Chapter 29           As Alan started down the stairs from the roof, his mind remained fixated on the dead raptor lying in the yard.  It had been his initial intention to simply leave it where it was for the compies to clean up, but then it occurred to him that a rare opportunity for scientific discovery had been dropped at his feet, for this was the first dead raptor he had encountered on the island.  The opportunity to study it was too significant to bypass.  However, it would be dangerous.  During the examination of the body, he would have to leave the protection of the dormitory again for an extended period, during which his attention would be directed on the carcass.  For safety purposes, he briefly considered and quickly disregarded the idea of dragging it back to the dormitory to study it.  Should a predator arrive, he would have the advantage of getting quickly back inside the building, but it would be foolish to literally lead predators to their doorstep.  It was best left where it was.  And that meant studying it in the open where he was vulnerable to predators.  He had successfully studied the carcasses of other species before Ellie�s arrival, relying on his alert senses to warn him of approaching danger, but with her as a lookout and the pistol with which to protect himself, he felt far more confident than he had during those earlier examinations.           Ellie and Tory were in the hallway outside the bathroom door as he reached the second story corridor, and he saw that the child was clinging fearfully to the woman for comfort.  In the anticipation of additional discovery, he had temporarily forgotten all about the child being there.  It was apparent that she had been badly frightened by the noise from the pots and the report of the gun, and again by the agitation she had likely seen in the adults as they had rushed past on their way to the rooftop observation deck.  She had no way of understanding the significance the raptors� reaction to the shooting death of their pack mate held for the two scientists.           Alan was typically impatient with children.  There had been times that there were youngsters on the dig site, occasionally doing things that might compromise the integrity of the find and frequently getting underfoot and asking annoying questions, but something about this small castaway tugged at his heart.  �Is she okay?� he asked.           �She�s just scared,� Ellie replied, rubbing her hand up and down the child�s back in a soothing motion.           He bent over at the waist and rested his hands on his knees, bringing his face closer to hers.  �It�s okay, Tory,� he assured her, hoping that his calm voice would help sooth her.  �Everything is under control and we�re safe.�  He gently pinched her chin between his thumb and forefinger and offered a smile.  �Ellie and I just got a little excited about some of the animals, but they�ve gone now.  There�s nothing to be worried about.�           The child finally released her grip on Ellie, and he noticed for the first time that her doll had been clutched between them.  She still held it firmly in her arms, as if it offered comfort and reassurance; perhaps a link to her mother, who had probably given the doll to her.  �They can�t get inside, can they?� the child asked again, her voice timid.           �No, they can�t get inside.�           Reassured, she put her arms around him and hugged him.  Lifting his eyes to Ellie�s face, he noticed the mischievous twinkle that turned up the corners of her mouth as she observed his interaction with the child.  Again, Alan had to wonder what it was about him that made him so attractive to children.  He had never done anything to encourage their attention.  Perhaps it was his affiliation with dinosaurs that drew them to him or perhaps it was just something in his persona, but whatever it was, they followed him around like the Pied Piper.  And at that moment, his presence seemed to sooth the little girl.           When Tory released him, he stood up again and shifted his attention to Ellie.  �Honey, you�re not going to like this, but ---�           Ellie felt her heart give an involuntary jump, instinctively knowing what he was about to say.  The scientist in him was a powerful force, one that frequently dominated his mind with a single objective, and she knew that would be the case this time.  �Don�t tell me,� she interrupted.  �You want to study the body of the raptor.�           �It�s a rare opportunity,� he confirmed.  Inwardly, he could not help but feel impressed that she knew him as well as he knew himself.  �I�ve seen and studied a lot of dead herbivores, mostly ones that had already been fed upon by the carnivores which seriously compromised the condition of the find, but this is the first time I�ve seen a dead raptor here, and it�s in excellent condition.  It�s unlikely that I will ever be able to do an up-close investigation of a live one, so I can�t let the chance to study this one get away from me.�           Ellie turned away with frustration and worry, brushing a stray lock of hair back from her forehead with an impatient swipe of her hand.  �Damn it, Alan, you could have been killed only a few minutes ago, and already you�re wanting to go out there and put yourself in danger again?�  Her choice of words was harsh, but her tone was not, and he heard the fear resonating in her voice.           Gently, he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face him.  Her eyes were misty with worry.  �Ellie, I came here to study the dinosaurs that are on this island, and I may never get another opportunity to study a freshly killed velociraptor.  To have one practically dropped in my lap is a totally unexpected turn of events.�  He caressed her cheek, reassuringly.  �I can�t let this chance slip by.  You know that.�           As her eyes looked into his, she knew that she would never be able to talk him out of going.  The find was too significant, and his mind was in full scientist-mode.  �There are still two of them out there.  They might come back.�           �I promise I will be extra careful, and I�ll have you to watch my back, like you did before.  I have the pistol for protection, and if I see either of them, believe me, I won�t hesitate to drop them.�           �Can�t you at least wait until this afternoon?  Just to make sure they�re gone?�           �By then the compies will have found the carcass.  I can�t wait, honey.  It has to be now.�           She sighed heavily with a nod of her head.  �All right.  You�re going to give me gray hair, do you realize that?�           He handed her the binoculars again.  �I�ll give you a few minutes to get her dressed while I go downstairs for my camera and a notebook.�           While Ellie led the girl back to the bedroom, Alan walked down the stairs to the first floor.  The three plastic bags with their gruesome contents greeted his eyes as he reached the foyer and shaking his head slowly at the unnecessary loss of life, he turned to proceed down the corridor to the office.  Then he stopped.  If it was just him and Ellie in the building, he would have simply left them there by the door until he was ready to move them, but with a traumatized child in the house, he knew that would not be a good idea.  Sooner or later, she would become curious about what mysteries were concealed inside them.           He grimaced at the thought.  He never wanted to again see the gnawed, bloodied bones of the raptors� victims, but he knew it would be much worse for the child.  