The sun had set behind the mountains in the west. The circles of light from the campfires seemed diminutive in the encroaching darkness. The laborers quickly discovered that nighttime in the jungle was very different than daytime, and the anxiety was evident in their tense faces. Shadows lurked behind bushes and trees, and there were noises that could not be identified, putting everyone on edge.
Because most animals fear fire, Alan had suggested building several campfires in the open well away from the bluff, forming a protective ring. The workers were huddled in small groups near the fires as if seeking comfort from the dancing flames, their moods greatly subdued as they considered the unknown dangers that might be prowling the dark forest just beyond the reach of light.
The aroma from their supper still lingered in the air, and everyone present knew that the smell of food could attract the carnivores. Every rustle of the trees and bushes drew rapt attention, eyes peering into the blackness beyond the forest�s edge. Alan�s reaction to these noises was carefully gauged by the others, seeking consolation in his knowledge of the beasts, but if he was aware of their intense glances, he gave no indication of it. Mitch kept his rifle, loaded with live ammunition, close at hand, and more than once his nervous hand reached for the weapon before relaxing again.
The sounds of the surf rolling up on the beach and crashing against the rocks below the cliff was a soothing sound, and Ellie listened to it longingly. Beside her, Alan was leaning back against the bluff behind him, his legs crossed at the ankle as he penned his thoughts of the day�s events into his journal using the light from a small lantern that the tagging expedition had brought. A short distance away, Harding was carefully checking the remaining tranquilizer darts while Mitch cleaned the darting rifle. Farther out, Cesar and Tyrell were spreading their sleeping bags on the ground, intending to bed down early in preparation for their turns at guard duty later. Ernesto patrolled just inside the perimeter of the camp, turning an alert ear to every noise in the jungle, while Garrett sat quietly on his sleeping bag, his arms wrapped around his knees, clearly wishing he was someplace else.
Mitch and the laborer�s were especially nervous. They had never worked with InGen�s unique laboratory-bred animals, and all five of them cast frequent, uneasy glances into the darkness at the edge of the camp. Observing their edginess, Ellie found herself thinking about the time she and Alan had been caught out after dark weeks earlier. It gave her a clear understanding of what the workers were experiencing. Turning her attention to Alan, she watched as he turned a page in his notebook and positioned it on his lap again. Even though he appeared relaxed and very much at ease, she knew that he was remarkably in-tune with his surroundings. Any subtle change in the sounds coming from the jungle would bring him totally alert, and she drew reassurance from that.
Lured by the sound of the sea, she finally stood up and stepped over Alan�s legs as made her way through the camp toward the beach. Mitch looked up as she passed, his eyes lingering on her with more than casual interest, but she ignored him. Moving out of range of the campfires, she skirted the bluff and felt the turf beneath her feet change from dirt and grass to soft sand.
The temperature was slightly cooler here on the beach, where there were no fires to generate heat or the trees and the bluff to retain the warmth. A mild breeze caressed her face as she came to a stop just above the reach of the lapping waves.
It was a beautiful night. The moon shimmered on the constantly moving water, and a host of stars twinkled in the heavens, more stars than were ever visible in the city back home. In spite of the dangers that lay in the jungle behind her, the scene that stretched out before her was one of peace and tranquility, and she allowed it to embrace her and draw her into its serenity.
In the camp, Alan had watched as Ellie made her way through the campsite and onto the beach, and felt the desire to go with her. He had never been a romantic. He was a man who dealt better with things he could see and touch rather than emotions he barely understood, but he knew that he wanted to explore these sentiments that he had always kept buried. Ellie needed them, and he was beginning to realize that he needed them too.
As he laid aside his journal, he glanced at Mitch and saw that the sharpshooter was looking after her and appeared to be contemplating the idea of going after her. Alan was aware of the fact that Mitch, like most men, found Ellie attractive, and it occurred to him that he was not putting out any signals that he and Ellie were together. Deciding that needed to change, he got up and followed her, and although he did not glance over at Mitch, he was aware that the other man�s eyes were following him.
