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s。 Something was moving。
She backed up； raising the rifle。 The carcass began to rock ever so slightly； the still…hanging skin flapped with the movement。 Then something rose out of the carcass； covered with blood and reddish mud。 The figure rose； then slipped back only to rise again； grabbing on to the hanging skin and flopping over the side and out。 Like some bizarre cesarean…born baby； Colter had emerged from the dinosaur。
Hysterical； overwhelmed with joy； Petra ran to him and cradled his head in her lap。 She wiped the blood from his face to see he was crying； then rocked him in her lap and cried with him。 She continued to clean his face and head； but had nowhere to wipe the blood because it had soaked the ground too。 Petra opened Colter's torn shirt gently and realized some of the blood was his。 There was a gash from above his left nipple running all the way to the right side。 She looked closer to find perforations in his shirt along his left arm。 A splinter was sticking out of one of the holes。 Petra reached down and yanked the splinter out。 That sharp jab； of pain made Colter stop sobbing and he plained instead。 〃Ouch。 That hurts； Petra！〃
Petra laughed at him sadly。 〃Colter； you've got a gash across your chest。 You've been buried alive under a dinosaur； and you're plaining about a little splinter？〃
〃Lots of splinters；〃 he replied。 〃I pulled out as many as I could reach。〃
〃How did you survive down there？〃
〃I nearly didn't。〃 Colter paused； but he fought back his tears。 〃I got down flat when it started to fall。 It had dug out enough of a space for me； I guess。 It jammed that limb down on me though。 I think it broke a rib or two。 That's when I got the splinters。〃
Petra was going to ask about the stash across his chest； but Colter looked like he was trying not to remember some things； so she let him tell it his way。
〃I heard you outside and I tried digging out； but it was no use。 I could hardly move。 Then I heard the feeding start。 You can't believe how horrible it sounds from underneath。 It was ing toward me。〃
Colter was getting louder and losing control over his emotions。
Petra tried to calm him。 〃It's okay now； Colter。 You're out。〃
〃Then the blood started。 It was just a wetness at first。 I didn't know what it was。 It had a salty smell to it。 It just kept ing； filling the hole I was in。 Other body fluids too。〃
〃Don't think about it； Colter。〃
〃I nearly drowned in it。〃
〃Time to go； Colter。〃
〃Oh God； it was horrible。〃
〃The dinosaurs might e back； Colter。〃
〃I want to go。 I want to go out of here。〃
〃Yes； Colter。 Me too。〃
They stood； helping each other to their feet and then with Petra holding the rifle； they stumbled through the trees and back toward the RV。 They leaned on each other； more for emotional support than physical。
Monoclonius stood in the clearing； but they ignored the humans； allowing them to cross the clearing without incident； and then they were into the tall brush on the other side。 Petra hated the brush。 There was no visibility and they had too little energy to walk stealthily； so they crashed through it。 Petra slowed when she saw the RV； Near it were two piles of bones。 Then Petra urged Colter to go faster。 As they walked； Petra scanned the clearing nervously for predators。
The RV was close now。 So close she began to feel its safety。 It could take them away； and she wanted that badly； and the more she wanted it the more she feared something would snatch it away again。 At the door of the RV Petra pushed Colter up and inside。 Then with a last nervous look around she climbed in； vowing not to leave the vehicle until she was safe with other people。
Colter handed her a quart of orange juice and raised a second quart to his lips； drinking down huge gulps。 Petra drank half of her juice without pause。 After a couple more swallows； Colter walked into the back of the RV and collapsed on the bed。 Petra started back to join him but jumped back in fear as something came out from under a pile of blankets…Sarah。 Petra had forgotten about the little dinosaur。 It stared at her； but unlike earlier； she didn't seem panicked by Petra's presence。 Then to Petra's surprise Sarah waddled over and banged into Colter's dangling legs。
〃Petra；〃 Colter moaned。 〃Feed them will ya？〃
Opening the fridge； Petra pulled out an apple and rolled it to Sarah。 Then Moose launched himself from the top of the cabinet； landed next to Colter； and then jumped down to the floor。 Petra sliced up another apple； and he quickly carried a piece to his place on top of the cabinets。 Petra was amazed by the little dinosaur's new confidence。 They had lost all fear of people。
She flopped down next to Colter； lying on her back with one arm over her face； and both were soon asleep。 When Petra awoke she found Moose sleeping next to Colter on the other side； but when she stirred the little animal scrambled up the wall and to his hiding place。
Petra propped herself up with one elbow and looked down at Colter。 His face was caked with blood and red mud； so she got up； soaked a towel with water and began to clean his face。 He woke and stared at her blankly。
〃Colter； you're coated with 。 。 。 well； why don't you take your clothes off？ You're a mess。〃
Colter nodded and sat up； unbuttoning his shirt。 Now Petra could see the wound on his chest more clearly。 It was deep； crusted with dried blood； and should have been stitched。 But at least it didn't seem to be oozing； so Petra decided it would heal。 Colter slipped out of his bloody pants and shorts and put on a clean pair of pants and a T…shirt that he dug out of a cupboard。
Petra looked at her own body。 She wasn't as severely injured as Colter； but blood and dirt were all over her。 Petra used the wet towel to wipe off as much of the grime as she could； and then took off her bra and bloody panties to wipe the rest of herself。 Petra felt scabs on her bottom。
〃Here； let me；〃 Colter said； holding out his hand for the towel。
Petra was momentarily embarrassed。 He was fully clothed and she was naked； and she felt helpless。 Still； she turned and let him help her。
〃It's not too bad；〃 he assured her。
〃Good。 Give me some of my clothes to put on。〃
Petra turned； covering her small breasts with her arms as Colter stared at her with a strange look on his face。
〃Well 。 。 。 I 。。。〃
Colter never got to finish。 Something rattled behind him。 He turned and looked for what was making the noise in the front of the RV。 Petra cringed behind Colter as they walked forward； looking for the sound。
Colter stooped； reaching down to a cabinet door near the floor； hesitated and then yanked it open。 A baby dinosaur rolled out； its lower half still in the eggshell。 About a foot long； its skin was the bright green of spring leaves。 The wet little baby had a small flexible neck collar and a short stubby tail； its snout tipped with a small hooked horn。 It was clearly a baby monoclonius。
Colter reached down and pulled the rest of the eggshell away and then wiped it with the towel he had been using on Petra's bottom。
〃It's cute； isn't it； Colter？〃
〃Cute now； sure。 It won't be so cute when it weighs a few tons。〃
Colter picked it up and handed it to Petra。 It was heavier than it looked and wriggled in her grasp。
〃What do we feed it？〃
〃I dunno。 Probably some mashed fruit。 Maybe some milk。 Moose and Sarah seem to eat everything。〃
〃We'll figure that out in a minute。〃 Petra put the baby down on Sarah's blanket； and she sniffed at the baby； but wasn't hostile。 Then turning to Colter Petra said； 〃First； where are my clothes？〃
〃Well 。 。 。 you see I was kind of upset when I thought you were dead。 I mean； I didn't know you were alive。 How did you get away from that fish anyway？〃
〃Don't change the subject。 Where are my clothes？〃
〃I kind of threw them away。〃
〃Colter！ Why would you do that？〃
Finally he got the courage to look Petra in the eyes and tell her。
〃Your things kept reminding me of you； and how you were dead and stuff。 It was too hard for me。 It hurt pretty bad。〃
Tears welled up in Petra's eyes。 It was only a couple of sentences but Petra knew the rest of what he could never say。 She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him； and th