Moving to the door, he picked up the bags and carried them down the corridor to the office.  After looking around for a suitable spot to store them, they were placed on the floor behind one of the unused desks where they were out of sight, yet easily accessed.  His video camera and 35 mm cameras were still in the desk where he had left them after he had shown Ellie the research center, so he picked them up by the straps.  The pistol was still in his right front pocket.  There was no need to take the backpack this time, since he was not planning to stay long, but he inserted a couple of test tubes into his left front pocket.  Last, he picked up a pen and a small pocket notebook, which he slipped into his hip pocket.           When he returned to the foyer, he found Ellie there waiting for him.  �I told Tory to play in the exercise room for a while, and that I was going to help you with something important before we start breakfast.  She�s really well behaved, so I think she�ll stay there until I come for her.  I hate to frighten her again, so I explained that she might hear some noises and not to be afraid of them, but I went ahead and closed the windows to muffle any sound we might make.�           �Good idea.  Hopefully, there won�t be any need for her to hear anything at all.  If you do see anything, use the same signal we did before.�           �Alan, I wish there was some way I could talk you out of this,� she said.  �I know you�ve never had the chance to study a raptor up close like this, but it isn�t worth your life.�           He was visibly touched by her concern, but his determination remained unswayed.  �Ellie, we have to be cautious, but we can�t live in fear while we�re here.  I�ve been going in and out of the research facility and out in the jungle ever since I first arrived, and I�ve done it in relative safety by moving quietly and staying alert.  With you watching from the roof, I�m safer than I have ever been.�           She could not deny that was true.  �I know.  And I know that you came here to work and I came here to help you.  It�s just that . . . �  Her voice trailed, and she did not complete the sentence.  She lowered her eyes, focusing on the umbrella in the coat rack by the door.           �It�s just that going out again on the heels of the last near miss is frightening and perhaps a bit foolhardy,� he finished it for her.           She looked up, sensing that he truly understood her feelings, and found him smiling at her.           Gently, he brushed a lock of her long blonde hair back from her face.  �I understand your concerns and your fears, Ellie.  I do, and I appreciate them.  But I will probably never get a chance like this again.  I have to take it.�           She nodded in reluctant agreement.  �I know, but it doesn�t make it any easier.  Promise me that you will be careful.  Look for shadows in the tree line, and listen for twigs snapping or ��  She stopped when she saw his smile broaden.  �I guess you already know all that.�           �It never hurts to be reminded.�  He took her into his arms for an extended kiss, and for several moments, time seemed to stand still.  There was no sound to disturb them, and no sensations except the devotion of one to the other; the feel of their lips moving together, of their bodies pressed closely together.            When they parted, Alan rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed, reluctant to release her.  Both felt the strength of the emotions that were passing between them and both longed to explore them further, but it would have to wait.  He gave her another quick peck on the lips, then pulled away.           �Be careful!� she pleaded.           �I�ll be careful,� he promised.  �You did a good job of warning me before, and I trust you to do it again.  I�ll give you enough time to get up on the platform before I start out.�           Holding the binoculars in her hand to keep them from swinging on the straps, she started up the stairs.  He watched until she had disappeared from view, then he unlocked the door and waited, listening carefully to her footsteps as she reached the top and made her way to the steps leading up onto the roof.  He gave her another minute to get up the ladder onto the platform, and then he pushed open the iron bars and pulled the solid door closed behind him.  The bars were securely locked again, and he paused to scan the immediate area before venturing out across the clearing toward the grove of trees that separated the dormitory from the research center.           There was no sign of the raptors as he pushed his way through the foliage that reached across the path.  It was a beautiful day, and the fronds and small branches nodded gently in the mild breeze that cooled the sweat on his brow.  Butterflies floated gracefully among the native flowers, seeking the life-giving nectar.  It would have been a great day for a picnic.  Tory would have liked that, but unfortunately it was too dangerous to take her out of the protection of the building.           When he reached the other side of the grove of trees, he stopped to observe the research yard from the shelter of the grove of trees.  From where he stood, he could clearly see the body of the dead raptor lying where it had fallen.  Lifting his eyes from the motionless form on the grass, he scanned the surrounding tree line.  There was no sign of compies yet, and more importantly there was no sign of the other two juvenile raptors.           Encouragingly, the normal sounds of the jungle had returned.  He could hear the distant vocalizations of jungle frogs near a water source somewhere inside the canopy, cicadas were singing in the treetops, and directly above him, a group of parrots were raucously quarreling over nesting rights.  A light breeze disturbed the gently nodding fronds, carrying with it the refreshing scent of rain.  A quick glance at the sky overhead revealed that it was still blue, but there was no mistaking the fragrance of nature�s most revitalizing perfume.  They would see rain by afternoon.           Deeming it safe, he stepped from the tree line and approached the fallen raptor with caution.  His pistol was carried in his right hand, arm outstretched, its muzzle aimed directly at the inert figure on the ground.  The safety was off and his finger was on the trigger, ready to respond instantly in the unlikely event that the creature was still alive.           The mild breeze gently rustled the grass on which the raptor was lying, but except for a slight rustling of the crest atop its head, designating it a male, the creature itself remained completely motionless.  Cautiously, Alan prodded it with the toe of his work shoes, but generated no response.  It was dead.  Relaxing only slightly, he lowered the pistol to his side as he moved slowly around it, conducting a visual examination.           It lay on its left side, its front limbs curled at his breast where the bullet had ripped into its torso.  One of the rear legs had gouged a deep furrow in the turf with its claws during its death throes, and the skid marks were still visible in the grass where it had slid after it had fallen.  Its flanks did not contain the battle scars that would have designated it the leader of the group; this was one of the two subordinates.  Its yellow eyes were open, but the black, slit-shaped pupils were starting to cloud over.  