As Alan disappeared into the darkness, Harding smiled without looking directly at Mitch. His attention was still on his darts and collars, but his peripheral vision was good and he saw the expression of uncertainty on the other man�s face. �I know what you�re thinking, and I would let it go if I were you.�
Mitch turned to face him. �They�re together?�
�Well,� he said, then paused to test the radio receptor on the collar he was examining. Setting it aside, he continued, �She came halfway around the world to be with him here on this island. She�s risking her life with the dangers in this place to be near him and help him with his work. Alone. What do you think?�
Mitch shrugged and exhaled a quiet sigh. �Well, that has occurred to me, but I couldn�t tell for sure. He never gave any indication that they�re together, and he certainly isn�t possessive of her.�
�It�s called �trust�.�
Mitch gave a small snort. �Yeah, something my ex-wife never had.�
Harding chuckled. �We all have our problems, don�t we?�
�Damn right.� With a sigh, he went to his bedroll and lay down, folding his hands behind his head. Maybe it was time to see if he could work things out with Renee.
Alan paused in the darkness to observe Ellie, standing silhouetted against the moonlit ocean, and felt the stirrings of love for her in his heart. Not the physical wanting associated with love, but the emotional and spiritual yearning that is felt for the one person you want to spend the rest of your life with. It was stronger than ever, or perhaps he was simply more receptive to them.
Moving closer to her, he slipped his arms around her waist from behind and spoke softly against her silky hair, �You know, it�s dangerous to wander out here by yourself.�
She leaned back against him and draped her arms over his at her waist. �I know, but I was keeping an alert ear to the tree line. I could hear the ocean from the camp, and was drawn to it. It�s been a long time since I�ve been on the beach in the moonlight. It�s so beautiful out here.�
�So are you,� he told her. He pressed his lips against the side of her head, then added, �I like the sounds of the waves breaking against the rocks. I�ve never spent much time on the shore, here or anywhere else. I never had the time.�
�You�ve always been a workaholic.� The words were spoken without resentment, but he heard the slight wistfulness in her voice for the lost years in which they had been apart.
�I know. I suppose a part of me will always be a workaholic, but I promise you that I won�t allow it to dominate my life like before.�
�You love what you do,� she said. �There aren�t many people who can say that.� She turned her face so that her forehead rested against his cheek, and closed her eyes, content to be in his presence. He heard her soft sigh.
She did not say so, but he knew there were other thoughts in her mind, longing thoughts and worried thoughts for the young visitor they had entertained for the past few days. �You�re missing Tory, aren�t you?�
�You know me too well,� she replied. �I know it was a traumatic experience for her, but I really enjoyed having her around. I�ve missed being around kids. I wonder where she is right now.�
Alan turned over his wrist and glanced at the illuminated face of his watch. �Well, it�s eight o�clock here, so that would make it six o�clock in Los Angeles. She�s probably having supper with her mother right about now.�
She turned to look at him. �Do you think so? You think she�s home now?�
�Mm-hmm. I think it�s about a six or seven hour flight from San Jose to L.A. and Ms. Blair had already made the reservations, so barring any unforeseen delays, she�s had her happy reunion with her mother and is probably worn out from the trip. She�ll probably go to bed early tonight, and Charlie�s dinosaur will probably be standing in a place of honor on her bedside table watching over her.�
�And her mother will stand at the bedroom door for a long time watching her sleep, afraid to let her out of her sight. I know I would be in her place.�
Even without looking, she sensed that he was smiling at her through the darkness as he pressed his cheek against the side of her head. �I think you have your answer,� he said quietly. Before she could ask what the question was, he continued, �You told me once that you weren�t sure you could love someone else�s child like your own, but you know now that you can. You loved that little girl, and she was only with us a couple of days. You have so much love to give, Ellie. When you�re ready, I have no doubt that any child who comes under your care will loved as your own.�
She could not help but smile her agreement. �I know. I suppose I love all children. I was still hurting terribly when I said that.� She paused briefly, thinking about the two precious lives that were lost. �It still hurts, but it�s getting so that I can think about them and see the fun times we had together, not just the way I lost them.� Teasingly, she added, �Maybe my love of children is part of the reason I love you so much.�
