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owd by now。 Checking that all his clips were fully loaded； Colter slid a hunting knife in a sheath onto his belt； picked up his pack； and left the RV。 The trail was easy to follow。 It led him straight into the tall brush； and toward the clearing where the big carnivore had eaten Dr。 Piltcher。 It also led toward the lake where that walking fish had killed Petra。 That suited Colter fine。 First he would kill the dinner guests； and then he would camp by the lake and wait。 If he had to； he'd wade out into the lake making himself bait。 But he wasn't leaving until that walking fish paid for what it did to Petra。
There was so much blood； Colter guessed the animal must have a severed artery； but the track went on and on。 He was approaching the clearing when he heard growling。 Making sure the rifle had a bullet in the chamber； he crept forward。 The monoclonius had made it through to the clearing and its carcass…picked nearly clean from neck collar to tail…was fifty feet from the brush line。 All of its ribs were bare。 Three of the fifteen…foot carnivores were in the clearing chewing on rib bones； and half a dozen of the three…footers were reaching around looking for tidbits。 It was just what Colter wanted； a shooting gallery。
Colter crept right to the edge of the clearing； crawling under a bush until he had a clear shot。 Then he lined up his first one； aiming at the head of one of the fifteen…footers。 As its head came up with something red from the body cavity it turned to look around。 When the head was parallel to Colter he fired and it screamed in pain。 The other dinosaurs froze at the sound of the rifle； trying to spot the danger； their heads pointed up。 Colter realized that in this food chain； none of them would think to look under a bush for an enemy。
The wounded dinosaur was using its small front legs to paw at his jaw。 Colter； skilled from his first killing spree； turned and shot another of the fifteen…footers in the side； leaving the first wounded dinosaur for later。 The second dinosaur screamed like the first and spun； looking for its attacker。 Blinded by its pain and rage it sunk its teeth into its wounded brother's neck。 The first dinosaur crumped and bellowed and the fight was on。 The dinosaurs fell； rolling to the ground。 The first one still had its teeth in the neck of its friend； but the one on the bottom was using its three toes to rip at the belly of its attacker。 The noise was deafening； but Colter couldn't have been happier。 He loved it。 They were killing each other。
Colter decided to add the last dinosaur to the fight； the one who had backed off a few feet and was watching the fight from a safe distance。 He put a slug into its chest。 But this dinosaur simply shuddered and stood dumbly； watching。 Colter shot it in the leg； trying to get a reaction。 This time it spun around and Colter shot it in the tail。 When it spun again； Colter excitedly repeated the tail shot…again and again as the beast whirled and shrieked； ten times in all。 It took two shots at the head before he dropped the spinner。
By now； the dinosaur fight was over。 The one on the bottom had died in the grasp of its brother。 Colter took aim to kill the winner but never fired the shot。
Something was ing up behind him； and from the sound of the crashing brush； something big。 He realized it was almost on top of him； its progress covered by the noise of the gun and： the dinosaur fight。 He rolled onto his back and looked up through the brush。 There； towering three stories above him； was the dinosaur that had chased Colter and killed Dr。 Piltcher。 He was about to shoot when he realized the dinosaur wasn't looking at him。 It didn't seem to know he was there。 Instead it was lodking into the clearing at the remaining carnivore。
Colter began to worry about the dino's feet。 If it kept ing it might step on him。 He quietly got to his knees。 He couldn't get all the way up without noisily pushing branches out of his way。 Colter watched the huge legs for movement； but nothing happened。 Then he heard the loud sounds of a dinosaur sniffing and saw the giant's head dropping toward his bush； where it paused and inhaled loudly and deeply。 With its head low over the brush it bellowed； blasting Colter with its warm putrid breath。 It remembered him。
Colter pushed the rifle up into the bush above him until the barrel pointed up。 Then he steadied the gun and pulled the trigger。 The dinosaur took the slug in its snout and blood gushed from its left nostril。 The dinosaur reared； blinded by its agony； and Colter slithered out from under the bush； then turned just in time to see three huge； clawed toes； swinging toward his head。 He rolled out of the way and came up firing wildly； hitting the dinosaur in the side。 It didn't flinch。 Instead； it turned toward Colter； a murderous gleam in its eyes。
