Chapter Thirty-Three
"Joffrey! Raise the gate!"
Sidney paused and listened. The sound of the transport cage gate being opened drifted through the trees to where he was stood. He tensed, not sure what he was waiting for. The moment seemed to stretch out for ever, just like the two times before this one. Both of those he'd stood rigid, expecting something to happen. The reassuring sound of the gate closing shut was heard, and Sidney's body relaxed. Muldoons voice then drifted through the trees, as it had done for the two hours or so, the same words again, as reliable as the sunrise.
"Good! Animal secure. Joffrey, step away. Everyone reset!"
Sidney blew out a long breath and turned back to the Jeep that was parked by the side of the track, watching Hannah sit in the passenger seat, door open and long legs sticking out, one crossed over the other. The top leg bounced up and down gently. He found it difficult not to watch it. By the look on her face, she knew it too.
The whirring electric motor of the forklift droned louder as it wheeled into view through the trees, away from the holding pen. Harry gave them a wave again as he drove by, on his way back towards the corralling pen where the final raptor waited. Sidney hopped on the back of the forklift, giving Hannah a smirk as he went. She smirked back, draping her arm across the seat. He already couldn't wait to get back to her.
The jungle rolled by as Harry drove them back, wending their way along the service road. The night was clear, and Sidney breathed deep. Nublar was beautiful, but it lacked the rugged natural charm of Sorna, his home. Nublar was just too…manufactured.
A few minutes later and Sidney hopped off the truck, joining the ground team waiting there. He looked at the collection of faces, some serious, some smiling. All of them respectful. They knew him. He unslung his shotgun and raised his voice, letting it carry over the whirring of the forklift and the buzzing of the tasers.
"Last one then. Let's not take our eye off the ball now. Harry, lower that cage."
The transport cage descended on the forks, groaning and settling in front of the corral pen with a thump. With a nod, Sidney motioned for the meat to be tossed into the cage, another nod and the team pushed the cage into position, metal edge of the cage bumping against the outer pen gate. One final nod and Sidney motioned to Jose to raise the pen gate..
"Stand by,'' called Sidney. The team took their positions, surrounding the cage.
Silence filled the clearing of the pen, just the sound of Sidney's slow breathing in his ears. He could feel his body tensing again, and then he heard the thumps of the raptor as she padded into the cage, lured by the meat that had been thrown in. The sounds of the animal ripping at the meat filled the silence, and Sidney nodded at Jose. The cage gate closed.
"Well done,'' called Sidney. "That's it chaps. We can take it from here. Go grab a drink and enjoy the rest of your night." Calls and nods of thanks echoed about the clearing as Harry engaged the forks and lifted the cage up slowly. Sidney hopped on the back again and thumped the bodywork. "Last one then Harry. Mine's a lemonade."
"Thought you said you were paying tonight?" chuckled Harry, arms pumping the steering wheel as he reversed the forklift around and pointed it back onto the road. The motor engaged and they were moving. Sidney could see the Jeep ahead, the headlights glinting. She was still there, he could see. His heart began to beat that bit faster, his stomach fluttering again.
The forklift came to a stop and Harry lowered the cage to the ground. Sidney hopped off and paced around the cage, checking it. Just like he had done the other three. He moved close to the sides, hearing the thrumming purr coming from inside. The animal was moving, he could hear its tail brushing against the inside as it turned around and around, studying its captivity. He felt hot breath against his cheek. He patted the cage. The animal hissed.
"Hey, you guys ok if I go pinch a loaf?" Harry slid out of the seat from the truck, a pained expression on his face as he rubbed at his hair under his hard-hat. "I won't be long."
"The sedative will take a bit of time. You got twenty minutes,'' said Sidney. "Robert will be expecting this done in good order though. Don't hang about."
"Thanks Sid,'' said Harry, pursing his lips and briskly walking away down the road. Sidney watched him go, trying to stop the smile, and then he turned to Hannah, determined to stay professional whilst every fibre in his body was screaming for her.
"Last one then Han, then we can get her to Robert and go inspect the guest accommodation." He gave her a smirk, knowing she knew exactly what he meant. She smiled, but he could see in her eyes she was hesitant about something, distracted. She sniffed, nibbling her lip. "What is it?"
"Nothing,'' she said. He raised his eyebrows at her. "It's just, I haven't heard from Maisie for a few days. She's never gone this long between messages. I'm a bit worried. And…" Her face pinched up.
"And what?" said Sidney.
"I don't have enough,'' she said, a sheepish look spreading across her face.
"Enough what?" said Sidney, feeling a small tug of worry in his guts. Just a little one.
"Sedative. Gerry normally measures it out. I am still learning after all."
"You are joking?" Sidney could feel his frown coming on. "Please tell me this is a joke? Or actually, don't. Not when we are dealing with these animals." He flicked a glance at the cage. "Are you sure? Have you double checked?" He looked at her open case and bag, the blowpipe laying on the seat of the Jeep next to them. He saw scant evidence of any more sedative.
"It's not a joke Sid. I'm sorry. I just didn't think I'd need this much. I must have mis-calculated." Sidney let out a sigh, feeling himself veering towards being pissed off. This would reflect badly on him. Robert wouldn't be happy. "But, you know, maybe she won't need it. The others went in ok. And she's the last one. We can probably just let it happen. It's not like it's a full sedation. Nobody even knows the difference."
