CHAPTER 324
Thorne and Smith stood beside the broken chopper still finding it hard to express words of any kind. Their eyes panned between the snapped rotor blade on the ground, and the crumpled engine on the top of the Chinook.
Smith eventually said, "well I hope that oversized turkey-iguana got a good back scratching out of it, because our chopper is wrecked."
Footsteps came up behind them. It was Sparrow and Reuben.
Reuben whistled at the damage and planted both fists firmly on the crests of his hips. "By God in heaven, I've never seen anything like it." His lips rattled like an automatic weapon. "I consider myself a man of sensibility and reason, but I think we just saw Godzilla."
The other three turned to him, their faces twisted with bewilderment.
Smith whispered to Thorne, "lot of strange things happening here, but that man is never gonna make no sense."
Thorne was listening and nodding in agreement, but something had caught his eye. He motioned with his chin over to the other Chinook. Keeping his voice low he said, "something's going down. I think we'd better get over there."
At the other chopper Howard King had moved the sonic cannon into the belly of the fuselage and was attempting to make some crude repairs. Lew Dodgson leaned against the mouth of the cargo door, watching the tree line like a hawk. One shoulder propped him while the other arm hung loose. In the palm of that arm he wobbled a pistol casually against his thigh. Whilst continuing to scan the surrounding jungle like an angry laser beam his view became obstructed by an approaching group of people led by Dr. Levine.
Dodgson stopped toggling his gun against his leg as the doctor planted herself in front of him. They stared at each other for an awkward amount of time while Arby, Kelly, and Diego grew restless and uncomfortable beside Levine.
Dodgson broke his stone face and grumbled, "Howard will have the device working in a matter of minutes, then we'll proceed back to the nursery." When Dr. Levine and the others did not move Dodgson said, "is there something else I can help you with Richard?"
Dr. Levine said, "Mr. Dodgson."
He interrupted, "Lew."
Dr. Levine proceeded, "Mr. Dodgson, I have to insist that we leave at once. It is the professional opinion of myself and my colleagues that we do so."
Dodgson gave her a blank stare.
She pressed further, "we are unequipped to endure the apparent hazards observed on these premises."
Dodgson was still blank, but like a light switch he changed into an explosive laughter, then, just as instantaneously he turned to blank stone again and said, "no."
Thorne and his crew were present now. Thorne proceeded ahead of the others until he was side by side with Dr. Levine. "I have to agree," he said.
In an unforeseen turn Dodgson raised his pistol.
Thorne and his people reacted in suit. Arby, Kelly, and Diego found themselves cowering between raised firearms as Reuben, Smith, and Sparrow drew their weapons past them.
"Oh God!" Arby cried.
Thorne breathed down the arm of his gun toting hand, "that's a mistake, Lew."
Behind Dodgson, Howard straightened up from working on the sonic cannon. His lips stammered without sound.
Dodgson remained firm and cool. "Thorne, might I suggest you and your friends turn their weapons in the other direction." He gave a little motion with his pistol.
Thorne took a moment to process what he was saying, and then tilted his barrel to the sky. With a careful turn he looked to the jungle. Before long everyone was facing the trees. One thing was visible. Standing in the tall weeds just ahead of where the branches grew thick and tangled amongst themselves there stood a man.
"Marty," Thorne gasped with relief.
Arby squinted. "Where the hell has he been this whole time?"
Thorne looked at Dodgson who still had his gun raised and asked, "what's your problem, man?"
Dodgson nodded back toward the trees. "He's not alone."
Thorne turned back to the jungle. Marty was standing there. He hadn't moved. He was breathing heavy, sweating, shaking. He looked terrified. Thorne squinted past him and focused within the trees. There was movement. He saw figures.
"Mr. Dodgson, what the hell are those?" Thorne asked. His gun was up again. His finger resting on the trigger.
Before Dodgson answered, Dr. Levine let out a quiet gasp of amazement and intrigue. "Velociraptors."
"What?" Thorne said.
Reuben interjected, "the goblins are back, and they've come for the rest of us! Those clever bastards are using Martin as bait. My God, we've gotta get out of here!"
Dr. Levine shifted an eye toward Reuben and asked, "what exactly happened out here while we were in the nursery?"
Reuben exchanged glances with Sparrow, and then they both looked to Thorne. Nobody said a word.
Dr. Levine shook her head. "Would anyone care to explain?"
Beside her Arby and Kelly both exclaimed at once, "look!"
