CHAPTER 12
Dr. Conners raced through the sparse jungle plot zipping between trees and bouncing over thick roots. He knew this particular stretch of woods wasn't very large or dense. It opened up ahead into a broad sloping field. Ultimately there was not much space for the raptors to hide. Beyond the clearing was the northern side of the perimeter fence. This enclosed the main operations building, the labs, the hatchery, and the nursery. Bryce took a small bit of comfort in knowing that the juveniles were still relatively contained.
Among a thick fern bed Dr. Conners sighted the two young raptors. Their feet cut through the plants, their long muscular legs carrying them swiftly. Bryce bobbed and weaved amidst more foliage gaining ground. Moments later the raptors were out in the open field, and he was still working to catch up. Across the shallow steady incline could be seen the perimeter fence rising to a height of twenty-five feet. Now that the juveniles were in the clear grassy fields they bolted straight toward the electrified blockade.
"Where the hell do they think they're going?" Dr. Conners tightened his face. "They're boxing themselves in."
The adolescents sprinted up to the fence and abruptly stopped. It was as if they could not decide where to go next. Bryce sped up on his dirt bike and swerved to a halt merely a hundred feet from the velociraptors. They looked through the fence and squawked then turned to Dr. Conners uncomfortably.
"The jig's up." Bryce threw down the kickstand on his bike and climbed off, not once taking his eyes off the raptors.
He unslung the tranquilizer rifle from his shoulder and brought the scope to his eye. With the gun held firm he tactfully moved one of the raptors into his cross hairs. Dr. Conners squeezed on the trigger but as his finger made it to half way he heard the bark of an adult velociraptor again.
His body stiffened. It was terribly near, and the raptor paddock was not that close by. Bryce's index finger held the trigger at half way, but his eye was off the sight. Was he in danger? He couldn't see any adult, but he swore now that he had indeed heard one.
The bark had come from the jungle to his right, and the two adolescents now looked that way. In a dash they fled for the foliage, but Dr. Conners was still unmoving. He knew the dangers of an adult raptor. In his mind he imagined the possibility of being brutally gutted alive. Then there was the added bonus of observing his own organs getting gorged upon.
As the young velociraptors disappeared among the foliage Bryce's finger eased off the trigger. "Damn."
His eyes darted back and forth between the jungle and his dirt bike. If he was being hunted there was a strong chance he'd be in multiple pieces before he could even turn the motor over. All he could do was stand and wait.