"No Han,'' said Sidney. "We need to alert Robert and his team and re-schedule. We can't take this chance. There are protocols." She looked chastised, hurt even. Her hands were in her pockets, her lips slightly pouty. She smirked, her eyes flashing. Sidney felt that worry even more. He knew that look.
"Come on, Sid,'' she said quietly, edging closer to him. One hand snaking out of a pocket and slowly pulling the zipper on her coat up and down. "Nobody will know. It'll be fine." That hand brushed his stomach, her fingers plucking at the buttons of his shirt. He took her hand.
"Stop it Han," he warned. She entwined her fingers in his, smiling and leaning into him.
"It'll be fine Sid. Stop worrying and trust me. The other three didn't really need the tranqs. Come on." She pulled at the shotgun strap on his shoulder, letting her fingers hiss between the leather and his chest. "It's fine." She leant in closer, her other hand now snaking around his waist, her fingers trailing up his back, feeling the contours of his muscles. "Harry's gonna be gone for a while. We can make use of that time and just say the sedative was done normally. I'll say it, if you'll just kiss me."
She darted forward, her lips pecking at his, teasing him, enticing him to kiss back. And he did. Against every warning in his head, he just couldn't say no. The scent of her filled his nose, the taste of her lashed against his tongue. He could feel himself giving in. He broke away suddenly, shaking his head.
"No Han! Stop!" She didn't. She pulled him closer, undoing his top buttons and kissing the bare flesh on his chest. Her hands were roaming him, gliding across parts that were sending shivers through him.
"Come on Sid,'' she purred. "Take this chance instead." She pulled the zipper of her coat down a bit further and flicked a few buttons on her shirt, revealing the black bra beneath, the smooth pale flesh of her breasts a stark contrast. And irresistible. "Here, have some of this." She pulled a hip flask from her pocket, the metal gleaming. Her fingers moved deftly, and the lid spun off, hanging from its fine chain. Sidney could smell the alcohol, and his mouth filled with water.
She leant in again, kissing him harder now. He was kissing back, trying to ignore the flask. He had one eye on it as she held it to one side. She brought it to her lips, pulling away from him and taking a nip, then was straight back at his mouth, the taste of the spirit on her tongue. He could feel the urges, so many of them, racing through his body, so fast he wasn't sure what he wanted more, her or the drink.
Their hands were pulling at each other, grasping, kneading and tracing. He could feel his belt buckle being undone, her hands delving. He was doing the same. He was losing himself. He could feel the control tumbling from his grasp, falling away and the wild feeling of abandon overtaking him.
She was pulling him into the Jeep, urgent and insistent. And he was letting her. And then the flask was at his lips, and the liquid was coursing down his throat, infusing him with more fire. More lust.
The car door shut and they were in the back seat, devouring each other in the dark, hidden from view by the black out windows. He was no longer losing himself, he was just lost. Lost in Hannah. In her body, in her touch. In the drink. More spirit passed his lips, and then laughter went the other way, joining her wicked giggles as he teased her.
Footsteps outside suddenly, and they both froze. Hannah pressed a finger to his lips, at the same time wrapping her hand around him, slowly pumping up and down and making him squirm, evil desire in her eyes.
"Sid? Miss Lockwood?" Harry's voice, confused. The footsteps paced around the Jeep, and Sidney felt his pulse quicken. What if they were caught? How the hell would he explain this. Any of it. "Sid?" There was a knock on the window. "Huh. Where the hell did they go then? Well, it's been twenty minutes."
The footsteps went away and Sidney heard the forklift truck motor start up, the whirring groan of the cage being lifted. The truck wheeled away through the trees, Sidney could hear the branches and leaves swishing and slapping against the cage.
He prized Hannah's hand off him, fumbling his prick back into his trousers and hastily buckling his belt. Hannah giggled and offered him the flask. His pulse was really hammering now, and somehow he pushed it away, clambering to the front seats and almost falling out of the door.
Beyond the trees, he could hear Muldoons team calling and shouting as Harry manoeuvred the cage into position.
"Please,'' he breathed, feeling his nerves tingling nastily. Why hadn't he said no? Hannah's arms slid around his shoulders and neck, her lips and teeth nibbling at his ear lobe. He could smell the alcohol on her breath. On his breath too. He watched, and listened, trying to ignore her, already feeling the intense urge to grab that flask and down it all. The bump of the cage landing on the runners drifted to him and he could hear Muldoons instruction carrying on the breeze, as routine as clockwork just like the three previous transfers.
"Pushing team move in there. I want tasers on full charge." There was a muffled scream of the animal from the cage, agitated. Sidney stiffened. Muldoon was shouting. "Steady! Go on, get back in there. And push."
Sidney heard the cage being pushed into position, the gentle whine of the wheels on the runners sending waves of apprehension through him. His hand was opening and closing. He wanted to go over there but was too worried, too scared. God he needed more of that drink now. Bollocks to the years of staying sober. This was a good enough excuse. The cage mechanism clicked and he heard the klaxon signal the successful docking.
"Well done,'' called Muldoon. "Loading team, step away. Gatekeeper." Sidney's hands were shaking, whilst Hannah's were roaming down him again, pulling him back to the Jeep. She didn't care. She didn't want him to care. But he did. "Joffrey! Raise the gate."