Out at the tree line Marty Guitierrez felt hot breath on the back of his neck and growling in his ears. Two male velociraptors stood so close behind him that his hairs tingled with every exhalation they made. Marty felt a firm nudge between his shoulder blades, and he knew he was being told to move forward. He took a shaky step and then another. Slowly he moved, and the crisp grass crunched underfoot. He met eyes with the group. Dr. Levine in particular grabbed his gaze. Marty kept his attention forward, but he knew the two raptors were still at his back. Their breath never left his neck.
The raptors barked and cawed, and Marty halted his step. There was no forceful nudge at his spine, so he assumed he had interpreted their meaning correctly. Still, he was nervous as hell. Though they had done nothing as of yet to harm him, the creatures behind him felt nothing but aggressive, surprisingly intelligent, but aggressive.
At the Chinook Dodgson said, "what the hell do you make of this, Richard?"
Dr. Levine pondered a while. She pursed her lips and examined what she saw. There were many more velociraptors remaining within the jungle's edge. Only the two had come forward with Marty.
"Well?" Dodgson pressed.
"I don't know," Dr. Levine simply said. She tapped her upper lip with her index finger and let some time go by. The raptors hadn't moved, and neither had Marty. "Interesting," Dr. Levine said.
"What?" Dodgson leaned in.
Dr. Levine didn't answer. She just started walking. Out from the group, away from the helicopter, and toward the tree line she went.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Smith grabbed at her, but she slipped through his fingers.
Thorne tried to snatch her as well but with no luck.
"Richard!" Dodgson barked.
She just kept walking as everyone in the group exchanged glances.
"My God, Kelly, she's gonna get herself killed." Arby's face contorted with worry.
Dodgson jabbed his sharp nose between Arby and Kelly and hissed, "do you have any idea what she's up to?"
Kelly answered, "I'd love to tell you I did, but this…" she trailed off.
Dodgson bit his lip and cursed silently as he retracted from between them.
Reuben had his pocket watch up to his ear. He was muttering, "braised, boiled, roasted, broiled. What's the difference, man? Either way, thier gonna cook her and eat her. We're saying the same thing god damn it."
Sparrow nudged him in the ribs. "Quiet. Look."
Dr. Levine had walked half way to where Marty was standing, and she stopped. She looked at him, and he looked at her. He appeared as though he wanted to speak, but he didn't. Dr. Levine waited patiently, and still he remained silent.
Eventually she made an attempt to initiate conversation. "Hello Marty."
His eyes shifted, but still there were no words.
Dr. Levine continued, "making friends with the locals are we?" She cracked a smile like it was a bit of a joke.
Marty's mood did not lighten. He swallowed hard and said, "not exactly." His voice was shaky and weak.
Dr. Levine tilted her head. "What would you call it then?"
Marty shifted his eyes as though he were trying to get a gage on the two velociraptors behind him, but he did not dare to turn his head. He focused on Dr. Levine and said, "they want something from us Rich. I'm not sure exactly, but I think it has to do with our helicopters." His eyes flittered again, checking the raptors at his back.
Dr. Levine pondered this and then said, "Marty, you're not making much sense. What do you mean?"
He answered, "I don't know Rich! I don't know. They want something, and I can't figure out exactly what it is, ok?" His words became a ramble.
"Marty slow down." Dr. Levine tried to calm him.
"Listen Richard," Marty shook with fright. "There's a hierarchy here. These creatures are extraordinarily intelligent and organized." He swallowed hard. "It's unnatural. Rich, something isn't right." He paused.
Dr. Levine saw him hesitating to continue, almost as though he'd be judged for what he was about to say.
Marty clenched two sweaty fists against his thighs and said, "they've been trying to communicate with me through pictures, but-"
"But what, Marty?" Dr. Levine pressed.
He gave her a most serious stare. "One of them can speak."
Dr. Levine's expression was firm as she pondered this.
Marty said, "I think it may understand us, at least a little. It's hard to say." He was shaking a lot. "I wanna get off this island, Rich. I just wanna go. They want something, and I'm afraid they'll harm us whether they get it or not. I just wanna go."
Dr. Levine asked, "which one, Marty? Which one can talk?"
Marty answered, "the big one. The vulture."
Dr. Levine didn't quite know what that meant, but it was something to go off of. She looked past Marty to the tree line where many other velociraptors were hiding amongst the jungle foliage. She examined them carefully, and saw that they were eying her with equal scrutiny. Then she spotted the big one skulking a bit deeper in the trees. It intentionally kept itself more of a challenge to sight, and recoiled against a tree trunk as it realized it had been found. The creature remained occluded, but not fully. Dr. Levine could clearly make out one piercing eye against the tree.
