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sisted that Ripman take John and Cubby out first。 John insisted Ellen go first； and Cubby protested going at all。 He wanted to ride into Portland if they could find it。
Cubby did agree that Ellen needed to get to a doctor and should go first。 They then argued over who should have which weapons。 Ellen wanted to take only the pistol。 John insisted she take a rifle。 Cubby agreed； pointing out that he and John had survived without a gun。 Ripman muttered something about dumb luck under his breath； then sided with Ellen。 With the bike they could outrun the dinos； so they would take just the pistol。 Cubby and John didn't want to stay with Carl's body； it would attract scavengers。 So the three boys scratched in the dirt working out a plan to rendezvous。 Ripman started the bike as if he knew what he was doing； then Cubby and John helped Ellen on the back； John giving her shoulder a squeeze。 It was too painful for Ellen to turn around； so she didn't see her son waving good…bye。
67。 OUT OF THE PIT
。 。 。 the mountains shall be molten 。 。 。 and the valleys shall be cleft； as wax before the fire； like water rushing down a slope。
…Micah1：4
Warm Springs Indian Reservation； Oregon
POSTQUILT： WEDNESDAY； 4：52 P。M。 PST
Petra； still wedged against the tree trunk； shivered uncontrollably。 A bra and torn panties were inappropriate for an autumn day in Oregon。 The sounds of splashing came from the lake。 She wondered if more of those walking fish lived in the lake； and wished Dr。 Coombs and Dr。 Piltcher could have seen that fish。。It walked； it breathed air； it swam under the water。 Half…fish and half…mammal； it was some in…between species； like millions of other variant forms。 As such it must have been ancient； much older than the dinosaurs onshore。 Dr。 Piltcher would have given his life to see it； but unfortunately he gave his life a little too soon。
Determined not to spend another night with the dinosaurs； Petra climbed down； stiff from the cold； and worked her joints。 When they were loose enough to let her run if she had to； she crept back toward the carcass。
Petra approached from the back side again。 It had been the least popular side。
She was shocked when she saw the carcass。 It had been hollowed out and stripped of most skin and flesh； leaving bare bones。 A huge bloody pool lay around the bone pile and a dozen dinosaurs of different sizes surrounded the remains； gnawing on bones and digging pieces of bloody flesh from inside the carcass。 One small dinosaur was peeling skin away from the head。
Petra worried she had waited too long。 They were digging deep into the carcass； and from the look of it they had emptied the chest cavity of every bit of soft tissue。 Had they eaten clean through to Colter？ Was he still alive under that bloody mess somewhere？
Petra approached slowly； gun ready； walking out between the trees until the dinosaurs spotted her and froze。 None of them was bigger than about ten feet。 Apparently the giant dinosaurs had eaten their fill and moved off； still the ten…footers were terrifying。 Sucking up her courage； she ran forward screaming at the top of her lungs。 The sound was pitiful pared to those of the giant lizards； but it got their attention。 She charged and just before she reached the nearest one fired a round into the air； the noise scattering the feeders。 After Petra fired another round； they moved off a safe distance。 Now to find Colter。
〃Colter？ Colter？〃 she called。 〃Colter； are you still here somewhere？〃
Petra listened for a reply but heard none。 She walked to the carcass； her feet squishing in the blood…soaked grass； and then reached out gingerly with one hand and pushed on one of the still standing ribs。 It didn't budge。 Petra put her bare shoulder against it and pushed with all her strength。 It still didn't budge。 The ribs were still attached to the backbone and weighed tons。 She had no hope of moving it off Colter。 There were only two choices now。 Go back to digging； or climb inside and try to get through past the backbone。 Petra peered into the carcass。 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 。 。 。 w