18
16 – Ultimate fight
While these events take place, the tension rises for Nicolas and his friends.
- Let us go to put us under cover at the level of this rock, he says. Useless to facilitate the task to our enemy. »
Squatting behind the block, becoming almost confused with the mineral mass, three men wait.
The vibrations in the ground are clearer and clearer and the Frenchman listens with anxiety the increasing noise of the approach of the IdR2.
While they are concentrated on the imminent appearance of the huge dinosaur, a terrifying shout, followed almost immediately by a second one, is listened in their backs.
- For God's sake, says Owen by turning around, Tyrannosaurs. They were missing ! »
Without slowing down, both powerful theropods continues their walking without paying them even attention.
Suddenly, coming from the woods neighborhood, a new howl sounds. An Allosaurus appears, then a second one.
And the newcomers seem to want to challenge the first to arrive. Running around the four huge predators, the small dinosaurs of the Frenchman suddenly converge towards him.
- They fast spotted us, notices Jasper. »
- It is normal, I called them. »
- What all this means, asks Owen ? »
- That I chose to fight evil with evil, power with power.
« I have sent Blue and its accomplices to fetch what is best in the reserve regarding capacity in the fight. »
- You play with fire ! They will not obey you and they are going to kill us. »
- Maybe ! Maybe not ! Anyway, it is the only solution which I found to save time and block the IdR2 here, waiting for the reinforcements. »
In front of them, both couples of theropods face each other and distrust the gesture and the voice.
Nicolas gets up and advances on them.
- It is not between you that it is necessary to fight, he roars, but against it ! »
Then he reaches out the arm towards the forest.
The four predators turn the head in the indicated direction.
But nothing occurs.
Number 13 does not go out of the woods.
Nevertheless, it is there, stopped, hidden in the vegetation, to spy on what takes place.
Seeing nothing coming, the four dinosaurs get impatient and begin to get dangerously closer to the Frenchman.
- Return, shouts him Owen ! »
In the control room, everybody holds his breath, in a deathly silence.
Nicolas desperately scrutinizes the forest edge.
He knows that the time is counted to him, that there is no more than a handful of seconds before the inevitable.
But he hears nothing. His electronic ear gets no sound.
His artificial eye distinguishes nothing either.
- It is there, he shouts to Owen ! I know that it is there ! But it makes no more noise, no movement. It spies on us. »
The big dinosaurs are now very close to him.
Madly, Nicolas sweeps, again and again, the edge in front of him.
The despair begins to win him.
- It is messed up, he says, above all for himself. »
While he does not believe in it any more, he perceives suddenly… the eye of the IdR2. Its red-orange color cuts on the ambient green.
- Here it is, he roars in reaching out the arm ! It is just there ! »
Stopped in their approach, the big dinosaurs turn around again.
Feeling unmasked, number 13 appears, in an enormous crash of broken wood.
Hardly taken out, it stops and it roars a terrible cry, to which the theropods answer.
They turn away from the small biped and deploy slowly around the intruder.
The fight is, from now on, imminent.
Both Tyrannosaurs face the enormous mouth and the formidable claws.
They limit themselves at the moment in a kind of intimidation, not daring to throw in the assault of the terrible weapons which they face.
They pretend, alternately, to try attacks, but they stop very fast as soon as the IdR2 shows itself dangerous.
The Allosauruses are behind the animal, slightly shifted to its left side.
The first one to carry its assault is the male.
Taking advantage of the fact that the monster is occupied by Tyrannosaurs, he throws itself forward and tries to hang on, on the sides of number 13, to seize him in the nape of the neck.
But the rows of horns which this one wears by way of protection prevent the theropod from assuring its grip.
It tries nevertheless to catch, but unsuccessfully.
It slides slowly on the sides of his opponent, plowing it with its claws.
Turning abruptly the head, the IdR2 seizes one of the rear legs of its aggressor which, for lack of a sufficient support, hangs in the void.
Then it violently pulls, removing the predator from its back.
The muscles of the Allosaurus are torn away. Bones crack under the pressure of the terrible jaws.
Then number 13 throws its victim far off, plowing it the throat with its claws.
To defend its male, the female Allosaurus rushes in its turn.
But, the IdR2 revolves on itself and welcomes it by hurling it a tremendous blow with both osseous masses situated at the end of its tail.
The leg before of the theropod does not resist the shock.
A sinister crackle indicates clearly that bones are broken, while the animal falls on the ground.
In spite of its wound, it succeeds nevertheless, at the cost of a painful effort, in recovering up.
Its male, on the other hand, has not this luck. While it tempts, too, to get up, the monstrous dinosaur strikes it new knocks of its terrible claws, dismissing it definitively on the ground.
