinosaurs were reacting。 In the herd； the pickets were moving。 The large males on the forest side of the herd were pawing the earth； while those along the lake side were trotting to take position next to their brothers。 Finally； the large males were spaced evenly along the side of the herd facing the jungle。 The females formed a ring within that； encircling the calves。 Petra was impressed with their instinctive wagon…train behavior。 The males made a formidable barrier with their long snouts and collar horns； and their huge bony collars。 The females made an equally impressive wall； standing shoulder to shoulder to protect the young。 Petra couldn't imagine a dinosaur that would dare attack such a defense。
A crashing sound drew her attention to the brush。 Something was moving through the brush recklessly； heading straight toward the herd。 Petra held her breath； waiting to see the source of the ruckus。 Suddenly it broke into the clearing at a dead run。 It was Colter。
Petra laughed out loud。 She shouted his name； happy and relieved at the same time。 Colter was only a short distance across the clearing when he saw the dinosaur wall ahead of him and he turned； angling toward the clump of trees。 Petra shouted to him again and waved her free arm。 Colter seemed oblivious though； and kept looking back over his shoulder。 Petra followed his glance back to the brush。
Then she nearly lost her grip。 ing through the brush was the biggest dinosaur they had seen yet。 It towered above the vegetation； walking on two huge back legs； and had a massive head with immense gaping jaws。 Loud enough for Dr。 Piltcher to hear； she said； 〃I don't think we climbed high enough。〃
Petra was afraid to shout now and instead prayed silently that Colter would make it to the trees。 She watched the race in silent horror； images of Dr。 Coombs's ravaged body drifting through her mind。 The monster was in single…minded pursuit of Colter and seemed oblivious to the monoclonius in their defensive position。 Colter was losing the race and Petra knew it would happen soon。 The dinosaur would lean down and snap Colter up； swallowing him down in two bone…crushing bites。 Petra couldn't watch； and she started to look away； unprepared to lose two friends in one day。 Then Colter bolted left。
Colter ran right toward the circled monoclonius。 The pursuing dinosaur heeled over and followed； its tail swinging through the clearing； throwing up turf and dust。 Petra screamed at him。
〃No； Colter； no！ They'll kill you！〃
Petra could see no hope for Colter now； but she was riveted to the scene。 The monoclonius pickets were closing ranks； the males ing shoulder to shoulder； their heads down； ready to impale the threat。 Colter raced on； the pursuing dinosaur gaining。 He was trapped between a wall of horns and a set of jaws well practiced in bone crushing。
But Colter didn't slow。 Instead he hit the wall full speed； squeezing between two of the large males and out behind them。 Then he turned； avoiding the wall of females； and raced between the males and females； curving around to the end of the picket line； and then out toward the clump of trees holding Petra and Dr。 Piltcher。
The pursuing monster pulled up just before the horns of the males； who stood their ground； prepared to take the full charge of a carnivore with twice their mass。 The monster screamed in frustration； blasting its breath at the monoclonius； who stood silently but defiantly。 Suddenly； one lowered its head and then charged forward； thrusting its horns up at the monster's side。 The newer turned left to avoid the charge； screaming in rage； but another monoclonius charged forward； jabbing it on the right。 The monster trumpeted in pain this time； but backed up and then began walking along the defense line； looking for an opening。
Petra watched Colter run into her clump of trees but lost sight of him when the leaves obscured her view。 She yelled to him again； but the roars of the dinosaurs drowned out her voice。 Turning back to the standoff； she saw the monster walking along the defensive line toward her tree。 Suddenly she felt naked。
〃Dr。 Piltcher； we've got to climb higher。 Now！〃
Dr。 Piltcher struggled to his feet； and reached for another limb。 Even though the limbs were smaller and closer together at this height； Dr。 Piltcher had only half of his normal strength。 The dense foliage made it hard for Petra to help him。 The best she could do was lean into the trunk from her side and steady him with one hand while he tried to pull himself up。
The monster was continuing along the picket line； which moved in front of it to kee