The mouth was open, revealing long sharp teeth, and blood had pooled beneath it from the fatal wound.           Squatting down beside it, he placed both the pistol and his cameras on the ground beside him within easy reach, and after one quick glance toward the dormitory, assuring himself that Ellie was still on the sun deck keeping a watchful eye out for him, he began a �hands-on� investigation of the carcass, exploring the rough texture of the animal�s skin, the strength of those formidable claws, and the sharpness of the teeth.  Next, he removed a tape measure from his pocket and stretched it from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, and recorded the result in a small pocket notebook.  All other anatomical characteristics were also measured and recorded, including the size of the head and the length and diameter of the tail.  He examined the spongy pads on the bottoms of the hind feet, and pried its mouth open wider to view the throat, documenting the entire process in the notebook and on the video camera.  All the while, he remained alert to his surroundings and glanced occasionally at the surrounding terrain and at Ellie, reassured by her continued vigilance.  All remained well.           Next, he withdrew his pocket knife and the test tubes.  Carefully, he carved off a small section of the animal�s skin and muscle tissue and dropped it into one of the tubes.  A sample of blood was collected in the other tube for microscopic evaluation later.  After recapping the tubes, he slipped them back into his pocket, then sat back on his heels and his eyes came to rest on the raptor�s head.           The one thing he would have liked to examine was the cranium, to compare it to the fossilized skulls of the animals he had unearthed during his excavations to see if the size of the brain cavity in the extinct raptors was equivalent to the genetically engineered specimens.  His study of the fossils had revealed what he believed to be a high degree of intelligence, which he was witnessing in InGen�s laboratory-bred animals, but how close were they in relation to their prehistoric ancestors?           Something landed on his back with startling abruptness, and with a gasp of fright he leaped to his feet, twisting his body as he shook the creature off.  Chirping in protest, a compy flopped on its back on the grass and immediately righted itself again.           Alan experienced a momentary twinge of annoyance that Ellie had not warned him of the compy�s approach.  Glancing quickly at the rooftop, he saw that she was scanning the tree line near the research center, searching the grounds for a threat that was higher off the ground.  In its swiftness, camouflaged forest green coloring, and diminutive size, the island�s tiniest dinosaur had escaped her notice.           In response to the threat, Alan took a step backward, wishing he had thought to bring the shock prod with him, for it was a very effective deterrent for the smaller creatures.           The little creature�s glittering eyes looked up at him for several seconds, then apparently dismissed him in favor of the easier meal.  It skittered toward the body of the raptor and took a tentative bite of flesh from the haunch, tugging and jerking its body as it broke through the tough hide.  A dozen more of the diminutive creatures scurried past his ankles, and he snatched up his cameras as he stepped clear of them, allowing them plenty of room.  Within seconds, the body was covered by dozens of compies, ripping and tearing chunks of meat from the carcass.            Alan backed up several more yards, watching through the viewfinder of his video camera, recording the feeding frenzy.  In a very short time, the scavengers would reduce the carcass to bones, and the skull would either survive it or be destroyed.  It was out of his hands, now.           Glancing toward the rooftop again, he saw that Ellie had finally noticed the compies and was watching through her binoculars, silently willing him to complete his study and return to the safety of the dormitory, but he kept the tape rolling for several more minutes, watching the tiny creatures with fascination as they devoured the raptor.  Nature�s cleaning crew, doing their part to maintain the ecosystem.           When he decided that he had enough footage, he lowered the camera and glanced at the research facility, thinking about the tapestry inside that Ellie wanted.  While he was so near, it would be easy to claim the tapestry for her.            He did not look back at her when he started walking toward the research center, but he could easily imagine her dismayed and bewildered expression at his unannounced side-trip.  Still attentively observing his surroundings, he passed the damaged vehicles and proceeded toward the research facility.  But as he neared the building, he could not resist the urge to glance over his shoulder toward the dormitory and saw Ellie standing atop the platform, attentively scanning the area around him.  She did not wave this time, her attention riveted on his surroundings.           He trotted quickly up the steps and moved through the door and entered the reception area again, unable to keep his mind from returning to the events of yesterday�s pre-dawn rescue of Tory from the smugglers, and encountering the raptors.  It had been a creepy place before, but the facility had taken on an eerier quality than ever in the aftermath of the deaths of the three men.  His footsteps crunched the debris that littered the floor and echoed hollowly in the silent corridors.  Moving quickly, he trotted down the stairs into the laboratory and started across the huge work area.  Except for his footsteps, there wasn�t a sound anywhere.  It seemed almost as if the building was listening, waiting for something else to happen within its walls.           Pausing at the top of the stairs which led down into the hatchery, he allowed his mind to imagine what the facility must have looked like during its heyday.  The floors and windows would have been kept spotless, the incubators would have been filled with eggs, and researchers wearing lab smocks would have been milling about with clipboards and test tubes, conducting the business of providing Jurassic Park with its live exhibits.  Misguided fools, he thought with a shake of his head.  Leaving the railing, he walked down the stairs and started across the floor toward the kennels.           An abrupt scratching sound sent him pivoting on the ball of his foot, bringing the pistol into firing position, and for several seconds his eyes darted from one point to another, seeking out the source of the alarming noise.  A tree branch brushed against a grimy windowpane, driven by a brief gust of wind, a prelude to the storm he knew was approaching.  He exhaled the sudden intake of air he had drawn, and willed himself to relax.           As his pulse and respiration returned to normal, he resumed his walk through the battered eggshells, dried leaves and twigs, and other debris that littered the floor, as he made his way across the hatchery and entered the corridor that would take him through the kennels.  When he passed through the iron gate that protected the kennel area, he pulled it closed behind him and pushed the bolt into the locked position, wincing at the unpleasant squeal made by the rusty mechanism as it slid into place.  An animal with the intelligence of a raptor would probably be able to figure out how to open the bolt, but having it locked increased his sense of confidence, knowing that if anything tried to open it, he should hear it in time to prepare himself.           