CHAPTER 24
Seth gazed through the electric fence. He was still captivated by Rebirtha's presence. The white tyrannosaur lay in the shade now and yawned lethargically. Flies buzzed between the rex's teeth as she shifted from one side of her ribcage to another with slow lazy motions. The very tip of her tail swished back and forth in an action that appeared to have no necessary value beyond an act of boredom.
"You know you wouldn't be so fond of her if that fence wasn't between you two." Kyra smiled.
"I know." Seth chuckled. "But it wouldn't be the worst way to go either. I mean, how many people in the afterlife can say they were eaten by a tyrannosaurus rex? I'd be a total rock star in the netherworld."
Kyra laughed. "I guess you've got a point."
A short way down the fence Shelly and Dallas were playing a game that as far as Seth could tell involved shoving each other until someone fell over.
"So what's it like for you back in Rhode Island?" Kyra picked up a stone and worked it in her hand. "Do you have a girlfriend or buddies you hang out with?"
"I don't leave the house much." Seth lowered his eyes. A glum expression overtook him. It didn't last long though. He shook it off before Kyra seemed to notice. "I didn't move there too long ago, so I guess I've just been mostly keeping to myself." Seth dragged the toe of his shoe through the dirt.
Kyra tossed the rock on the ground. "Well you're probably not missing a whole lot anyway. Rhode Island can't be much bigger than this island."
Seth cracked a smile. He turned back to the fence and watched Rebirtha some more.
"You know I hear she's single." Kyra leaned into Seth's ear.
Seth's grin turned into a laugh as he looked at the tyrannosaur, but there was something different about the beast. He noticed that she was no longer at ease. The rex lifted her head, alert and agitated. She moaned and blundered to her feet. With another yawn the dinosaur lumbered to the nearest tree and scratched her scaly hide against it. After that her whole poise shifted. She appeared to be in a hunting mode.
"What's gotten into her?" Seth's eyes followed Rebirtha as she prowled the trees.
The tyrannosaur coughed, sneezed, and then forged deep among the redwoods. Seth watched the rex as long as he could, keeping his eyes on her until her white skin was fully obscured. Little by little her thudding footsteps faded into the forest, eventually becoming indiscernible from the other sounds of the island wildlife.
"I guess the show is over, gang." Dallas appeared with Shelly trailing close by.
Now that the earthshaking sounds of Rebirtha were gone, another noise was noticed on the air.
"Hey, do you hear that?" Seth's ear perked up while everyone around him listened.
"That sounds like a motor." Kyra's face turned to concern.
"Yup." Dallas nodded. He was showing the same look of unease.
"We oughtta get out of here. Somebody is coming." Kyra took Seth's wrist. "Hurry up. We don't want to get caught."