"Hello," she whispered with a smile.
Dr. Levine took a small step forward, and the two velociraptors at Marty's back stiffened. Their eyes locked on her, and they looked like they might spring into an attack. Dr. Levine took another little step, and she saw their jaws part and their claws tic back.
Marty sensed their restlessness, and he said, "Rich, maybe you wanna back off a bit, huh? You're pissing them off."
"Just relax Marty," she said. "I think we're all safe for the minute."
"That doesn't make me feel any better. A minute is not very long, in case you weren't aware." Marty trembled as he heard the two males growling at his ears.
"We're just going to take this one step at a time." Dr. Levine moved forward again.
This time the two raptors behind Marty took action. They were fast and swift. Marty was face down on the ground in the blink of an eye. One raptor pinned his back while the other had a killer claw hooked around the side of his throat. Marty was unharmed but crying with fear.
Dr. Levine put her hands up. "Shh." She made a hushing noise and bowed submissively. "It's alright. I just want to talk." She made eye contact with the big raptor. "I just want to talk."
Dr. Levine waited, took a breath, and then stepped forward again. The raptors did not respond. They stood where they were, and simply watched her.
"Ok," she whispered.
Dr. Levine proceeded toward the tree line slowly and cautiously. She passed Marty and the two males. She could hear them growling quietly as they watched her. Dr. Levine moved closer and closer until she was within twenty feet of the tree line. She stopped there.
The big raptor was still lingering behind its tree, but it kept a close watch on Dr. Levine. The doctor could see that she had its undivided attention.
She waved her hand in a slow arch and said, "hello there."
At the Chinook Howard King had come up beside Dodgson and was watching everything between Dr. Levine and the raptors unfold. "Oh my God," he said quietly.
By the edge of the jungle Dr. Levine observed as the big raptor stepped away from the tree and approached her. Around it an entourage of the smaller raptors formed, and Dr. Levine noted that all eyes were on her. A chill ran down her back as the pierce of their gaze stabbed at her, but she stood where she was.
The large raptor emerged from the jungle, and for the first time Dr. Levine scrutinized its features in the full light. "The Vulture," she whispered.
Vulture towered toward her. The utahraptor's feet stepped heavy through the grass. Dr. Levine took in every inch of its ghastly figure with her eyes. She marveled at its powerful build and awed over its prehistoric qualities that were like no other creature in the present world. Dr. Levine compared Vulture to the other raptors as it stood and scowled over her. The smaller hunters were indeed not alike to the big one.
She fixed her eyes on Vulture and said, "you're something quite different, aren't you?"
At the Chinook Dodgson leaned towards Howard. He whispered near his ear while keeping an eye on Dr. Levine and Vulture, "God damn it, Howard. That's the one. That's the golden ticket. It's the grand prize."
Howard could see a delusional smile forming over Dodgson's lips. He was regretfully familiar with it. This smile came out when Dodgson had his heart set on a goal with unrealistic attainability. Usually it came with Dodgson gorging on more cigarettes and Red Bull than seemed humanly possible, and the eventual outcomes were nothing short of a train wreck for anyone involved except for Dodgson himself. Somehow he always managed to slither away unscathed. Yet Howard knew that it was Dodgson's ego that mutated into something far worse with every failure and shortcoming, even if he didn't outwardly express it in the moment. Howard was starting to fear that all those bottled up moments were reaching a critical point of eruption beyond all others. One thing had been clear from the start. Dodgson was more driven to succeed now than ever before. He believed this technology was world changing, and he wanted all the credit, regardless of the cost.
Dodgson went on, "I didn't think we had another shot at it after we'd lost contact with Daniel. I thought all was lost, but there it is."
Howard worked to keep himself collected. "What are you proposing, Mr. Dodgson?"
Lew's smile grew. "I don't know yet, but we need to get it on this helicopter. We're not leaving without it."
In the presence of the utahraptor Dr. Levine took inventory of herself. This is actually happening, she thought. This is real. It's right in front of me, and it's happening to me. I need to play it cool, she told herself. I need to get a grip. Think rationally. Act rationally. Ok.
Dr. Levine put herself together, looked Vulture in the eye, and spoke.
"Marty." She pointed to Dr. Guitierrez.
