CHAPTER 25
Through the front windshield of the number two rover Robinson had a clear view of four velociraptors on the run. There was the silver neck male guiding the three escaped adolescents. As the off-road vehicle rocked and pivoted through a sunken creek bed like a skateboard in a half pipe, Robinson cherished the bracing handle above his doorframe.
"Joan, I think we're about to have another problem." Robinson had been keeping tabs on the monitor. "Rebirtha is right around the next bend. Its like they're luring us straight to her."
"You're just figuring that out now, are you?" Joan's eyes were dead set on the raptors ahead of them.
Robinson watched the rapidly approaching blip on the screen that signified Rebirtha. "You don't wanna rethink this a little bit?"
"We play their game, Mr. Robinson, or we don't play at all. I could let you out right here if you'd like." Joan reached for the door handle as the rover raced along.
"No thank you, Ms. Murdock. I prefer to remain inside the armored vehicle while there are killer dinosaurs on the loose."
Joan relinquished the slightest of smiles. "Good. Then you're all in. Right now they're making the rules, Mr. Robinson. We have guns. The silver neck's move is to level the playing field with the element of confusion. That can be every bit as much our alley as it is his."
"What did you have in mind?" Robinson braced himself as the vehicle shuddered.
"We're going to get close to Rebirtha. When I get out of the rover you'll take the wheel. I'll draw the raptors in. Chathem will take them out from the gunnery hatch. Any questions?" Joan turned to Robinson.
"Yeah. Just one." Robinson raised a finger. "Why does your plan make it sound like you're most definitely going to die?"
"Don't worry about me, Robinson. After you've been backhanded across the face by a therizinosaurus those raptor claws don't seem so intimidating."
"For Christ's sake, Chathem!" Robinson caught him with another magazine. "You don't have a damn clue what's going on, do you?" He hollered at the back seat.
"Sure I do." Chathem pulled his eyes up from the magazine. "You drive. I shoot. She gets eaten."
Robinson frowned. "That does pretty much sum it up."
His eyes returned to the creek bed. They were rounding the next bend. Rebirtha came into view like a giant white moon. Her ivory scales lit up the forest in a surreal glow of pale light. As the tyrannosaur rapidly grew bigger in the window Robinson couldn't help but notice that Joan wasn't slowing down in the slightest.
The four velociraptors slipped right under Rebirtha's thick ankles and kept going. The rex's head shifted in a confounded wobble as she tried to gather what was happening. The tyrant's eyes settled on the approaching rover with a growl, and it was clear that this breech of territory did not set well with her.
Robinson bunkered in his seat as he realized Ms. Murdock still had yet to slow down. In the back of the rover Chathem had finally dropped the magazine and picked up his rifle. He leaned forward between the two front chairs and gave Robinson a tap on the shoulder.
"Hey, Robbie. Before we do this can I take a leak?"