CHAPTER 31
The interior of the rover was illuminated in red as Joan ignited the flare. Before it could fill the car with too much smoke she kicked open her door and hurled the flaming stick as far among the trees as she could manage. Everyone in the vehicle lay still, waiting to see if Rebirtha would be duped.
There was a grunt. Robinson saw the tyrannosaur's toes shift in the trickling water of the creek bed. Another moment went by. Then the carnivore tromped off to go find the flare.
Ms. Murdock didn't hesitate. She crept out of the car in a swift crawl and offered a hand to Robinson as he followed.
"Move your ass, Robbie." Chathem squirmed out just behind him.
Joan scanned the trees for velociraptors. Her eyes were vigilant like those of a hawk. Robinson was watching Rebirtha. The rex crouched thirty feet away and was sniffing the flare.
"We probably don't have much time." Robinson whispered.
"No." Joan agreed. "Let's get a move on."
The group embarked eastward, keeping a low profile. Their guns were ever at the ready. They moved off until they were almost out of Rebirtha's view. Then Joan lit another flare. From behind a tree she whistled and waved the fire.
Rebirtha swung her bulky head and looked. Her eyes blinked. Her little hands clenched. She thought about what was going on. The tyrannosaur's pupils shifted back to the original flare and then to the rover. A short while later they settled on the flare in Joan's hand again. Rebirtha eventually trundled forth. She seemed far less concerned this time about getting to where she was going. Joan waited until the tyrant was three quarters of the way over and chucked the flare.
From behind her tree she heard the dinosaur's footsteps cease. A loud breathing filled the woods. From the concealing shadows of another redwood Robinson and Chathem glanced at Ms. Murdock. Their faces were troubled. Chathem looked like he wanted to run. Joan rose a calming hand and motioned for them both to wait.
Long moments passed before Rebirtha moved her feet. Every one relaxed when they heard the tyrannosaur's foot steps heading toward the next flare. Joan waited until the carnivore had her back turned. Then she waved the group on.
Again she led them until they were almost out of Rebirtha's view. This time Joan paused at a redwood large enough that they could all hide behind together.
"The utility shed isn't much farther." She nodded to the east.
Robinson and Chathem could just make out a low concrete structure. The building had angled sides, narrow barred windows, and a heavy metal door.
Chathem measured the distance in his head with a sustained skepticism about their operation. "That's long enough for something to go wrong." He whispered into Robinson's ear.
"Relax. We're almost there." Robinson gave him a light pat on the shoulder.
Joan ignited the final flare and held it out for Rebirtha to see. The tyrannosaur observed as the fire's white smoke flickered with red. Joan held the burning stick in her hand, waiting to hear the pounding sound of the rex's footfalls, but the forest remained quiet. She was compelled to spy around the tree, but she knew she shouldn't risk revealing her location. Joan let another thirty seconds go by without so much as a grunt from the rex, but then she heard something else in the woods.
There was a rustle in the underbrush. It was fast and without doubt shooting in her direction. It was so quick that Joan had no time to react.
A set of jaws rushed from her peripheral and snapped down on the arm she held the flare with. In a fluid continued assault Joan was yanked into the open. As she clutched her bleeding arm from the ground she caught a sprinting glimpse of the silver neck male as he dashed among concealing trees.
Robinson and Chathem were whipping their shotgun barrels in all directions, seeking out any other movement within the forest.
"Ms. Murdock! Are you alright? Can you move?" Robinson was working to keep his voice quiet. Every flutter of leaves or shifting of shadows caused him to snap his weapon from one spot to another.
Joan looked at the bite marks in her forearm. She watched the trails of blood trickle down to her elbow and proceed to drip off onto her pant leg. She knew how keen Rebirtha's sense of smell was. The blood made her a walking bullseye.
Joan looked at Rebirtha. The tyrannosaur was already after her. It would only be a matter of moments before the rex discovered her companions as well.
"Ms. Murdock!" Robinson's eyes darted from the woods to Joan and then back again. His gun was stiff in his hands. His finger was half squeezed on the trigger. At any moment he expected more velociraptors to appear.
Joan spotted the flare on the ground as it burned bright red next to her. She looked at Robinson. "I'll meet you at the shed."
Robinson shook his head. "Joan, don't."
"Don't dare follow me." Joan grabbed the flare and ran north.