Vulture glanced at him and then stared back at her. The reaction seemed lacking in extraordinary nature.
Dr. Levine continued, "he said you can talk. He said you might understand me?"
Vulture cocked her head in the slightest. Her throat moved like she was swallowing, but no words came.
Dr. Levine gestured at Dr. Guitierrez again. "Marty said you wanted something from us. Something about our helicopter?" She pointed to the Chinook.
Dr. Levine was beginning to feel silly. Perhaps Marty was just scared. Perhaps he'd imagined it all, but then Vulture let out a bark. It startled Dr. Levine, and she dropped her hand, but she could see without doubt that the dinosaur had its sights on the Chinook.
Vulture barked again. She stamped her foot and thrust her snout in the direction of the helicopter.
"Holy shit," Dr. Levine whispered.
Her hands fumbled in the air, and her lips stammered as she struggled to make a sensible followup, but Vulture was already approaching her ear.
The dinosaur inched close. Its breath tickled her ear canal as it quietly said, "go. Now."
Dr. Levine froze with shock. She didn't think the dinosaur's lips even moved, but she heard it. The voice was low, quiet, and strange. It reverberated from deep within its throat.
Vulture backed away and looked at her with obvious expectation. Dr. Levine found herself speechless. This was beyond any notion she'd ever had about dinosaurs, but somehow it was making sense. Birds were capable of complex vocalizations. Parrots could mimic words, so why not a dinosaur. Still, this was something much more. Like Marty, she began to wonder just how smart this creature was. How much could it understand? How much did it already know? Was this something natural, or a result of genetic tampering?
Vulture let out a loud impatient bark that shook Dr. Levine. The dinosaur bowed and thrust its nose at the helicopter again. It shrieked and bellowed, but through it Dr. Levine once more heard the voice, and it held a tone of urgency.
"NOW!"
Dr. Levine gathered her wits and said, "right." She impulsively smoothed some wrinkles from her clothes and turned toward the Chinook. "This way then."
Vulture immediately followed the doctor as she set off for the chopper. The utahraptor stooped and kept her eye level with Richard's. Dr. Levine felt as though every detail of her face and the expressions it made was being watched and processed. There was an irony to it, she thought. She had traveled to this island to study the dinosaurs. Now they were studying her.
Dr. Levine saw that Marty had been hoisted to his feet. The whole entourage of velociraptors was now in procession with The Vulture, and Marty was being shoved along.
When he was in earshot of Dr. Levine he muttered out of the corner of his mouth in a nervous shudder, "well, I hope you have a plan, Rich."
She responded, "I don't."
Standing beside Thorne, Smith was growing uncomfortable about the approaching raptors. "Hey, what the hell? I don't like this." He started retreating into the Chinook. "Thorne. Man, come on. Let's get outta here."
Thorne looked torn. It was mainly by astonishment. He gawked at the creatures approaching in company with Dr. Levine. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Smith gripped his bicep and tugged. "Ain't no time like the present, Thorne. Come on!"
"I concurre!" Reuben did an about face for the helicopter, and Sparrow followed.
Thorne turned away from the raptors and looked at Smith, but Dodgson was right there. He put a firm hand on Smith's shoulder and squeezed.
With a smile that poorly masked a boiling aggression within, Dodgson said, "everybody just be cool." The pistol in his other hand was flapping around haphazardly, but the tremors soon isolated into a steadiness that aimed toward the raptors. "There doesn't appear to be any immediate danger. Let's wait and see what happens."
They all turned back to the raptors with reluctance. Their pistols were raised.
As Dr. Levine continued to approach with the raptors she felt a snare at her shoulder. Vulture had grabbed her. She stopped and made eye contact with the utahraptor. Around them Marty and the rest of the entourage had ceased as well.
Vulture leaned her snout close to Dr. Levine's face. Her scaled lips parted, and she growled, "no fire."
Dr. Levine was confused. She looked at Vulture quizzically, and then she turned to the Chinook. Dodgson and the four pilots had pistols aimed at the raptors.
Dr. Levine took a step toward them. "For God's sake. Lower your guns."
Everyone was hesitant.
Dodgson stepped forward. His pistol was still raised, but it was casual.
Dr. Levine noted that Marty was being held more aggressively again. They were using him as leverage. She also couldn't help but notice that two other velociraptors were tightening their proximity to her as well.
"What do you make of all this, Richard?" Dodgson asked.
