The Deadly Past by Christopher Pike Page B

leapt toward the stick. The monster bird had incredible control of its seemingly wild plunge. It immediately veered toward Adam, who was just putting his hand on the stick. Suddenly the pterodactyl extended its massive wingspan, which was at least twenty feet across, to slow itself enough to grab Adam. Even so it was still traveling at high speed, and that may have been what saved Adam.
    The creature tried to grab him but missed.
    Sort of. The claw scraped Adam’s right shoulder.
    Adam felt a wave of searing pain.
    Blood stained his shirt.
    â€œAdam!” the others screamed.
    The pterodactyl was making another pass athim. This time Adam could smell it—like a cloud of rotting vegetation—blowing over him. The creature was not coming so fast this time, but rather, seemed to be plotting its moves. Adam could see the hungry intelligence in its huge black and red eyes. Red saliva dripped from its mouth, and Adam wondered what it had eaten last, if it had been human.
    â€œGet back here!” Watch yelled.
    Yet even though Adam was in pain and bleeding, he still wanted the stick. He understood that they needed it in order to beat back the pterodactyl to reach real shelter. The overhang would not discourage the creature for long. It could always land, and peck at them with its long beak.
    â€œComing!” Adam shouted as he grabbed the stick. His wound was serious. Blood dripped on the ground in front of him as he bent over. But with the long hard stick in his hand he felt a wave of confidence. The pterodactyl wasn’t going to scratch him again!
    Too bad the monster didn’t share his conviction.
    The pterodactyl swept in again, its wide wings stirring up eye-stinging dust. In spite of its greatsize, the creature was remarkably agile. It must have been smart as well, because seeing Adam’s stick, it went for that first. With one swipe of the monster’s claws, Adam almost had his hard-won weapon ripped from his hand. Quickly Adam adjusted his strategy. He started swinging the stick frantically, rather than hoping to land one solid blow.
    â€œTake that, you overgrown chicken!” he shouted as he struck at the pterodactyl. By chance, one blow caught the flying reptile on the top of the head and the thing let out a bloodcurdling scream.
    â€œKill it!” Cindy yelled from beneath the overhang.
    â€œThe pterodactyl probably thinks you’re talking to him!” Sally shouted at him. “Get over here, Adam! Quit being such a hero!”
    â€œYou guys get to the cave!” he shouted back. “I’ll keep it busy!”
    â€œWe’re not leaving you!” Sally hollered. She turned to Watch and asked, “Should we leave him?”
    Watch hesitated. “I hate to, but maybe we should. It could come after us any second, and we have only one stick.”
    â€œI’m not going to leave Adam,” Cindy said firmly.
    Just then the pterodactyl made another grab for Adam. He saw it coming, but it didn’t help much. This time the birdlike creature used its wings as well as its claws. Adam was knocked to the ground and for a moment lost his grip on the stick. The pterodactyl was indeed smart and immediately went for the stick. It was only Watch’s quick thinking that prevented them from losing then-only weapon. Watch grabbed the stick before the pterodactyl could, and swung at the creature’s legs, making contact. Again the pterodactyl screamed and flapped higher above them. Watch helped Adam up.
    â€œI think I hurt it,” Watch said. “Now’s the time to make a run for it.”
    Adam nodded. “I’m game!”
    They raced toward the cave they had spotted. The monster seemed prepared to let them go. It flew high into the air and appeared to search around for an easier meal. But none of them let it out of their sight. Indeed, they all had trouble running because they kept looking over their shoulders. Watch continued to hold on to the