Indeed, seriously wounded, the Allosaurus has, from now on, no more the capacity to get up. Its female goes to its height and tries, with great difficulty, hard to protect it.
On their side, Tyrannosaurs advance on their opponent. But this one reacts fast and revolves on itself, whipping the air with its formidable tail.
The female, hit hard, is thrown to the ground, while his male throws his head forward, trying to grab the nape of the neck of the IdR2.
But, once again, this one quickly reacts and whips the air with its legs before, using its cutting claws to tear up the snout and the throat of its aggressor.
Always near their rock, three men attend, powerless, in the Dantesque fight which takes place under their eyes.
- It does not very well begin, tells Jasper.
- This animal is incredibly powerful, wonders Owen ! We knew that our opponents had concocted a formidable monster, but so there !
« The fight has hardly just begun and it has already damaged half of our staff, among which one is definitively unfit of the fight. »
- If the survivors still hold a little, the armored car will be there, specifies Nicolas.
« We shall be able to finish with this horror. »
- That's all you feel, questions the American with a tone of reproach ? »
- No, of course ! But we can not stop a tank without putting the price.
« I would have preferred that the battle limits itself to the small dinosaurs but it is not the case.
« It is thus necessary to adapt and if we are obliged to sacrifice our four theropods, we shall sacrifice them. In any event, the IdR2 will not go farther. It has to die here ! »
Owen and Jasper look at the Frenchman.
This one has the fixed look, teeth and fists tight.
He knows that the game is delicate, because he also knows that he sacrifices the animals of the park.
But had he another choice ?
Suddenly, pulling him abruptly from his concentration, Blue rushes, followed immediately by the other dinosaurs.
- Return, he roars ! You can make nothing. It is too strong for you ! You go to be massacred ! »
It is already too late.
The small predators are close to the huge carnivore and rush on it.
But they are not big. With some blows of teeth, of claws or of the osseous masses of its tail, it fast make get rid of unwelcome visitors.
They are thrown in all directions.
Nevertheless their action has been enough to create a diversion.
Taking advantage of the inattention of the IdR2, the female Tyrannosaur rushes on it and gets ready to seize it at the level of the back, by opening its huge mouth.
But, number 13 is fast. It has quickly understood the danger and raises itself of all its height.
As it is taller than its opponent, it can plant its jaws on the nape of the neck of its aggressor.
It does not hesitate for a moment and sticks its teeth in the flesh.
The female theropod roars and goes in all directions to try to release itself the mortal embrace, but does not succeed.
On its side, to defend its partner, male place an attack on the side of the huge monster.
This one, without releasing its prey, quickly turns around and violently strikes its aggressor with its terrible tail, at the level of the rib cage. Under the shock, bones crack, ribs break.
Without letting the time in the Tyrannosaur to regain self-control, it plows it the breast with its long claws.
All this time, it did not release its prey. Its fangs always sink more profoundly into flesh and the powerful jaws slowly close.
In spite of desperate attempts, its victim does not manage to make it let go. Nevertheless, its teeth have almost sectioned one of the legs before of its opponent, whereas its claws plow it the breast.
Apparently insensible in all its wounds, the monster continues to crush flesh.
After a while, the bones crack like broken wood. The cervical vertebrae are crushed. The female Tyrannosaurus stops moving. Its head falls softly.
It died.
Proud of its victory, the IdR2 lets down its prey and throws a new cry, more terrifying than the precedents.
Around it, the ground is sprinkled with animals, wounded or deads.
In spite of their sufferings, the small predators, Blue in head, have come back positioning near Nicolas.
They are all there, but some will need care.
Meanwhile, number 13 goes to its last opponent.
The Tyrannosaur has approached its female and touches its head with the end of its nose. But it is useless.
Then, it recovers and throws an enormous cry, mixture of anger and suffering, and advances in its turn on its opponent.
Both Titans are now face to face, power against power, rabies against rabies.
To make diversion, and in spite of its wounds, the female Allosaurus has taken advantage of the inattention of the IdR2 to rush on it.
It does not try to attack the neck, but catches the tail which it blocks between its jaws.
In spite of its attempts, the monster does not succeed in getting free, no more than it cannot turn around against it because the Tyrannosaur already threatens it.
The protagonists are tired and their movements slow down. But the fight continues. It will be a fight to the death.
Suddenly, repeated knocks click in the air and bright lines come to crash in the sides of number 13.
- Tracer balls, cries Owen ! »
- The reinforcements are there, exults Jasper ! »
With precision, the 12.7 machine gun of the armored car fires at the monster which roars with pain.
- Pay attention on our own dinosaurs, recommends the leader of tank ! »
- Do not worry, answers the shooter, I know my job. If one of our animals approaches too much near, I shall stop the fire. »
Under the impacts, the enormous predator has recovered.
