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than John； and all with biceps twice the diameter of John's skinny ones。
The footsteps were almost in John's ear when they stopped； replaced by fumbling and then the sound of peeing。 John could smell and hear Butler's loud whizzing。 Soon； John's knee felt damp。 John silently cursed him。
A loud splintering crash rolled through the meadow startling a gasp out of John； who trembled； afraid of being heard。 Butler took two steps forward and uttered a 〃What the shit？〃 John could now see him through the grass； but Butler's eyes were riveted on the far side of the meadow。 John heard the sounds of running men。
Butler shouted； 〃What the hell is that？〃
〃You see anything？〃 an approaching voice asked。
〃Damn。 Maybe Coop and the bitch was right。 Sounds like there are more of those things around。 Maybe bigger ones。〃
The sounds of splintering and thumping continued but gradually drifted off。 One by one the men judged the noise to be far enough away and then turned and walked back to the fire。 Butler was the last to go。 John waited until Butler had enough time to walk to camp； and then pulled his leg out of the puddle。
He worked his anger back up so he would have the courage to continue and then crawled forward； inch by inch； as silently as possible； trying not to sway the grasses and ferns。 He reached the trampled…down portion and pushed his head out far enough to see down the newly created path。 The men still circled the fire。 When John looked to the left Cubby poked out of the grass； gave him a thumbs…up sign； and crawled to the nearest bike as John did the same。 The plan was to cut a fuel line and the spark plug wires on each one…otherwise they could cannibalize one bike to fix another。
Ripman's stolen knife was sharp and the fuel line cut easily。 The spark plug wires； however； were deep in the engine and John had trouble reaching。 He switched from the smooth edge to the serrated edge and sawed more than halfway through the wire； seeing no point in cutting any further。 On the second one the spark plug wires were easy to cut。 He found some tubing…the fuel line？…and cut through it。 He approached his last bike； the one closest to the fire； slowly on his hands and knees。 The men were talking softly now； poking at the fire with sticks； and passing around a bottle。
John sawed through one spark plug wire； and then another； but he had trouble reaching the remaining wires from this side。 However； the cut fuel line immediately began dripping gas。
He turned to crawl back and realized Cubby was gone； his earmarked destruction apparently plete。 John was debating whether to follow Cubby's path back； or his own； when he heard a 〃pssst；〃 and turned to see Cubby's face poking out of the grass on the other side of the bikes。 Checking the men again； John crept across the makeshift parking lot。 Cubby disappeared into the grass as he approached； and John followed。 A few yards away； Cubby waited。 Putting his mouth to John's ear he whispered； 〃Help me find that man they killed。 He's around here somewhere。 But be quiet。〃
John was too scared to risk asking why。 They split up but kept each other in sight。 After a few minutes Cubby motioned John over； a pistol in his hand。
〃They forgot about this；〃 he whispered。 〃See what else we can find。〃
John looked reluctantly at the body； and his stomach rolled。 He was glad that it was dark because the body was being consumed by the small inhabitants of the forest。 John tenderly patted at the dead man's many pockets； avoiding the crawling insects。 The pockets on his chest were sticky with partially dried blood and John could only poke at those。 They found a package of blood…soaked Camel cigarettes and a Bic lighter in one shirt pocket。 A wallet； b； and loose change were in the pants； with a huge set of keys that jingled when they pulled them out； freezing John and Cubby in a minute of panic。 They found two spare magazines for the pistol in a vest pocket； and cartridges for his rifle were in another。 They also found three block…style Hershey bars and a roll of mint Lifesavers。
〃You think they left his rifle on his bike？〃 John asked； in a barely audible voice。
〃No； I checked。 I think his bike was that blue one。〃
Then they took the shortest path back to the trees。 The splintering and roaring returned as they faded into the forest。
〃You know who that is； don't you； John？〃
〃I know what it is。〃
〃It's your old buddy One Eye。 He's looking for you； John。 Wants a little midnight snack。〃
〃Up yours。 Give me one of those Hershey bars。〃
〃Let's find a good hiding spot for the night first。〃 They looked for a high spot this time； remembering their experience in the fallen trees； but couldn't find a tree they could climb。 Instead they found a fallen tree that had sprouted a mini forest of its own； with young trees twelve inches in diameter forming a semicircle。 The boys hid in the middle of the enclosure and filled the gaps with branches。
They ate the Hershey bars and drank from their canteens； talking briefly about the success of their mission and sharing the good feeling that es of managing one's fear…they had ridden the most dangerous roller coaster in the world and walked away with bragging rights。 It was hours before they fell asleep。
51。 THE MEAN BIRD
Therefore； hear what the lord has planned。。。。 The young of the flock will be dragged away； he will pletely destroy their pasture。。。。 Look！ An eagle will soar and swoop down； spreading its wings。
…Jeremioh； 49：20…22
The I…5 Mountain； Oregon
POSTQUILT： TUESDAY； 10：05 P。M。 PST
Chrissy woke up hurt and crying for her mommy。 But Mommy didn't e。 No one came。 She finally controlled her tears； but couldn't keep sobs from wracking her body。 When she sat up her arm ached； and she screamed and then began to cry again。 But when she screamed something big moved behind her。 It was dark； but she could see the big bird staring at her。 She instinctively froze； and tried very hard to hold in her crying。 She remembered the big bird。 A mean bird； not like the one on TV。
Chrissy remembered the bird knocking her to the ground and then hurting her arm and shoulder。 The mean bird wouldn't leave her alone and kept hurting her。 Then it picked her up into the sky。 She remembered seeing her mommy running to get her； and being lifted out of reach and floated up in the sky and her arm and shoulder hurting worse and worse。 She remembered yelling at the mean bird to put her down； to let her go。 But the bird just lifted her higher and higher。 Round and round they went； getting farther and farther from Mommy。 The bird kept flying close to the mountain and then away from the mountain。 Chrissy remembered yelling down to her mommy； yelling for help。 Then she remembered falling。 The bad bird had fallen too。 They had fallen down toward the mountain。 She didn't remember anything after that。
Chrissy stifled another sob and stared back at the bird。 It was a few feet away from her； lying in a pile of its wings。 She could see the bird was hurt。 There was blood on its wing。 Then the big bird opened its mouth and screeched。 Chrissy screamed and tried to crawl away from it； but her arm hurt her。 Instead； she put her good arm down and pus