He drew back slightly, surprised. �What do you mean?�
�Most people love dinosaurs when they�re kids, but most outgrow it and turn to other things. You�re like a big overgrown kid when it comes to dinosaurs. You should see your face when you give a lecture or when you�re teaching others about them. It�s like you�re in another world. Charlie talked about you for weeks after you left, how the �Dinosaur Man� had told him about each of the dinosaurs you gave him.�
�I was afraid I was talking over his head. It�s hard for me to know how to talk to kids.�
�He was too young for some of it, but kids understand more than you might think. You certainly made an impression on him.� Tears of longing burned behind her eyes, and she fell silent as she blinked them back. �He was such a good little boy.�
Sensing the darkening shift in her mood, he changed the subject. �We were so busy getting things packed and ready last night that I didn�t get a chance to ask how your folks are doing.�
Grateful for the topic change, she cleared her throat to dislodge the lump that had formed there, and drew a deep, cleansing breath. �They were glad to hear from me again, and scolded me profusely for not calling more often. I feel badly about that, but we get so caught up in our work that I forget they�re waiting at home, worrying about us.�
�Did you tell them about what we�re doing? Hiking back from the mountains?�
�No. I figured it would just worry them unnecessarily. I did tell them about Tory and what we�re doing with the pteranodons, but I completely left out the part about the mountains. They insisted that we be careful and to call more often.�
�The truth is, I think we�re about finished here.�
This surprised her, and she drew back to gaze at his features in the moonlight. �Seriously?�
�There is little else to do and see at the research center. And now we�re going to the mountains, the one place that has eluded me. But I�ve been here a long time, and I think I�ve done about as much as I can do. It�s been a good experience, but once we get back from the mountains, we�ll start making preparations to leave the island. I want to get our records and the samples I took back to my lab for further evaluation, and I�m ready to get started on the book. This island will be here for a long time, maybe forever, so if I ever need to come back, I can do so. I no longer hate it or the things it represents.�
Ellie turned around to face him, and their arms immediately went around the other in a loving embrace. �I love you so much, Alan.�
�I love you, too,� he responded.
They were the sweetest words she had ever heard him speak to her, and her arms tightened as if she could not get close enough to satisfy her.
They were quiet for a while, then Ellie said, �I guess we should be getting back into camp. We�ll need to get some rest before it�s our turn to stand guard.�
With his arm loosely wrapped around her waist, they walked back into the camp. As they walked, her mind drifted ahead to the mountains they would be exploring. Alan was looking forward to the hike, eager to see what mysteries were concealed there, but Ellie was worried. There would be unknown dangers, perhaps unknown species, some probably carnivorous. But Alan had a gun to help protect them, and that gave him additional confidence.
�I noticed you didn�t mention that you have a pistol,� Ellie commented, her voice low.
�Better to keep that between us,� he said. �I won�t be able to get it on the plane when we go home and I don�t want to have to explain where it came from, so I�ll have to leave it here when we leave. I really have no use for it at home anyway.�
Together, they moved out of the darkness and into the ring of light from the campfires.
Harding looked up at the couple passed. �We had a good day,� he said. �Why don�t you sit down and join me for a spell?�
�Sure,� Ellie agreed readily. She sat down opposite him, and Alan sat down beside her.
�Doctor Grant, I know what your opinion was of Jurassic Park, but I�ve been meaning to ask you; what did you think of Peter Ludlow�s decision to remove some of the animals from the island for the purpose of creating a more controlled theme park exhibit in San Diego?�
�Ludlow?� Alan asked. He had not been privy to the decisions of the previous expedition to the island, but had heard about them through news reports. The name did not ring a bell, but quickly deduced to whom Harding was referring. �Oh, you mean Hammond�s nephew. It was the dumbest idea imaginable,� he said, bluntly. �These are not zoo animals, and they have no business being in a cage. I saw the cages at the embryonic facility, and it gave me chills to think of them being penned up like domestic animals.�
�I agree with you, yet we keep dangerous animals like lions and bears in cages,� Harding pointed out.
