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The bottom was clearly rock。 Then her hand touched something slimy and scaly。 She jerked her hand back and froze。 It was the fish。
Her heart pounded so loudly； she feared the fish would hear。 But nothing happened。 It didn't move and made no sounds。 When Petra's panic subsided； she began to think more clearly。 The fish she'd touched couldn't have been the one that grabbed her； that one was covered with hard scales。 This fish was slimy。 Petra forced her hand back out to the fish and touched it again； poking it with a fingernail。 It didn't move。 She ran her hand along its length。 It was four feet long with a long fin on one end。 She couldn't bring herself to explore its head； after she discovered that the fish was well decayed。 She went to wipe her hands on her pants but found she wasn't wearing any。 In fact she wasn't wearing much at all。
She reached out above her head and found something covered with smooth skin； not scaly； with a long thin neck and at least two well…muscled back legs。 Petra realized she was in a den。 She was part of the food supply of that walking fish that snatched her。 Somewhere on the trip to the den she had passed out； but she hadn't drowned。 At least not quite。 Her head told her she had been without oxygen for a while。 She worried briefly about brain damage but realized there was a more immediate problem。 She was part of some prehistoric fish's larder； and she didn't want to be its main course at the next meal。
Petra lay still； listening as hard as she could； but heard nothing。 She was pretty sure the fish wasn't in the den with her。 There were no sounds that weren't her own。 She reasoned that if the fish could walk out of water； and snatch her and other land animals； that it must be an air breather。 The only sounds of breathing were her own。 No； this den was filled with death and rot； not life。 Except her life。
Petra lifted her head slowly； pausing frequently to let the stars clear from her eyes。 The pain kept her at the edge of tears； but she was almost to a sitting position when her head； with a dizzying pain； hit the ceiling。 It seemed to be made of sticks and mud。 There was air in here； she realized； stale putrid air； but air。 She must be near the surface of the lake。 She thought about digging through the roof but didn't know what was above。 Could this part be under the lake？ Surely not； if it was made of mud。
She sat semireclined； holding her body up with her hands； and looked around。 It seemed brighter now。 But where was the light ing from？ Petra looked above and behind； seeing nothing but the gloom。 Then she spread her knees apart and looked between。 There was a soft glow on the floor of the den。 It took her a minute to realize she was looking at a pool of water； and the pool was glowing softly。 That was the way out。 But even if she could stay conscious； could she swim far； weakened as she was and with a crushed ankle？ She was debating whether to try it when the light suddenly disappeared and the water began to ripple。 Something was swimming up the tunnel。
She flopped back down and froze； trying to remember the position she had been in。 The water of the pool sloshed violently enough to splash her ankles。 She began to tremble with fear and bit her lip； trying to stop the shaking。 Suddenly there was a loud splash and the wet sound of blowing air…she could feel the walking fish behind her。 It puffed and blew a couple of more breaths； tasting the air of its den as if to make sure it had not been disturbed。 Petra knew her only chance was to play dead； but reflexively she wanted to run or fight。
Still； she suppressed her instincts as the fish pulled its body from the water。 She heard its flipper…feet pad across the wet surface； its body or tail dragging across the floor of the den。
Then something pushed her in the back。 Petra tried to remain limp； but she panicked again。 Rigor mortis。 She should be stiff； shouldn't she？ Too late。 She couldn't change her act now。 It pushed her again； this time higher in the back。 Petra rocked gently again； acting limp。 She'd play stiff later。 Then the fish walked forward and began rummaging around in the back of the den。 Soon Petra heard the sounds of chomping and eating。 Relief swept her body。 She was too big for an after…dinner snack； so unless it planned to taste her； she didn't think she was on tonight's menu。 From the smell of the cave this prehistoric fish liked its food well deposed。