Colter bolted into the clearing； running past the cringing fifteen…footer； hoping the big monster would pick on something closer to its size。 It didn't work。 As the monster followed him； Colter had a terrifying feeling of deja vu…running from the monster again； toward the trees where Dr。 Piltcher had been eaten； and the lake where Petra had been taken。
Hours had passed； and with each one Petra had bee more miserable。 She was terrified of the fish； she was in throbbing pain； and she had a new fear： She was afraid of falling asleep； of moving and alerting the fish to the life still in her。 So Petra spent the hours lying motionless； enduring the pain； and fighting to keep herself conscious。 She spent most of the hours grieving for Dr。 Coombs and Dr。 Piltcher； and fearing for herself。 Strangely； she never worried for Colter。 The last time she'd seen him he was swimming after her； but somehow she knew he was safe。 But was he looking for her？ No； he was probably back at the RV with Moose and Sarah。 She hoped he was grieving for her。 An image of Colter sitting in the RV； knees pulled up to his chest； head down and crying； flashed through her mind。 It was too much for her。 She began to cry over Colter's grief； over her own death。 In her exhaustion and pain she lost control and one sob wracked her body。 It was enough。 The fish stirred。
Petra felt the fish rock back and forth against her back as it struggled to its rudimentary feet； Petra lay there too exhausted to be terrified； too exhausted for anything but resignation。 She lay there motionless waiting to see what came next。 She would fight。 But there was little life left in her。 Too little to fight long。
The fish's scales scraped skin off her bare back and tore at her panties； shredding them and the flesh underneath。 Then it was up and moving。 Petra listened and waited； sure it knew she had moved。 But it walked deep into the den and began to feed。 Petra's body ached from lying motionless for hours； and her ankle was still throbbing； but her head was clearer。 It still ached； but now the blinding pain was reduced to a bad headache。
The walking fish finished its meal and then waddled back toward Petra。 It paused by her back and sniffed up and down her body； pausing at her bottom。 Petra realized it was smelling the fresh blood。 The fish was confused。 Probably few of its meals bled。 It sniffed higher up onto her back and then pushed her again。 This time she resisted slightly； trying to mimic rigor mortis。 After one more push； the fish snorted； the warm wet spray from its nostrils coating Petra's back。 As Petra lay there； eyes wide open； the fish padded to the pool and splashed into tne water。
Petra counted to five hundred and then moved slowly。 Her head throbbed when she rolled over and sat up； but she hung on to consciousness。 The pool was glowing much brighter now； making Petra wonder how long she had been in the den。 She scooted her bottom across the stone until her feet were dangling in the water； so cold it brought out the ache in her ankle。 It also revived her； however。 She sat there breathing deeply； trying to oxygenate her blood for what might be a long swim。 Her own feeble efforts might nor be enough to reach the surface。 Finally she sucked in air； filling her lungs； and let her body slip down into the pool。
As soon as she was below the surface； she pushed off hard from the edge of the pool。 Only one leg was working； so she had little speed。 She kept her eyes open； focused on the brightest glow ahead of her。 Mostly she pulled herself along by grasping on the rocks that lined the entry tunnel。 She made slow progress； however； and her air was running out。 The glow was brighter； she was sure of that； but a ceiling still hung over her。 She kicked and pulled again； desperate to clear the overhang。 She had only seconds of air left when she turned； swam out； and kicked upward。 Her lungs demanded air and she felt faint… then she broke the surface。
He made the treeline a few steps ahead of the monster and darted around the trunks。 Still the beast came on； shearing off limbs and bulldozing smaller trees。 This time it wasn't going to let the forest keep him from his prey。 Colter knew he was little more than snack…size for this beast； but this wasn't about hunger； his tormentor had a personal mission。 That was fine with Colter； his was personal too。
At the lake shore； the enraged monster was still forcing it