| Kinnington appeared with a large book and gave it to her. � Here it is.� She took it and looked over the page. � Well, according to an extensive list of dinosaur and dinosaur-like creatures in a recently published book, we are looking at a Cenopteryx.� � Cenopteryx?� � Yes. This is a newly discovered species, related to the Archaeopteryx in the sense that both have feathers and are a link between dinosaurs and birds. The DNA testing hasn�t been completed yet, but there will probably be some type of relation. They don�t have an intact skeleton, but they pieced one together and it�s about six feet high and nine feet long. The wingspan is guessed to be fifteen or twenty feet. There was another skeleton that they put together which has a tall crest and bony ridges along its back to the end of its tail, no wings, and reptile-like skin. They say it was probably an adult and the bird forms were juveniles.� � Where did it live?� � In the rainforests of North America sometime during the Tertiary period of the Cenozoic era. Between seventy and two million years ago.� � Along with mammoths, saber-tooth cats, and the first documented homo sapiens.� � Exactly.� She closed the book and handed it back to Kennington, who left to put it back on its shelf in his study. � So the question is: how is it still alive?� � If I knew that, this wouldn�t be an X-File.� The bird twittered quietly, drawing their attention. � Mulder . . . did you hear that?� � . . . I think so.� The bird twittered again, and this time it was obvious. � Mulder, it�s talking to us.� � Telepathy.� He got up and walked half way across the kitchen before sitting down on the linoleum and holding out his hand. He spoke gently to the bird, talking nonsense in a quiet, non-threatening tone. Slowly--very slowly--the bird emerged from its corner and took tentative, silent steps toward him. It stretched its neck out and pecked lightly at his hand, then leapt back. When he didn�t attack, it stepped forward again and nibbled at his skin. It was then that he carefully and deliberately reached out to pet its head and neck. It stood its ground, but continued to watch him closely. � Hello,� he began in a soft voice. Hello, was the hesitant reply. � My name�s Fox Mulder. Everybody calls me Mulder. What�s your name?� My name . . . is Sundance. � Hello, Sundance.� Hello, Mulder. He turned. � Scully, come over here.� Once she had crawled over on her hands and knees, despite it being a less than dignified way of travel, she held her hand out for Sundance to nibble. � Sundance, this is Dana Scully. I call her Scully.� Hello, Scully. I am Sundance. � Hello, Sundance.� Mulder then asked the question that had plagued he and Scully for the entire case. � Sundance, why did you kill all those people?� The bird ducked and laid down. I was hatching. The noise cracked my egg and hurt me. It twisted to the side and lifted its right wing. A large scar, maybe six inches long, ran parallel to the wing base and kept feathers from growing there. I was so scared I ran once I had hatched and took revenge to relieve the hurt. Then I hurt the others so it wouldn�t happen to another like me. � Sundance, I know you meant well, but that wasn�t the way to fix the problem.� Why not? Would that not stop another like me from being hurt? � Yes, but Sundance, I don�t think there are anymore like you.� The bird fell silent and looked away. I am . . . alone? � The last of your kind? Yes. Alone? No.� But there are no more like me! � That doesn�t mean you�re alone.� I do not understand. He reached out and picked it up. � Come on, you�re coming home with me.� Home? � . . . The place where you live. Where you sleep.� I have no home. � You do now.� She stared at him in undisguised surprise. � Mulder, you can�t be serious.� � I am very serious, Scully.� He turned to Kinnington. � Mr. Kinnington, we thank you very much for all your cooperation.� � Anytime.� They left, Sundance stretched across the backseat. Where are we going? � We�re going to the airport, then to where I live,� Mulder replied patiently. Sundance shifted. I am much too cramped in here. � What do you suggest we do, then?� Let me out. I can keep up. He stopped the car and opened the back door. Sundance scrambled out, then jogged in a circle. Continue. Dubious, he got back in the car and started again, quickly making it to the forty-five mile-per-hour limit. Sundance kept even with the driver�s door as if it weren�t even a strain. Deciding to test the bird�s speed, he drove it up to seventy and was only partially surprised to see it still with them though it was going as fast as it could go. It held out as long as he kept the car going that fast, then gratefully slowed when they did. He rolled down the window. � How far can you go at top speed?� As far as necessary. If I were to slow at all when running from a predator, I would die. � You mean you could run at your top speed as long as you wanted?� Yes, but I would have to rest for a long time afterward. They stopped at a motel for the night and Sundance was amazed at every little thing in the room. It inspected every corner and object in both rooms and let out a fearful shriek when he turned the television on. What is that?! � Don�t worry,� he chuckled. � It won�t hurt you.� It did not move before! He patted the bed beside him. � Come on and get up here.� Sundance put one foot on the bed and pressed down, then lowered it and put its other foot on the bed, pressing down carefully. How? � Just jump.� Sundance hopped onto the bed and, not ready for the soft and rolling footing, toppled over onto him. It scrambled up into a lying position and apologized profusely. Forgive my clumsiness! <--Division 4 Division 6--> |