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It took Petra and Dr。 Piltcher a minute to recognize Dr。 Coombs's remains。 The small dinosaurs had shredded his clothes and picked his bones nearly clean。 Even his skull had been peeled of its flesh； although his eyes were still intact in the sockets。
When the small pack of dinosaurs spotted them they froze； heads up and tails held straight out。 As Colter screamed and then charged the pack； thrusting at the closest dinosaur with his spear； the pack scattered； some with meaty bones still in their mouths。 Colter stood looking down on Dr。 Coombs's remains； Petra's mind was overflowing with horror； and Dr。 Piltcher was once again lost in his grief。 This time he had no doubt about his friend's death。
Colter returned to the others； his face impassive。
〃Want me to bury him？ There's still quite a bit left。 I don't know； though。 They'll probably just dig him up again。 Maybe we could cover it 。 。 。 him； with rocks。〃
Dr。 Piltcher was about to reply when the branches behind him began to snap。 The three turned to see a fifteen…foot…tall carnivore ing through the brush； towering above them。 Its head and jaws were huge。 It walked on two well…muscled back legs； but its forelegs looked smaller and useless。 A long thick tail dragged behind。
〃Run；〃 Colter yelled； and the others obeyed。 Colter took the lead； breaking trail through the brush。 He ran a straight line； dodging only the thicker stands or those with thorns。 They pounded through； oblivious to the blows from the branches。 Dr。 Piltcher； soon exhausted； began to trail behind。 When Petra noticed she shouted to Colter； who shot a quick look over his shoulder； and then trotted off to the side； motioning for Petra to take the lead。 When Dr。 Piltcher plodded past； Colter fell in behind； watching over his shoulder for the dinosaur。
Petra set a slower pace than Colter so Dr。 Piltcher could keep up； but something was wrong。 Petra had seen him jog for miles before。 He was stumbling along now； head down and breathing raggedly。 The brush thinned； and then they broke into a clearing that led down to the lake； where the grass was short and looked well grazed。 They were moving at a slow jog around what Petra realized were huge piles of animal droppings。 Dr。 Piltcher stumbled over one pile but kept his feet。 Petra dropped back to jog next to him； setting a pace。 Dr。 Piltcher's chest was heaving and his breathing was irregular。
When Petra looked back for Colter； her feet caught in something and she fell headlong into the grass； just missing a pile of dried dung。 Dr。 Piltcher stopped when she fell and dropped to his knees； desperately trying to catch his breath。 Petra found herself lying in the grass on an uneven surface； the turf beneath her looking like a badly laid carpet with huge wrinkles。 Petra rolled to her knees； looking for Colter； but he was nowhere in sight。 Neither was the dinosaur。 Dr。 Piltcher was still on his knees； his breathing labored； one hand was pressed tight against his chest； and his face red and sprinkled with sweat。 Looking up at her； he shook his head； and began puffing rapidly through his nose； trying to control his breathing。 He spoke finally； in a hoarse whisper。
〃Petra； I'm sorry； but I 。 。 。 my chest。 。 。〃
〃It's okay； Dr。 Piltcher。 Don't speak。 I think we're all right here；〃 Petra answered reassuringly； but not believing it。
Petra scanned the meadow looking for Colter or signs of danger。 If she hadn't been so scared she might have noted the details in the landscape…the still； blue lake in the middle； surrounded by clumps of towering leafy trees along its shore。 The bright green sea of swaying meadow grasses hid the wrinkled turf。
Taller； forest green bushes dotted the clearing as far as Petra could see。 She looked from left to right for a hiding place or a way back to the RV。 The lake narrowed on the south end and a finger of the lake ended in a stream。 Whether it fed the lake or drained it； Petra couldn't tell。 But along that stream were large moving shapes…quadrupeds like the one that destroyed the RV and killed Dr。 Coombs。 They were still a long way off； but it was clear they were ing closer。 Petra felt trapped。 She feared running back into the brush because the dinosaur that had chased them was there somewhere。 She was too afraid to head toward the approaching herd； but if they cut across the meadow away from the herd she could be inviting attack。 Besides； Dr。 Piltcher wouldn't be running much farther today。
