CHAPTER 195
Bill was gawking at the fruits of his actions like a kid who was playing with fire.
Daniel charged over and snatched the rocket launcher from his hands. "Are you out of your mind?"
"Says the guy who just rode a stegosaurus bareback down a mountainside."
"I had everything under control."
"Clearly," Gary said.
Daniel turned to him, holstered his pistol with a rough jab, and grabbed the machine gun. His eyes shifted to Bill with a cold look. "Go get the rover."
"I can't drive stick."
Daniel pointed the machine gun in the air and let out a spray of bullets.
Gary and Bill were both hunched with their hands up.
Gary managed to press out the words, "Jesus, it won't start."
"Fine," Daniel said. "Then you wait here with her," he nodded to Tomahawk and started off toward the rover.
"Wait. We're sitting ducks out here. What about a weapon?" Gary plead.
"You don't deserve it." Daniel said over his shoulder.
As he walked away Bill whispered, "what the hell is going on here, Gary?"
"You're the one who wanted to run off and fire the bazooka."
"Well, I didn't think he would start shooting at us over it. Here we are, trying to do the guy a favor, and now he's totally unhinged!"
From the other side of the ankylosaurus they heard the rover rumble alive.
"How the hell did he do that?" Bill said.
Both men looked around the jungle fearfully. They were half expecting Daniel to drive off without them.
"Thank God," Gary exhaled as he drove up and did a three point turn to bring the back end of the rover near Tomahawk.
Bill muttered, "I thought for sure he was gonna strand us."
"You know, you were just singing his praises only a few moments ago. I tried to say something, but did you listen? No."
"Shut up, Gary."
Daniel got out of the rover without saying a word, and went over to Tomahawk. Crouching down, he pulled the dart from her neck.
Gary watched him do it. He began to realize then that Daniel had larger intentions for the utahraptor. Why else would he have driven the rover over to her. His suspicions were confirmed when Daniel opened a utility box on the side of the vehicle and pulled out an armload of straps.
"Daniel? What are you doing?" Gary said cautiously.
He didn't answer.
Daniel dropped the straps next to Tomahawk and went over to operate a jib crane on the back of the rover.
"Good God. Are you trying to take her off this island?"
Daniel said nothing. He opened up the hatchback of the rover and slid out a mesh metal platform extender. Climbing in, he shuffled around the weapons and folded down the back seats.
From the outside Gary's voice continued. "Why are you collecting blood samples? Daniel, what's really going on here?"
Daniel finally turned and faced him. He gave Gary a hard stare such that he grew increasingly uncomfortable and squirmed within his skin. Gary had reached the point of wanting to back away for fear of being shot, stabbed, or otherwise murdered in some way when Daniel's expression lightened up. It was as though the man had turned a switch, as if he'd become someone else. Gary now felt like he was looking at the Daniel he was familiar with before the rugged stranger had appeared in a blaze of gunfire.
"I'm acting on behalf of Mr. Hammond."
Gary looked at him questioningly.
Daniel made an expression as though he were about to divulge a secret he was reluctant to reveal. "John has a contingency in place, a backup plan incase something ever went wrong here. I couldn't get to the embryonic lab, because it's crawling with raptors. The plan B was to collect blood samples. John made one specific request. He wanted me to bring back one of these alive." Daniel motioned to Tomahawk. "He had a few back channels set up in Costa Rica to avoid customs, and I'm to personally accompany her all the way back to a containment facility in San Diego."
Gary digested all the information. He wondered if Daniel was referring to John Hammond's original conception of Jurassic Park. The amphitheater was nearly complete before it had been abandoned for the island based theme park. As far as he knew it was still there, but it had been shoved so far into the background that it was more of an urban legend among INGEN employees than anything else.
Gary matched Daniel's eyes. "Why would John ask specifically for one of these utahraptors? They're barely through the prototype phase."
Daniel replied, "I didn't ask. John didn't tell." He unfolded the jib and swung it over to rest above Tomahawk.
As Gary watched Daniel begin to uncoil the straps he said, "you know she may not even survive the trip."
Daniel knew exactly what he was referring to. "Mr. Hammond provided me with supplemental injections of lysine. She'll have everything she needs."
Gary looked at the utahraptor. He didn't like any part of what was happening here. Further more, he still felt that there was some dishonesty amiss. He was having a hard time buying the story, especially as this new side of Daniel seemed unstable to say the least.
Gary eventually said, "you're gonna have a hell of a time squeezing her into the back end of that rover. It was only intended to carry smaller specimens."
Daniel said, "then maybe some help would be nice."
Gary felt he didn't have much of a choice. He knew that walking to the airstrip left him and Bill with slim odds. "Why not."
Daniel craned his neck to Bill and flagged him over. "You too, skippy. The sooner we get her on board, the sooner we get on that plane. And no more touching my weapons. I see your hands on that bazooka again and you're gonna have a grenade up your ass."
"Hold on." Gary put up a hand.
"What?" Daniel said.
Gary knelt beside Tomahawk's neck and checked her pulse. His approach was ever so cautious like he was dealing with an explosive device that could go off at the drop of a pin. With his thumb he proceeded to gently lift her eyelid. Releasing a heavy breath he said, "She's out. You can never be too sure with them."
"Good thinking, Gary." Bill slapped his back, and Gary almost jumped out of his skin.
"Jesus, Bill." Gary clutched his chest.
Bill shook Gary's shoulders as though he were working a knot out of his back. "Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you." Bill let him go and looked at Daniel. "Now can we keep this shit show moving?"