“Everything’s nominal on this side,” Chandra said.
“Everything’s extra nominal on my side,” Maven said.
“The PAM is responding,” Perez-Roberts said. “All indicators are good to go.”
“Houston, we are finished and retrieving our astronauts,” Watson sent back to Earth.
“I’ll let Dr. Puglisi know,” West said. “As soon as you have retrieved your crew, move to a safe distance.”
Watching Chandra and Maven return to the cargo hold using tiny bursts of gas, Watson questioned the decision to destroy the material they had gathered on the moon. The fact that Dr. Puglisi insisted on it made Watson wonder what else was going on. Given the recent history of the planet, it might be terrible indeed.
42
Column
The Indians surrounding the soldiers on Custer Hill were now joined by others from every section of the field, from downriver where they had been chasing horses, from along the ridge where they had stripped the dead of guns and ammunition, from upriver, where Reno’s men could hear the beginning of the last heavy volley a few minutes past 5. “There were great numbers of us,” said Eagle Bear, an Oglala, “some on horseback, others on foot. Back and forth in front of Custer we passed, firing all of the time.”
—Thomas Powers
Sixty-five Million Years Ago
Unknown Place
If Leah was distressed over leaving Reverend’s flock, she did not show it. After the first few miles, Leah drifted over, taking Jacob’s hand and walking close, occasionally breaking into a smile. Bonnie had to be carried when she saw the Inhumans outside the compound, and Bea clung to her mother’s hand. But after the Inhumans were out of sight, and no attack came, the girls relaxed, taking their cues from the adults. People whispered at first, as if afraid to be heard, and then chatted openly, speculating on what they would do back in the world. Children began to wander, farther and farther from the secure base of their parents, and soon the joy of anticipation infected the entire caravan.
“I barely remember the world,” Leah said, squeezing Jacob’s hand. “It seems like a dream. Could it be as good as I remember it? I wonder if I can still drive a car? Do they have cars? We could go for a drive. No, let’s go to a mall. Oh, I know, let’s take the girls for ice cream. They’ve never had ice cream.”
“Sure,” Jacob said. “We’ll need to get some money.”
Leah pulled a thick wad of bills from her apron pocket.
“You still have money?” Jacob asked.
“I know we were supposed to turn all of our mammon in so the reverend could burn it,” Leah said, “but I couldn’t do it. I kept hoping we would get home someday, so I hid what I had and every time I found some, I added it to my stash.”
“We can eat ice cream for a year with all of that,” Jacob said.
“Dairy Queen,” Leah said wistfully. “Would you mind if I put on a few pounds? I want to eat all the things I missed.”
“On you, a few more pounds would look good,” Jacob said. “On you, everything looks good.”
Leah gave Jacob her full smile, and Jacob fell in love with Leah all over again. It wasn’t just Jacob’s love of Leah that made him happy; it was the sense of being useful again. He never had the skills to survive in the wilderness, but back in the world, he could make a living and provide for his family. Leah would not have to work herself into an early grave, and the girls could look forward to something better than a teenage marriage to a boy selected by Reverend.
“Can I walk by the horsie?” Bea asked, tugging on Leah’s apron. “Sarah and Melanie are walking by the horsie.”
Leah looked at Jacob, who nodded. “Careful with your dress,” Leah said.
“I go,” Bonnie said, wriggling out of Jacob’s arms.
“Take your sister,” Leah said.
Bea ran back, took Bonnie’s hand, and the two ran alongside the column to the front, where Officer Conyers led her horse. Dr. Gah rode Torino, hanging on to the saddle horn for dear life. Children walked parallel to the horse, the officer answering questions, warning the children not to get too close. Ranger Wynooski and Crazy Kramer walked at the front with the officer, Wynooski’s mouth running constantly. Wynooski was why the Lewinskis were deeper into the column. Jacob did not like the plump, know-it-all ranger.
