CHAPTER 67
Dr. Johnson slammed to a halt on the beach. There was blood in the sand. She jumped out of the truck and ran over to a sneaker that was lying near the red spatters on the shore. She dropped to her knees. Picking up the shoe she started to cry. Dr. Conners pushed Ms. Murdock aside and dashed to join Dianna. As he reached her she spoke through tears that she was fighting to hold back.
"It's Seth's."
Ms. Murdock approached respectfully. "Hold your tears, Dr. Johnson. We don't know anything yet."
Joan examined the scene. She saw a mess of pterosaur tracks that surrounded what looked to be the markings of two people floundering on their hands and knees.
Bryce let Dianna have a moment and shifted over to where Ms. Murdock was. "There doesn't appear to be any question that it was the pterosaurs who did this."
Joan nodded. "I'm sorry to say that under the circumstances this was a more fortunate outcome. They may yet be alive." She pointed to a lone set of sneaker prints that led into the jungle.
Bryce frowned. "At least one of them."
At the tailgate of the pickup Juan was leaning against the truck, flipping his Zippo open and closed. Every so often he would light it and snap the lid down over the flame.
Rodrigo was standing two men over from Juan. He nudged the man between them. "Psst. Matteo," he whispered, making a motion with his hand like he was sipping a flask.
Matteo leaned over and swatted the side of Juan's leg with a subtle backhand. Juan shot two suspicious glances. The first went to Ms. Murdock and the other to Hector who was on the far side of the truck near the front fender. As soon as Juan was convinced neither was looking he pulled a small flask out of his pocket and passed it across to Rodrigo.
In the midst of the transfer Matteo intervened with a quick snatch and brought the flask to his full, bushy, dark mustache. Rodrigo tugged the flask away from him before he could get a full sip and brought it to his own lips. When he was finished he handed it back to Matteo who took it with a playful glare.
Rodrigo then motioned across to Juan for smokes. Juan's eyes darted around again as he pulled out three cigarettes. As he was handing them over to Matteo and Rodrigo a heavy hand shot in and slapped the cigarettes to the ground. All three men looked up to see Hector giving them a stern scowl. Hector grabbed the flask from Matteo and screwed the cap. With a shake of his head he tossed it onto the seat of the pickup.
There was a sharp whistle, and Hector turned to see Ms. Murdock signaling him to come over. He shut the door to the truck and strode over.
Joan began speaking before he was barely half way to her. "We'll go on foot from here," she said. "Hector, take the others and follow these sneaker tracks. Dr. Conners, you and Dr. Johnson will accompany me along the beach."
Hector whistled to the others and they followed him off into the jungle.
Ms. Murdock turned to Dianna. "Dr. Johnson, your son needs you now."
Dianna wiped her eyes and got to her feet. She kept the sneaker tucked under her arm. There was a shriek in the sky and everyone looked up. The green and the yellow quetzalcoatlus were circling them. Dianna called the two of them Emerald and Star Fire, and the red one was Crimson. The pterosaurs were spiraling down fast, their bellows growing with intensity.
"Doctors, if you please." Ms. Murdock gestured down the beach with the barrel of her shotgun. "Let's keep a brisk pace. Shall we?"
There was another loud caw, and Crimson came soaring out from over the jungle. The pterosaur swooped low and then climbed higher to join the others. Together the trio remained vigilant on the new intruders.
Joan pressed the matter. "Come, Doctors." She led the way and Dianna and Bryce followed.
Dr. Conners had his eyes to the sky. He didn't like how close the pterosaurs were getting. It seemed only a matter of time before they were going to attack.