It is the moment which chooses the Tyrannosaur to carry its attack.
It slips under his opponent's head and grabs him in the throat.
The terrible teeth split flesh and, pulling abruptly, the theropod tears off the throat and kills the IdR2.
This one collapses on the side and remains motionless on the ground.
The death has made its office.
The carnivorous dinosaur gives then an enormous cry of triumph.
Then the silence returns.
Nothing more moves, as if time had stopped.
The last two big predators still valid go to the brought down monster and begin to devour it, as if they wanted to feed on its strength.
Meanwhile, everywhere at the men, it is the big relief.
Jasper, Owen and Nicolas have rushed to the armored car.
- Thank you, the guys, says the American. You arrived just in time. »
- What a slaughter, answers the machine gunner, apparently marked by the landscape which he has under eyes ! »
- Yes, says Nicolas, with a curious accent of sadness in the voice, it has beennecessary to put the package. Let us hope that we shall have the time to bandage our wounds.
« Anyway, we do not have the means any more to face a new attack.
« In any case, congratulations, the guys ! Without you, I am not sure that we would have been able to overcome it. »
- We had difficulty arriving so far, answers the leader of tank. The track was really bad. We almost bogged down several times, despite the qualities of the machine.
« Good thing Bradley is an outstanding driver."
- Mister Grady, says suddenly a voice in the auricle of the American ! Mister Grady, do you hear me ? »
- I hear you hardly and clear, doctor Narrow. »
- If I followed well the fight, one of our theropods died and three others are hurt of which an Allosaurus seriously. Am I right ? »
- It is completely it, doctor. What do you suggest ? »
- These animals need urgent care. We cannot leave them so. I have asked for preparing the recovery tank with the equipped trailer. Ask the armored car not to move until our arrival.
« We shall give the first care on-the-spot to the dinosaurs, having anesthetized them. That is why they will need protection. »
- You risk to have difficulty in arriving until us. »
- We shall put the time required. We shall take the track which is situated at the middle-slope. It is much longer than that borrowed by the "eight wheels" but the ground is clearly more carrying.
« We shall return by the same way. »
- I heard everything, says the leader of the armored car. No worries, we stay there. You are waited. »
In the auricle, the voice has changed. It is now the one of Claire.
- Owen, the guard of the room of video surveillance has just warned me. The commando went out of the surrounding wall. The men have climbed the wire netting, put beams between this one and the concrete wall to be made a bridge, then have come down again outside thanks to ropes fixed to grapnels.
« The last one to pass have even made an obscene gesture to cameras. »
- They can go to hell ! They hurt us enough.
« Now, we return. We badly need to put ourselves in the dry and to blow »
- Finally, says Claire ! »
- I had told you that, with our small muscular arms, we would get there ! »
- Nasty boast ! But you stayed alive. It is all that matters.
All this time, Nicolas examined one by one his small animals.
Then, tells him Jasper ? »
- It will go. Wounds are not too important and I do not think that there are fractures or internal injuries.
« But I asked them to stay here. I would like that the doctor can examine them. »
« They will be passive.
« For what concerns us, let us go dry. »
- Here is an excellent piece of news, answers the guard. »
But, while three men begin to go to the jeep where waits for them Asensio, the male Tyrannosaur passes in dozens of meters hardly.
It moves forward with difficulty, its breath is hissing.
- It will be necessary to take care of it, too, specifies Owen. It is not in very good condition. »
- That's the least you can say, pursues Jasper. Look at its leg before and at its rib cage. The osseous masses of the tail of the IdR2 had to break it some bones. Maybe even internal organs have been affected. »
The animal stops at the height of the men and stares at them.
The Frenchman speaks to it then, without word, this time. He exchanges feelings and emotions : his gratitude and his admiration on one side, his sadness and his compassion on other one.
Then, silently, the huge theropod resumes its path and goes away in the rain.
While three men reach near the jeep, Blue, who has gone away, calls out.
It seems strangely incited. It shakes the head from top to bottom and pretends, repeatedly, to turn back, as if it wanted to go away.
- It looks like it wants to show us something, says Owen. »
- I think that you are right. Let us go to see what it wants. »
- I accompany you. »
- Me too, outbids the guard. At the point where we are, we are no more minutes away. »
Three men follow the dinosaur that goes in the direction of the forest and disappears into a hollow.
Lying on the ground, the number 8, the miniature IdR without necklace, stabbed by Ignacio, is lying on the side.
- It is always alive but it is in a sad state, says Owen, having examined the animal. »
- I am well afraid that it does not survive until the arrival of the vet, adds Jasper. »
While the human beings observe the wounded theropod, dinosaurs have approached and disposed in circle around them, attentive to what takes place.