When the fish finished its meal it rummaged around a bit longer； then padded back toward Petra。 She held perfectly still when it approached； but then to her horror； it plopped down behind her； its back pressed against hers。 She waited for it to move； but it didn't。 After a few minutes she heard rhythmic breathing。 It was asleep； its back against Petra。 Now she couldn't move。 She was trapped。
55。 PAT AND PATTY
The killer whale has no peer； it fears nothing in its domain and has no qualms about attacking any other beast it makes contact with； even the true whale。 Would it kill a man？ Probably yes。
…James B。 Sweney； Sea Monsters and Other Dangerous Marine Life
West of Naples； Florida
POSTQUILT： WEDNESDAY； 7：12 A。M。 EST
Hey look； a fin！〃 Chris yelled。 Ron woke to see a black fin break the surface； and then disappear again。 Another fin appeared farther out and then another。
〃Are they sharks？〃 Carmen asked。
〃No；〃 Rosa answered。 〃They're too big。〃
〃They're over here too；〃 Chris said excitedly。
Ron looked right to see two more fins。 Then one of the animals leapt out of the water。 It was black on the top but white on the bottom； the clear markings of orca。 It was a pack of killer whales…there were at least ten。
The whales circled Patty and Pat； ing closer with each pass。 Then Chris shouted and pointed straight down。 Ron looked to see a black shape shoot between Patty and her baby。 Another orca followed； but this one rammed Pat； driving him away from his mother。 More whales swam between Pat and Patty； driving the baby farther away from its mother。
〃They're after the baby；〃 Rosa said sadly。 〃We've got to help it。〃
Suddenly the baby let out an ear…piercing squeal。 The mother immediately whipped her head around； wrenching her body into a partial turn。 Ron and the others dropped spread…eagled； to keep from being thrown off。
When the mother was satisfied the baby was still following she resumed her course。 Ron looked down at the baby and heard rapid； deep breathing； punctuated by a slight whine。 Rosa pointed silently to the baby's wake； everyone saw that Pat was leaving a pink trail in the water。
Suddenly Pat dipped deep into the water； nearly submerging his head； and screamed again。 Chris put his hands to his ears to block the horrible sound； but Patty wrenched around again and Chris had to spread his arms wide to keep from rolling off。 Ron looked back to see two more fins rushing toward Pat。 Now the fins dipped below the surface and a few seconds later Pat shuddered twice in quick succession。
Pat screamed continuously now； and his wake was a crimson stream far into the distance。 The orcas were in a blood frenzy and the pack circled closer。 The flashing orcas were designed for this kind of attack。 Sleek and powerful； they darted in and out； biting into the struggling Pat； who squealed with every blow。 Patty's huge tail might have been formidable on land； but in the water it was nearly useless in the defense of Pat。 Occasionally Patty's tail would break the surface and slam down into the sea with a deafening slap。 The orcas seemed bothered by the sound at first； but then ignored it； dodging it every time。
The kids were horrified。 But Ron realized that to the orcas it was just feeding time； and Pat was the target。 Even in the civilized world justice is fleeting； in the animal world it is meaningless。
The attack on Pat was going on at a leisurely pace。 The orcas were enjoying the hunt； streaking up from below…their attacks drenching Patty's passengers with bloody spume。
〃I want to get out of here；〃 Chris moaned。
〃Me too；〃 Rosa said。 〃Let's swim away。〃
Ron had never heard of orcas eating people； but he wasn't sure anyone had ever swum through a feeding frenzy； covered in the blood from the kill。 Apparently Carmen agreed。
〃We're still safer here； kids；〃 she said。 〃If we get in that water they might e after us。 Let's stay up here as long as we can。〃
Ron nodded。 He decided now was the time to use the last of the water and passed the bottle to the kids。 They each drank about a quarter and passed the bottle to Carmen…who started to refuse； but Ron frowned at her。 There was no point in saving the little that was left。 After Carmen drank her share she passed the bottle back to Ron。 As he drank the last of the water； he noticed dozens of seabirds gathered overhead。 They must have been following the killer pack； scavenging the remains of their victims。 The birds circled and screeched； waiting like vultures。
Pat was barely moving now； although he still seemed to have little trouble floating。 Patty was getting frantic； and began bleating defiantly at the circling orcas。 Then as Pat slowed to a near stop； Patty turned in a wide circle； around him。 Carmen yelled for everyone to lie flat； to get as much tractio