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est。
They were nearly across the track of the herd when Ripman slowed to a walk； then stopped； dropping to his knees； his eyes riveted on the ground。 Ellen and Angie approached slowly； still watching for dinosaurs。 Even before they reached him they could see a large pool of blood。 Ellen immediately thought of John； but realized it was too much blood for him。 It formed part of a trail that angled off through the trees； one corresponding to the dinosaurs' path。 Suddenly Ripman's head snapped up and his face went pale。
〃e on。 Run。〃
Ellen and Angie followed Ripman； running and struggling to keep him in sight。 They trusted his instincts。 As they ran； they heard something ing…something big。
Cubby and John were awakened by the roar of a motorcycle engine。 John felt his insecurity e back。 He immediately assumed he cut the wrong wire or tube； and Cubby obviously agreed。 Ripman would have blamed John too。 When Cubby shot John an accusing look； he protested； 〃Hey； it could have been you； Cubby。〃
The engine was being revved； and every time it slowed it sputtered。 Finally it sputtered once more and died。 Cubby and John left their hiding place to get closer to the clearing； John crossing his fingers and hoping it wasn't one of the bikes he had disabled。 The engine roared to life again but died almost instantly。
When the boys got closer they saw the bikes had been moved； they were now parked around the still…smoldering fire。 To John's relief he couldn't tell which bikes he had worked on。 He could recognize only the deputy's gaudy blue one； the rest were mostly chrome and engine。
All four of the men were crowded around one bike。 After a few minutes one of them climbed on and jumped down on the starter。 After three kicks the engine roared。 The rider revved it to keep it going while another one did something on the engine。 It died again。 The rider climbed off angrily and began yelling at the one working on the engine。 They traded places and tried it again。 It took eight kicks to start and died almost immediately。 It didn't start again after that。
Carl； his leg bandaged with a folded shirt； shouted the guys down and then took control。 After they argued for a while； Carl and two others picked up their rifles and headed into the forest。 The third man picked up his rifle and watched the others go； then he went back to the bike and kicked it three times till it rocked over onto its side。
Cubby pulled on John's sleeve； and they slipped deeper into the forest。
〃Do you want to take him？〃 Cubby asked。
〃How？ He's watching now； and he's got a rifle。 We couldn't get far enough across that meadow to hit him with that pistol before he'd plug us both。 Besides； I've never shot a pistol before； have you？〃
〃Once； except it wasn't like this one exactly。〃 Cubby doubtfully looked over the gun。 〃I think this is the safety；〃 he said weakly。 〃Okay。 Let's follow the others then。 Once we're sure Ripman got your mom and her friend away safe； we'll head for my house。〃
They detoured wide around the end of the clearing and headed in the direction they had seen Carl lead the other men。 With Cubby in the lead； they moved quickly； nearly jogging so they could catch up。 Soon they spotted one man in the distance； carrying his rifle behind his neck with his arms looped over the stock on one side and the barrel on the other。 He looked lackadaisical； as if he didn't give a damn。
Cubby and John could not see the others； but when they heard a voice to their right they dropped back； easily keeping out of sight。 Occasionally they caught glimpses of the other men。 Carl was limping along； the wound in his leg apparently hurting but not enough to suit John。 He hoped Ripman had dipped that arrow in dinosaur shit before he stuck him with it。 It might give him some incurable prehistoric infection。
The sound of a jet engine stopped the men as they looked up； but the plane passed quickly and the men resumed their search。 The boys soon realized the men weren't following tracks； and they became confident that John's mom and Ripman would get away。
When they heard a distant animal roar； the men froze and checked their rifles。 Another roar sounded closer and they marked the direction and moved toward it。 Knotting together in a small group； they followed Carl； who limped in the lead。
The next roar was much closer…the dinosaur was ing toward them。 John spurted ahead to catch Cubby and pulled his arm to stop him。
〃Let 'em go。 I hope the dino eats them。〃
Cubby looked thoughtful for a minute； then nodded。 〃Yeah。 Ripman's long gone by now。〃
Then they heard the scream…a woman's scream。
Ripman pounded uphill and down； running full speed。 Angie and Ellen soon lost him in the forest ahead。 But they kept on the same path； following blindly。 Ellen； ahead； quickly saw Angie was falling behind。 Pounding up to the top of a rise； Ellen intended to wait for her friend。 A downhill start would get her to top speed as quickly as possible。 At the top Ripman's voice came out of the tall grass。
〃Get down！〃
Ellen dropped down next to Ripman； disappearing into the grass。 Angie was having trouble with the hill； barely trotting by the time she reached the top。 Ellen pulled her down。 Angie wheezed and Ellen gasped nearly as hard。 Ripman lay quietly； trying to listen； shushing them over and over。 When they caught their breaths； Ripman turned his head to listen to the forest。
〃Won't it follow the blood？〃 Ellen asked： 〃Why would it e after us when there's all those dinosaurs to eat？ We're too small； aren't we？〃
Ripman； irritated by the noise of the questions； ignored Ellen for a full minute。 Finally he answered； 〃If it's a carnivore it's probably following the herd because that's its food supply； but if ir just ate one of those suckers it's not going to be hungry。〃
〃So it's not dangerous？〃 Angie suggested。
〃It's more dangerous to us。 If it smells us it might get curious。 It can always pick up the trail of that herd。 A full belly means it can afford to explore； look for new food。 Easier food。〃
〃Us；〃 Ellen concluded。
〃Just a little cheesecake for dessert；〃 Angie added with a false laugh。
〃Quiet；〃 Ripman said suddenly。
Ellen listened hard and picked out the distant sounds almost as soon as Ripman； who lay still waiting；
The density of the forest and the dinosaur's deep brownish green coloring made the carnivore difficult to see。 It walked on two powerful back legs； leaning forward so far it looked as if it would fall。 Somewhere behind it was a massive counterbalancing tail。 It had long forelegs； nine or ten feet in length； and a huge head that was mostly jaws。 Deep breathing sounds rumbled past bloodied teeth； and it swung its head back and forth as it walked。
Ellen started to get up to run； but Ripman grabbed her arm and kept her down。 Then he leaned into her and whispered； 〃Slowly and quietly。 If you can't keep up this time； I'll leave you。 Tell your friend。〃
Ellen relayed that to Angie in a whisper； and Angie's face fell。 Ripman inched his way down the hill away from the dinosaur； moving as little grass as possible。 His bow was still slung over his shoulder； but Ellen realized it would be of little use。 She and Angie followed； keeping their heads below the top of the grasses。 Halfway。down the hill Ripman turned and padded softly through the forest； his speed and noise increasing as he put distance between himself and the dinosaur。
Again； Ellen and Angie followed； but their best speed would not keep Ripman in sight for long。 Angie pressed her hand against her waist； wheezing again and slowing。 Ellen trotted beside her。 They settled into a low running rhythm； a pace Angie seemed able to sustain。
After a mile they heard the roar。
Ellen looked back to see the dinosaur's head staring at them from around a tree。 As they gaped in horror； the dinosaur's mouth opened wide； and another deafening roar rattled their nerves。 Angie poured the rest of her energy into her feet and picked up the pace； as Ellen； risking another look behind； saw the dinosaur in pursuit； gaining fast。
Suddenly they broke free of the forest into a small clearing。 On the other side was a section of tumbled…down forest… smoke drifted up from the far si