With the gate securely locked, he turned and made his way down the adjoining maze of dusky corridors toward the tapestry.  It still hung in its original position, concealing the closed door behind it, and he stopped to look at it, admiring its intricate design and flawless depiction of the ancient creatures.           The tapestry billowed slightly, stirred by a breeze, and a quick glance behind it revealed that the door had come open.  That was not surprising, considering the fact that the doorknob he had knocked off was still lying on the floor, preventing the door from latching.  His eyes lingered briefly on the hidden corridor beyond, reminding him of the bank of vaults and the human body that was inside one of them.  With the more pressing matters of the past few days, it had slipped his mind.  Eventually, he would need to inform John Hammond of the man�s tragic end.           Letting the tapestry fall back into place, he stood back with his hands on his hips, observing its upper edge to determine how it was hung.  The ornamental ends of a tapestry rod could be seen on each side, but it was just out of reach above the top of the high door.  His fingertips just fell short of the rod.  Grasping the fabric in his hand, he pulled it forcefully away from the wall, hoping it would simply disengage itself.  Dust billowed out of the fabric, and he took a couple of steps back to get away from it as the fabric fell back into place, still firmly attached to the wall.           Deciding that he would have to use a chair from MacFarland�s office to stand on, he started to go through the doorway, but then he saw the sledge hammer that he had used to break into the secret rooms still propped against the wall where he had left it.  He picked up the tool by its long handle, and maneuvered the heavy head up the wall beneath the tapestry until he reached the rod.  Then, he gave it a firm push, lifting the rod out of its holder.  The end of it immediately slipped off the head of the sledgehammer and whacked him over the head as the tapestry draped over his body like a shroud.  He lost his grip on the sledgehammer, and it thumped to the floor leaving an impressive dent in the tile.           Throwing off the dusty tapestry, he sneezed as he rubbed the top of his head where it had struck him.  �I�m glad Ellie wasn�t here to see that!� he said to himself.           Looking up at the end of the rod which remained firmly in its holder, caught by the ornamental ends of it, he took hold of the free end and lifted up on it, finally freeing the entire tapestry from its confines.           It was heavier than it looked, and when he had the entire weight in his arms, he stumbled back against the wall behind him as the other end of rod clattered to the floor.  The tapestry was lying on the dirty floor now, but since it would have to be cleaned by a professional anyway, he doubted that a little more dirt would hurt anything.  The problem that faced him at the moment was how to get it back to the dormitory.  Should he roll it up and take the whole thing, or should he remove it from the rod?           The rod was not particularly unique and had clearly not been made specifically for this tapestry, so he decided it would be an easy thing for Ellie to replace.  He slipped the rod out of the fabric tunnel and tossed it aside.  Then he spread the tapestry out on the floor and began folding it up to make it easier to carry.           Just as he was picking it up and tucking it under his left arm, he heard a noise and cocked his head to listen.  The sound penetrated an open window somewhere, muffled and indistinct by distance, but it was identifiable as a clanging sound.  It was Ellie, banging her pots together.  One of the predators must have approached the area, and she was alerting him to use caution when he stepped from the building           He withdrew the pistol from his pocket with his right hand and moved back toward the kennel area.           The banging sounds were getting more distinct and more frantic.  Obviously, Ellie was uncertain he would hear inside the building, and was keeping up the noise hoping that it would somehow reach him.  Then it occurred to him that her frenzied banging of the pots was probably because she had seen the animals enter the building.           As he entered the kennel area, he pulled up short, startled.  One of the young renegade raptors was standing at the barred door, fumbling with the bolt.  It only took a quick glance to see the scars on its flanks that identified it as the leader.  When it saw him, it hissed angrily and continued to work on the bolt.           Fascinated, he watched for several moments, observing the way it used its front limbs to test the mechanism, pushing and tugging at it.  It had never seen a slide bolt used, yet it understood that it was the key to opening the gate, and was systematically testing it, working with it, trying to figure out how to open it.  Its long claws were a hindrance, and the sharp tips scratched on the iron surface as it worked to resolve the obstacle.           Snapping himself out of his surveillance, he took careful aim at the animal�s head and pulled the trigger.  The sound of the shot was excruciatingly loud inside the building, but he barely had time to react to it when he saw the flash of sparks as the bullet grazed one of the bars directly in front of the raptor�s face, and ricocheted.  He instinctively ducked to avoid being struck by the wild bullet, but the raptor recoiled with a yelp of pain.  In an instant, it was gone, retreating back through the corridor toward the hatchery.           With his ears still ringing from the gunshot, Alan rushed toward the barred door and threw back the bolt, then darted through it and ran down the hallway after the wounded animal, determined to finish it off.           When he burst through the door into the hatchery, he prudently pulled up and looked around for signs of the raptor, aiming the pistol first to the left and then to the right, ready to fire at anything that moved.  Every nerve in his body was alert as his eyes swept the large room, looking and listening for any indication that the raptor was still inside the building.  For several moments, he heard nothing except the ringing in his ears.           The sound of something falling pinpointed the creature�s location as it fled through the snack room.  With his pistol at the ready, Alan charged across the cavernous hatchery and pounded up the stairs in pursuit.  But he was not reckless.  Remembering that a wounded or cornered animal was the most dangerous, he paused at the entrance to the snack room, and with a firm grip on the pistol, he moved slowly into the room, his eyes darting to each soda machine and candy machine in turn, assuring himself that nothing was concealed behind them.  The water jug lay on the floor, having been toppled from its base, and a blood smear on the clear plastic indicated that the raptor had blundered into it as it had fled.  It was then that Alan noticed the silence.  Ellie must have heard the shot, and realized that he was aware of the raptor�s presence.           Proceeding into the reception area, he looked cautiously behind the work station and peered down the corridor leading to the executive offices, looking and listening for signs of an intended ambush.  