As the boat took them downstream they were finally able to see the full extent of the aviary. Charlotte had to admit that it was a beautiful structure. She hated it because it kept these dinosaurs encaged and stole one of her friends but she couldn't help but be impressed at the striking architecture.
"My own kid was right in front of me and I didn't do a damn thing." Charlotte heard Paul say as she forced her attention from the giant cage.
"You couldn't have made that jump."
"I should have tried. It should have been me on that beach back there, not Billy." Charlotte tensed at the mention of her friend and out of the corner one her eye she saw her uncle look down.
"How would you have helped Eric?" There was no answer. "He needs you, Paul. He needs us."
"He could have died." Paul replied quietly, not wanting his son to hear these words.
"But he didn't. And neither did you. And I'm glad about that."
"I'm sorry Charlotte." She glanced over at the woman who spoke. The blonde looked guilty and for a second Charlotte wanted to yell, to scream at the Kirbys for dragging her uncle and Billy into this situation. She would have yelled, if she were her sister, but she was too tired. She had never been good at confrontation.
She was only able to form a small smile in response.
Charlotte moved from the Kirby's in favor of sitting with her uncle and Eric. Her uncle looked devastated and exhausted. Eric just looked guilty, which Charlotte noticed made him look more like his mother.
"Do you have any kids?" Eric asked her uncle who glanced over at Charlotte.
"No. Although I've studied them in the wild. And I have two nieces." Eric looked over at Charlotte, confused by what her uncle meant.
"I have a sister. And he's watched us in our natural habitat plenty of times." Charlotte added along to her uncle's comparison of children being wild animals. At this point Eric looked even more confused at the analogy.
"Do you have kids?" He directed the question at the brunette.
"God no." She stopped when she saw the hurt expression on Eric's face. "They're fine I just, I'm not good with them." He nodded in understanding.
"I have a theory that there's two kinds of boys." Her uncle interjected. "Those who want to be astronomers and those who want to be astronauts."
"Or girls." Charlotte added, making her uncle smile.
"Or girls."
"I want to be an astronaut." Eric answered with certainty, smiling at his adventurous side.
"See, I was the opposite. I never understood why anyone would want to go into space. It's so dangerous. You do one thing wrong and you're dead. The astronomer - or the paleontologist -get to study these amazing things from a place of complete safety. And truthfully, everything you really need to learn, you can learn it from the ground."
"But then you never get to go in space." Eric said sadly.
"Exactly. The difference between imagining how things might be and seeing how they really are. To be able to touch them. That's what Billy wanted to do. That's why Charlotte came, that's what she wanted."
Charlotte nodded as Eric looked at her. "Life is too short to only look at stars."
As the boat goes around a bend and they are treated with an extraordinary sight. Eric gasps.
"I can blame the people who made this island. But I can't blame the people who want to see it. To study it." Alan isn't sure if anyone is even listening, all he wants is to organize his thoughts. Charlotte now sees what Eric gasped at now as the boat started slowing down. Just in front of them lays a large valley filled with dinosaurs. There was no fighting, no enclosures and no people. It hit Charlotte that they were looking back at what life was like millions of years ago. It was the purest form of dinosaurs they would ever see.
"How's a boy suppose to resist this?" Her uncle finished his thought, staring wistfully at the scene in front of them.
During the next few hours all the members of the group were able to get some well deserved sleep. The Kirby's elected to take first watch, as they wanted time with their son. Charlotte had no argument against their suggestion and was quickly able to fall asleep. Alan was a little more apprehensive but agreed with the promise of being woken up in two hours. She curled up on the side of the boat clutching her empty bag and falling asleep to the sounds of distant birds, trying anything to not think about the lives they had lost. When it was Charlotte and Alan's turn to stay awake they both remained silent until Charlotte couldn't take the quiet anymore.
"I know why you hate me." Charlotte breathed out. She meant to slowly lead a conversation into this topic but she knew her uncle appreciated straightforwardness rather than fluff. Regardless, she winced at the bluntness of her statement, daring to take a quick glance at her uncle who froze for a moment.
"I don't hate you." He responded, looking at the girl as if she'd grown a second head.
"Okay, not hate but, like, you didn't want me at the dig site."
He sighed. "I don't know how to treat you. or your sister. You just grow up too fast. One moment I'm reading Dr. Seuss and the next both of you are wearing makeup and driving." He took a moment. "I just figured when you called you were running away from something and I wasn't sure that I was the best guy to help."
She thought back to what made her decide to move back. Her job was fine, boring and repetitive, but fine. It was secure with health benefits and financial stability still, when she thought of going back she felt like she was unable to breathe. "I was running towards something, I think."
"I know." Alan responded, a genuine but hesitant smile across his face.
The Kirby's woke up a little after Alan and Charlotte's heartfelt conversation which had ended rather abruptly and resulted in a comfortable silence. Paul situated himself behind the wheel as Amanda held on to Eric. He slowly makes his way around a shallow barges the sound of the sat phone rings out in the air.
"Keep quiet." Paul cut out the motor as the five stand still. They keep holding their breath until the finally made it around the barge to see a huge pile of dinosaur droppings.
Charlotte laughed in relief as the boat slows towards the land. Alan, Amanda and Paul climbed out of the boat. Charlotte scrunches up her face in disgust as the trio plunge their hands into the droppings.
"I've got something. I think I've got something!" She could hear Paul yell. Eric started smiling, glancing at Charlotte who gave a nod back to the boy.
Eric stood up on the boat looking out into the murky water. "Something moved." He whispered to Charlotte who gave him a concerned look and stood from her seat on the boat floor.
"What is that?" He asked again. This question got the attention of the other members, who began searching the dark water.
Just then multiple fish jumped out of the water, causing Charlotte to screech and Eric to jump.
"Bonitas."
"Something must've scared them." Eric stated as a roll of thunder was heard.
"Get the motor going." Her uncle demanded as the remaining three jumped into the boat. He picks up the phone and starts dialing.
" Who are you calling?" Amanda questions, gaining no response. She looks over at Charlotte who shrugged in response. She wasn't sure anyone would even be able to get the message.
"Pick up! Pick up!" He repeated.
"Charlie? Charlie. Get your mother. Right away! Charlie? Are you there?" The Kirby's looked over at Charlotte, obviously recognizing the mention of her nickname.
"Another Charlie." She reminded to their questioning looks.
Charlotte suddenly spotted a giant fin making it's way towards the boat.
"Charlie! It's the dinosaur man! Go get mommy, okay?"He looks realized for a moment before a look of frustration takes over his features. He begins to redial as the boat is suddenly hit. A spinosaurus rises from the water, roaring as it luges for Alan. The next few minutes are complete chaos as the wheelhouse of the boat is torn off and the boat quickly bitten into chunks. Alan heads towards Charlotte who is making her way towards the Kirby's when the phone rings.
"Ellie!" Charlotte can hear her uncle cry as the rest scream.