There was a moment of held breath, of awful waiting. Awful conflict raging inside Sidney. And then his insides went cold. He heard the animal screech, as he knew it would. He just knew. There was a bang, and then it sounded like hell had broken free of the cage. Men were shouting, yelling. Someone was screaming. Screaming in pain. He could hear Robert shouting.
"Work her back!"
Hannah let out a small gasp behind him. He looked at her, feeling nothing but shame, and disgust. He tasted the alcohol on his lips again, and the revulsion swept through him like a fire. A nauseous fire.
Then he was running. Running towards the madness, forgetting his shotgun. Forgetting to do up his shirt top buttons. He crashed through the trees, sprinting towards the holding pen and vaulting up the concrete ledge next to the forklift.
Muldoons team were all over the place, swarming around the cage, leaning in and sticking tasers through it. Sparks and bursts of electrical light were flashing everywhere. The screaming was getting louder. He pushed his way through the men, hurling them out of the way. He saw Muldoon, sat wedged in the gap between the pen and cage, his legs braced and his face straining with every effort to hold onto the arm that was slowly slipping through his own. The hand on the end of it was grasping at the air, a horrible cry of pain coming from the cage.
"Shoot her!" shouted Muldoon. Nobody seemed to move. Nobody seemed to listen. "Shoot her!" Sidney wrenched the SPAS-12 from the man next to him, dashing towards Muldoon and the open cage. He leapt over Muldoon and pointed the gun at the animal, ignoring the bloody scene of carnage before him. He pulled the trigger. Then again. And again. The slugs ripped into the animal as it finally pulled the man Muldoon was holding into the cage. Sidney fired three more times, the animal at last falling away, its dying sounds snarling at Sidney as he looked in horror at what it had done. No.
At what he had done. He couldn't believe it.
He couldn't believe it. It was her. No. It must be a ghost. An apparition. A phantom from his memories, come back to haunt him. But there she was, running through the garage, dirty and bruised, stumbling and pushing her way through the gaps between the crates and vehicles. Her eyes met his as he stood there, caught between running and looking back, seeing the shapes of Williams and Dr. Davis coming. Beyond, the shapes of velociraptors were appearing through that far door.
"Sid!" Hannah yelled, tumbling from the gap and running towards him. He didn't have time to understand. Didn't have time to ask how. There was a metallic bang beyond her, metal barrels were falling to the floor. He caught a glimpse of someone else. A woman, with short blonde hair. Jane?
Then the garage went very bright. There was a deafening boom, and the force of a sudden explosion was buffeting against him, sending him stumbling back and rolling along the floor. Someone slammed into the ground next to him. It was Hannah, her dark hair so familiar. He groaned, feeling the intense heat washing over them. Deeper into the garage, more explosions were rippling through the cargo and equipment. Sounded like the lab was being bombed. Groaning, he reached out and grabbed her hand. She was real after all. She looked up, wincing, confused about why she was on the floor.
"Up,'' he called, above the growing roar of the fires. He could hear other people yelling now, hear the thud of boots on the floor. He pulled Hannah up, pushing his way up onto his knees and bringing her in close, making sure he had her. She was clinging to him, her face flicking through God knows how many emotions. The look of bewildered horror seemed to hang there for a while as she looked at Sidney's blind eye. He squinted, feeling the heat from the fires. "Come on,'' he coughed, urging her on.
They staggered up together, each holding on to the other. Someone was moving towards them, someone thin with frizzy hair. Dark skin, Sidney could see. Viv. She was holding the edge of crates for support, one of her sleeves singed and still smoking slightly. She looked lost.
Someone was coming up behind her, someone tall, broad. And bald. Sidney felt his lips pull back from his teeth. Too much to hope for that that bastard had been caught in the blast. Sidney couldn't see Adam though, or Barker. He felt an odd stab of regret. It was quickly replaced by the far worse stab of Adam's betrayal as Cutter shambled up, his grim face a reminder of Adam's as he and Sidney had wrestled on that bridge, nose to nose and trying their best to kill the other. Sidney clenched his fist, now wrestling with the disbelief of what his friend had become. What he'd done.
Then there was Barker too. How he was involved, Sidney was yet to fully find out. It didn't really matter though. Barker had picked his side, and it was the side that was pointing the guns. The wrong side, as far as Sidney was concerned.
Cutter shouldered Viv aside as he reached Sidney, his face blackened by the blast.
"The fuck you waiting for?" he growled. "Let's move."
"Where's Dr. Davis, and Captain Williams?" asked Sidney, finding that he'd half shielded Hannah with his body. Cutter scowled, turning and looking back towards the centre of the fires.
"Probably in that damn inferno, eh? Where do you think?"
Sidney was pushing down the strong urge to punch the man. He could feel the ache in his arm, begging to be tensed up and made into a fist to swing. Cutter was looking hard at Sidney though. He'd see it coming. There was sudden movement from the burning crates, and two more figures emerged, looking like they were wrestling as they shambled along. It was Williams, limping along, with Barker looking caught between urging him on at gun point and helping him. They were both sporting scorched clothes. Sidney could see the pained expression on Barker's face, flicking between frustration and reluctance. Williams shook Barkers hand off as he attempted to help him along.
