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l himself up。
The monster was continuing along the picket line； which moved in front of it to keep the largest males in front of the enraged carnivore。 It paused to roar at the monoclonius occasionally but made no attacks。 It was close to their tree now； and Petra signaled Dr。 Piltcher to freeze while it passed。 Its head moved along the treeline at eye level； and Petra found herself mesmerized by one huge eye。 How could something that big be alive？ But it passed and Petra watched its back move toward the lake and to where Colter had disappeared。 Whispering a prayer for him； she signaled Dr。 Piltcher to try again。
When the giant carnivore reached the lake its frustration boiled over。 Obviously； there was no opening in the line of monoclonius； only a solid line of horns and armor。 From experience； it knew the three horns could be killed； but only if caught alone。 In a pack they worked together； jabbing over and over； and exposing nothing to the carnivore's jaws except horn and bony collar。 But the giant's hunger was great today； almost as great as its frustration； so it screamed again and then charged。
The carnivore's scream nearly shook Petra from her limb。 She could hear its rage。 Petra turned to see the carnivore thrust down； clamping its jaws on the collar of one of the monoclonius； its teeth squalling on the bone like fingernails on a black board； and Petra flinched。 The monoclonius roared back defiantly； trying to shake the carnivore from its collar； but the massive jaws kept their grip and the carnivore jerked the monoclonius briefly off its feet。 。
The monoclonius roared again； but in anger； not in pain。 Petra realized there were probably no nerves in that protective collar。 Suddenly another monoclonius shot forward； burying it： snout horn into the thigh of the carnivore； and then quickly pulled out and backed away。 As the carnivore's jaws released and its head snapped up and turned toward its tormentor； another male jabbed it from the other side。 It trumpeted in pair this time； snapping its head toward the new threat。 Again it was attacked from its left。 Petra silently cheered the monoclonius。
The carnivore； bleeding from the thigh wounds； began backing up； bellowing out its pain and outrage。 Now the monoclonius advanced slowly； heads down； pawing the ground threatening the carnivore every step of the way…Petra realized it was backing straight toward their tree。
She turned to signal Dr。 Piltcher to freeze only to find him hanging upside down； with one leg over the overhanging limb trying to get still higher。 Petra turned to see the back of the carnivore's head ing toward her。 Yelling for Dr。 Piltcher to hang on； she wrapped her arms around the trunk of the tree and buried her face in the bark。
At the last second； the carnivore turned and backed into the tree next to theirs。 With nowhere to go； the monster bent and snapped its jaws at the advancing monoclonius； who stopped their advance and backed away。 When the monoclonius had given it enough space to retreat； it released its anger in another deafening roar； and then turned…spotting Petra and Dr。 Piltcher。
Petra's strength melted away when the giant's eye fixed on them。 Then the head turned； showing both its eyes； and its huge flaring nostrils。 The head leaned into the tree； snapping off limbs in its way。 When Petra saw the jaws opening slowly she turned away； and jumped to a limb below。 She caught it； but her weight pulled her free； and she fell again。 She hit another limb with her hip； ricocheting off and onto another。 This time she wrapped her arms around it and managed to hold on。 Her legs were still dangling； but she looked up。
Dr。 Piltcher had dropped back to the lower limb and was standing facing the monster's head； flinching back； turning to jump； when the jaws reached him。 They crushed both the professor's feet and the limb。 Dr。 Piltcher screamed and fell headlong； his ankles still trapped in the jaws。 With a mighty shake of its head； the professor was thrown to the ground。 Still he remained conscious and lay screaming； his ravaged legs spurting blood。
With more terror than she'd ever felt； Petra turned away when the dinosaur bent and clamped its jaws over Dr。 Piltcher's head and shoulders。 She closed her eyes； but knew that if she lived she'd spend her life seeing that image every day。 As the dinosaur worked at its meal； tearing the body and crunching the bones； Petra saw her chance and carefully dropped onto a lower limb on the other side。
Then she climbed down recklessly。 She'd rather die from a fall than in the jaws of that monster。 A rumbling sound brought her head around to see that the monster was back； and its head sniffing the tree where she had been。 Now she dropped； barely looking to check her footing before moving to the next limb。 Another rumbling above her； this time closer…she didn't bother to look but swung out and dropped to the ground。 Her knees buckled…she crumpled； looking up to see the legs of the monster move toward her。 She didn't have to look to know the jaws were ing down。
When Petra stood to run the monster roared； its hot fetid breath knocked her to the ground。 Petra rolled over to see the monster's towering head swing away toward something behind it…Colter； running through the trees； holding his spear； the tip bloody。 Petra was on her feet when he reached her and they ran through the trees side by side。 Futilely； the monster tried to follow。 Branches snapped and bent； but the trees proved too much for the awkward behemoth。 Finally； it turned and moved to the edge of the woods； trying to catch them when they entered the clearing。
Colter； running on Petra's right； reached out； pushing on her shoulder。 Petra stumbled left； turning to glare at Colter； thinking his push might cost her life。 But he reached out pointing left and he shouted； between gasps； 〃Run for the lake。〃
Petra didn't bother to answer。 Dodging bushes and trees； she headed where he'd directed her。 Colter ran abreast of her。 When they reached the treeline they stopped to catch their breaths； trying to spot the dinosaur。 They could hear the dinosaur bulldozing through the brush； but it was nowhere in sight。 Colter kicked off his shoes； pulled off his shirt； and began unbuttoning his pants； Petra； exhausted； followed suit but kept her bra on。
Glancing at Colter's body； she saw it was cut in a dozen places with dried blood covering his chest and legs。 His white underpants were stained with blood too。 As Petra watched bewildered； he took her pants and zipped them up and buttoned them； then tied the legs in knots。 Colter looked up； his forehead creasing in concern。
〃Are you all right？〃 he asked。
〃What do you think？〃 she snapped。
Then Colter wiped a finger across her forehead。 When he pulled it away it was covered with blood。 Petra started to check her head for wounds； but then realized that when the monster blasted her with its breath； it misted her with Dr。 Piltcher's blood。
〃I'm okay；〃 she whispered。 〃It's not my blood。〃
Colter didn't ask whose blood it was。
〃I'm ready；〃 he said instead。 〃Let's go。〃
Colter got up； holding their pants in one hand and trotted toward the lake。 It was a warm autumn day； but they were w