CHAPTER 150
John Hammond stood in front of the windows of his private observatory overlooking the valley and the herds of herbivorous dinosaurs roaming it. The sound of the elevator opening behind him pulled his eyes from the view. Turning around he leaned on the amber jewel at the head of his cane as Mr. Ludlow stepped into the room.
"Peter, my dear nephew, you're just in time for some tea." Mr. Hammond smiled through his clean, trimmed, white beard.
A small table along the window next to him held a silver tray with a steaming pot and two cups on saucers.
"Uncle." Peter made a head gesture as he crossed the observation deck.
Mr. Hammond looked past him to where Daniel was just stepping out of the elevator. He looked like he was struggling to collect himself, and seemed to be putting a lot of effort into seeing that a wad of cloth in his hand went without notice.
"Is everything alright, Daniel?" John raised a brow.
"Just fine sir." Daniel pushed a cheerful expression onto his face. "Is there anything else you'll be needing at the moment?"
"I believe we're in order here, Daniel. I'll call down if something comes to mind."
"I'll be in the lower observation deck then."
"Oh, Ms. Bolton informed me that there should be some triceratops moving through the jungle below within the next five or ten minutes. You should have a splendid view from there. Should be quite spectacular."
"I'll be sure and keep my eye out sir."
"Oh, and there's some delightful refreshments laid out at the bar. Do help yourself."
"Thank you, Mr. Hammond."
As Daniel disappeared into the elevator John turned back to the window. "A little bird told me you had a spot of trouble on your way over," he said to Peter.
"We really ought to discuss business, Uncle." Peter had pushed aside the tea tray and snapped open his briefcase.
"Have some tea." John nodded with a certain assurance as though having tea was going to bring about a sense of enlightenment. Watching three brachiosaur necks wade through the tree tops he held up his cane and allowed the sunlight to illuminate the amber jewel so the mosquito encased within was visible. "Aren't they glorious?"
Peter, sounding a hair annoyed, replied, "yes. They are going to make us a lot of money, Uncle." Picking up a saucer of tea he snuck a generous splash from his flask into the cup while Mr. Hammond still had his back to him. "And those sums could increase exponentially if we were doing all of this for cheaper."
John turned from the window. "Peter, we've been over this."
"Please consider it, Uncle."
"I have considered it."
"The board is asking, Uncle."
"Bent their ears, have you?" John turned back to the window.
"They are concerned for the future of this company. The San Diego facility can achieve everything you've dreamt for an infinitesimal fraction of the cost."
"Peter, if you're going to do something grand you must spare no expense."
"How many times must I hear you say that?" Peter rolled his eyes as he adjusted his spectacles. "No one is asking you to give up this dream. We're simply urging you to invest wisely, for everyone's sake."
"We're at the threshold of a new frontier, and you want me to be average. Trust me, Peter. There'll be plenty of opportunity for somebody else to try and manufacture a cheap, fast food, knockoff."
"That's hardly the point at all. We're talking about efficiency."
"The answer is no, Peter. The same as it was before."
"God damn it, Uncle John."
Mr. Hammond turned from the window to look at Peter. "I beg your pardon?"
Peter chose his next words very carefully. "Our investors are troubled, and the board won't wait much longer for you to come to a resolution. I'm begging you, Uncle."
John's face had become like stone. The warm glow that was usually in his eyes had vanished. "I'll handle the board, Peter. In the meantime, I think we're finished here." John shifted back to the window.
Peter clapped his briefcase shut and swept it from the table. "I hope you're prepared to weather the consequences, Uncle." He turned on his heel and went for the elevator.
John Hammond remained in front of the window, unmoving and deep in contemplation. The jungle below him stirred as a group of triceratops ambled through.