"Get your hands off me, Barker," growled Williams, disgust on his face. "I can manage. You go run along with your new crew." Barker let him limp ahead, looking sour. His lip twitched with anger as he looked at the case in his other hand and then at Williams.
"Captain,'' yelled Sidney. "Where is Dr. Davis?" Williams shook his head, hissing from the apparent pain in his leg.
"Those things…" he said, looking back. "She's gone."
"And Jane? Where is Adam? Did you see them?"
"All I saw is fire, Mr. Wallace," said Williams. Sidney bit his lip. Jane was in there somewhere, Adam too.
"Get to the bus,'' said Sidney, pointing towards the door. "I'm going to go back for Jane." Cutter stepped across him, the barrel of his handgun suddenly up under his chin, digging in. Sidney felt the knife in Cutters other hand, Sidney's knife, pricking at his stomach.
"I don't think so, Englishman. You know the way, you're coming with me. And you too,'' he said, pointing at Barker. "You still got that case, which means I still get my money. Dodgson's going to pay up one way or another. Move, now."
"What about Wilson?" asked Barker.
"What about him?" said Cutter. The rest went unsaid. Cutters eyes did the explaining. "Now get going."
Cutter ushered them all towards the door, growling at Barker to hurry up. Sidney shuffled on with them, pulling Hannah with him. Her hand gripped tight to his, not letting go.
They reached the shutter door and Cutter gripped the bottom, heaving the door up and out of the way. The metal runners clanked loudly as they spun, disappearing up into the wall above. Outside, the wind and rain blew in, and Cutter was pulling them out. Viv helped Williams out, but Cutter put his arm across her.
"No. You two, at the back. Whites first, eh?" Viv's eyes went wide, and Sidney could feel his mouth dropping open, unable to believe what he'd just heard.
"They come with all of us, Cutter, together," said Sidney, feeling his fist closing again.
"The hell is your problem?" threw in Viv, her face turning its own shade of anger.
"You want me to spell it out," spat Cutter, pointing his gun at Viv's forehead. She stared back at him, hard. He just leant down and spoke into her face. "Kaffa's at the back." He turned away, leaving her shaking with rage. "Move now." He pointed the gun at Sidney. "Get on the bus, Englishman."
"Go Mr. Wallace,'' rumbled Williams, not taking his eyes of Cutter. His own simmering fury burning. "We'll be fine." Barker hovered behind them, looking uncomfortable again. Disgusted. But at what, Sidney could only guess.
Cutter grunted and then Barker was next to him, moving out into the rain alongside Sidney and Hannah, all of them stooping against the weather, whilst Viv and Williams came after. Sidney watched his shotgun, bouncing against Barkers back on its strap. He bit his lip again, wondering if he could get it. Take back the control. His arm chose that moment to remind him of the gash there, the stinging pain lancing up to his elbow. Since Adam had dug his fingers into it the pain was getting worse. He'd last two seconds against Barker and Cutter. He'd need to pick his moment well.
They were weaving between the crates in the forecourt when Sidney felt the first faint tremor through his feet. The others felt it too, and he could see Cutters head swivelling around. He knew what it meant now. Sidney looked behind him, seeing Viv and Williams struggling along. Their eyes locked with Sidney's and he felt sick. They were going too slow.
"Go,'' cried Sidney, urging Hannah on. He looked at Barker. "Get the engine started!" Barker looked like Sidney was asking him to explain rocket science, but the man nodded, flicking a glance at Cutter who was frowning hard at Sidney. "We lose them, you lose me," said Sidney, turning and running back through the rain to Williams.
He pelted through the puddles, reaching the struggling Captain and Viv. He hooked Williams arm around his shoulders and helped take the weight, lending his strength. Together they pushed onwards, just as the tremors grew stronger.
Ahead, the dark shape of the bus became two watery glows of red as the taillights came on. The engine began to cough and retch as Barker, or someone at least, apparently attempted to get the thing started. Sidney felt a sudden panic that they would call his bluff and leave without him, leaving them to the non-existent mercy of the approaching tyrannosaur.
He could hear trees cracking and thrashing now, at a different beat to the storm, out of place with the gusts of wind. A shape appeared, next to the far-right wing of the lab garages. The blue female. The one who Cutter had thrown Gail too. The one that would now have a new taste that it was curious about. She'd always been a curious one. A bit too playful at times. Now that playfulness would be giving way to the hunter instinct. They weren't far from the bus when he saw it catch sight of them, and then he could feel its quickening steps as Viv hauled Williams up the steps onto the bus and Sidney stumbled up after them.
"Go! Fucking go!" yelled Sidney, sprawling down the aisle between the seats. The engine finally rumbled to life, and Barker stamped on the accelerator pedal. Sidney heard the wet screech of the tyres as the air brakes released, and then the bus lurched forward. Hannah helped Sidney up, her face petrified, just as something went thump on the roof.
Sidney saw a shape swing past one of the rear-most windows. He couldn't work it out. It looked like… He gasped, suddenly springing up and pushing past Cutter as he turned in his seat. It was a pair of legs, boots scrambling against the wet windows as they fought to get purchase. Sidney recognised the trousers. He'd made an appraising assessment of what Jane had worn the first time he saw her. She was alive. The bus was picking up speed, and then the huge shape of the tyrannosaur appeared behind them, huge legs propelling it.
