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Kyle flashed a smile to acknowledge he'd heard。 Then Shirley looked over at his exposed bottom； and shook her head in disbelief。
〃My hero；〃 she said； and then kissed him on the cheek。
66。 NOAH'S RAVEN
Civilization es in long waves。 Whether Babylon； Ur； or ancient Guatemala； the mystics of those civilizations understood this； and used mathematics to try to understand why theirs and other civilizations e and go。 Ours may be the only wave of civilization that has not made such an effort。
…Dr。 Carrie Simpkins； Mathematics and Prophecy
Forest； former site of Portland； Oregon
POSTQUILT： WEDNESDAY； 12：30 P。M。 PST
The sound of the motorcycle put them on the move again。 Cubby led the way with Ellen and John taking turns jogging with Ripman； who let slip occasional groans。 The motorcycle sounds continued in the distance； but did not approach。 Then three gunshots echoed from the distance…followed by more motorcycle sounds and two more gunshots。
〃Think a dino got him； Cubby？〃 John asked；
〃I don't know；〃 Cubby responded softly； and then with a touch of anger added； 〃How should I know？〃 To Ellen； Cubby seemed unfortable with the role of leader。 His irritability was one symptom。 The other more serious one was his unwillingness to consider any plan of action except heading to his house。 For now they were moving away from the sounds of the motorcycle； but tbey'd need to settle the question of direction soon。 As if in response to Ellen's thoughts； Cubby slowed to a walk； and the rest dropped abreast。
〃Did you guys sabotage their bikes？〃 Ripman asked without looking up。
〃Yeah； we did；〃 Cubby said with pride。 〃We saw them go after John's mom and that other lady； and you take Mrs。 Roberts off into the woods； so me and John waited until dark and then snuck into their camp and cut up their wiring so they couldn't follow you。〃
〃All of the bikes except one。〃
〃That was one John was supposed to do；〃 Cubby snapped。
〃Up yours； Cubby。 You don't know which bike that was。〃
〃Yeah； maybe。 Hey； where is that other lady？〃
Ripman finally looked up and caught Ellen's eye。 When he didn't say anything； Ellen just shook her head。 She couldn't bear discussing the details。 Cubby and John sensed her pain so Cubby quickly changed the subject。
〃We also got this gun off a dead guy；〃 Cubby said； holding it up。
Other visions immediately filled Ellen's head…terrible visions。 Ellen wondered if they'd found the gun on Coop； or Bobby； but didn't bother to ask。 Someday she would have to cleanse herself of these memories by talking them out； but this day called for repression and denial。
〃Elemental； guys；〃 Ripman said。 Ellen noticed that Cubby and her son glowed in the light of Ripman's praise。 〃Except for one thing；〃 Ripman continued。 〃You used up all the ammo shooting at those assholes back there。〃
〃Wrong again； Sherlock；〃 John said； pulling two clips of ammunition out of his jacket pockets。 〃Now if we can only figure out how to change the clips。〃
Cubby kept walking but began fumbling with the gun； turning it at different angles and pushing and pulling on anything that looked like a release。 Ellen and John flinched every time the barrel of the gun turned toward them。
Finally； Ripman snorted derisively and said； 〃Let me do it before you shoot someone。〃 Cubby gave up the gun reluctantly。 Ripman turned partially away； so Cubby and John could not see what he did； and when he turned around the empty clip was out of the gun。 John handed over another clip and Ripman slipped it in the handle； then slapped it home with the palm of his hand。 He didn't volunteer to show anyone how to change the clip； and it was then Ellen realized how insecure he was。
Ripman； she saw； needed an edge over John and Cubby to stay their friend。 They were willing to give their friendship to Ripman； but he needed to earn it； or perhaps； Ellen thought； buy it。 Ripman wouldn't take anything for free or do anything the easy way。 He didn't want anything from anyone that he didn't pay for。 Cubby's and John's friendship was paid for in myriad ways； but mostly by the way Ripman doled out esoteric knowledge； bits and pieces of skill； and expertise he had been husbanding for just that purpose。 Her son and Cubby's resourcefulness at disabling the motorcycles and obtaining a gun had disturbed Ripman's balance with his friends。 Their independence had devalued the only modity he felt he had； skill。 So Ripman ridiculed them for missing one motorcycle； and then reestablished his value by changing the clip in the gun。 He needed that edge and Ellen was willing to let him keep it for now。