His hearing was beginning to return to normal, but the only sound he heard was the blood pounding in his ears.  Turning back toward the shattered reception-area windows, his sharp eye detected a movement outside, and he moved to the doorway to investigate.           Both of the remaining renegades were standing near the abandoned vehicles, looking toward him in confusion.  Blood was streaming down the face of one of them, and Alan knew that it had been grazed by the ricochet.  It was not a fatal wound, but it was enough to give the animal a healthy dose of respect for him and the weapon he carried.  Moving quickly through the doorway, he aimed the pistol, still intent on destroying the two raptors, but as soon as they saw his aggressive movements, they fled toward the woods, taking a path that put the wrecked cars and trucks between them.  Alan fired once, and heard the metallic clang as the bullet struck the shell of one of the cars.           The report of the gun goaded the two raptors into a burst of speed as they fled up the knoll and disappeared into the foliage.  The compies, startled from their meal, also scurried away.            Alan experienced a profound sense of triumph as he watched the animals fleeing from him, and he hefted the pistol in his hand, grateful for the discovery of something that placed the odds more in his favor.  Keeping a wary eye on the tree line, he went down the steps and walked toward the dormitory.  When he saw Ellie standing on top of the platform, still watching out for his safety, he lifted his arm in a triumphant wave, and smiled when she responded in kind.           As he passed near the raptor�s carcass, he paused to observe it.  He had been inside the building less than thirty minutes, and already most of the flesh had been stripped away, revealing rib bones, leg bones, and the spine.  The skull, he noticed, was still intact, but there was evidence of gnawing teeth on the mandible and enough skin and flesh remained to assure continued feeding.           The compies had not gone far.  Startled out of the open by the report of the gun, they had grouped together just in front of the tree line and appeared to be mustering the courage to approach the carcass again.  Finally, lured by the smell of blood, a couple of the creatures moved forward, stopping a few feet away to observe the man who continued to watch them with interest.  Apparently thinking that he was competition for the smorgasbord that was laid out on the grass, one of them hopped on top of the rib cage and chirped at him.  The rest of the flock crowded close behind, and Alan decided it was probably prudent to back away.  In spite of their small size, compies could be quite aggressive, especially at mealtime, so he gave them a wide berth and kept a wary eye on them until he reached the trees.           From her lookout position on top of the wooden awning, Ellie waited until Alan was safely crossing the yard toward the front door before she hurried down the ladder and tugged open the hatch that she had closed behind her to help muffle the sounds of the pots banging together.  When she reached the second floor and started down the corridor, she heard Alan open the barred door, and knowing that he was safe, she turned toward the recreation room to check on Tory.           The child was playing with the rowing machine, but the handles were almost too big for her to maneuver, and Ellie paused in the doorway to watch her with a fond smile.  It had been nice having the child around, and it had reawakened those feelings of maternal instincts that she had attempted to suppress after losing Charlie and Halley.  But the island was no place for a child.  She hoped the helicopter would soon arrive to carry her to safety.           Tory must surely have heard the noises that had been made with the pots and possibly the gunshot when Alan had scared off the raptors, but this time she seemed undisturbed by them, apparently reassured that nothing could harm her inside the building.  Unaware that she was being watched, she continued to push and pull on the rowing oars.           �Are you rowing your way to the mainland?� Ellie asked.           Tory looked over her shoulder with a childish grin.  �All the way home to Mommy.�  Abandoning her play, she got off the machine, and joined the woman in the doorway, her mood suddenly subdued as she thought of her mother.  �Will I get to go home soon?�           Ellie�s heart went out to the homesick child.  �Yes, honey. Very soon.  We�re just waiting for the call to tell us that the helicopters are available to come and get you.�           Tory sighed, too young to fully understand the more pressing matters that had detained the helicopters.  �Why aren�t they coming?�           �Alan explained that yesterday, hon.  Some people got lost in the mountains, and they�re using the helicopters to find them.  As soon as they find them and get them back to safety, then they�ll come for you.  I promise, it won�t be much longer.�           �I miss her.�           Ellie hugged her.  �I know you do, sweetie.  And I know she misses you, too.  Now, why don�t we go downstairs and get breakfast started?�           Taking the child by the hand, she led the way down the stairs.           Upon entering the building, Alan locked the barred door behind him and placed the tapestry in the common room.  He glanced up the stairs as he walked past, correctly assuming that Ellie must be checking on Tory, then went directly to the office to write down the morning�s events, while they were still fresh in his mind.  Every time he encountered the dinosaurs was a new experience, and he preferred to place his thoughts on paper as soon as they had happened without allowing time for other things to diminish the impression they had made upon him.  He was still there when Ellie and Tory passed the door on the way to the kitchen, and they paused to observe him for several moments.  He remained unaware of their presence, his pen moving rapidly on the paper from left to right as he placed his thoughts in writing, reliving the events he had experienced.  When he reached the last line, he paused to turn the page, and began writing on the next sheet.           Without speaking, Ellie gently prodded the child forward with her hand, and they proceeded into the kitchen.           As they entered the kitchen, she looked up at Ellie and asked, �What�s �e doing?�           �He�s writing in his journal,� Ellie answered with the patience of a mother.           �What�s �e writing about?�           �He�s writing a book about our experiences on this island.  He writes down everything that happens so he won�t forget anything.�           �Why don�t �e jus� take pictures?�           Ellie smiled.  �He�s taking lots of pictures and video, too, but writing things down helps to fill in the gaps and describe everything that�s going on in those pictures.  Now, what would you like for breakfast this morning?  We have bacon and eggs, we have pancakes, and we have cereal.�           �Pancakes?� Tory asked, eagerly.           �Pancakes it is.�           Ellie first turned on the griddle so that it could be heating up, then she took the pancake mix out of the pantry and measured the proper amount into a mixing bowl while Tory stood on the floor and watched.  But Ellie could not stop thinking about the child�s urgent desire to go home to her mother, and imagining the anguish that the mother must have been experiencing, worrying about her daughter.  