�That�s true, but this is an entirely different type of animal. The animals you are referring to co-exist with humans in our own time-period, and zoo animals are typically captive bred. These animals, dinosaurs, became extinct millions of years ago. They were never intended to walk the earth at the same time as humans.�
�Yet here they are through the miracle of science.�
�Yes, here they are,� Alan conceded. He paused thoughtfully, then shrugged. �If he had set his sights smaller, like a few compies or a couple of Protoceratops, he probably would have gotten away with it.�
�But those aren�t impressive enough to attract the public�s attention for very long. The public craves things on a grand scale, things that are exciting and perhaps even dangerous. And they pay big bucks to see them. Of course, we know that the lure of big money is why Ludlow was interested in it. From what I�ve heard, he was a greedy little weasel.�
�Therein lies the problem, doesn�t it?� Alan asked. �To satisfy his lust for money and to appeal to a public willing to pay high prices, he selected one of the biggest, meanest carnivores ever to walk the face of the earth, and which is not only impossible to control, but lethal and totally unpredictable.�
�All carnivores are unpredictable,� Harding agreed. �But the sheer size of the T-Rex made it a foolish enterprise. We have many dangerous animals in zoos all around the world; lions, tigers, and bears ��
�Oh, my!� Ellie interjected, playfully.
Harding and Alan turned to look at her, puzzled.
She looked from one to the other, astonished that they did not understand the joke. �Didn�t either of you ever see The Wizard of Oz?�
Harding chuckled, softly. �Oh, yes, of course. It�s been a few years, though.�
�Boy, that one fell flat,� she said. �Did you have much opportunity to work with the pteranodons before the hurricane shut everything down?�
�Only on occasion whenever one would injure itself. If I was here, I would tranquilize it and treat it, but whenever I was on Isla Nublar, the assistant vets would care for them. They were difficult beasts. My heart jumped up in my throat when I heard they had escaped the cage, but it appears that Dr. Blake�s genetic altering has done its job, since they appear to be staying here on the island. I must admit, I am surprised about that.�
�Why?� Ellie asked.
Harding smiled and leaned back against the rocky ledge behind him in an attempt to make himself more comfortable. �Let�s just say that Blake is the epitome of the stereotypical �mad scientist�. Many of his ideas were pretty far out there. But then, so was the idea of bringing dinosaurs back to life, so I guess he was in his element, wasn�t he?�
Alan nodded in agreement. �Doctor MacFarland wanted all the Pteranodons tagged with tracking devices,� he said. �And I know that Blake was against it, but why didn�t someone overrule him? Why was that not done while they were all contained, rather than wait for them to escape?�
Harding cocked his head in surprise. �How did you know about that?�
�We found MacFarland�s journal locked in his desk at the hatchery. He was quite adamant about his concerns.�
Harding smiled. �Ah, you found your way through the hidden door. Rather like some kind of sick game show, wasn�t it? �And behind this door . . . �. That was another of Blake�s ideas. Better that the visiting investors not be subjected to the sheer number of casualties caused by our modern era.�
�Pollution. Atmospheric conditions?� Alan asked.
�Exactly. For all their size as adults, they�re quite fragile as hatchlings, and Blake feared that the investors would withdraw their funding if they knew that entire clutches of eggs were being lost, some in the shell, others shortly after hatching. Even in the sterile lab, infant mortality rates were extremely high, and MacFarland was kept quite busy determining the cause of death so that the problem could be analyzed. At any given time, there were dozens of infants and adolescents in the autopsy room waiting for examination. I was unaware that Mac had kept a journal, but I knew he had doubts about a lot of the things that were going on here, so it makes sense that he would write them down in a journal.�
�So MacFarland expressed his concerns about the pteranodons to you?�
�Yes, he mentioned this to me several times, and suggested that the young animals be tagged before they were released into the cage. He was quite worried that these winged creatures would somehow get out of their cage and fly to civilization. He did not paint a pretty picture, and several of the other scientists agreed with him. However, Doctor Blake scoffed at the notion, saying that putting radio collars on them would remove the air of authenticity for the guests coming to view the animals. He insisted that his genetic alterations would suppress their desire to migrate. He managed to convince most of the other scientists that MacFarland was an alarmist with no basis for his concerns. I hate to admit it, but the gene seems to be working. The pteranodons are still here.�
�Do you think there is a chance that this gene will be handed down through their young?� Ellie asked.
