Chapter 3: Jurassic Park

The next few days fly by quickly as we prepare for our trip. After my talk with Ellie, I have been trying to be more patient with my dad. It seems to be working because we are able to have fewer arguments and more actual conversations. Before I know it, we were on a helicopter flying over the ocean. It is me, dad, Ellie, Mr. Hammond, the lawyer, and some guy named Dr. Malcolm. I find myself stuck next to the lawyer.

"So you two, um, dig up dinosaurs?" Dr. Malcolm asks after a few minutes together.

"Well…"

"We try to." Dad and Ellie say at the same time.

"You'll have to get use to Dr. Malcolm. He suffers from a deplorable excess of personality, especially for a mathematician." I can't help but snort at this. Dr. Malcolm smirks at me before continuing.

"Chaotician, actually. John doesn't subscribe to chaos, particularly what it has to say about his science project."

"Codswallop, Ian. You've never been able to sufficiently explain your concerns about the island."

"Oh, John, John. Because of the behavior of the system in the phase space?" I look over at dad and Ellie, they look so lost.

"A load, if I may say so, of fashionable number crunching."

"Is not." Ian reaches out and pinches John's leg.

"I do wish you wouldn't do that." John retorts quickly batting his hand away.

"Dr. Sattler, Dr. Grant, you've heard of chaos theory?"

"No," they repeat at the same time. Living in the middle of nowhere most of the time has limited their knowledge of the world around them.

"No? Non-linear equations? Strange attractors? Dr. Sattler, I refuse to believe that you aren't familiar with the concept of attraction." I glare at him understanding what he is implying.

"Hmm! I bring scientists, you bring a rock star," John states comically pointing at the lawyer. We all laugh at this. Before the he can answer, John looks out the window. "There it is." We all look where he is pointing and we see the island coming in sight. I look out the window mesmerized by the beauty of the trees and the hills.

"Bad wind shears. We have to drop pretty fast, so hold on, 'cause it can be just a little thrilling." John explains. As soon as he finishes, the helicopter drops a few feet suddenly. My stomach instantly drops at the sensation. "Ya-hoo!" We all automatically reach for our seatbelts. I look over at dad. He has two of the same pieces. Ellie and John try helping him get it figured. I just sit back and watch in amusement.

"No, no, you need that piece over here, and that piece…Look, we'll have landed by the time you get it right." John says this while throwing his hands up. Dad just ties the two ends together. After a few stomach churning drops, we have finally landed.

We are escorted to two awaiting gas jeeps. Dr. Malcolm quickly works his way into the jeep with dad and Ellie. I find myself in a jeep with John and the lawyer, whose name is Donald Gennaro.

"The full 50 miles of perimeter fence are in place?" Gennaro asks John while turning around from the front seat to look at us.

"And the concrete moats, and the motion sensor tracking systems. Donald, dear boy, relax. Try and enjoy yourself." John turns his head and winks at me. I try not to laugh out loud.

"Let's get something straight, John. This is not a weekend excursion. This is a serious investigation of the stability of the island. Your investors, whom I represent, are deeply concerned. Forty-eight hours from now, if they're not convinced, I'm not convinced. I'll shut you down John." I already find this guy extremely annoying. I know John feels the same way.

"In 48 hours, I'll be accepting your apologies." John looks up and I follow his gaze. He stands up and I follow his lead. I stare in amazement. I am looking at a real live dinosaur. "All right, slow down. Stop, stop, stop!" John says as the driver comes to a stop. John climbs out of the jeep and then gives me a hand down.

EGEGEGEGEG

Alan turns his head and sees something amazing. He takes his hat off and stands. He then takes his sunglasses off. Utter astonishment is written all over his face. Ellie is busy studying a leaf from a plant.

"This shouldn't be here. Alan, this species of veriforman's been extinct since the Cretaceous Period. I mean, this thing is humongous." Alan puts his hand on Ellie's head and starts to turn it. "What? What?" She finally turns her head and sees. She stands up while taking her sunglasses off. "Look at that."

They both jump out of the jeep to get a better look.

"Um, it's…it's a dinosaur." Alan says still in shock as he gestures towards the gigantic animal.

"Uh-huh," is all Ellie is able to say. Before too long, Emily is standing next to Ellie. Ellie puts her arm around Emily's shoulders as they look at the dinosaur in front of them.

EGEGEGEGEG

Ian Malcolm is still sitting in the jeep. He is in complete and utter shock. He finally speaks.

"You did it. You crazy son of a bitch, you did it." The jeep driver turns around and gives him a look.

EGEGEGEGEG

"Oh, Ellie, we could just tear up the rule book on cold-bloodedness. It doesn't apply. They're totally wrong. This is a warm-blooded creature." Dad's voice still holds a little shock in it. Ellie still hasn't released her grip from my shoulders.

"This thing doesn't live in a swamp." I say, finally finding my voice.

"This thing's got what, a 27-foot neck?" Dad asks.

"The brachiosaur, 30." John says from behind us making me jump.

"Thirty feet." Dad breathes out.

EGEGEGEGEG

Donald is still sitting in the jeep. He looks on with a glint of greed in his eyes.

"We're gonna make a fortune with this place."

EGEGEGEGEG

We keep watching as the brachiosaur stands up on its hind legs and stretches to the top of the tree. We all struggle to keep our balance as it comes down shaking the ground. Ellie's grip tightens around me to keep me standing.

"How fast are they?" Dad asks after watching a few seconds longer.

"Well, we clocked the T-Rex at 32 miles an hour." My mouth drops open at this.

"T…T-Rex?" Ellie says in disbelief.

"Mm-hmm."

"You said you've got a T-Rex?" I say making sure I heard right.

"Uh-huh."

"Say again." Dad can't believe it either.

"We have a T-Rex." John says in amusement. He knew we would react this way.

"Oh." Dad says as he leans his head against John's chest. He staggers a few feet and puts his hands on his knees. Ellie runs up next to him.

"Put your head between your knees," she instructs him as he sits down. I am still standing off to the side trying to take everything in. John comes over and puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Dr. Grant, my dear Dr. Sattler and Miss Emily, welcome to Jurassic Park." I reach up and put my hand on top of his. I look over at my dad and Ellie. They are both sitting on the ground now. I hear bellowing and turn to see more dinosaurs.

"They're moving in herds. They do move in herds." I hear my dad say. I nod my head in agreement because I have no more words left to say. Dad looks up at John, whose hand is still on my shoulder, "How'd you do this?"

"I'll show you."