"Which way!? Where do I fucking go!?" yelled Barker, arms dragging at the wheel as he steered the bus into the eaves of the jungle, the darkness becoming deeper. The pounding tremors of the pursuing Rex vibrated through the bus, its hungry roars mingling with the growl of the engine as Barker gunned it.
"Just follow the damn road!" yelled Sidney as he stumbled to the back of the bus. "Viv! Help me!"
The dark-skinned woman lurched over, seeing the swinging legs against the rear window, the closing shape of the dinosaur beyond, a black monster in the dark of the jungle, save for the hellish red glow of the taillights. Together they wrenched the rear window down as far as it would go, the flailing legs of Jane almost kicking Sidney in the face. He could hear her cries of terror and determination to hold on, mixed in with the rubbery squeak of her boots on the glass and her hands on the wet roof. Sidney felt the bus angling slightly upwards. They were climbing the road up out of the valley. He tried to picture its twist and turns but couldn't.
"Oh Jesus,'' cried Viv, seeing the Rex gaining on them, its short burst of speed outmatching the bus's engine. The mouth was opening wider, the tongue catching the rear lights and turning it blood red. Sidney snaked an arm out, wrapping it around Jane's knees, trying to let her know he had her. She stopped wriggling, her feet finding a bit of purchase.
"Faster you fool!" yelled Cutter, standing by Barker now.
Sidney cried out as the cut in his arm seared with pain, his fingers cramping as he held onto the edge of the window with one hand and Jane with the other. The panting mouth of the tyrannosaur was barely ten feet behind them. There was a loud hiss, and then a deafening roar as it tried to close the gap.
Sidney's guts lurched as the bus bumped over a lump in the road, and he felt Jane's body slide against his arm, slipping down with sudden and awful speed. He heard her yelp, and he could already feel the agony of knowing her couldn't hold her. Her wet clothes slapped against his arm, and on stubborn instinct he let go of his hold on the window and lashed his hand out, grasping.
His fingers closed on her coat, grabbing the fabric. She slapped against the rear of the bus, crying out, her arms flailing and hands grasping. He felt fingers close on his arms, and then her weight, half pulling him out of the speeding bus.
He looked up, raw terror gripping him as hard as he gripped her, the Rex just behind them. All it had to do was lunge.
He looked at Jane, seeing those cool blue eyes behind her dirty and cracked glasses, wide with terror. Probably mirrored his own. Viv's hands closed around Jane's arms as she clung there, legs kicking against the back of the bus's bumper.
"Do something Barker!" yelled Williams.
Sidney and Viv heaved Jane up, just as the Rex lunged, huge mouth opening and snapping shut around Jane's waist.
Or would have done. The bus suddenly swerved to the side, and then they were crashing through the jungle, careering down a narrow service track. Sidney yelped as the sudden speed increased, the bus hurtling down on an unseen path. He looked up and saw the glaring tyrannosaur, up on the edge of the track, looking down after them. It hissed, but the roar was lost in the storm and the darkness as the bus plunged down the track.
Sidney and Viv tumbled down with Jane, all of them panting. They slid into the steel legs of the seats, banging against them painfully as the bus lurched and jostled through the trees, the chassis screaming in protest and the engine whining as Barker plummeted them down the track.
Sidney was aware of people yelling on the bus. Hannah may have been screaming. Cutter was shouting at Barker. Something about the case maybe. Sidney didn't care. He was too focused on holding onto the legs of a seat and not cracking his head open. He could see Viv and Jane were of a similar mind.
There was a loud bang and Sidney felt the bus level out. The body of the bus bounced, groaned and shook as it settled on its axles, the engine not happy with the sudden direction they had taken. There was a nasty grinding coming from somewhere. Sidney tentatively uncurled from around the bottom of the seat, pulling himself up.
The others were clinging or crouching against the seats or windows, their fingers holding tight to whatever they could find. Cutter was stood beside Barker, holding the steel post next to his seat and turning his frown from Barker to Sidney. His eyes landed on Jane and narrowed.
"You must be the one that Wilson was getting in a flap about." He thudded down the bus towards Jane, towering over her as she got up. "Must be a tenacious little bitch to get him so worked up. Are you a tenacious little bitch? You gonna be trouble for me?"
To Jane's credit, she didn't back down. She stood there, holding Cutter's eye. Sidney could see she was tense, but this was a different Jane to the one he'd last seen.
"Why don't you go back and ask Adam?" she said, coolly. Cutter just smirked and scoffed, turning away.
"You take a seat, doctor. Any tricks, I'll shoot you dead. You weren't included in the Englishman's deal. Oh, and I'll have that hammer, thank you." He plucked an old hammer from Jane's belt and turned to Sidney. "Up you get then, now you've had your heroics. Driving seat. Now."
He flicked the barrel of his gun, and Barker seemed to get the point as well. The bus slowed to a stop, and Barker got out of the seat, holding the case and Sidney's shotgun again. He perched himself in a seat at the front as Sidney took the wheel, his mind not moving quick enough to come up with something clever.
He was facing the very real possibility that these two would be on the plane with them. Something he desperately wanted to avoid. Deal or not, Sidney was fully intending to go back on it. He didn't trust either of them.
