CHAPTER 317
Arby Benton held the rod firmly in both hands. At the other end of it was the baby tyrannosaurus rex. The species of the young creature had been confirmed by some paperwork on a clipboard that Kelly had discovered hanging on a wall nearby. Along with a photograph of the little hunter the paperwork contained detailed records of the animal's health history, diet, feeding schedule, behaviors, and more.
Kelly and Dr. Levine had been hovering over the documents for minutes now. They prattled on and on, pointing to the papers and then to the baby t-rex.
Arby wasn't listening. The last thing he heard them say was that someone who had made recordings in the documents kept referring to the young tyrannosaur as "Stella." This had made the two women laugh.
Although Kelly and Dr. Levine continued to chirp excited conversation between them, Arby heard none of it. He was staring down the pole in his hands at the baby tyrannosaurus rex. He was fixated. He couldn't get over the thought of it. There was a paralyzing awe about the whole thing that enchanted him.
It had happened so suddenly that the creature ended up in his hands. George Baselton didn't want to give the little one up. He was like a kid with a new Christmas gift. On the other hand he had suddenly realized that he had to pee exceptionally bad, so bad in fact that he had to grab his crotch to keep from prematurely doing so.
Baselton had shoved the snare into Arby's hands and said, "here! I've gotta take a leak! Don't let it go!"
Baselton had run off around the corner, and Arby was pretty sure he had pissed himself along the way because he had heard him shout, "crap!"
Also, Baselton had been gone for much longer than it took the average person to take even the most substantial of leaks. In that time Howard King had taken Diego, and the two of them set off to find a suitable cage for transporting "Stella."
The baby tyrannosaur had calmed down. It stood, and it trilled quietly, slowly wagging her tail. Chills ran down Arby's spine as he imagined what the little beast would grow into, what it would become, how big and strong she would get, how terrifying she would be. The king of the dinosaurs, or in this case the queen.
Goosebumps prickled across Arby's skin as he then considered the very likely possibility that there might already be an adult version of this dinosaur stomping around on the island somewhere. For all he knew there might be several.
Arby took a long shaky breath.
Beside him he heard a Zippo snap open, light a cigarette, and then snap closed again. It was followed by a long draw on the cigarette and finally a breathy exhalation of smoke. It was these sounds that somehow brought Arby back to awareness of everything else around him. Perhaps it was the chilling and ominous presence responsible.
"There it is," Lew Dodgson said as he stood from sitting on an overturned pail on the floor. He'd been watching the baby tyrannosaur, but now he was looking at Arby with something of a lustful piercing gaze. "There's the million dollar look." He swayed towards Arby like he was dancing with a woman and framed his face by making a rectangular shape with his thumbs and forefingers. "That look of wonder, awe, and captivation. That's going to make us all filthy rich." Dodgson took another hard drag on his cigarette and contemplated. "Every man, woman, and child is going to pay out the nose to see this… this… animal… Just to catch a glimpse of the damn thing… And here I am. Close enough to reach out and touch it."
Dodgson crept forward, one tiny step after another. With one hand he hid his cigarette far behind his back, and with the other he reached out with a flat palm to stroke the baby tyrannosaur on the back.
"I wouldn't," Arby began.
Dodgson cut him off, "I know you wouldn't, kid. You'd prefer to cower at the other end of that stick." His voice dropped to a whisper. "But I most certainly would."
Dodgson's hand floated toward the baby tyrannosaur without trembling. He was steady and fearless. There was a level of caution to his approach, but not fear. He came upon the baby from behind. The little t-rex still had its eyes on Arby. It did not turn toward Dodgson, but its trilling had quieted. Her eyes were wider. Arby could see that the dinosaur was sensing some level of movement that transferred through its plumage, perhaps a slight shift in the air that indicated Dodgson's approach. The hair-like coat on Stella's body twitched and perked up. Dodgson paused, and the prickles relaxed. He was within inches. His hand descended, and his breath shallowed. Dodgson could not see from his vantage that the baby's nostrils had flared. As his palm settled on the tips of her primitive feathers she struck.
There was a loud bark, and her teeth snapped around at Dodgson's hand.
"Yeow!" He pulled away with a thrill rush painted across his face.
Stella growled and bore her teeth as Arby fought to hold her in place.
The commotion had drawn Dr. Levine and Kelly's attention up from the clipboard. The expressions they had were just short of disgust.
Dr. Levine's lips became tight. "Not the most intelligent decision, Mr. Dodgson."
"Just getting a feel for the product, Richard." Lew rubbed his hands together, a look of glee still lingering on his face.
"These are real animals, Mr. Dodgson. Genetically engineered they may be, but they are living creatures, and they will defend themselves as such. It would do everyone present well to remember that when determining the appropriate level of respect to exercise towards them."
Dodgson's cigarette reappeared. He swept it to his mouth. In a puff of smoke he said, "for crap sake, it's Lew."
There was a metal clang down the corridor and everyone looked to see what it was. Howard King and Diego were coming up the hall wheeling a cage that was the size of a large bureau.
Dodgson clapped his hands. "It's about god damned time." He waved them forward. "Let's go! Let's go!"