Petra could see only one choice。 She urged Dr。 Piltcher to his feet； took his arm； and led him toward the trees along the lake。 They would climb a 。tree if they could。 Otherwise they could swim for it； although she had no idea whether dinosaurs could swim or not。
Dr。 Piltcher padded along next to her； Petra supporting him when he stumbled。 As they ran； Petra kept watch on the approaching herd。 They showed no signs of attack； or even of notice。 At the first tree； Dr。 Piltcher sat with his back against the trunk； his hand on his chest and his head down。 He was breathing easier now； although still ragged。
Petra walked around； trying to find an easy tree to climb。 Similar to poplar trees； these had branches covered with thousands of round leaves。 When she found it she returned to help Dr。 Piltcher to his feet。 He let her guide him； his strength and spirit left behind with Dr。 Coombs。
Petra's tree was on the edge of the clearing near the lake。 The lowest limb was just out of her reach。 She knew she could jump to it and pull herself up； but Dr。 Piltcher couldn't； even if he was feeling well。 She tried boosting him up； but he was too weak to grip the limb。 After their third try Petra let Dr。 Piltcher slip to the ground and rest while she trotted along the edge of the small stand looking vainly for signs of Colter。 At the far edge of the little wood； she was shocked to see the dinosaurs had nearly reached the lake and were fanning out along the shore； ing closer。 Hiding behind the tree trunks； she shrank back when she saw them。 Petra's eyes riveted on the massive set of horns…images of Dr。 Coombs impaled flashed through her mind。 Urgently； she dodged from trunk to trunk back to Dr。 Piltcher。 She had to get him in the tree somehow； or it was the lake。
She pulled the professor to his feet again。 His breathing was better now； though his hand was still pressed to his chest； and his face had regained some color。
〃We've got to climb this tree； Dr。 Piltcher；〃 she said。 〃More of those dinosaurs are ing； like the one that wrecked the RV。〃
〃Monoclonius；〃 he managed to whisper。
〃Yes； monoclonius。 They're almost here。 I want you to stand on my back。〃
〃I'm sure George was wrong about them being triceratops。〃
〃Dr。 Piltcher； you must climb on my back。〃
〃I don't want to hurt you； Petra。〃
〃Don't worry； you won't hurt me。〃
Dr。 Piltcher continued to protest； but Petra shushed him and got down on her hands and knees。 The professor stepped up on her gingerly； but his full weight was soon on her back。 His boots seesawed across her spinal column； and she had to bite her lip to hold back a gasp of pain。 She could feel the older man trying to pull himself up； but he had no strength。
〃I can't do it； Petra。 Leave me。 You climb up； I'll be okay。〃
〃No。 Don't you move； just hang on to the limb；〃 Petra nearly shouted； and Dr。 Piltcher stood still； his hands drooped over the top of the thick limb。 Then Petra inched her legs forward and began to push。 Suddenly the weight was removed from her back and she collapsed to the ground。 She rolled over； expecting to see Dr。 Piltcher sitting in the tree。 Instead； she found him hanging from the limb； his arms wrapped over the top； and his legs dancing below。
〃I'm going to fall； Petra。〃
〃No！〃 she shouted； leaping to her feet。 She knew she wouldn't be able to lift him again； so she put her hands on the professor's bottom and pushed。 At the same time Dr。 Piltcher used his arms to hitch himself higher on the limb。 Finally； his chest worked its way up； and then he was lying on his stomach on the limb。 Petra watched him turn toward her； a slight smile on his face…then the smile evaporated。
〃Petra； behind you；〃 he whispered。
Petra turned carefully to see a monoclonius looking down its snout h