He revved up the bus and got them going again, wending his way through the jungle, the headlights lighting his way through the stormy night. Water splashed up the side of the bus as small rivers of flood water cascaded off the steep slopes on their right. The slopes they'd just come hurtling down. He wasn't quite sure how they all weren't dead. Service tracks like that were for ATV's or the Wranglers. Not the damn shuttle bus.
"How far,'' rumbled Cutter in his ear.
"Couple of hours,'' said Sidney. "Maybe a bit more now that we've taken a bit of a detour."
"Just remember,'' said Cutter softly. "I'll kill them all before I kill you if you try and fuck me on this." He pushed the barrel of the gun painfully into the back of Sidney's neck and then pulled it away, making sure Sidney got the point. Wasn't difficult.
Sidney was still coping with his churning nerves when he'd made that deal, back at the lab. When he'd done something that had nearly made him puke all over the floor, gambling with people's lives like that. He flicked a glance in the rear-view mirror, seeing Hannah sat in a nearby seat, her eyes catching his. It was worse now.
He'd not believed he'd ever see her again. In a way, it had been easier. There had been too many emotions, the last time he'd seen her. Too much said and done between them. Too much blame. He took a deep breath, looking at her again. Those emotions were still there, just waiting at the door. Ready to tumble back in and throw him into turmoil all over again. He let out the breath, hoping to find a bit of focus. He ignored her, trying to wrench his mind onto the bigger problem of keeping everyone from getting shot or left behind on this island. The last thing he needed was Andrea's last look of scorn before Cutter shot him for the fun of it.
He drummed his fingers on the wheel, watching the road, trying to think and stay alert for any sudden animals. More than once something darted across the road, sometimes a small black shape, other times something larger. His mind drifted to Adam again, left behind. Dead or alive, he didn't know. And now he realised he didn't care. The man he thought he knew didn't exist. He'd met the real Adam, the one willing to do anything. Willing to do the worst things imaginable, and for what?
He looked at Barker, watching the man frown at the reflection of himself in the window. He'd seemed like a good man. Seemed Sidney had misjudged more than one person. Still, he could see the man's conflict. Barker had hold of the case tighter than he did the shotgun. The case was obviously more valuable to him. Sidney felt a wave of sickening contempt wash over him as he realised it all came down to money. He wanted nothing more to do with any of it. Trouble was, seemed he was right at the centre of it anyway, and it didn't look like letting him go just yet.
"Sid,'' said Viv suddenly. He flicked his eye to her. She was sat with Williams, the man looking in a bad way. "He needs help. It's his leg."
"How bad?" said Sidney, knowing the answer already.
"Very. He needs fresh dressing, maybe some sutures. He fell in the explosion. And I think it opened up the wound, its bleeding pretty bad." Sidney clenched his teeth together, his fingers drumming faster. He looked at Cutter, and the bald man was already shaking his head.
"We don't stop till we are there,'' he said. "Either carry on or I throw the kaffa off the bus." Viv stiffened. Barker had turned his frown on Cutter.
"You touch him, and you're on your own,'' growled Sidney. "We're stopping at the next board house or handler station." Sidney caught Cutters eye, staring hard. "And we're not in South Africa."
"Don't test me, Englishman, I am…"
"No,'' said Sidney, cutting across him. "Don't you test me. You want that money you're so desperate for, then you sit there and shut up whilst we patch him up." Cutter hissed at him but didn't push it. "There's a board house in a few miles. We stop there."
Sidney looked back at the road, ignoring any further looks from Cutter. Might be able to buy a bit more time to think of something. Maybe.
The minutes ticked by and the board house loomed into view. It was situated halfway down a hillside, tucked into the curve of the road as it snaked down the slopes. On a clear day, the upper balcony overlooked a sea of jungle canopy, and occasionally it was a good spot to see the grazing brachiosaurs. Sidney parked up the bus beside the house next to the sloping ridge. Below, through the short trees, the road curved round and twisted away down into more jungle. He pulled the door lever and helped Viv with Williams.
Barker and Cutter filed out after them, Cutter keeping a close eye on Jane and Hannah as they shuffled over next to Sidney. Sidney could see Jane frowning. Viv helped Williams up the short steps and into the house, Sidney and Hannah close behind them. Jane came last, Cutter and Barker ushering her on with the guns.
Sidney helped Viv carry Williams to a wicker chair and set him down. The Jamaican hissed as he settled into the seat, beads of sweat running down his face. Hannah flicked a small table lamp on, the dim glow doing little to light up the room.
"You ok?" asked Barker warily.
"Like you give a damn,'' murmured Williams. The older man turned his heavy-lidded eyes on Barker. "Why though, huh? Why'd you do this? Why you with them?" Barker frowned, almost shrugging.
"You ever been desperate?" said Barker. "It doesn't matter now though does it. We've all made our choices. I'm sorry though, for what it's worth."
"Tell that to Todd, and Max. Bertram too." Williams closed his eyes and looked away. Barker didn't say anything. Just slunk away to the shadows, cradling the case and looking like he wanted to be a hundred miles away.
Viv re-appeared with a small first aid kit and a bottle of clear liquid. Sidney's mouth began to water when he saw it, seeing the hypnotic way the liquid sloshed and swayed. He could almost smell the spirit as Viv undid the screw top.