“Do you think we could get a house? One just for our family?” Leah asked. “I love these people, but I want a place of our own. Is that selfish? I want a bathroom with a flush toilet and a shower. I want to sleep with you whenever we want and not have to wait our turn for some privacy.”
“I was a Realtor,” Jacob said. “I’ll get us a house.”
“Could you?”
“I won the Realtor of the Year Award, two years in a row,” Jacob bragged.
“Even if you don’t get us a house, I’ll be happy. We could live in a tent or a trailer and it would be better than here. At least there won’t be demons trying to kill us and dinosaurs trying to eat us.”
“The only dinosaurs are in zoos, so I won’t need this anymore,” Jacob said, patting the rifle hanging over his shoulder.
“I wonder if my mother is still alive?” Leah said sadly, her mind wandering.
Years of hunting had sensitized Jacob, and now he felt movement in the trees. Instinctively, the rifle was off his shoulder before he realized it. Leah stiffened, seeing the look on his face.
“What is it? Dinosaur?”
“Maybe nothing,” Jacob said, eyes on the trees.
The column was crossing a clearing and approaching another copse of trees.
“Maybe we should stop?” Leah suggested, looking ahead at the deep shadows of the trees.
“Yeah, maybe,” Jacob said, eyes on the trees.
Jacob let go of Leah, separating from the column and walking a few yards into the clearing. Others noticed him, two other men with rifles splitting off, spacing themselves ten yards on either side of Jacob. Slowly, Jacob worked the bolt, loading a shell. Jacob’s eyes fixed on the trees across the clearing, and darted from place to place at every little movement. He saw nothing, but the other riflemen were just as wary.
“Get the girls,” Jacob said to Leah.
Without a word, Leah ran toward the front of the column. Person by person, word of what the riflemen were doing spread both directions in the column, reaching the front at the same time as Leah, who grabbed each girl by the hand, pulling them into the column, protecting her children with the bodies of other people. Conyers helped Dr. Gah off Torino, mounted, and rode back to where Jacob and the riflemen stood.
“What is it?” Conyers asked.
“Movement in the trees,” Jacob said.
“Where?” Conyers asked.
“I don’t see nothing,” Ranger Wynooski said, marching up, then standing with her hands on her hips, staring at the tree line. “You’ve got everyone all riled up for nothing.”
“See the gap between that clump on right and the rock with the tree behind it?” Jacob asked. “There’s something in there.”
Torino danced impatiently while Conyers studied the gap.
“Bring it on!” Kramer said, walking up behind Wynooski.
Gah hobbled over, and behind him, Willy and Mel Williams, with their bows and arrows. There were two more rifles in the column, three pistols, and very little ammunition, some of which was bad. Another fifteen men were armed with bows and arrows, but had few arrows left after the battle with the Inhumans who drove them out of their compound.
“There’s nothing there,” Wynooski said in a voice so certain that Jacob almost believed her.
“I saw something,” Jacob insisted.
“I’ll check it out,” Conyers said, putting her white helmet on and snapping the chin strap.
With a light touch of the reins, Torino turned from the column and walked across the meadow toward the gap Jacob had pointed out. Never a rider, Jacob nevertheless saw Torino as the beautiful animal he was. Unlike dinosaurs that specialized in ugly, mammals
like the horse had symmetry, grace, and beauty.
With a hundred yards to go, Torino hesitated, dancing sideways. Nudged with the heels of Conyers’s boots, Torino started forward, his neck bunched, his eyes wide and fixed on the gap. Jacob did not know horses, but he knew the horse did not want to keep moving forward.
“Come back!” Jacob yelled.
Conyers pulled up, turning Torino to look back at the column of refugees, waiting for word. “I’m almost there,” Conyers said, then turned Torino, nudging him toward the gap.
Bucking gently, Torino refused to move. Just as Conyers started kicking Torino’s haunches, an Inhuman burst from the shadows, spear in his hand. Taking her pistol, Conyers held her fire, pulling Torino around and trying to steady the horse to get a clear shot. The Inhuman launched the spear, putting all its strength into the throw, nearly falling as it did. Kicking Torino, Conyers yanked on the reins, the horse jumping forward and right, the spear flying past his haunches. Kicking Torino into a run, Conyers raced toward the column.