"It's clear they want something from us," she said. "I'm not sure what it is yet, but it seems to have something to do with our helicopter."
"What are you suggesting?" Dodgson shifted his pose.
"I don't think we have much of a choice here. We should let this play out until we figure out exactly what it is they're looking for."
"Are you sure that's wise?" Arby cut in.
"Do you suppose it's wiser to contend with them, Mr. Benton?" Dr. Levine asked.
"No." he hung his head.
"Maybe they just wanna lift?" Diego shrugged.
Everyone in the group disregarded his comment as ridiculous, but Dr. Levine lifted her brow in serious contemplation of it.
She focused her attention on Dodgson. "These creatures are exhibiting extreme intelligence. Lower your weapons Mr. Dodgson. Let's see what happens."
Dodgson slowly tilted his barrel to the sky and lowered his gun. He motioned for all four pilots to do the same. "You heard the doctor. Holster your weapons. Let's see how this plays out."
Thorne and company begrudgingly stowed their pistols.
Dr. Levine turned her attention to Vulture with a submissive gesture and said, "no fire."
Vulture gave her a side glare, and she could tell that the beast's trust in them was shaky at best.
"I promise," she said. "No fire."
Vulture leaned close to her with a snarl and growled, "swear." It was a low chilling whisper, but very clear, very audible.
Dr. Levine was still in awe of the animal's display of intelligence and its capacity to communicate with her.
She nodded. "I swear it."
Vulture moved out of Dr. Levine's personal space and cackled a series of orders to the entourage of velociraptors. Looks were exchanged amongst the pack, and then they all began to proceed toward the Chinook again.
Vulture reiterated to Dr. Levine, "go now."
"Yes," she replied. "We're going now."
As Vulture's fierce shadow fell over Lew Dodgson he could hardly contain his elation. "Back up. Back up. Back up," he waved his hands frantically at the pilots and Dr. Levine's people. "For shits sake, step aside! Give them a wide birth."
Everyone moved to one side of the rear cargo door, some recoiling more so than others.
"My God." Arby's jaw dropped.
"Try not to shit yourself Arb," Kelly said, but her jaw was just as slack.
"Too late," Arby shuddered. "What the hell is going on here Kel?" His eyes followed the raptors.
Reuben's pocket watch was rattling against his chin. "We shouldn't be letting these goblin folk aboard! Bad news, ya hear? Bad news!"
The other three pilots were speechless.
Dodgson gripped Howard's sleeve. He couldn't take his eyes off of Vulture and her entourage as he said, "Howard, this is perfect, just perfect."
A great unease was filling Howard's gut. Whatever was happening here very likely wasn't the hole in one that Dodgson thought it was. Howard had a very bad feeling that things were about to turn south.
Vulture's powerful presence filled the rear door of the Chinook, and she glared at everyone. Her nostrils opened as she smelled the inside of the helicopter for the first time. There were new odors, scents that were unfamiliar to her. There was much that remained a mystery to the utahraptor, but she had surmised one thing. This machine, this aircraft could leave the island, and she suspected there was much more to the world beyond. The island was a prison, and the helicopter might mean freedom. The world beyond might mean freedom.
Her claws clanged against the metal floor as she entered the fuselage. The velociraptors followed behind her at a respectful distance. Dr. Levine and Marty were still caught in the flow of the entourage, filing into the Chinook with them. Dr. Levine was still in very close proximity to Vulture, and she had some sense now that that dynamic was intended to be preserved. It was as though she was now serving as an ambassador for the raptors. She was an intermediary between them and the humans, and Vulture was going to keep her close.
Dodgson watched them all board the aircraft. His heart was brimming with enthusiasm as he gripped King's arm harder. "Jesus, Howard! How many of them are there?"
Howard kept his concerns to himself as he answered, "over a dozen, Mr. Dodgson. Fifteen… Maybe twenty." Howard hadn't been counting. He was too worried. Now that the raptors were up in the fuselage it was hard to sort them.
"My God!" Dodgson beamed. "My God."
Vulture stopped somewhere up in the front third of the fuselage, and her entourage ceased with her. Dr. Levine and the utahraptor turned to meet faces.
Dr. Levine moved with a lack of assuredness as she said, "well, here you are."
"Go now," Vulture demanded.
Dr. Levine fumbled in her mannerisms. She wasn't exactly sure how to explain the process of events necessary to get the helicopter airborne to this creature. It was clearly intelligent, but how much did it really grasp when it came to human machinery?