After a moment, she passed the bowl of ingredients to her.           �Would you like to mix this while I go talk to Alan for a minute?�           With small clumsy hands, Tory took the wire whisk and began stirring the ingredients together.           Leaving her alone, Ellie went down the corridor to the office.  Alan was so intent on his work that he did not hear her enter, and he flinched when she placed a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.           �Sorry,� she said.  �I didn�t mean to startle you.  I�m just concerned about Tory and her mother.  That woman must be going through hell worrying about her daughter, and Tory is starting to get depressed.  Alan, we have to get her off this island, and those rescue choppers could be delayed for days.  Is there any way we could get a helicopter out here?  I have money; I can pay for a private service.�           Alan put his pen down on the desk top and leaned back in the chair as she sat down on the edge of the desk.  Her expression was anxious with worry, and he agreed that if for no other reason than the child�s safety, they needed to get her off the island as soon as possible.  �I�m sure there must be private services in San Jose, but the problem is getting someone who is willing to land on this island,� he replied.  �You have no idea how much trouble we had finding a pilot to bring my supply drops each month.  And it may be difficult for them to find the dormitory.  This is a big island, and as far as I know, the only people who have maps of the island are us and John Hammond.�           �Maybe John could fax a map to the helicopter service,� Ellie suggested.           �Or maybe he could send one of his own choppers.  InGen has remote offices in both North and South America.  They might have one in Central America as well.�  Alan opened the desk drawer and withdrew the telephone and his list of numbers.  �First, I�ll call and find out the status on the rescue helicopters.  If they�re still searching for those hikers, I�ll give Hammond a call and see if he can help us.  I wanted to check the status on those tranquilizer darts anyway.�           She placed her hand on his shoulder again and squeezed it affectionately.  �Thanks, honey.�  She slid off the desk and started toward the door.           �Ellie,� he said, stopping her.           With a quizzical expression on her face, she turned back to face him.           �I�ve been thinking that this would be a good opportunity to conduct an expedition into the mountains. The helicopter could drop me off and I could walk back.�           The idea of going to the mountains had been interesting, even intriguing, when they had discussed it before with no real means of getting there, but now that it had suddenly become a possibility, Ellie felt a sensation of anxiety creep into her stomach.  She also did not fail to notice that he had spoken in the singular tense, and she realized he was giving her an �out� if she wanted it.  If she chose not to make the hike, she could return to civilization with the helicopter and he would go alone.           He was watching her intently, gauging her reaction, so she was careful to keep her expression neutral as she considered the idea.  If she went, it would mean spending an undetermined amount of nights outside where there was no protection.  Fleetingly, she thought of the nighttime hike back to the dormitory following the encounter with the Spinosaurus, and the fear that accompanied them every step of the way.  That had been before they had found the pistol in the research center.  If she chose not to go, Alan would have to make the hike alone, with no one to help keep watch for predators.           Electing not to acknowledge his use of the singular tense, she asked, �How would we carry so much food and supplies?�           He continued to observe her a moment longer, taking particular notice of her face.  There was apprehension in her eyes and a tautness around her mouth.  She was not overjoyed at the prospect, but he knew she did not want him to make the trek alone.  Her inclusion of herself in her response settled the question of whether or not she intended to accompany him, and he would not challenge it.  �I�ve thought about that, too.  We could wrap up some food and water and have the helicopter drop them off at various points on our return path.  They would be there waiting for us, and we wouldn�t have so much to carry.�           �Won�t the animals be interested in the smell of food?�           �We�ll have to wrap them up in plastic bags, and we will also take items that are in unopened containers, like cans of beans and soup.�           She nodded, solemnly.  �How long do you think it will take?�           �That depends on what we find along the way.  We may stay several nights in one area if we find something interesting, or we may hike all day in areas where there are no animals.�           �All right.  Tory and I are making pancakes, so when you get off the phone, come on into the kitchen.�           He watched her leave, impressed with her fortitude.  Most people, men included, would have opted to return to the comforts of civilization, but she clearly intended to accompany him on wherever his research took him.  Turning to the desk again, he began dialing the appropriate number.           With her heart beating a little faster than usual at Alan�s unexpected decision, Ellie returned to the kitchen where Tory was still struggling with the pancake batter.  The child�s hands were so small that it was difficult for her to control the whisk.  The center of it was starting to take on a consistency that bore a slight resemblance to the expected product, but around the edges it was still all powder.           �Are you getting tired?� she asked.  �Do you want me to take over?�           Tory nodded, and pushed the bowl toward her.           �You�ve been doing such a good job!� she praised as she took the whisk and scraped the powdered mix off the sides of the bowl and folded it into the rest of the batter.  While she worked, she cocked a curious ear toward the kitchen door, trying in vain to hear the words that Alan was speaking on the telephone down the hall.  She could hear his voice, but was unable to make out the words.  Several times, she thought she heard an annoyed clip to his voice, and wondered what had angered him.           �You�re not doing it,� Tory�s voice broke into her concentration.           Ellie blinked and turned back to find the child looking up at her with inquisitive eyes, wondering why she had stopped mixing the batter.  �I�m sorry.  My mind was wandering.�           When the batter was ready, Tory followed her to the skillet and watched while she sprinkled a few drops of water onto the skillet.  The droplets sizzled and danced across the surface, indicating that it was ready, so she poured circles of batter on the griddle, and within minutes the entire building was filled with its tantalizing aroma.  When the first batch was done, she scooped them onto a platter, and poured in another batch.  It did not take long for Alan to show up at the door.           �That smells good!� he said.           �They�re almost done.  Can you get three plates from the cupboard?  Tory, there�s a bottle of syrup on the bottom shelf in the pantry.�           Alan fetched the plates and Tory searched for the syrup, while Ellie flipped the last of the pancakes onto the serving platter.  A glass of milk was poured for Tory and coffee for the adults.  