Those books were a lie. A hoax to get people not to come to the island. My grandfather, on my fathers side, is the creator of this beautiful park. His name is Joseph Cramond, the creator of BioGen. My name is Harland Cramond, one of his most opinionated employees. When the park opened two years ago, he hired me to be a person that goesaround the park listening in on conversations about the park. Then I would report to him which attractions were liked best. I later became a habitat designer. After a year of researching dinosaurs I learned better ways to care for the creatures. Also spending time with them helped too
My friend Caroline Wheat still thinks of the park is a disaster waiting to happen. She doesn't think that prehistoric animals should have been brought back to life. But I'm warming her up to the idea.
"Where are you taking me?" Caroline pleaded as I brought her through the 'Authorized Personnel Only' paths in the park. Each side of the path was lined with different flora and fauna; from this decade and millions of years ago.
"You'll see in a moment. It's my favorite spot in this whole park."
"What makes you think I'll like it?"
"We'll find out won't we?" as we neared my favorite spot the vegetation grew scarcer. As we entered the clearing Caroline gasped. It was the highest point on the island. A clearing that my grandfather wanted to turn into an observation point. It looked out over the entire island. Each animal paddock was in view. The river ran past the base of the cliff and on into the park to fuel the boat tours.
"It's amazing. Is this where you disappear to every night?" she asked sitting down on the edge of the cliff. The sun was setting on the horizon turning the ocean beyond the island a golden color.
"Yeah it's something isn't it? You can see everything."
"Why did you bring me here?"
"So you could see the beauty of this island."
"But those stories, they showed what could happen if something goes wrong. Like if a Raptor escapes, or the T-rex gets out."
"It's as safe as the Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. If not safer."
"I still don't know... I feel like some of these animals... like I've seen some of them wandering around the park."
"Those are the Microceratops and Nemicolopterus. Harmless to humans."
"I still don't know. It seems like this is a horrible idea, but it's been three years now and nothing terrible has happened. So it can't be that bad."
"Thanks," I said looking out over the land. Everything was in order. I could hear the T-rex calling like she does every night. The Triceratops grazing in their field; the last boat tour going out. The best tour in my opinion; all the dinosaurs are out enjoying the last of the light. The water is clear enough to see the various prehistoric marine life.
"It really is amazing up here, but we should be getting back soon."
"Just wait a few more minutes," I said as the last of the sun sank beyond the horizon. Then one by one each dinosaur started to call to one another in unison. It started with the pterosaurs then every other dinosaur creating a sort of prehistoric music.
"I hear this every night from the hatchery, but it never sounded like this."
"I come up here every night just for this, to know not everything on this island is controlled by man."
"Really? You mean they did that on their own?"
"Every night since before we officially opened."
"That's amazing," and it was. It transported you 65 million years into past. "It's exactly what my grandfather wanted. For the guests to feel that they stepped off the plane through a time machine and onto this island. A mixture of the Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous."
"And that's exactly what happened here. It's getting dark, we should head back now. Besides I still have work to do."
"What do we have hatching this week?" I asked stepping back into the darkening path.
"A few brachiosaurus, stegosaurus, and a few hadrosaurs."
"You're gonna have a busy week," I laughed. Not only will these animals grow to be a few tons each, their caretakers have to spend night and day with them. It was a plan thought up by my grandfather. He wanted the dinosaurs not to fear humans so he made it so there was a person always there. I always laughed at the nursery workers during a hatching week.
"It's not funny," Caroline said pushing me off the path and into a palm tree. "School starts in a few weeks and I won't be very rested."
"Then go to school here with me," I said stopping in the middle of the path. "It's gonna be fun. You can learn more about dinosaur care or go into another subject; like engineering or working in the lab."
"I forgot you were staying here."
"It's not official. I think I might come back with you, but that's only if you don't stay here. I don't wanna be the youngest one here. You know, besides the tourists."
"That's a plus to being in the nursery," Caroline said coming to a fork in the road. "Left, right? Anyways, I can't stand tourist. They can be so annoying. I don't know how you do it."
"Oh, I don't. I spend most of my time in the lab or in my design room. This park is always changing and it's my job to make everyone happy. Strike that. It's my job to make the dinosaurs happy. The tourists are a plus."
"How do you plan the layout?"
"I honestly don't know. But from all of the research I do there better be a dino class if I come back with you."
"Or, you could put as much effort into school that you do here."
"Why the hell would I wanna do that?" we both started to laugh. But it was cut short by the sounds of a jeeps horn.
"Harland!" the man in the passenger side called. It was the parks third main supervisor, behind me and my grandfather. His name was Johnson Crystals. In my opinion he was arrogant and bossy. Exactly why I liked him. We were practically the same person. "Your grandfather isn't doing well. Get in the back."