Dr. Levine motioned to the back of the Chinook and said, "The pilots need to come on board." There was a slight stutter bouncing across her words. "All the pilots and all the people out there need to come in here, or the helicopter won't fly."
Vulture blinked at her. She looked impatient.
Dr. Levine pointed to the pilots directly. "They fly this machine."
"Go now!" Vulture stomped her foot and shoved Dr. Levine with her fore claws.
Richard fell to the floor. She looked up at the utahraptor with crippling humility. Vulture could kill her in a heartbeat, but she also knew that Vulture knew the humans were the only ones who knew how to make the helicopter fly. Dr. Levine stood up, brushed her hands down her shirt, and went nose to nose with the utahraptor.
"This helicopter is not going anywhere unless I say so. You are not getting off this island unless I allow it. Is that something you understand?" Dr. Levine held a stone face.
Vulture swallowed. There was almost a hint of embarrassment to it. Her killer hind claws clacked at the floor irritably.
Dr. Levine gestured to the pilots once more. "They must come on board if we are to fly. They are the only ones here who know how to operate this aircraft."
Marty coward against the side of the fuselage nearby. His voice shook. "Jesus, Rich. Way to stick it to 'em. While you're at it why don't you tell them which parts of yourself you'd like torn off first."
Vulture turned toward her entourage and barked. Slowly the velociraptors parted to either side of the fuselage, making way for the pilots and the rest of the crew. Light shone in through the cargo door, and Dr. Levine saw everyone standing to either side of it, but there was another with them, a large feathery figure, much like Vulture, but different in so many ways. Dr. Levine now saw that the crew was recoiled aside and fear stricken by this newcomer. It was strong and muscular. Easily the beast was more massive than Vulture. It breathed in and out, and its glare fixed on Vulture.
Marty straightened up at the sight of the new animal. He side eyed Dr. Levine with unease. "Rich?"
Dr. Levine responded, "Marty."
Falcon came barreling down the fuselage with an explosion of rage. Any one of Vulture's velociraptor entourage that got in her way was thrust aside with back breaking force. The metal hollow of the aircraft was filled with her deafening bellow, and her foot strikes thundered across the floor.
Vulture turned to face Falcon head on and braced herself for the tackle. There was a clash of bodies, and the two utahraptors went tumbling toward the cockpit. Dr. Levine had been thrown aside. She struck the inner wall of the fuselage and slumped. As the rumble of the two battling dinosaurs banged in her ears she looked to the opposite wall where Marty was curled up and shaking. Dr. Levine crouched and leapt across the aisle just as the two utahraptors were tumbling back her way. Tails, claws, teeth, and limbs flashed over her head as she dove to Marty.
"Get up!" She gripped his shirt and hoisted the both of them to their feet.
Marty stood, but his legs were unsteady, and his body stiff with fear.
"Come on!" Dr. Levine tugged him.
He shook his head.
"Marty, god damn it!" Dr. Levine tugged him harder.
Out of the corner of her vision she saw the two battling utahraptors coming back toward them. From amongst the turmoil of biting jaws and slashing talons a hind killer claw thrashed out and pinned Marty to the side of the fuselage. There was a sound as though a dozen raw turkey legs were being ripped apart at once, and then Dr. Levine was blinded by an explosion of blood and entrails. She gasped and fell backwards as the two dinosaurs continued to rake their claws at the walls and floor. The squealing and clanging of their talons rang loud as the utahraptors roared and bit at each other.
With a rush of wind the feud slammed against the opposite wall, and Dr. Levine was momentarily in the clear. She opened her eyes to a scene straight out of a slasher film. Marty was in pieces and unrecognizable. His remains dripped down the wall through the grooves of talon marks that hashed up the metal. Dr. Levine groaned in horror, but there was some piece of her brain that was pushing her to her feet and telling her she had to get out of the fuselage before her fate became the same as Marty's. She looked toward the feuding utahraptors.
Vulture and Falcon were ahead of her near the cockpit. They had temporarily broken apart and were growling, snapping, and hissing at each other. Both of them were covered in scuffs, scrapes, and bite marks, but neither of them bore serious injury. They barked, squawked, and raked their hind talons at the floor. The fight looked like it was about to wind back up again as Falcon puffed her feathers and reared her fore claws.
Dr. Levine snapped her head toward the rear of the chopper and saw that it was still filled with velociraptors, only now there seemed to be more of them. They were hooting and barking and jumping up and down. They pushed and shoved each other all in an effort to get a better view of the fight. Dr. Levine realized that this was where all their attention was invested, and none of it was on her.
