Chapter 10

Moments later everyone was out in the field following Grant.

Tim had fallen into step with Grant and was talking his ear off. "So like I was saying, there's this other book by a guy named Bakker? And he said dinosaurs died of a bunch of diseases? He definitely didn't say they turned into birds."

"Alan? Where are we going? You see something?" Ellie asked.

"Uh - - anybody else think we shouldn't be out here?" Gennaro asked nervously.

"I'm so getting fired for this" I groaned.

"And his book was a lot fatter than yours." Tim continued.

"Really?" Grant said annoyed.

"Yours was fully illustrated, honey." Ellie said jokingly.

"I have to agree with Donald on this, we probably should not be out here." Will young said nervously. My guess was he wasn't used to field work."

Lex stumbled and Grant took her hand, to stop her from falling. She looked up at him and smiled back and tried to recover his hand, but Lex held on tight.

Suddenly we all stop in our tracks. A huge smile spread across the faces of both Tim and Grant. Grant walked forward. Tim followed. So do I, and eventually everyone else.

"Hi everybody, Don't be scared" I recognized it to be the voice of Jim McPhee one of the park vets.

In the clearing lay a Triceratops, a big one, lying on its side, blocking the light at the end of the path. It had an enormous curved shell that flanked its head, two big horns over its eyes, and a third on the end of its nose. It didn't move, just breathed, loud and raspy, blowing up a little clouds of dust with every exhalation.

Grant stood over the animal wide eyed, "Beautiful. Is it okay? Can I touch it?"

"No one's stopping you" I said.

"Oh Ellie. It's so beautiful. It's the most beautiful thing I ever saw." He said.

"It's my favorite." Ellie answered in awe.

"Ellie, take a look at this." Grant said after a few moments.

"Yeah, baby girl, it's okay." Ellie says as she leans down to look at the Triceratops' mouth. "Micro vesicles. That's interesting." McPhee joined her, "What are her symptoms?"

"Imbalance, disorientation, labored breathing. Seems to happen about every six weeks or so." McPhee answers.

"These are dilated. Take a look." Ellie said as she inspected the eyes.

"I'll be damned." McPhee said.

"That's pharmacological. From local plant life." Ellie continued, "this West Indian lilac?" She says pointing at a small bush beside her.

"Yes. We know they're toxic, but the animals don't eat them." McPhee said.

"There's only one way to be positive. I need to see some droppings." Ellie said.

Control Room

"That storm center hasn't dissipated or changed 're going to have to cut the tour short, I'm afraid. Pick it up again tomorrow where we left off." Ray Arnold announced.

"You're sure we have to?" Hammond asked.

"It's not worth taking the chance, John." Ray said.

"Sustain winds 45 knots." Muldoon said.

"Tell them when they get back to the cars." Hammond said.

"Ladies and gentlemen, last shuttle to the dock leaves in approximately five minutes. Drop what you are doing and leave now." Ray said over the main radio. Most of the staff was leaving until the containment issue was resolved.

"Damn!" Hammond said in frustration.

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Hey everyone! I finally am back with a new chapter! and I am so so sorry its such a short chapter.

Luckily in the next two chapters all the exciting stuff is going to start happening!

I will have plenty of time to write more chapters and post them(:

Hope you all enjoy!

-QueenLyndz