I looked at Caroline and we sprinted to the jeep. I didn't bother to get in; I just climbed onto the back and held onto the roll cage. Something I usually did when I'm in a hurry. With the wind hitting my face I thought about the last twenty minutes. Everything was orderly and calm. Now my world was thrown into chaos.
"How are you feeling grandpa?" I asked standing next to his bed. He had an IV stuck into his arm. He looked pale. This was not a good time in his life.
"Not so well my boy," he coughed. "I should be back on my feet in no time. But I wanted to talk to you about something. In the off chance that I do pass away; I want you to carry on this island."
"I'm not sure if I will be able to do that. I have school and sports and..."
"And I know you would love to run this island. You could make more islands just like this one. You've helped me start the plans for the European and Australian islands."
"But that was with your guidance. I don't think I could do that."
"Enough, I need to sleep. That is just in case I do, and I have no plans to."
"What did he say?" Caroline asked following behind me as I walked down the hallway.
"Just to tell me that if he dies the Island is mine to expand."
"That's great!" she exclaimed. "Isn't that what you wanted? To run this place?"
"I wanted to, yes. But I wanted the help and guidance of my grandfather."
The next day was not much better. It turned out that school was actually that Monday. It was now Sunday. Caroline spent the day packing and trying to find all her belongings. Instead of packing I attempted to do my summer reading.
"I told you to read it earlier," Caroline said pulling a chair up at my table in the empty restaurant. It was set up with a tropical theme brought in from the outside. In the back was a buffet getting set up for dinner.
"I don't usually have time. Unlike you I don't have every other week off."
"Anyways," she said changing the subject. "Why are you in here?"
"No tourists," I said putting down the book down on the table. "Do you wanna take that river tour or the ground tour?"
"I've done them both."
"So have all the tourists. Or do you wanna head up to the aviary and try out the new sky tour?"
"That doesn't open for another week though!"
"Come on," I said standing up. "You're lookin at the next Jurassic Park owner. I can get us onto anything."
"Let's go then!" with that we ran to the garage. I had learned how to drive last year, but won't get my license until I got back to Massachusetts; our home state. So for the time being I was illegal. No one cares here; if they did they might get fired. As we drove through the authorized only areas I couldn't help but think about how hard my grandfather's job was.
He had to deal with people trying to steal the embryos. There were always people trying to set the dinosaurs free. That was why some of the little dinos roamed around freely. That was also why the aviary was not open yet. We needed to make sure no one could let the pterosaurs out.
"I've never been this close," Caroline said looking up. It was a giant bird's cage. Inside were a dozen different types of flying and winged dinosaurs.
"Unfortunately we won't be able to go in," I sighed looking at the clock on the dash board.
"Why not?" Caroline asked with a hint of despair in her voice.
"Because the helicopter leaves in an hour and I need to finish packing."
"Crap," she exclaimed. "And we won't get there until school starts. We're going to have a long day."
The helicopter got into Miami around three in the morning. I wanted to stretch my legs while the chopper refueled. Inside the airport nothing was open and only the people that worked there were around.
"Can I help you?" a young woman asked coming up behind us. She wasn't very tall; she had long dark brown hair that fell around her shoulders in neat curls. Her eyes were a soft inviting brown.
"No," I said turning away. She was stunning but too old for me to flirt with. "We're just stretching our legs before we get back into the helicopter."
"Wait," she exclaimed surprising both me and Caroline. "Your grandfather owns Jurassic Park! I was there just last week, by the way. I think it's an amazing place."
"Thank you," I said politely. I didn't want to deal with another tourist. I was tired and wanted more than anything to be back on the island.
"I think the helicopter is ready now," Caroline said noticing my fake smile. "It was nice to meet you."
"Thanks," I said settling into my seat. The helicopter interior was crisp and clean. Each seat had an armrest and cup holder, and reclined only a little. I could barly sleep that night. The one time I did I dreamt I was in the T-rex cage. I was running for my life, but my legs wouldn't move. Then I woke up in a panic because it ate me. Caroline was still asleep when I woke up. I still needed to change into my school clothes. The remaining two and a half hours were spent looking out the window at the ground below.
"You can't land here!" the principle yelled at the chopper pilot.
"Just let me drop these kids off!" the pilot yelled back. He would have landed in the parking lot but it was filled and the baseball field was the closest and most open area near the school. By this time a crowd had gathered in the parking lot and each window was filled. Everyone wanted to see who would step out. The pilot motioned for us to get out so he could leave.
"You will do better to land someplace else next time," the principal told us as we entered the boarding school. It was a school for rich kids; snobby rich kids. Neither me nor Caroline belonged there. We hated having to wear the uniforms; khaki pants with a blue button down shirt or polo. On the bright side we are allowed a single accessory. Mine was a brown Australian hat with raptor claw in the brim. Caroline had silver necklace with a treble clef hanging from it.
"I'll see you at lunch," I told Caroline as we parted ways to our dormitories. The first day would be spent unpacking and catching up with friends so we could go right into school work the following day.