- It is necessary to try something NOW, suddenly says Nicolas. »
- What do you plan to do, asks the American ? »
- It remains a little energy in my left hand. If miniature Idr gives me its confidence, I am going to try to look after it. »
Then he fixes for a long time the small wounded animal, without moving nor pronouncing the slightest word.
After a moment of expectation, the Frenchman seizes the dagger planted in the neck.
- I am certainly going to hurt you, he tells the miniature IdR. »
Then he removes the weapon in just one time. The small carnivore jumps but pushes no complaint, and shows no sign of aggressiveness.
- I am going to remove from you the second, now. It is going to be more difficult and, doubtless, more painful. »
With a precise movement, he extracts the second dagger, causing a plaintive shout from the animal.
The wound bleeds abundantly.
Without waiting more, Nicolas puts his left hand on it, well flat, fingers spread. A heat wave radiates in the body of the wounded miniature Idr whereas a strange vapor rises.
When the Frenchman ends manipulation, the wound is almost healed.
- I still have a little of energy, he explains to his two stooges, I am thus going to try to cauterize the wound of the neck. In fact, I can use the electricity accumulated in my arm of two manners : to fight, as against the IdR2, by violently releasing it in a powerful jet, or to calm, as here, by letting it spread itself in my hand, slowly.
« But I do not know if I have enough. »
Actually, when he removes the hand, the wound is not completely closed.
- I think that it will be sufficient all the same. »
As in reply, the animal recovers up.
It is immediately welcomed by the other dinosaurs.
- We can go away, now, concludes Nicolas. »
The return trip is silent.
Three men, flowing of water, are lost in their thoughts.
More or less at the same moment, Trevor and his commando squad have joined the beach and begin to embark on the barge.
- My colonel, announces Williamson. I received a message from the Mole. Their barge has already joined " Mother hen ". The cargo boat is at present loading them on board.
« As soon as it will have finished, it will modify its route to come to get back us.
« We can go there ! »
- All right ! answers the officer, then let us not dawdle ! »
One by one, his men embark.
Gunther is one of the last to appear, followed at small distance by number 11, the wounded miniature IdR.
- You stay here, says Trevor to the animal ! »
And, without hesitating, he unsheathes his pistol and accommodates him a bullet in the head.
- No way to support these nasty creatures one moment furthermore.
« Anyway, that one has been of no use for us. »
Nobody reacts.
Already, the door of the barge gets up, leaving on the beach the corpse of the dinosaur.
The machine moves back slowly then turns to face the ocean.
The latter seems hardly more agitated than during the last route.
Anyway, the journey will be short.
At first, the pilot goes along the coast to the closer up to the extreme South point of the island.
It is only from there that he goes to the open sea, to join "Mother hen", which waits for them in the wide.
Given the swell, recovery may be tricky.
Williamson, the radio, opens abruptly the door of the cockpit where Trevor has joined Miroslaw.
- Everything goes well, my colonel ! I have just had " Mother hen ". They have gotten back the first barge.
« We can go there franco. The place is free. »
- Perfect, answers the officer. Then, straight ahead to the assembly point.
« You have the coordinates ? »
- No problem, answers the pilot. We should reach it before small quarter of an hour. »
- Inform me in the slightest marigold ! I am going to join the men ! »
- At your orders! "
Hardly more than ten minutes later, the boat elongates the sides of the cargo boat, by starboard.
The two boats have turned to the waves, to have more or less the same pitching movement and avoid the roll.
Aboard the ship, the sailors made take out the telescopic arms of two cranes and made cables go down.
The men of Trevor fix them to the points of mooring situated in four corners of the barge.
Without waiting, this one is raised with caution, by avoiding any shock in spite of the swell, then it is put down on a platform which, thanks to jacks, enters a container fixed to the bridge, among others, then is hidden behind a decoration made of false boxes.
Once the doors closed, there stays no track of the landing craft.
And the heavy cargo boat can resume quietly its course.
In the park, the jeep has joined buildings and penetrated into sheds by the airlock.
A part of premises, cleared of all vehicles, was transformed into infirmary where are looked after the least reached wounded persons.
- We were obliged to adapt, says one of the male nurses to Owen. Our premises were too small. They have been booked for the the most badly injured soldiers.
Seated on the ground, some valid "marines" are prostrate. They have difficulty in being convinced of the reality of what they lived.
Sergeant Harrys is with them.
He speaks to them, comforts them, shakes them, sometimes.
Seeing arriving the jeep, he approaches it.
- You went out there, finally. Hats off ! »
- Yes, but what a slaughter ! Good thing that the " eight wheels " has arrived in time, answers Owen. Otherwise, we would not be more than a vague memory.
« I do not have more than a desire, now, to go to dry me and to savour a good beer. If you feel like it, I invite you. »
- And how ! »
So ends the D-day. Finally !