Chapter 3: Disagreements and Approvals


Josiah's POV-

Grant was starting to push me the wrong way, and I knew for certain that our discussion was going to be caught on camera for the whole world to see. But, for my mom's sake and mine, I didn't want to rile Grant into a heated argument that would cause the both of us to be escorted out of the room.

Using the remote that I still had in my other hand, I clicked to the next pic that showed me among the raptors. I remembered this one because I had asked Kara to take it with me when I had setup the tripod. The audience's reaction was something I wouldn't forget in a hurry. Glances were exchanged and murmurs of disbelief quickly voiced. There were flashes of cameras as the rows of seats had many people wanting the microphone to ask me questions. And I would never forget the look on Grant's face as stared up at that photo. Dumbfounded was the word for it. The microphone was taken from Alan and I once again had to put my hand out so that everyone could settle down.

"Please, everyone," I said into the mike. "I know what this looks like, but trust me when I say that I was in no immediate danger. True that I was surrounded by these carnivores, but the pack alpha female didn't allow any of them to harm me while I took the photo."

I turned to Grant and continued. "These animals do show intelligence, Dr. Grant, but unlike you I was able to understand their speech for nine weeks on Site B. And I was able to get to know their intelligence as well." My eyebrow raised as I saw the look on Grant's face get even more dumbfounded. "Dr. Grant was right about one thing; these dinosaurs are smarter then primates. To a degree that I never imagined, these amazing animals have opened my eyes and ears to a new pathway of studying and understanding prehistoric life. Now does anyone have any questions that they would like to ask me?"

Many hands in the audience went up and I smiled.

"Right," I said. "Let's begin with you..." I pointed to a woman in the third row seat and the hand-held mike was passed to her.

"How were you able to gain the trust of the raptors? Was it hard to do or something?"

"Well," I said, clicking to another pic. This one showed Fern and myself together at the old town. "It wasn't easy. Some of the raptors showed a bit of hostility towards me when I stayed in the town. But, over time, I was able garner their trust. And some-" I clicked to picture a pic that showed Tholestes and me. "I am quite happy to call friend."

The audience murmured and a few cameras clicked. That was a risky move I had played when I called the raptors friends. I could tell that many people were debating on this. I even saw Grant make a face that said that is not possible. Eric's face was disbelieving as well. How typical.

When the mike was passed around and more questions were answered, I was just about ready for a rest. But then the mike was once again passed to Dr. Grant, I was almost caught off guard by what he said. "So what exactly are you trying to prove here, Mr. Clover? That you can have humans interacting with predatory dinosaurs?"

I gave Grant an insolent look and brought my mike to my mouth to say coolly, "That's not what I was getting at, Dr. Grant, and I'll thank you not to even suggest that notion." I cleared my throat and continued. "These animals didn't see me as threat and therefore I was able to gain their trust. All these photos and video you see before you were done because I was able to do what you could not, Dr. Grant."

Alan glared at me and I glared right back. A hush fell over the audience and the cameramen were getting every moment once again. I ignored them and kept my eyes on Alan. If this broke-ass, sorry excuse for a paleontologist wanted to mess with my presentation, it wasn't happening.

"And what exactly was that, Mr. Clover?" Asked Alan, keeping his gaze steady.

"To study them and understand their speech." I simply said. I know I was being sort of a dick, but when I'm peeved it cleared my mind.

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There was a five minute break period before the final decision was going to be made by the chairman. In the small hallway I sat waiting with my mom. Some the press wanted to speak with me, but I made sure that the security guys were stationed at the doors to make sure I wasn't disturb. If the decision went uphill, then I could see myself getting ready for another trip back to the island. Of course that had been my goal for quite some time. Three and a half months of missing Isla Sorna had been eating away at me for some time. I missed Tholestes and his family. I missed Kara and the clear-clean air of the jungle and the warm mornings...

The doors opened and Dr. Grant stepped out. Behind him were the Kirbys.

I could tell on his face that Grant was not pleased about my speech during the seminar.

"I hope you're happy, Mr. Clover," Alan said, shaking his head. "The audience and the chairman are about to make their final decision. Why would you say something like that about raptors?"

I stood up and faced him, my fists clenched steadily. My face turned to stone, a trick I had learned from my mom. "Because it's true, Dr. Grant. Those dinosaurs showed a lot of intelligence. They're intelligent enough to know friend from foe. But what would you know? You were only on that island for three days. You have no evidence to support your fossil lectures about raptor communication." Which was true. When Grant and the Kirbys had returned from Sorna there had been no evidence of the survivors experience of their encounter with the raptors, or other dinosaurs. Their cameras had been destroyed or lost on the island.

"I on the other hand," I continued, adjusting my tie. "Was able to capture their communication on my cameras. I even caught some of their hunting on camera as well."

Alan's eyebrow raised. "Is that so?"

I nodded. "It is," I replied. "The dinosaurs are intelligent enough to speak in a language that even INGEN was able translate."

Alan's brows forward. "What do you mean 'translate?'"

Whoops. I shouldn't have said that. I needed to keep the translation device a secret. Alan would scuff at the very thought that such a device could exist. INGEN, in the eyes of the survivors of the two islands, were the cause of so much misery. And the last thing Alan Grant wanted to hear was what INGEN was up to the island.

I waved away Grant's query. "Never mind. It's not important."

four more minutes passed before we went back into the room. I took a seat beside my mother on the stage. The chairman stood up to the podium as the audience took their seats. I wasn't exactly nervous or anything, but did twiddle my thumbs in anticipation.

The chairman cleared his throat. "On behalf of the US Nations, I would like to thank Mr. Clover for coming out here this afternoon. After much discussion after your presentation of footage of the island, we have decided to talk with the Costa Rican government to see if we can get their permission for you to return to the island. However, in light of the footage you have shown here today, you have violated some degrees of Costa Rican policies such as trespassing on a restricted island, interacting and interfering with the animals of the island, and endangerment."

Oh, boy. I just knew that would be brought-up sooner or later.

"However," The chairman continued. "We have decided to allow you to return to Isla Sorna on the condition that you document the animals again to make another living fossil record. But you are required to keep a minimal distance from the animals while you film them. Forms will be sent to your home on the following week for you to sign. Once they are signed and sent back here at the school, an instructor will arrive to give you plane tickets. You'll have five weeks on the island for filming, no less."

"F-five weeks?" I stammered, more to myself then to my mom or the chairman. That meant that the time I had on the island wouldn't be long. But it was better then nothing.

"Once your five weeks are done," The chairman continued. "A helicopter will go to the island to pick you up."

I smiled and nodded in agreement. "Thank you," I said. "Thank you very much, sir."

"You're very welcome," The chairman said. "And I wish you a safe journey and a very successful mission."

With that final statement, the chairman banged his gravel and along with the rest of the committee rose from their seats and proceeded to leave the room. Almost immediately, the reporters began firing more questions at me. Me and my mother quickly made our way past the reporters as possible. Now things were getting good. In the following week, and few more days that would follow, I would be heading back to Costa Rica. It felt like I was going back to an old home, and I could hardly wait to get there.


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