CHAPTER 155

Ten minutes later the table had a map of the island spread across it. Walkie talkies with headsets were pinning down the edges. Guns had been loaded. Ammo was stocked as much as everyone could carry.

Dr. Conners was standing with Kyra and Seth. Two taser guns were in his hands. "Here, I want you to take these." He passed the weapons to them.

"Seriously?" Kyra looked wide eyed at him.

"Don't screw around with these. They're not toys."

Dianna came up beside Bryce. "That goes for you too. Be careful with that, Seth."

He nodded.

"I mean it." She took a breath, smiled, and ruffled his hair. "Don't touch the pointy end."

Seth forced a chuckle, but it wasn't convincing. He was too busy pondering the fact that he might actually have to use the weapon he was just given.

Kyra on the other hand was still looking more amazed than anything else that her father had actually handed her a high voltage stun gun.

Dr. Conners had walked over to the table. In a raised voice he said, "Alright, everyone, let's go over the plan. I wanna get this right. Hey! Listen up."

Everyone gathered around the table.

Bryce took a breath. "We're only going to get one shot at this, so let's make sure we're all on the same page."

He pointed to the location of the motor pool on the map.

"In the grand scheme of things this is going to be the easy part. It's a straight shot across the motor pool to the shed. It's just to the right of the garage. We don't have any choice but to go on foot, but it's not far. We'll stay in a tight group and move quickly."

"What about me?" Shelly's voice was heard from outside the circle.

Dr. Conners looked at her and did his best to give her a reassuring smile. "I'm going to carry you on my back. I'll look after you." He gave a thumbs up and turned back to the table. "Once were in the shed we'll divide into groups. Dianna, Hector, Seth, Kyra you're in one Jeep. Gary, Bill, Carrie, Shelly you're in the other. Marcus, Logan, and myself will take the bikes. Now this is where it gets dicey. At this point I expect the pack will be on to us. The three of us," he nodded to Logan and Marcus, "will take a head start and lead them away. Once were out of the main gate we'll cut through the jungle here." Bryce stuck a finger on the map. "And then the rest of you can follow the road to this bend." He trailed his finger along the map to another area. "This is where we'll meet back up. The Jeeps will veer off the road right where we'll be exiting the jungle. We'll all converge and cut through this open field."

"Why there?" Marcus inquired. "Why not just have us all follow the road to the air strip?"

"Because, we're going to try and beat them at their own game. This whole time the pack has been using the herds to manipulate us. We may have a chance to turn the tables." Bryce pointed to the map again. "Every morning the gallimimus are in this field right where we'll be entering. Up the slope, over here, near the airstrip there should also be a mixed herd of hadrosaurids. We may be able to use them for cover if we can corral them."

Marcus ruffled his mustache. "I think this plan just took a turn to crazy town."

"Do you have a better idea?" Bryce looked around the table. Nobody spoke. "Anyone? The floor is yours."

"How do we even know any of this is going to work, Bryce?" Dianna said.

"We don't."

Gary shook his head. "Do you really think we'll have any chance at all of controlling the herds with three dirt bikes and two Jeeps?"

"I really don't know, Gary. Odds are, we're going to have to improvise the whole thing as soon as we step out the door, but I think it's worth a shot."

Logan spit in his cup. "Shit, I don't know."

Hector sighed and shook his head. "I think it's loco, but I'm with you, Amigo."

There was a loud clap as Bill slapped the table. "What the hell. We're all gonna die anyway. Let's do it."

The whole table looked at him and then looked at Bryce. Bryce shrugged and nodded. Slowly everyone else began to nod.

Dr. Conners said, "alright then. That's the plan."

Bill threw a fist in the air and shouted, "hold on to your butts!"

Everyone stared at him in confusion.

Shifting with an awkward gulp Bill said, "what? None of you ever smoked a cigarette with Mr. Arnold before? He's always sayin' that shit." Bill shrugged. "Guess you had to be there."