Everything was carried into the dining room, and they sat down at one of the circular tables to eat.           �They haven�t found those hikers yet,� he announced as he buttered his stack of pancakes, and then poured syrup over them.  �And to make matters worse, one of their helicopters is having mechanical trouble.  It�s going to be days before they can send one to us.  I called John Hammond, and he already has one of his corporate choppers in San Jose standing by to carry the tagging team out here.  They�ll come to the island in the morning along with a representative from the American Embassy who will help get her transferred to an airplane back to Los Angeles.�           �That�s wonderful news!�  Turning to Tory, Ellie leaned her elbow on the table top and bent forward to bring herself nearer to the child�s face.  �Did you hear that, honey?  They�re sending out a helicopter tomorrow morning to pick you up.  It�ll take you to a big city in Costa Rica called San Jose.  Then, you�ll be placed on an airplane, which will fly you back home to your mommy.�           The girl�s face brightened instantly.  �I�m going home?�           �Yes, honey, you�re going home.�           Tory flung her arms around Ellie�s neck and hugged her, then went to Alan with her arms spread wide, expecting a hug from him too.  He lifted her onto his lap, allowing her to wrap her arms around his neck as he embraced her.  �Thank you for helping me,� she said.           �You�re welcome,� he replied as he set her back down.  �Now, you finish your breakfast.  I don�t want to be in trouble with your mommy because you didn�t eat properly while in mine and Ellie�s care.�           With a happy grin, she climbed back into her chair and resumed her meal.           Alan continued, �Hammond also said that the tranquilizer darts arrived in San Jose yesterday.  He hired one sharp shooter to bring the animals down, some laborers to help with the tagging, and one of the vets he used during the research era to check the animals� health and to administer the antidote when we�re done.  They�ve been there since last night, waiting for the word from me to fly out here.�           �Excellent timing,� Ellie remarked.  �He must have put a rush on everything, since it�s only been a little more than a week since we requested everything.�           �Yeah, I couldn�t have planned it better if I�d tried.  When they reach the island, the chopper will drop the team off at the beach near the cliffs so they can set things up for our darting process.  It will then come here to pick up all three of us and fly us to the beach, where you and I will be let off.  Then it will fly back to the mainland with her.  We�ll spend however long it takes to dart a sufficient number of animals, then after the tagging process is completed, the team will radio for the helicopter to return to pick them up.  When they do that, they will fly us to the mountains and drop us off there.  We�ll hike back to the compound.  They�ve agreed to make a few supply drops at intervals on our return path, so we�ll need to decide where and mark it on the map so we can find them.�            She nodded her approval.  �I couldn�t hear the conversation, but I could hear your voice, and I thought a couple of times that you sounded irritated about something.  Were they giving you argument about something?�           He nodded, his mood darkening a bit.  �Those people at the American Embassy wanted us to fly back to Costa Rica with Tory and their representative to give a statement about everything that happened here.  They already know everything there is to tell, and I reminded them of that, along with the fact that we already have a commitment to tag those animals, which in my estimation takes priority over everything else.  They were none too happy with my �lack of cooperation� as they put it, but I finally made them see that it would be a waste of time when I had already told them everything over the phone.�           Ellie smiled.  �I won�t even ask how you did that.�           �There is nothing else to add,� he repeated.  �Why in the hell would they think I needed to be there in person?  Senseless technicalities.�           �They probably want a signed, written statement.  Why don�t we write down our statements tonight and give them to the representative tomorrow?  He or she can take it back, and they�ll have it on file.�           �Good idea.�           �So, it�s definite, then.  We�re going to the mountains?� she asked, again experiencing conflicting sensations of excitement and concern.  She and Alan had taken hiking trips before in Montana, but this one would be a totally different setting, a primeval jungle instead of the �big sky� prairie.           �I�ve wanted to go there for ages, but couldn�t come up with a plan to get there and back.  This has all worked out beautifully.�  His eyes fell upon her again, noticing the apprehension in her eyes again.  �How do you feel about going to the mountains?� he asked.  �It�s going to be pure wilderness.�           �I think it will be very interesting,� she answered.  �You know how I am with beautiful scenery, so I hope you have plenty of film.�           �Do you have any concerns about this?� he asked.           �The main thing that concerns me is nighttime.  With only two of us, we can�t very well stand guard in shifts without both of us being worn out from lack of sleep.  How are we going to handle that?�           �This afternoon, we�ll get out the map of the island and chart our route for the safest areas.  You know, caves, bluffs, anything that can offer us some protection.  We�ll also select the locations for the supply drops.  I�m going to ask the pilot to set down so we can tie them in the trees, just to make sure they don�t get broke open by animals, rather than just dropping them from the air.�           They fell silent for several moments, each one thinking about the tagging of the Pteranodons, the hike in the mountains, and Ellie remembered with a jolt how she had missed seeing the compies.  �I let you down out there this morning.  I totally missed the compies.�           He shrugged, unconcerned.  �They�re so perfectly camouflaged that they would be easy to miss.  They came out of the trees behind me so fast that I didn�t notice them either until one of them landed on my back.�           �Why did you go to the research center after examining the raptor�s body?� she asked.           �Oh, yeah.  I decided that since I was so close to the research center, I should go ahead and get your tapestry.  I was afraid if we waited any longer we�d forget about it.�           �I wondered what you were up to,� she said.  �I appreciate you getting it for me, but I was pretty worried that you were gone so long.  And then when I saw those raptors follow you into the research center . . . it really scared me.�           �I know, and I�m sorry for that,� he said.  �I was just so close that it seemed foolish not to go ahead and get it.  It�s in good condition, but it�s really dusty.  I left it in the front room.�  He speared the last bite of pancakes.  �We can hang it outside by the garden, and Tory can help us beat the dust out of it.�           Upon hearing her name, the child looked up, her mouth full of pancakes.  Her puzzled expression indicated that she had no idea what they were talking about.           He smiled and rumpled the hair on top of her head with his hand, then he reached for two more pancakes and buttered them and poured syrup over them.  �I think we may get some rain later today, so we�ll do that right after breakfast.�           �Okay.  Alan, I�d like to call Mom and Dad tonight, just to let them know we�re still all right.�           �I think that would be a good idea.  I�m debating whether or not to take the phone with us on the hike.  If we get into some kind of trouble or suffer a debilitating injury, it would enable us to call for help.  On the other hand, it�s one more thing to carry.�           �I think it would be a good idea,� she told him.  �A solid link to the outside world can never be a bad thing, especially when we will be so far away from help.�           �Yeah, that�s what I was thinking.  After you call your folks, I�ll put it on the charger and let it charge overnight.�           �We need to go through the refrigerator and put some things in the freezer so they�ll keep until we get back.  And we have to use up the rest of the bacon and the eggs.  They probably won�t still be edible when we get back.  I�ll fix them for breakfast in the morning.  I was going to make hamburgers tonight, but I think I�ll freeze the hamburger meat, and we�ll have hotdogs instead.  Then I�ll go through the pantry and pull out the things we can take with us.�  Finished with her breakfast, she pushed back her plate and folded her arms on the edge of the table.  �Will the rain interfere with the darting process?�           �It might,� he admitted.  �I�m hoping it will move on out of the area today, and we�ll have good weather tomorrow.  If not, we�ll just have to keep the equipment dry and wait it out.�           Tory pushed back her plate and picked up the Apatosaurus again, bouncing it gently along the edge of the table, pretending that it was walking.           Alan�s eyes shifted to the child, watching in amusement as she played.  �I wish we had toys that realistic looking when I was a kid.  My dinosaurs were cheap looking ones made of wax.  They had this machine that you put money into � I think they cost a quarter � and you chose which specimen you wanted, and the machine poured the wax into the mold and a few moments later, a dinosaur was made.  I remember it was still warm when it came out.  The toys these days are very life-like.�           �The Apatosaurus was one of the ones you gave Charlie,� Ellie said, wistfully.  �He loved those dinosaurs.  I still have the rest of them at home.  I found this one beside the bed when I went back to the house to pick up some warm weather clothes, so I decided to bring it with me.  I�m not sure why, but I feel closer to Charlie and Hallie by having it with me.�  She smiled fondly at Tory, growing more accustomed to seeing the other child playing with her son�s toy.  �I�m glad I did.  It gives her something to play with.�           Finished with his second helping of pancakes, Alan pushed back his plate, feeling enormously satisfied.  �That was delicious, Ellie.�           She smiled, pleased.  �Thank you.�           They stood up and gathered the dishes, and carried them into the kitchen to be washed.  Tory helped by carefully carrying her own plate, and deposited it in the sink with the others.  Then she stood and watched while Ellie heated water on the stove.           After the dishes were done, they went into the common room and Alan showed Ellie the tapestry while Tory looked on.           �I can�t get over how lifelike everything is,� Ellie marveled, extremely pleased with it.  She showed Tory the Apatosaurus that had been intricately stitched.  �Look at this.  See how lifelike it is?�           �It looks like this one,� Tory said, indicating the toy dinosaur.           �Yes, it does!� Ellie agreed, enthusiastically.           Alan glanced out the window.  The sun was still shining, but the smell of rain seemed to be stronger.  �Why don�t we get this outside and get some of that dust out of it?�           �I�ll find some brooms,� Ellie agreed.           She went into the laundry room and located a couple of brooms, while Alan carried the tapestry outside and draped it over a wire that had once served as a clothes line, noticing as he did that the clouds were beginning to advance.  Then, Ellie showed Tory how to beat it with the broom to loosen the dust that had settled into the fabric, and the child tackled the chore with youthful enthusiasm, beating the tapestry as hard as she could.           When no more dust lifted from the fabric, Alan took it down and carried it back inside, and he and Ellie worked together to fold it and put it away.           A short time later, the air became more humid and soon the sound of raindrops drumming on the roof filled the large building.  Thunder rumbled in the clouds, and flashes of lightning brightened the landscape.  Alan opened all the doors and windows to allow the freshness into the dormitory.           Then, while Ellie and Tory spent the afternoon baking cookies, he returned to the office and unfolded the topographical map of the island, and spread it out on the desk.  Leaning over it, he carefully examined it, studying the topography for the best landing site, return route, and drop-off points for the supplies.           Isla Sorna was a large island, and the distance and area topography between the mountains and the compound were carefully depicted.  There were huge swathes of dense jungle, and scattered open valleys and meadows with plenty of small streams and ponds of varying sizes.  Hills and bluffs were depicted, but caves, if there were any, were not.           After careful consideration, he finally decided on a suitable landing spot for the helicopter to let them off in a valley nestled between two mountain ranges.  He knew from the aerial flyby he had made with Miguel on his first day and also from his arrival with the Kirbys the year before that the mountains were not the high rugged peaks of the American Rockies, but were lower, more gently sloped, and heavily foliated.  He and Ellie should have no trouble navigating the area on foot.           Outside the open window, he could hear the gentle whisper of rain falling through the leaves and tapping against the building.  Occasionally, there was a low rumble of thunder, and the refreshing scent of rain mingled with the aroma of chocolate chip cookies.           Using a pencil and the flat edge of a ruler, he marked off the path they would take, a route which would, if his calculations were correct and barring any unforeseen delays, place them near protected areas with high bluffs and cliffs to offer shelter and provide them with as much safety as possible during the night, when they would be the most vulnerable.  Once they left the mountains, there was at least one bunker in which they could safely spend the night.  More difficult was determining where to place the supply drops.  They could carry a couple of day�s worth of food and water in their packs, but water especially was heavy, so he selected several small clearings along the return path he had chosen.  These locations were designated on the map with a red felt-tipped marker.           With the path carefully marked, he double-checked his calculations for accuracy, and felt satisfied that everything was accurate.  Folding up the map again, he tucked it into one of the pockets on his backpack, and then made his way into the kitchen for his share of chocolate chip cookies.           Tomorrow would be a busy day.                                                          Go to Chapter Thirty