With this realization she made a snap decision. Her elbows went up to protect her face, and she barreled straight into the mob of velociraptors. Dr. Levine was met with riotous behavior. She felt that at any moment she might be sliced with a broken beer bottle or bludgeoned in the head by a table leg with a protruding rusty nail. This mob wasn't human though. Despite the intellectual energy fueled with violence and chaos they were animals wielding muscle, teeth, and claws. Nevertheless to Dr. Levine it felt like she was in a bar fight.
The raptors pushed, shoved, and snarled, and Dr. Levine was subject to lesser and greater degrees of all of it. She bounced off the side of one velociraptor and another like a pinball as they threw their shoulders at her. A claw swipe from a forearm raked across her side and sliced at her ribs. She yelled and doubled over, and a knee struck her in the nose. Dr. Levine fell to the floor with blood running from her nostril. Broken pieces of some kind of electronic device were being kicked all around her, and she realized it was the shattered remains of the sonic cannon. The raptors had smashed it to bits. Now the killer claws of the dinosaurs were slashing and swiping around her from all sides. Her only saving grace was that the raptors were still focused on the fight between Vulture and Falcon more than anything else. Dr. Levine fought back to her feet and pushed onward through the throng, sustaining more abuse along the way.
Outside the helicopter everyone else had backed away from the cargo door. They were frantic, and nobody appeared to know what to do.
"God damn it!" Thorne said. He looked around quickly and then shouted, "Reuben, Sparrow get to the cockpit and fire up the rotors. We're getting the hell outta here. Me and Smith are gonna stay back and clear these bastards out of the fuselage." Thorne held up his pistol.
Reuben and Sparrow nodded and ran off toward the front of the chopper.
Smith looked at Thorne with sudden surprise as though he had just registered what had been said. "I'm helping you do what now?"
"Come on," Thorne advanced toward the Chinook.
Smith let out a heavy breath, "sure, why the hell not? Dying was on my list of things to do today anyway."
He ran to catch up with Thorne, and they both planted themselves at the mouth of the cargo door. Thorne aimed his pistol into the throng, and Smith did the same. Smith gave Thorne a side eye and said, "you know, this kinda feels just like a moment ago when you told me it was stupid to start shooting at that forty-foot iguana-chicken thing."
Thorne said, "yup."
Smith spit to his side, "just saying."
"This is our only ticket off the island. You got a better plan, Smith?"
"Nope."
"Ok then."
"So how exactly is this going to work, Thorne?"
Thorne stared down the riotous throng of velociraptors and said, "start shooting. We'll figure it out."
Smith groaned, "I don't like it, but I accept."
Their fingers squeezed at the triggers, but before any bullets went off Dodgson was jumping in their way.
"No! God damn it! No!" he shouted. "Don't shoot them! I need them on the chopper! I need them alive!"
Dodgson stepped between them and swatted their guns down. He grabbed at their shirts to pull them away from the helicopter, but Thorne delivered a sharp elbow point to Dodgson's nose. He fell to the ground with a starburst of blood over his face.
"Your trip is over, Lew," Thorne stared him down with stern eyes.
Dodgson looked back at him with poison in his gaze. Howard King had run up to help him to his feet, but Dodgson backhanded him across the temple and continued to throw eye daggers at Thorne. He stood up without unlocking his stare. Blood dripped over his lips and down his chin, but he did not so much as flinch at it.
"You'll pay for that," Dodgson growled.
"Bill me," Thorne said.
Above the commotion of the raptors snarling and barking within the Chinook Thorne and Smith heard something else. The whining of engines began to grow. The helicopter was starting up. Then there was another sound.
"Look out!" Dr. Levine shouted from within the throng.
Out from the fuselage tumbled the two battling utahraptors, causing a preceding wave of the smaller velociraptors to come rushing and leaping out of the way. Smith and Thorne dove aside as the fight came at them.
Vulture and Falcon broke apart. They sprang to their feet and circled one another while velociraptors poured out of the fuselage and surrounded them.
"We'll I guess that takes care of that," Smith shrugged at Thorne.
Following in the wake of the velociraptors Dr. Levine rushed out of the fuselage waving her arms frantically to beckon everyone on board.
"Come on," she yelled. "Hurry!"
"Can't argue with that," Smith said.
Thorne nodded.
Already, Kelly, Arby, and Diego were running past them to get on board.