"Help me with this,'' she said, holding the bottle out to Sidney. He hesitated, not sure what he'd do now if he took it. The stylised blue label on the bottle was like a work of art. A hand closed on the bottle, gently taking it from Viv and away from Sidney. Jane smiled at Sidney, a sad smile, full of understanding. The warmth of the gesture hit Sidney in his guts. It was the most emotion he'd seen the woman ever display. She gave him a short nod, and then he stepped back, letting her and Viv tend to Williams. The man was breathing heavily as they unbound his soaked and dirty dressing.
Sidney moved over to a window, looking out into the night, seeing nothing but his faint reflection and the snaking drops of rainwater on the glass. Hannah appeared beside him, arms crossed tightly across her chest, her pale lips twisting as she bit them. She was quiet. The silence between them stretched out. Sidney didn't know whether it was preferable or not. In the end, she broke it by reaching out and touching his face, running her fingers gently over his sore cheek.
"Dilophosaurus?" she asked gently. He nodded slowly. "What happened?" Sidney sighed, unwilling to drag up that memory. He couldn't bear the thought of Grace's face.
"It doesn't matter now,'' he said. The silence stretched by again. "What happened to you Han? I thought you were dead."
"I washed up on the beach. Didn't know where I was. Didn't think I'd ever find anyone until sailor Jerry over there found me." Sidney glanced at her, feeling the frustration beginning to bubble up. But the more he looked, the more he knew he was past it. Too much had happened now. Too many lives lost. Betrayal's that cut deeper than the blame he wanted to place on her. On himself.
"I was so angry with you Han, when I left you in that cabin. And even when I thought you were dead, I thought that somehow I could still put things right. With the people left here. If I could just get them back safely, maybe show Robert that I was still worth having around." He smiled grimly to himself. "Then more people started dying. However much I tried, I couldn't save them." She looked at him, sadness in her eyes.
"They told me what happened to you, in that monorail. I thought I'd never see you again. Sid you have to believe me, I regret everything. What we did…what I did. I swear." He huffed.
"For a while I thought if I did find you, if by some miracle you were alive, that I could make you tell the truth, about that night. I fooled myself, when all hell was breaking loose here, thinking that if you would just tell Robert and Hammond…that maybe my life wouldn't continue falling to pieces." He turned to her. The anger was melting away. "I can't blame you anymore Han. I've been blaming myself for so long I don't have anything left. I'm just glad you're alive. The truth is, it was all my fault anyway. I'm the one who should take the responsibility." He balled his fists and dug his knuckles into the windowsill. "Although, it's Adam and these pricks here are who need the blame."
"You know it was that Clint guy that blew the ship up don't you?"
"What?" Sidney looked over at Barker, scowling in the corner. Cutter was close by, keeping an eye on the door and the group.
"I don't know who that Gail woman really was, but she was after them. She knew something. She almost had Clint, I think, on the boat. But, well, you saw."
"No accident then,'' said Sidney. "And all for money." Hannah frowned, looking puzzled. She was glancing over at Clint.
"Unless…" she said quietly.
"Unless what?" said Sidney. Hannah winced.
"A few months back, I went for a drink with Adam…" Sidney felt a stab of jealousy. "He got really drunk. He kept trying it on, but he was weird. Kept rambling on about his discovery and how Wu was stifling his breakthroughs and his suggestions. Said he had something special for the company, but Wu was just shutting him down." Hannah turned and leant against the sill. "I just thought he was drunk, you know?"
"Sounds like he might have found someone who would listen then,'' said Sidney.
"I'm sorry Sid. I know he was your friend. Look, for what's its worth, when we get back, I'll clear it with Robert. Hammond, too, if need be. I'll tell them my mistake. I'll tell them everything."
"If we get back,'' he murmured. He turned and watched Jane and Viv finish patching up Williams. The man was hissing and grumbling as he stood, putting weight on his leg. Looked like they'd done a good enough job. Jane came over, holding a fresh bandage.
"Mr Wallace? I think that arm might benefit from this at least." Sidney nodded as she wrapped his forearm, her cool blue eyes focused on her task. She tied the dressing off.
"Do you have a plan?" she asked quietly. Before he could answer Cutter was banging the wall with his fist.
"Time to go then, eh?" He kicked the door open, looking like he was going to be kicking his way all the way back to the plane. Sidney really needed to get rid of him. He looked at Barker, who was watching the others begin to file out after Cutter, the barrel of Sidney's shotgun flicking towards the door in time with each person. Sidney's fingers were twitching, trying to think. Barker motioned to him to follow.
He trudged out, back into the storm and down the steps towards the rear of the bus. He almost bumped into Jane. Everyone had stopped. Sidney squinted up and saw shapes across the road, near the edge of the jungle, maybe seven of them. His breath caught in his throat when he saw they were bi-pedal, the dark outlines changing as they moved from the edge of the trees. Lightening flashed and he saw them flinch from the sudden light. His breath exhaled. The light had been enough to see the domed skulls of the pachycephalosaurus. More of them were appearing from the trees now, mewing and honking at the storm. Cutter was looking tense as he watched them. Sidney could see he was slowly raising his gun. Sidney pushed his way past Jane quickly.
