Dinosaur Thunder

Dinosaur Thunder by James F. David

Book: Dinosaur Thunder by James F. David Read Free Book Online
Authors: James F. David
the crowd shouted, some jumping to their feet.
    “Wow!” Reverend said, patting his chest. “That nearly knocked me off my feet.”
    A few people chuckled.
    “We are a thankful people, aren’t we?” Reverend roared.
    “Amen!” people shouted in affirmation.
    “But we are a forgetful people,” Reverend came back. “We are thankful now because we have plenty, but just yesterday some of you were doubting God. Weren’t you? Don’t deny it, you know who you are!”
    Reverend slowly looked over the Community, most people avoiding eye contact. Reverend was all-powerful in the Community, doling out rations and supplies, deciding disputes, even approving or disapproving marriages. With a core of fanatic supporters, the reverend exercised total control.
    “But that’s okay,” Reverend continued. “God forgives your doubt. God expects your doubt. God tolerates your doubt, but don’t think for a second that God is happy with a bunch of backsliding doubters that forget about God’s many mercies the first time they have an empty belly.”
    Jacob squirmed, knowing it had been weeks of empty bellies. Jacob also knew what the reverend would spew next.
    “But I did not doubt. Did I?”
    “No, Reverend,” a few mumbled.
    “I said, I did not doubt, did I?” the reverend thundered.
    “No, Reverend,” came the loud response.
    “That’s right. I am steadfast in my trust of God the almighty. God the father. God the creator. God our protector.”
    Now he paused, letting the guilt settle in.
    “Because of that steadfastness, God has blessed us with this feast. So let us eat from the table that God has set, and tomorrow we will renew our commitment through a day of prayer.”
    Jacob moaned silently, making a note to bribe Larry Memphis to get assigned to guard duty. It would get him out of hours of sitting in silence. Now the reverend prayed a long flowery prayer composed of 50 percent praise of God and 50 percent self-aggrandizement. Then it was time to eat.
    Joyous noise filled the clearing, plates passed, dishes clanking, friends and family talking and laughing. Plates were filled for the guards on the berm, older children running the plates across the clearing and up the berm to the guards and then racing back to their places. Jacob waved at his children again, happy to see them too busy eating to wave back. After cutting off a chunk of meat, Jacob forked it in his mouth, savoring the smoky crust, and then chewed, releasing the gamey taste. It was delicious. Two more bites and Jacob saw one of the guards waving both arms frantically. He was shouting, but nothing could be heard over the din. Another guard sprinted from his position on the berm toward the bell. Jacob stood, those on either side noticing, looking at him, and then at where he pointed. The din died quickly, the bell beginning to ring. A few seconds of frozen confusion, and then rifle fire from the berm. Then panic.
    Men, women, and children collided as they rushed to find one another. Reverend shouted orders, but no one could hear him over the din. Then the ground shook, as if from an earthquake. Jacob knew what was coming, and now he rushed to Leah, who already had the children by the hand.
    “Get them inside,” Jacob said unnecessarily.
    His rifle over his shoulder, Jacob surveyed the berm where the guards had gathered together, concentrating their fire. Suddenly, the guards broke, running down the berm pell-mell. Jacob ran to a point between the fort and the berm, families flowing past. Other riflemen came: one, two, four, six. Pitiful few for what was coming. Then Crazy Kramer joined them, holding a machete in one hand and a spear in the other.
    “Bring it on!” Kramer shouted.
    As if in response to Kramer, over the berm charged a triceratops. Jacob raised his rifle, but with the animal coming head-on, there was no target. A bullet could not pierce the huge bony collar, and with the massive head bobbing, hitting the snout or an eye was impossible. A

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