Harding drew a deep breath as he considered the question, then let it out in a heavy sigh. �Who can say? Personally, I�m surprised that they haven�t started migrating yet. Nature has an incredible way of repairing and regenerating. When Hammond called me to assist in your expedition, I suggested that all the Pteranodons simply be destroyed. Hire a group of sharpshooters to come out here and annihilate them. That�s the best way of assuring that none of these creatures ever get off the island, but needless to say, he was adamantly opposed to the idea. I truly have a fondness for that old man, but sometimes he does not use the best judgment. Flying carnivores of this size should never have been brought back to begin with.�
�No argument here,� Alan agreed.
�Tagging them is the next best option, and I commend you for taking the initiative.� Harding�s gaze settled on the world renowned paleontologist. �I couldn�t believe I had heard correctly when Hammond told me you were on this island, apparently living in harmony with the animals. Over on Isla Nublar, everything was so organized. We knew which animal was in which paddock, so we could move around the Park with relative safety -��
�Until the storm,� Ellie interrupted.
�Yes, until the storm. I was on the last boat to the mainland, so I missed all the action, thankfully. I figured that was the end of Jurassic Park and all the animals, but Hammond insisted that work continue here on Isla Sorna in the hopes of resurrecting the Park. And once again, I was on that last boat to the mainland when the storm destroyed the facility here as well.�
�So it really was a storm?� Ellie asked.
�Yes. You sound surprised.�
�The condition of the vehicles parked around the facility made it look like the animals might have revolted or something.�
�Ah, I see. No, I assure you, it was a hurricane. Quite a bad one, actually. So, Doctor Grant, why did you decide to come out here alone to study these animals? I�ve wondered about that ever since Hammond told me you were here. Why didn�t you bring assistants with you? There is safety in numbers.�
�Not here, there isn�t,� he replied. �Every time humans come here in numbers, there have been accidents caused by carelessness. They advertise their presence to every predator in the jungle, and they end up getting killed.� He indicated the campsite and the people in it. �Even this is too much, but thankfully we�re staying here on the beach instead of going into the jungle. Alone, I can travel quietly, disturbing very little as I pass. I won�t deny that there were a few times when I could have used an extra pair of hands or that I didn�t feel moments of loneliness, but I knew that I was safer by myself.�
�That�s what my daughter, Sarah, said when she got back. She was here nearly a week by herself, you know. I nearly blew a gasket when I heard about that,� he admitted with a smile. �I know she�s a grown woman and very capable, but she is my daughter and I worry about her.�
�The things she learned was very valuable,� Alan said. �I read her papers and thought about her experiences here alone, and knew that she had the right idea. Alone is the best way to be on this island.�
Harding�s eyes shifted quickly to Ellie. �And yet you�re no longer alone.�
Alan smiled. �No, I�m no longer alone. Ellie showed up unannounced during one of my supply drops, and has been with me ever since. She understands what I�m doing here, and she knows how to travel with me without advertising our presence. She�s the only person I completely trust to work with me.�
She patted his thigh, affectionately. �We�re a good team!�
�That we are.� He tucked an errant lock of lank hair behind his ear.
Harding smiled, amused. �Hammond said they powered up the generators for you, but obviously you�ve been living without most modern conveniences. I�ve been watching you since we�ve been here, trying to figure out what was different about you. Your hair is longer.�
�I couldn�t convince a barber to come with me,� Alan joked with a slight smile.
�And he won�t let me cut it for him,� Ellie added.
�If you�d seen what she did to it the one time I let her cut it for me, you�d understand why!� Alan told him, emphatically.