"Don't pull that trigger,'' he hissed. "These are herbivores. They are no threat unless you fire that gun." Cutter looked sideways at him.
"They look threatening to me,'' he said. He pointed the gun at them, panning his weapon from side to side, deciding which one to fire at.
"Cutter! You spook those things you will cause a stampede." Cutter's eyes slid from Sidney to the animals, narrowed against the rain and winds. He shrugged. Then fired into the ground a few feet from the front most dinosaur. The gunshot sounded quiet in the storm, yet Sidney tensed up, expecting the animals to start running. They just looked at the group, some of them pawing at the ground. Sidney watched them wide-eyed, waiting for it, but it just didn't happen.
"On the bus then,'' said Cutter, smiling. Sidney glared at him, then heard the hoot. Faint, but he heard it. The pachycephalosaurs had too. Then they started honking.
The wet thuds of the dinosaurs suddenly moving became noticeable, and they all watched as the shapes of the animals came charging towards them. Sidney grabbed Hannah and pulled her towards the bus as the hard skulls of the animals went careering past, ploughing through the group and past the bus, some running over the edge of the ridge and down the slope into the dark of the trees.
The sinuous shapes of dilophosaurus were darting behind the stampeding herbivores, snapping at the tails or spitting at the fleeing prey. Wet slaps of the black venom struck the side of the bus, and Sidney was aware of people running for cover, scrambling to get on the bus. Cutter was firing into the dark towards the shapes, hitting nothing. A shotgun blast tore through the night, but Sidney couldn't see where from or what it was firing at. People were shouting, yelling and running, trying to avoid the hard skulls of the running herbivores.
Sidney pulled Hannah along. "Get to the bus!" he yelled, pushing her along side it. Cutter appeared around the front of the vehicle, looking ready to shoot the next thing that moved. His gun flicked towards them, but he sneered and wheeled round, firing at a passing dinosaur. Sidney couldn't tell which kind it was. Cutter looked distracted enough for Sidney to take the mad chance.
He raced towards Cutter, balling his fist as the man turned back towards him. He swung, yelling. Sidney's fist connected with Cutter's jaw and the big man stumbled away, a look of sudden shock on his face. Cutter swung his own arm, growling. Sidney caught it and butted his forehead into Cutter's nose. Cutter floundered to the ground, rolling away. He sprung up, just as a passing pachycephalosaur caught him in the thigh. Sidney heard him roar as he was knocked down.
Sidney didn't wait. He spun around and saw Hannah. Only she was on the ground, by the edge of the ridge top, a few feet from the back of the bus and crawling backwards on her arse. Sidney's stomach heaved when he saw the shape that was approaching her. He could see the limp arm, the tattered frill. He couldn't believe it. He felt that cold fear wash over him.
The alpha dilo was hissing at Hannah as she crawled away. Its head darted forward as she twisted onto her stomach, the dark venom thwacking onto her shoulder blade. She cried out as she tried to get up, trying to run.
The lightening flashed, and in that moment Sidney felt his anger bubble up again. He screamed, and ran. Hannah stood up as the dinosaur lunged, its jaws snapping on her coat. It tugged her back just as Sidney crashed into it, lifting it bodily off the ground, screaming into its face. And in that moment, its eye looked into his, he was sure he felt its own hatred.
They tumbled over the edge of the ridge, landing with a heavy thud on the slope and rolling, falling and bumping against one another. He caught a sudden glimpse of Hannah as she fell with them. Legs, claws, tail, arms all intwined together as they fell down the wet slope. The dark sky above turned over and over, and then they were between the trees, dark posts flashing past them, clipping them and sending them spinning even more.
Sidney got a mouthful of wet mud, and beside him he saw the dilophosaur twist and bend in an unnatural way, its head folding under its body. It screeched and its tail lashed, catching Sidney as he slid and rolled. The impact spun him away and he collided with a bush, sharp twigs scratching at his sore face and poking through his shirt, holding him still as he panted and groaned.
He thrashed to free himself, pulling away from the bush and trying to find his balance on the slope. He looked down, seeing the road below a few feet away, cutting through the jungle on a flatter part of the slope. The alpha was nowhere to be seen. But he could hear it hissing. Something rustled in the dark, and he braced. But nothing happened. Then it appeared, standing up from the shrubs and glaring at him. It was only a few feet away. It held his eye, it's mouth hanging open, it's tongue lolling. Seemed a long moment hung between them. The dilophosaur finally hissed, and then it vanished, melting into the foliage. He wiped his chin, spitting away mud.
"Han!?" he yelled. "Han where are you?"
"Over here." He felt a surge of relief, fighting his way along the slope in the direction of her voice. "Sid, over here!"
He saw her, over by a tree, in a kind of crouch. He could see her raised arm, beckoning him. He floundered over to her, taking her hand.
"Thank God. Are you hurt?" She just looked at him, then looked down.
A thick pointed branch was stuck through her stomach. And another, just below her breast. Watery blood was seeping through her shirt. Sidney tried to lift her, but she just clutched his hand tighter, her eyes boring into his, almost pleading. Looked like she wanted to say something else. The rain dripped off her nose as a small breath passed her lips.
"Hannah!" he yelled, cupping her cheek.
She didn't answer.