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ppeared and signaled the others to follow。 One by one the bikers launched themselves over the edge。
Coop and Carl waited for the others； and then Coop leaned back and said something to Angie； who wrapped her arms tighter and leaned into him。 Coop too roared up the bank； the bike fishtailing and then straightening as it continued up over the edge。
Carl turned to Ellen and said； 〃Do it like Angie did； hang on tight and lean into me as we climb。〃
Ellen wanted to get off and climb the bank herself。 It would make more sense than making a risky climb with two on a cycle built for one。 But she knew the bikers didn't care。 This wasn't about climbing a hill； it was some sort of macho thing； and all the guys were waiting to see if Carl could make the climb。 The fact that Coop； the nerd； had done it with Angie on his bike made it imperative that Carl do the same。
If Ellen was to handle Carl； she could not risk damaging his ego。 Being married to Terry meant picking up bits and pieces of psychology whether you want to or not。 Ellen knew that the best way to turn someone violent was to wound his ego。
Carl gunned the engine and pointed the fork of the bike at the lowest part of the bank。 Swallowing her revulsion； she wrapped her arms around Carl's waist and leaned into him； hoping he was too preoccupied to feel her breasts flatten against his back。 Then Carl released the clutch。 The bike flew forward and suddenly the front end of the bike tilted up at a sharp angle。 The speed of the bike fell quickly and the engine began to strain。 Just as they slowed to a near stop； the front of the bike dropped back flat； and they were over the top。
The other bikers were watching them clear the bank。 Carl raced down the line of bikes for a victory lap and then turned around and stopped in front of the line。 Bobby and the rest of the bikers applauded and yelled； 〃All right。〃 Then Bobby stared right at Ellen。
〃Looks like she's ing round； Carl。〃
Ellen realized she still had her arms wrapped around Carl。 She let go and sat back； giving Bobby a piercing look。 He just smiled。
They cut through a sparse stand of Douglas fir to a field of strawberry plants。 Running along the far side was a forest。 Ellen had heard about it on the CB； but seeing it made it even more unbelievable。 The trees were not the expected fir or yew； and she realized they were huge。 As the forest loomed above her she identified the trees as redwood； as big as any she had seen along the Avenue of Giants in California。 The guys stopped their bikes at the edge； staring at the trees in awe。 The undergrowth was sparse but oversize。 Some ferns grew nearly as tall as Ellen； and big patches of grass climbed nearly six feet in height。 Elephant grass？ she wondered。
Ellen thought back to the kid in the cave。 It seemed like a hundred years ago。 〃The end of the world；〃 that's what he had said。 Ellen looked at the forest and wondered if he had been talking about this。 Mountains on I…5； a redwood forest dropped on Portland？ Is this how the world was to end？ In confusion？
Even the guys were surprised by the forest。 When they started off again Coop led； with Carl right behind。 They rode across the strawberry rows； crushing the plants as they followed the edge of the forest。 Worried about the damage； Ellen looked around for a farmhouse but saw no buildings。 She was so close to her son now； she didn't。want to get stopped for trespassing。 Finally； Coop cut into the forest and Ellen could see what he had been looking for…a clearing on the other side。 They rode to the middle of it； where Coop stopped。 Carl pulled up next to him and the guys pulled up on both sides。
〃I saw him right over there；〃 Coop said； pointing。
Ellen wondered what 〃him〃 they were talking about。
〃Bullshit；〃 said the one called Kishton。 He was the shortest of the group but probably the strongest； his upper arms and chest were muscular； forming a body builder's classic V shape。 He also had the only full beard in the group。
〃I still say it's bullshit。〃
〃Coop wouldn't lie to us； would you； Coop？〃 Carl said。
Kishton shut up and looked around。
This is the classic adolescent friendship pattern； Ellen thought。 How had Terry described it？ 〃A like…minded group of males loosely associated for the purpose of fellowship； with no formal leader。〃 As Ellen remembered it； the individuals of the group would adamantly deny there was a leader； yet to an outsider the leader was clearly discernible。 Carl was the leader here。 Ellen knew leadership depended on having something the other males prized…being the strongest； having the best car； or making it with girls。 Ellen studied Carl and decided he wasn't the toughest。 Kishton probably was； or maybe Bobby。 Carl didn't look that tough； yet he was clearly the leader。 Why？ Kishton started talking again。
〃All right； if he's here； how do we find the mother？〃
〃Coop'll find him； won't you Coop？〃
It wasn't really a question。 Carl was telling Coop to deliver what they were looking for； or else。
They seemed to have forgotten about Ellen's son； so she spoke up。 〃I thought you were going to help me find my son。 What about us？〃
Carl turned to Ellen and smiled broadly； revealing his missing eye tooth。
〃Oh； don't worry。 We'll be getting to you。 Lead off； Coop； I'll pick up the rear。〃
Angie pulled Ellen to one side and put her arm around her shoulder。
〃How you doing with good ole Carl？ You want me to switch with you？〃
〃No。 You're doing a great job with Coop。 Just keep him under your spell。〃
〃Don't you worry about that。 He's mine；〃 Angie giggled。
Coop led them once around the perimeter of the clearing and then headed through the trees。 The ferns and grass were thick and tall in the clearing； but once under the canopy of the giants the undergrowth thinned。 The going was slow but steady。 Carl kept cussing and kicking at the clumps of vegetation as they worked their way around and through the undergrowth。 Once Carl rode close to a patch of grass that brushed Ellen's arm； leaving three painful；bleeding slices； like paper cuts。
They broke out of the trees into another clearing； and Ellen looked around Carl in time to see Coop and Angie drop over an edge and disappear。 One by one the other cycles followed。 Carl went over the edge last； into a soggy creek bed with a small stream running through the middle。 The going was slippery here； but they made better time。 There wasn't much of a bank； and Ellen could watch the scenery。 The forest thickened and thinned in no particular pattern； but it was being clear that Portland was no longer here。 Ellen realized if Portland was gone； so was her son。
Coop led them back up a bank into a clearing and stopped； turning off his motor。
〃Looky there；〃 Coop said； pointing into the clearing。
Ellen could see nothing but grass and clumps of ferns。 Suddenly a head popped up over the top of the ferns； with a dome； perched on a long thin neck； and covered with a gray…green skin。 Ferns were hanging from its mouth and its eyes were fixed on their group。 Ellen had never seen one before； at least not alive； but it was a dinosaur；
〃Hot damn！〃 Carl screamed。 〃That mother is mine。〃
〃Holy shit； deputy dawg wasn't lying。〃
〃I told you。 I wouldn't prevaricate about something like this。〃
Ellen watched as the men pulled their rifles and checked the load；
〃Leave it alone！〃 Ellen shouted。 〃If that's a dinosaur； it's the last of its kind。 You can't kill it。 Let's just leave it alone。〃
〃Who asked you？〃 Kishton snapped。 〃I say whoever nails it gets dibs on its head。〃
The rest of the guys cheered and yelled； 〃All right。〃
〃I don't know about this；〃 Coop added。 But he looked nervously at Carl and the other guys； and whatever he was going to say withered away under their gaze。
〃She's right； boys；〃 Angie cut in。 〃That dinosaur is worth a lot more alive than dead。〃
The mention of money slowed them down until Carl spoke；
〃Hell； there's more where that one came from。〃
Excited； the men jump…started their bikes and were off； bumping across the rough terrain。 Only Coop and Carl hung back； Carl fixing Coop with a piercing stare。
〃You one of us or not； Coop？〃
〃You know I'm with you； Carl；〃 Coop said weakly。 But it was