She slapped him playfully on the shoulder. �Alan!� she scolded, happily. �He�s also more tanned and a little more buffed up. They have some wonderful exercise equipment back at the dormitory, and we�ve been taking full advantage of it.�
�Yes, I had forgotten,� Harding said. �Some of the workers expressed the desire for the exercise equipment to keep in shape during their off-hours, and I was surprised that Hammond sprang the money for it. He�s really quite a good man to work for, always willing to accommodate the needs of his employees. All he asks for in return is dedication and quality work.�
�What about your daughter?� Ellie asked. �I�m surprised she didn�t come with you.� She did not say so, but it would have been nice to have a woman to talk to for a few days.�
�I�m sure she would have been tempted if she had known about it. She and Malcolm are in Europe on vacation.�
�So, they�re still together, then?�
Harding shrugged. �For the moment. I like him, I suppose. He can get on my nerves at times and he doesn�t have a very good track record as far as relationships, but she�s more than capable of handling his eccentricities and she seems happy, so I guess that�s what is important. They tell me you�re headed for the mountains after we get finished here. What is it you�re looking for?�
�I�m curious to see if there are any species that have retreated to the mountainous regions and what those species are, their diets, their preferred habitat. Not only that, but I would like to see if perhaps there are any species that are native to this island that may have sought sanctuary in the higher elevations.�
�Well, I urge you to be careful,� Harding said. �This isn�t the safest place for a hike!�
�Tell me about it!� Alan agreed. �In spite of how careful we are, we�ve had a few close calls. But we�ve learned from them. All we can do it keep our eyes and ears open, and try to be prepared for anything.�
Ellie yawned into her cupped hands as drowsiness began to set in. �I think I�ll turn in for the night.�
�Sounds like a good idea,� Alan agreed. His eyes settled on Ernesto, who was still patrolling just inside the ring of campfires. �Ellie has the last watch. Wake me when it�s my turn.�
�Will do. Goodnight.�
Alan and Ellie made their way back to their bedrolls, and lay down side by side to sleep.
Alan awakened with a sudden start, and for several tense moments he stared into the darkness around him, experiencing a brief sensation of waking confusion at finding himself in an unfamiliar environment. It only took moments for the memories of yesterday�s successful tasks to slowly work their way back into his awareness, but his body remained tense. Whatever had awakened him had been so subtle that he was unable to identify it.
It was still dark and very quiet. The campfires had burned out hours ago, and he could hear the quiet snores of some of the workers as they slept nearby. Ellie�s inert form lay beside him, still sound asleep, and he lifted his head to see over her. Taking his turn at watching for signs of danger, Cesar was seated on a boulder against the bluff, his legs stretched out in front. Although he was a little concerned that the fires had been allowed to die down, he was satisfied that all appeared to be well.
Rolling onto his back, Alan laced his fingers together behind his head and gazed up at the sky. Stars twinkled and flickered in the heavens, and the moon had passed its zenith and was slowly making its way back toward the opposite horizon. The night was peaceful, and the air was calm. With a sigh, he closed his eyes and tried to catch a few more minutes of sleep before it was his turn to stand guard. But the nagging sensation that something was not right seeped into his stomach, and it only took him a few moments to realize that it was eerily quiet. Day and night, there was always noise in the jungle.
Then he felt it; the alarming tremor in the earth beneath his body, so very slight that it was almost unnoticeable, but he had no doubt what it was. His eyes snapped open again, and he sat up abruptly, looking cautiously around. In the moonlight, he could see the motionless forms of the workers lying on the ground nearby, and beyond them the trees and jungle foliage hung limply in the nocturnal stillness. No one else had awakened, and therefore had not noticed the vibration. Turning his head, he looked toward Cesar, who did not react at all to the tremor and apparently had not felt it. Beneath him, the ground shuddered again, ever so slightly.
More in tune with the dangers of the island than the others, Ellie raised her head, focusing on him through the darkness, and noticed that he was sitting up. �Alan?� she asked, her voice a whisper. �Did you feel ��
�Yes. Get against the bluff,� he whispered back as he rose to his feet. �Don�t make a sound.�
Responding instantly, Ellie scooted herself toward the protection of the bluff, her eyes large.
Alan got up, and as he moved toward Cesar he was angered to discover that the man�s chin had fallen onto his chest and he sound asleep. That explained why the fires had gone out; they weren�t being watched. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Alan gave him a firm shake. Cesar wobbled briefly on the boulder and nearly fell off as his head jerked up. Realizing that he had dozed off, he started to offer an apology, but was stopped by Alan.
�Sh!� the paleontologist hissed. �Get against the bluff with Ellie,� he whispered.
