CHAPTER 27
Rebirtha's teeth crunched down on the passenger side window cages. Robinson eased the car into reverse as the rex chewed away. As soon as Rebirtha realized the rover was moving she gave it another kick. Robinson tried to speed up, but the tyrannosaur depressed her foot into the hood. The engine whined and eventually the car pulled away. Rebirtha had a look of aggravation in her eye as she stumbled off of the vehicle. Seeing that made Robinson push the rover harder.
As he accelerated backwards through the creek bed the tyrant snapped her jaws and lunged at the windshield. Robinson struggled to maneuver the wheel as the creek was full of rocks. It would have been a whole lot easier had he been going forward. Because of his poor vantage he was hitting most of the rough terrain he would have otherwise avoided. Despite the handicap the rover had reached twenty miles per hour, and Rebirtha was lagging behind. Everything seemed like it was going to be ok until Robinson reached a bend in the creek.
The rover jolted to a stop. The underside of the vehicle felt as though it had been struck by a large mallet. Mud, rocks, and water coughed into the air as the rear tires churned in place. Robinson checked the side view mirror. There was a dark shape jutting out from under the rear bumper.
"I think we're wedged on a log." Robinson informed the others.
All heads turned to Rebirtha. The tyrant's girth was only moments from colliding with the vehicle. Robinson had scarcely the time to brace himself on the steering wheel.
Rebirtha's body came down against the side of the car and she heaved her weight into it. The rover rolled on its side and the rex bit at the tires. With a shove of her snout the carnivore nosed the vehicle onto its roof and kicked at the undercarriage. Rebirtha stomped on the car several times and chewed off anything that seemed to protrude. From inside the rover Robinson saw various parts fall to the ground. Chunks of tire, the mufflers, and other extents of the exhaust all ended up scattered among the brush nearby.
Next to Robinson Joan grabbed the rubber loaded shotgun, but the door was jammed, and she couldn't get out. Robinson and Chathem tried their doors, but they would only crack an inch.
"How long do you think she'll keep this up?" Robinson turned to Joan.
"Hey, maybe we should give her a magazine." Chathem called up from the back seat.
The three of them lay in the overturned vehicle listening to the sounds of Rebirtha tear apart the car. Nobody moved. Nobody else spoke. Everyone waited, knowing that even when Rebirtha retreated there were still the velociraptors to contend with.