Cubby held out his hand。 Ripman hesitated； then slapped the gun into Cubby's palm。
〃Wish I still had my bow； guns are a crutch； but a bow〃
〃I know； Ripman；〃 Cubby cut in； 〃a bow is el…ah…mental；〃 When John harmonized the word with Cubby； all three of them laughed； diffusing the tension and reaffirming their friendship。 They walked in silence for a way； not wanting to disturb the good feeling。
Ellen grew impatient。 They needed a plan； a goal； and in her mind the only goal could be to get out of dinosaur land as soon as possible。 She was about to speak when Ripman saved her the trouble。
〃Cubby 。 。 。 it's really gone； Portland's gone。 You can't go home。〃
Ripman's tone was conciliatory； his ments an act of passion。
〃It is there！ We saw it！〃
〃I've seen it too； Cubby。 But something's not right。 It es and goes； and when it's there； I'm not sure it's really there。〃
Cubby walked in silence； sorting his thoughts； while Ellen hung back。 She had already decided on her course of action。 She and John were getting out as fast as possible。 If Portland was there； it wasn't all there； and her part of it； her home； her friends and neighbors； were gone。 She had her son； a husband somewhere； and a daughter。 So far she had lost only things； and of the things lost only the mementos mattered； those markers of personal passage through time。 And they mattered little pared to her family。 She cared about Cubby and Ripman for their family's sake； but she would not risk her son and herself for them。 She and John were leaving。
〃I know the city doesn't look right； Ripman； but it's something；〃 Cubby said。 〃My family is in there； my mom and dad。 This isn't the rapture； I'll admit that。 But it's something； something only God could do。 There's a purpose behind this； a plan。 My dad will understand it； he's probably explaining it right now。 You guys don't have to e with me；〃 Cubby finished。 〃I'm going into Portland。〃
Cubby's decision sounded as firm as Ellen's； but she wanted to give him options。
〃Cubby； you can e with us； live with us as long as you want。 I know your mom has relatives in Georgia or someplace； we can get in touch with them。 You too； Ripman。 We'll move down to the beach until someone figures out what is going on。〃 Ellen could tell by their faces they were looking for a kind way to say no。
The return of the helicopter spared them for a moment。
When Ellen heard the distant sound she sprinted ahead looking for thin canopy and began waving her arms。 The helicopter never passed within sight of their group； but when the sounds faded they heard the brief distant roar of an engine； which soon died； replaced by the silence of the forest。 The machine roar returned； and then faded； only to e back again。 The rhythm continued； the sounds ing closer and closer。
〃They're tracking us；〃 Ripman said。 〃We better find a place we can defend。〃
Ripman lead off； but his injuries kept his pace down。 As tired and hungry as he was； even Ellen could keep up with him。 She was more than just physically tired； she was tired of being afraid； and tired of being a victim。
Something moved in the trees up ahead。 Ripman spotted it with his good eye and veered to the right。 The others followed his lead。 Ellen spotted a long green tail protruding from behind a tree； but no head was visible。 Whatever it was； it was content； and they ran on ignoring it； Ripman led them into a tiny clearing and to an ancient fallen tree on the far side； which had sprouted new trees along its entire length。 Ripman paused looking around rapidly。
〃This is as good as…〃 He stopped in midsentence； distracted by the noise behind him。
They all followed Ripman's gaze to see a dinosaur ing through the trees。 It was half the size of the one that had gotten Angie； but its jaws were still big enough to bite a person in half。 Cubby was pointing his gun at it； waiting for a clear shot。
〃Don't shoot it with that； Cubby； you'll only make it mad。 Everyone spread out； back away slowly；〃 Ripman ordered。
Ellen fought down the urge to run and obeyed him； looking to see where John was。 She was next to Ripman； then Cubby； and John was on the far side。 She punished herself mentally for letting John get so far away。 The dinosaur stepped into the clearing； walking on two huge hind legs； dragging a long muscular tail behind。 Its forelegs were small but powerful looking。 Its triangular head had massive gaping jaws showing rows of pointed teeth； its breath came in liquid heaves。 Most noticeable were its eyes…its eye。 The left was a brown orb barely distinguishable from the olive skin； but the right eye was a large crust