Cesar did not object. Moving quickly and quietly, he joined Ellie against the rocky bluff.
As Alan made his way toward Harding, who lay motionless on his bedroll, another tremor shuddered up his body from the ground, and this time Tyrell slowly pushed himself onto his elbow. He blinked sleepily, apparently experiencing the same confusion upon waking that Alan had experienced.
Seeing that he was awake, Alan obtained his attention and pointed toward the bluff, where Ellie and Cesar were waiting. Tyrell blinked nervously, but understood that something serious was occurring, for he did as directed without speaking.
Harding looked up when Alan knelt down beside him and shook him awake, but the finger pressed to the paleontologist�s lips halted the words before they were spoken. His expression became a concerned frown.
�Something�s approaching.�
At the paleontologist�s sinister words, Harding felt a cold shiver run up his spin and his scalp prickled with uneasiness. He rose up on his elbows. �Are you sure?� he asked in a quiet voice as his eyes darted quickly to the blackness of the trees that skirted the edge of their campsite, even though he already knew he would be unable to see anything.
Another impact tremor, still faint but noticeable, was an undeniable indication that something very large was moving toward them, and the two men held their gaze for a long moment before either spoke.
�Maybe it�s just a Brachiosaurus,� Harding suggested quietly, hopefully.
�I don�t think so,� Alan whispered back. �Listen. What do you hear?�
Harding tilted his head slightly, listening intently. The night was still and quiet, and the only sound was the waves breaking on the rocks at the foot of the cliffs. �I don�t hear anything except the waves against the rocks.�
�That�s what I mean. We should be hearing crickets and jungle frogs. Something�s coming; something so fearsome that the other animals go silent to avoid detection. We need to get everyone up. If this thing comes closer, I don�t want a panic to attract its attention.�
Harding nodded his head in agreement. Regardless of what it was, it was always better to be prepared. �All right.�
Moving quietly, Harding went to Ernesto while Alan went to Garrett, rousing them from their sleep and urging them to remain quiet and move closer to the protection of the bluff. With fear etched on their faces, the men quickly and quietly did as instructed, crowding nervously against the rocky barrier.
�Sit down and try not to move,� Alan instructed when he joined them. �If it�s a T-Rex, it can walk right by and never see you if you don�t move, so stay calm.�
Without responding, everyone who was standing sat down against the bluff, understanding that Alan was making them less visible to any predator that might approach the clearing.
Minutes ticked by without incident. The impact tremors were becoming stronger and more frequent, and the rocky bluff behind them was an excellent conductor of vibration, drawing uneasy glances from the frightened humans who were huddled against it. Although they remained still as ordered, their eyes shifted constantly, peering into the darkness of the jungle, looking and listening for any indication of danger, imaging that the large leaves and fronds were concealing hidden menaces.
The animal was getting nearer, and soon they could hear something large moving through the trees nearby. Limbs snapped from the trees as the great bulk of a very large animal pushed through them, and the ground trembled with each step.
A terrifying roar split the stillness, and Garrett groaned in fear, drawing a sharp, reproachful glance from Alan. Ernesto crossed himself in a fervent motion, and his lips moved rapidly in silent prayer.
�Be still!� Alan reminded them, his voice an urgent whisper.
Ellie met his gaze and held it a moment, recognizing the roar as one she had heard before, and along with Alan, identified the creature that had made it.
Long, tense minutes continued to tick by. Noticing the illuminated face on Mitch�s watch, Alan directed him to cover it, and the sharpshooter instantly complied by placing his other hand over it.
There were no more tremors, prompting Garrett to whisper, �Is it gone?�
His answer was the loud bellow of the creature, so near they could almost smell its fetid breath. Alan grimaced. It was just beyond the edge of the bluff where it wrapped around the camp, and the curious scientist in him compelled him to shift ever so slightly in an effort to get a glimpse of it. It was too dark to see it, but he was certain that he could feel its malevolent presence, and could envision how it looked as it turned its head from side to side, searching for prey. He knew it was testing the scent in the air, detecting the aroma of the charred wood of the camp fires.