Dozens of Inhuman warriors burst from the gap, spreading out, charging across the meadow, yodeling their battle cry.
“Circle up!” Jacob ordered, others echoing the cry.
The refugees pulled closer together, women and children on the inside, men on the outside, those with weapons separating to join the riflemen. Conyers reached Jacob and the others now forming a battle line. Fifty men made up the line, most armed with clubs, axes, hammers, and knives. A few, like Crazy, had machetes. Those with bows or guns bunched in the middle, taking aim.
“Hold your fire!” Conyers yelled, taking Torino to one end of the line of armed men. “Hold. Hold.”
Crazy Kramer stood next to Jacob, dancing on his toes, shaking his machete. “Come and get some!”
Dried blood from the last battle still caked his machete, clothes, face, and beard. Crazy looked like the insane maniac that he was in the midst of battle.
Jacob estimated the spear range of the Inhumans, realizing they were getting close now. Much past that point, and they could throw over the human battle line and into the huddled women and children. Jacob hoped Conyers understood the danger.
“Take aim!” Conyers shouted.
Bows tilted up while pistols and rifles aimed straight.
“Fire!” Conyers said.
Arrows flew and guns went off in a disorganized broadside. The center of the Inhuman mob collapsed, squeals of pain heard above the battle cry. Those in back tripped over those in front, and the charge faltered, Inhumans piling up, stumbling, falling.
“Reload!” Conyers called out unnecessarily.
Jacob knew the riflemen had no more than five rounds each, the men with pistols a little more. Bowmen might have more arrows. Helping injured Inhumans back toward the trees, the Inhumans reorganized, still passionate about killing the humans. With the wounded out of the way, one Inhuman began yodeling, a sound pleasant to human ears and eerie at the same time. Others picked up the musical call, and then the Inhumans began bouncing on their toes, jumping higher and higher, at the same time working themselves into a skirmish line.
“They’re going to charge!” Jacob called to Conyers.
“Take aim!” Conyers said repeatedly, riding Torino the length of the line and then pulling up at the far end of the armed men.
“Come and get it!” Crazy screamed, shaking his machete.
As if they understood him, the Inhumans launched their spears and then charged.
“Fire!” Conyers commanded.
Busy dodging incoming spears, the humans fired only some of their weapons, the bows doing most of the damage, the guns suffering from a large number of misfires. The Inhumans took the losses, and still closed the gap. Pistols fired until they were empty, and then the Inhumans hit the line and the hand-to-hand combat began. Stepping out from the rest, Crazy split the skull of the first Inhuman, and then slashed left and right, gashing one Inhuman, severing the arm of another. Using his rifle as a club now, Jacob knocked an Inhuman senseless, and then parried the thrust of a knife. Next to him, Mel Williams took a spear in his thigh, his brother Willy knifing the Inhuman, then pulling the spear out and using it to jab left and right, driving Inhumans back, protecting his brother.
All along the line the battle raged, men falling, the injured crawling out of the fray, others filling the gap. Four men were down with serious wounds. Others retrieved spears, using them to jab at Inhumans. The ferocity of the attack caught the humans by surprise, and they fell back, dragging their injured with them.
“Hold the line!” Jacob commanded, knowing it was about to break. If the Inhumans reached the women and children, the slaughter would begin. “Hold the line!”
Then Conyers charged through the Inhumans, Torino knocking bodies left and right. Inhumans fell, tripped over one another, and jumped out of the way. Taking advantage of the disarray, the humans re-formed their line, women and old men running forward to drag the wounded away from the battle. Conyers continued her drive, disrupting the full length of the Inhuman ranks. At the end she turned, making another pass, shooting an Inhuman trying to spear Torino, and then another who lunged with a knife. When Conyers turned to make another pass, the Inhumans broke, fleeing toward their hiding place, carrying their wounded with them.
