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aist with his arm to support her。 Her ribs； bone bruised； ached nearly as badly as her arm； and Ripman's support was almost too much to bear。 They had just managed to develop a walking rhythm that minimized Ellen's pain and maximized their speed when the sharp crack of a rifle buried a bullet into the tree ahead of them。
Ripman helped Ellen turn to face Carl； whose leg bandage was black with old blood while new blood stained his arms； legs； and chest。 The biker's smile was finally gone and his swagger lost to a bad limp。 The rifle was leveled at them from Carl's hip； and Ellen recognized the murderous rage in his eyes。 She pushed Ripman's arm off and tried to step away from him； the semiautomatic rifle could kill them both in a second unless they moved apart。
〃You take another step； Ellen； and I'll kill you both。〃
Ellen and Ripman froze。 They had no doubt Carl would do it。 Carl switched his hate…filled gaze from Ellen to Ripman。 He leveled the gun at Ripman's stomach。
〃Kid； I owe you big…time。 Now Ellen here still has somethin' I want； but you 。。。 I mean you backshoot my friend Bobby； you send Miller off to get eaten by that dinosaur； and then you double…cross us。 You and those friends of yours were supposed to give us enough time to get out of there before that dinosaur got to us。 That was the deal。 We kept our part of the bargain； we let you and her go； but you tried to kill us…kill me！〃
Ellen once again tried to distract Carl。
〃What happened to Kishton； he get away too？〃
〃I'll tell you what the fuck happened！ It bit his head off； that's what happened。 But when it did I pumped five bullets into its brain。 I killed that mother…twice as big as that other one…the one that got…〃
Carl's eyes glazed over as he realized the last of his friends was dead。 He was alone now； but in an instant his eyes refocused in a cold stare。
〃Carl； I'll give you what you want。 Just don't hurt him；〃 Ellen pleaded。
〃Give？ I'll take what I want； and do what I want； when the hell I want to。〃
Carl swung his gun back to Ripman just as Cubby's deep menacing voice came out of the trees to Ellen's right。
〃Freeze； maggot； or I'll blow you away。〃
Carl spun and fired twice toward the voice。 As the second report sounded； another gun fired three times； the slugs ripping through the flesh of Carl's back； pitching him forward。 Ellen； stunned； tried to understand what had happened。 Carl had fired at Cubby but Carl ended up shot dead from behind。
Now Cubby emerged from the forest on Ellen's right； and then John emerged from the left； holding the pistol。 Waves of relief swept over Ellen followed by concern for John： Her child had killed。
Ripman sent Cubby and John back to the clearing to retrieve Butler's rifle and ammunition。 While they were gone he used his hunting knife to cut three limbs the length of Ellen's arm。 Then he cut strips of cloth from Carl's clothing。 Ellen's broken bone wasn't protruding； so to Ellen's relief； Ripman didn't try to set it。 The splint did nothing to relieve the pain； but the sling made it easier for her to immobilize it。 Ripman finished the first aid just as they heard the motorcycle again。
Ripman ran for Carl's rifle and aimed it in the direction of the sound； but something was not right。 The sound was approaching very slowly。 Finally； Ripman shouted and pointed through the trees。 Ellen had to stand to see above the ferns and grasses。 Cubby was driving the bike； with John behind him； his arms around Cubby's waist。 It was clear Cubby was a novice on a motorcycle。 The bike was in one of the high gears； and Cubby kept revving it； releasing the clutch； and lurching forward； almost losing John each time。 Ripman shook his head； and then laughed。
〃Those bozos can't even ride a motorcycle。〃
When they finally lurched up to Ripman he shook his head in appreciation。
〃You bozos finally did something right。 Does it have much gas？〃
It turned out to have about a quarter of a tank。 Not even Ripman had any idea how far that would take them。 Since they couldn't all ride the bike； Ellen insisted that Ripman take John and Cubby out first。 John insisted Ellen go first； and Cubby protested going at all。 He wanted to ride into Portland if they could find it。
Cubby did agree that Ellen needed to get to a doctor and should go first。 They then argued over who should have which weapons。 Ellen wanted to take only the pistol。 John insisted she take a rifle。 Cubby agreed； pointing out that he and John had survived without a gun。 Ripman muttered something about dumb luck under his breath； then sided with Ellen。 With the bike they could outrun the dinos； so they would take just the pistol。 Cubby and John didn't want to stay with Carl's body； it would attract scavengers。 So the three boys scratched in the dirt working out a plan to rendezvous。 Ripman started the bike as if he knew what he was doing； then Cubby and John helped Ellen on the back； John giving her shoulder a squeeze。 It was too painful for Ellen to turn around； so she didn't see her son waving good…bye。
67。 OUT OF THE PIT
。 。 。 the mountains shall be molten 。 。 。 and the valleys shall be cleft； as wax before the fire； like water rushing down a slope。
…Micah1：4
Warm Springs Indian Reservation； Oregon
POSTQUILT： WEDNESDAY； 4：52 P。M。 PST
Petra； still wedged against the tree trunk； shivered uncontrollably。 A bra and torn panties were inappropriate for an autumn day in Oregon。 The sounds of splashing came from the lake。 She wondered if more of those walking fish lived in the lake； and wished Dr。 Coombs and Dr。 Piltcher could have seen that fish。。It walked； it breathed air； it swam under the water。 Half…fish and half…mammal； it was some in…between species； like millions of other variant forms。 As such it must have been ancient； much older than the dinosaurs onshore。 Dr。 Piltcher would have given his life to see it； but unfortunately he gave his life a little too soon。
Determined not to spend another night with the dinosaurs； Petra climbed down； stiff from the cold； and worked her joints。 When they were loose enough to let her run if she had to； she crept back toward the carcass。
Petra approached from the back side again。 It had been the least popular side。
She was shocked when she saw the carcass。 It had been hollowed out and stripped of most skin and flesh； leaving bare bones。 A huge bloody pool lay around the bone pile and a dozen dinosaurs of different sizes surrounded the remains； gnawing on bones and digging pieces of bloody flesh from inside the carcass。 One small dinosaur was peeling skin away from the head。
Petra worried she had waited too long。 They were digging deep into the carcass； and from the look of it they had emptied the chest cavity of every bit of soft tissue。 Had they eaten clean through to Colter？ Was he still alive under that bloody mess somewhere？
Petra approached slowly； gun ready； walking out between the trees until the dinosaurs spotted her and froze。 None of them was bigger than about ten feet。 Apparently the giant dinosaurs had eaten their fill and moved off； still the ten…footers were terrifying。 Sucking up her courage； she ran forward screaming at the top of her lungs。 The sound was pitiful pared to those of the giant lizards； but it got their attention。 She charged and just before she reached the nearest one fired a round into the air； the noise scattering the feeders。 After Petra fired another round； they moved off a safe distance。 Now to find Colter。
〃Colter？ Colter？〃 she called。 〃Colter； are you still here somewhere？〃
Petra listened for a reply but heard none。 She walked to the carcass； her feet squishing in the blood…soaked grass； and then reached out gingerly with one hand and pushed on one of the still standing ribs。 It didn't budge。 Petra put her bare shoulder against it and pushed with all her strength。 It still didn't budge。 The ribs were still attached to the backbone and weighed tons。 She had no hope of moving it off Colter。 There were only two choices now。 Go back to digging； or climb inside and try to get through past the backbone。 Petra peered into the carcass。 Something was moving。
She backed up； raising the rifle。 The carcass began to rock ever so slig