It uttered another roar. Alan could feel Cesar trembling beside him, and grasped his arm firmly to remind him to remain silent. Mitch looked longingly across the clearing toward the rifle he had failed to snatch when he had been awakened, and he wondered if it would have done any good anyway.
Then, they heard the snapping of tree limbs again and felt the tremors as the animal moved past the edge of the camp and began to move away.
They waited, huddled against the rocky bluff, remaining silent in the hope that it would not be induced to return. The tremors continued to diminish and finally they stopped altogether, allowing the humans to breathe a bit easier.
When it was quiet again, Alan whispered, �I think it�s gone, but I suggest we keep quiet and remain close to the bluff a while longer, just to be safe.�
Everyone tried to relax, but their fear was evident in their wide eyes and rapid breathing. They remained like that for nearly a half hour, when Alan noticed that the jungle sounds were beginning to return. Crickets and frogs resumed their nightly chorus, and a bat was briefly silhouetted against the moon as it fluttered to and fro chasing insects.
�It�s safe now,� Alan said.
Reluctant to leave the protection of the bluff, the frightened men stood up but continued to linger near the rocks, prepared to retreat to its safety again if necessary.
�What the hell was that?� Tyrell asked, his voice sounding a bit unnatural in the aftermath of the terrifying incident.
Harding shook his head, clearly puzzled. �The only meat-eater that large is the T-Rex, but I�ve heard them before and that didn�t sound like a Rex to me.�
�It was the Spinosaurus,� Alan replied. �The biggest, meanest predator on this island.�
�Spinosaurus?� Harding asked with surprise. �I�m not familiar with that species.�
Now it was Alan�s turn to be surprised. �You didn�t know about that one?�
�No. This is the first I�ve heard of it.�
Ellie spoke up, "Remember the journal? MacFarland mentioned that a different vet had been called in to treat the sick Spinos."
"That would be Doctor Reynolds," Harding said. "Describe this animal to me."
�It�s a little bigger than a T-Rex, but meaner with a crocodilian snout and a sail down its back. Very interesting in appearance, but absolutely lethal.�
�Another carnivore,� Harding said, thoughtfully. �Sarah didn�t mention it.�
�I doubt that she saw it. According to the journal, it was an infant when the island was abandoned, the only survivor of several attempts to obtain live specimens, and when she was here, it was probably still small enough to be in danger from the Rexes, so it probably stayed under cover. And this is a large island, so it�s possible that their paths wouldn�t have crossed anyway. It�s fully grown now, and I�ve encountered it a couple of times. Were you aware that InGen was creating species that were not on their list?�
Harding�s eyebrows went up in surprise. �No, I was not. Are you suggesting that there are others besides this Spinosaurus?�
�Not suggesting. It is a fact. There are several species on this island that were not on the list. Most are simple plant eaters, like diplodocus, but the Spinosaurus is by far the most dangerous.�
�Fascinating.�
�I wish the hell there was some way to destroy that thing. We�ll have to keep a sharp eye out tomorrow when we finish up the tagging. If it sees the pteranodons getting knocked out of the sky, it�ll come over here expecting an easy meal.�
Cesar felt particularly shamed, and he apologized profusely, �Forgive me, Se�or, for allowing the fires to go out. I didn�t mean to doze off like that.�
�Well, in this case, it was probably a good thing,� Alan told him. �Most animals are afraid of fire, but I believe that if the Spinosaurus had seen them, it probably would have come in to investigate. That�s the problem with being on this island. Using fire to protect yourself against most predators can attract the attention of other things.�
Mitch had retrieved his rifle, and held it possessively in his hand as he rejoined Alan and Harding. �Any chance that thing will come back tonight?�
�Probably not, but if it does, you�ll notice the dead silence all around even before you feel the impact tremors,� Alan said. �The animals in the jungle are a reliable watchdog.� He looked around at the nervous workers. �Everyone else may as well try to get some sleep. I�ll take the next watch.�
Even though no one really felt much like sleeping, the fact that Alan was taking the next watch seemed to instill confidence in the others, and they dispersed to their sleeping bags. But even though they lay down, few of them actually managed to drift off. Instead, they kept their ears turned to the jungle around them, listening carefully for any indication that the monster was returning.
Go to Chapter Thirty Three