“What’s the matter? You chicken or something?” Crazy hollered, fresh blood spattered on his face.
Three Inhuman bodies lay at Crazy’s feet, and two other Inhumans crawled away from him, bleeding profusely from gashes.
“Yeah! Run, you chickens!” Crazy shouted.
Conyers rode over to Jacob. Up close, Jacob saw cuts in the horse’s sides.
“We need a more defensible position,” Conyers said.
The officer’s leg bled from a six-inch cut in her trousers. Blood dribbled into her leather boot.
“The hill where we found you is through those trees,” Jacob said.
He and Conyers looked at the sky and then at the many wounded.
“Let’s get there and then see how we’re doing,” Conyers said.
“I’ll hold the Inhumans here while you take them to the hill,” Jacob said.
Taking charge, Jacob shouted orders, dividing the men with guns and bows, sending half to lead the column and half to stay behind with him as a rear guard.
Wynooski came up, helping Gah, who was having even more trouble walking.
“You should have formed a vee, not a straight line,” Wynooski said. “That way you can split their forces. Divide and conquer is the name of the game in war. Ever heard of it? Should have. It’s common sense.”
“Ranger, I need you to help Officer Conyers herd everyone through the forest,” Jacob said. “Can you do that for me?”
“Any fool could,” Wynooski said. “I’ll get them there.”
With the ranger out of his hair, Jacob organized his half of the men, taking stock of the weapons, redistributing bullets and arrows. There were four arrows per bowman, but only three rounds per gun.
“Why you?” Leah complained when she learned Jacob was staying behind.
Bea and Bonnie were hanging on to Leah again, once more terrified. It broke Jacob’s heart to see them cowering. He had seen it too often. That was the only life they had known—a prehistoric war zone where everything in the shadows wanted to kill them.
“Who else, Leah?” Jacob asked.
Both Williams brothers were injured now, the only other leaders left among the men. The natural leaders among the women had taken charge of the nursing, cleaning and bandaging wounds.
“But we were going to get ice cream,” Leah said, crying.
“We will,” Jacob said. “I promise.”
“Come with us, Daddy,” Bea said.
Bonnie cried like her mother, unsure of what was happening.
“You go with Mom, and I’ll meet you there,” Jacob said.
“Dairy Queen,” Leah said.
“The others are leaving, Leah. Stay with them. It’s safer.”
&
nbsp; “I’m not going unless you keep Crazy,” Leah said.
“Okay, sure,” Jacob said. “Crazy, you’re with me!” Jacob shouted.
“Right!” Crazy said, coming to stand with Jacob.
“Crazy, you take care of him,” Leah said.
Big, strong, and dumb, Crazy shook his head enthusiastically. “Sure, Leah,” Crazy said. “Anything you say.”
“You bring Jacob back to me, Crazy, and I’ll make you a pie when we get where we’re going.”
“All right,” Crazy said. “For a pie.”
Leah kissed Jacob, and Jacob hugged and kissed his girls. Then, taking the girls in hand, Leah hurried after the others. Jacob formed the men across the meadow, blocking the trail the humans were retreating down. The Inhumans could filter through the trees, but Jacob could see them grouping inside the trees on the far side of the meadow. To be safe, he sent scouts into the trees.
“I can see some of them,” Crazy said in a whisper.
“Keep your eye on them,” Jacob said. “Let me know if they head this way.”
“Right,” Crazy whispered.
With the sun low, Jacob did not know what to expect. The Inhumans could see some of the humans escaping, but they stayed in the trees. There was still time before sunset for another attack, but they were not forming up, not chanting, not doing anything they typically did when getting ready for war. Inhumans would attack at night, they had proved that when they drove the Community out of their Home Depot compound. But night attacks were rare. The Inhumans were waiting for something, but what? Two hours later, the sun was nearing the horizon, and still no attack.
“Let’s start after the others,” Jacob said, circulating among the men, most of whom were resting, some even sleeping.
Dinosaur Thunder Page 28
