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arrollee。
Taking a break； he decided to stretch； and needle her a little； but when he looked at her the back rub feelings came back。 She was bent over on the floor； her bottom up and head down； staring through the magnifying glass。 Suppressing an urge to fold himself over her； as she had him； he stared for a full minute； savoring her body and his feeling。 Then he realized she hadn't moved her magnifying glass in all that time。
〃You've found something？〃
〃I don't knew。 This is peculiar though。 It might just be a shadow。〃
Emmett grabbed his magnifying glass and got down next to Carrollee。
〃Right here；〃 she said； pointing。 〃Right there in that crater。 I think it's called Flamsteed Crater。〃
Since there wasn't room for both of their heads； Carrollee leaned back so Emmett could get a good look。 He looked first at the Lunar Atlas and then at Bridgette's photo。 This was no shadow； and what he saw hit him like a slap in the face。
〃This is it。 This is what Dr。 Paulson is looking for。 We've got to get this to him； but how？ We need a high…definition fax machine。〃
〃My brother Richard's in the military； remember。〃
'〃Great！ This could be important…What am I saying？ This is incredible。 I'll type a message while you call him。〃
When everything was arranged they turned to leave and Carrollee rubbed Emmett's back with her hand。 Emmett warmed at her touch and slipped his arm around Carrollee's shoulders； pulling her close and crossing the border from friendly to personal。
〃When we get back；〃 he suggested； 〃maybe I can give you a back rub。〃
Carrollee smiled and then said； 〃Tres bien。〃
58。 THE GUYS
I will hand you over to brutal men； men skilled in destruction。
…Ezekiel 21：31
Forest； former site of Portland； Oregon
POSTQUILT： WEDNESDAY； 6：44 A。M。 PST
Ripman did e back in the morning； but with a take…it…or…leave…it offer。
〃I'll take you to the edge of dinosaur country； then you're on your own。〃
〃What about John and Cubby？ They're your friends； Ripman； your good friends；〃 Ellen said。
〃Friends will get you killed in here。 Hey； I hope they make it； but it's not my problem。 You want me to get you out of here or not？〃
Ellen had no choice。 There was little chance she could find John on her own。 With Carl and the guys on the loose and dinosaurs to worry about； she needed help。 Besides； Angie deserved to get out of this alive。 They had known each other for only a few days； yet they were friends for life。
Ripman agreed to get them out on the Carlton side and led off through the trees。 His pace was brisk； and keeping up was difficult but manageable。 A fall chill greeted them when they climbed out from beneath the roots of the fallen giant。 It had been snug in the hole； but goose bumps brought Ellen thoughts of her coat left behind in the clearing。 Still； Carl and the guys could have it； she told herself； but they were never going to have her。
Ripman kept up the fast pace of the previous day； and Ellen's chill quickly turned into a light sweat。 The trail he blazed led them up and down hills； which he never tried to go around。 Fortunately； the dense canopy of the giant trees prevented significant underbrush and walking was relatively easy。 The occasional fallen trees were problematic； since they seemed to explode into new growth； but the detours were few； Ellen was disoriented； but it appeared that their path was the closest thing to a straight line。 Tired； she began watching her feet； letting herself be absorbed by the right…left rhythm； which replaced her thoughts；and her fears for herself and for her son。 Suddenly she ran into Ripman； knocking him into a stumble。
〃Listen。〃
Ellen and Angie looked at each other and shook their heads。 Ripman turned his head toward the southern sky。 Ellen and Angie followed his gaze。 A few seconds later they heard a distant roar； the sound of a jet。 It grew louder； and they looked through the towering canopy to glimpse the plane； but it was futile。 The sound reached a peak and then faded。
〃This is just too weird； Ellen。〃
〃What is； Angie？〃
〃Standing here in this 。 。 。 this impossible forest； with dinosaurs running around； following some teenage Jungle Jim； and having jets fly overhead。〃
Ellen was going to respond but then noticed Ripman's head was still cocked。 She listened too and picked up a low rumble； a sound that was not the jet。 He motioned them to stand still and be quiet and then padded softly up the hill。 As he approached the crest he slowed； bending into a crawl。 He lay still for a minute and then signaled Angie and Ellen forward。 They mimicked his movements； crawling the last few feet to his side； hearing a crunching and thumping as they approached the crest。 Ellen peered fearfully through the ferns at the crest and over the top but saw only trees。 She was about to ask Ripman what he was looking at when Angie's finger shot out； pointing to movement in the distance… The trees were dense； but here and there through the gaps they could see dinosaurs。 As she watched； she realized there were more than just a few。 There was a herd。
These dinosaurs were not like the trophy Carl and the guys had killed。 These were bigger； and deep green。 They were angling up the side of the hill but away from them。 Ellen could see the animals were traveling on all fours； measuring ten to fifteen feet at the shoulders。 Three horns protruded from each forehead and an armored collar was around each neck。 Their long tails were tipped with three spikes。 Ellen leaned into Rip…man and whispered in his ear。
〃Shouldn't we…get out of here？〃
〃Relax； they're just big cows。 They don't eat people。 Probably never seen a person before。 There's a meadow over that way。 That's where they used to be。 For some reason they seem to be on the move。 Let 'em pass。〃
They lay in the grass as the dinosaurs came closer； their noise now a cacophony。 Despite Ripman's reassurance Ellen's apprehension remained until the last one disappeared into the trees。 Ellen started to rise； but Ripman held her arm pulling her back down。
〃We've got a problem。 If we move straight ahead we cut across the path of those dinosaurs。〃
Ellen and Angie looked at each other； neither seeing the problem。
〃Those dinosaurs are on the move for some reason。 They were happily stuffing themselves with grass and ferns yesterday。〃
〃You know what they say about greener pastures；〃 Angie offered。
〃Maybe。 Maybe they're moving because they don't want to be somebody's lunch。〃
Ellen blanched at the thought of whatever might eat one of those dinosaurs for lunch。
〃Well then； let's head back the other way and find another way around。〃 Angie looked to Ellen for support。
〃If we go that way we head back toward Carl and the guys；〃 Ellen reasoned。 〃If we go in the direction the dinosaurs came from we could be heading right toward whatever was hunting them。 But if we cut across 。 。 。〃
〃I see；〃 Angie said； her mind weighing the risks。 〃If we cut across we better move fast； since we don't know if something is following the herd； and how far back it might be。〃
Ripman seemed impressed and sat quietly； letting them analyze the options。 Angie decided first。
〃I'd rather be eaten by a dinosaur than raped by a bunch of assholes。 I say our best bet is to cut straight across as fast as we can and get the hell out of this place。 Remember Coop！〃 Angie； spoke the name sadly。 Ellen realized Angie was depressed over more than a senseless death。 She had cared for Coop。 Seeing how Angie used her sexuality to manipulate men； it had never occurred to Ellen that Angie might have feelings for those men。 Because Ellen had loved only one man； she assumed Angie was the same。
〃Let's go for it；〃 Ellen said to Ripman。
Ripman was nodding his head in appreciation for their clear thinking。 〃El…ah…mental；〃 he cheered。
He led off through the trees at his usual pace； but this time with occasional pauses to listen。 Ellen and Angie listened too； but depended more on their eyesight。 The trees were far enough apart to see quite a distance。 But Ripman was right； you'd hear a dinosaur before you'd see one in this forest。
They were nearly across the track of the herd when Ripman slowed to a walk； then stopped； dr