"Let's go," Thorne said, and they both followed.
Everyone kept a healthy distance from the mob of raptors as they hurried on board. Thorne and Smith stopped at the mouth of the cargo door and turned around. Dodgson was lagging behind. His walk was slow and sinister, and his stare even more vile. Howard King was lingering behind like a whipped dog, not making eye contact with anyone. The wind from the twin turbines had started to whip the air, adding more tumult to the ongoing battle beyond the door.
As Dodgson boarded the helicopter Thorne could feel the fire coming off of him. Thorne ignored his stabbing glare and watched the feuding raptors instead. It took him a moment to realize that Dr. Levine had come up at his side.
Thorne asked her, "what the hell is all this, Doctor?"
Levine observed the mob and the two battling utahraptors. She said, "rival clans I believe. But…"
"But what?" Thorne shouted over the noise of the rotors.
"There's something so much more." Levine gazed at the fighting raptors as though she were observing a beautiful ballet routine and not a brutal feud between two savage beasts. "We got caught right up in the middle of it, and it's something I fear we'll never have the opportunity to understand."
Thorne was still trying to simply wrap his head around the very existence of the creatures he was seeing. As he watched the fight go on, the Chinook lurched and broke away from the ground.
"Hold onto something, Doctor," he shouted at Levine.
They both gripped the edges of the door as the Chinook elevated. From the top of the ramp they gained a bird's eye view of the circle of velociraptors. Vulture and Falcon continued to battle and wrestle one another from one corner of the ring to another. As the chopper ascended higher it moved away from the fight, away from the nursery, and away from the main operations complex.
As it all left her view Dr. Levine sighed to herself, "what a shame."
On the ground, Vulture was pinned, but she kicked at Falcon's gut and threw her off. Vulture sprang to her feet and saw that the helicopter was departing. As she shrieked frantically into the sky Falcon tackled her in a rebound, and they both went tumbling into a group of spectating velociraptors, knocking them over like bowling pins. Falcon stomped on Vulture and dug her talons in. Vulture slashed at her legs and broke her hold. They rolled onto their sides and Vulture bit at Falcon's throat. Chunks of plumage scattered on the wind, and Falcon bellowed. Vulture took a hard swipe at Falcon's side with her killer claw, and the giant talon wrapped over the bones of her rib cage, taking out more plumage that was stained blood red.
The utahraptors broke apart, and Falcon staggered back. Seeing that her opponent was stunned Vulture barked orders to her entourage. Her party of velociraptors scattered at once, and she followed them into the jungle on swift feet. Beneath the canopy Vulture trained her ear to the thumping of the helicopter rotors. She was determined to follow it. With a cautious eye darting back over her shoulder she kept watch for Falcon and any sign of the rival clan. Vulture knew that she and her loyal party had defected. She knew they were seen as competition, a threat, an enemy. Until they were off the island they were in danger.
Up in the air the Chinook glided over the jungle terrain at a low altitude. Thorne looked over at Dr. Levine from across the bay door. She had a lost expression on her face. Thorne scarcely understood any of what had just happened or what was going on down on the island below, but he could see that it all meant something deeply to her.
He spoke to her sympathetically when he said, "you ought to take a seat, Doctor. We'll be going higher in a moment. I'll be shutting the door."
She nodded solemnly and began to back away, but then her eyes widened. "Wait!" She gripped the side of the door and stared out.
The Chinook was traversing out across the island's interior where there was no thick jungle, rather an open valley with a river cutting through it. All across the clearing were herds of animals that were shaped and sized like something out of a Children's picture book or a mural in a natural history museum, but this was real.
"My God," Thorne said. "Dr. Levine, are those really what I think they are?"
"More or less," she replied.
"But how?" Thorne leaned forward in the doorway in awe.
"A science experiment gone terribly wrong," Levine said.
Thorne pulled his eyes from the valley for just a moment at that comment. He looked at her, but she was staring out at the herds of dinosaurs roaming below.
Behind Thorne and Dr. Levine everyone else in the fuselage had congregated as well to catch a glimpse of the prehistoric world below, everyone that is except for Lewis Dodgson.
Dr. Levine looked past the others and saw him stewing like a crouched gargoyle against the side of the fuselage.
"They're not natural, are they? The raptors?" she said to him.
Dodgson's eyes lifted and peered through the shadows. "None of it is natural. It's all a genetically engineered fabrication. That's why it was going to be so perfect. They're all manufactured artificial animals."
"They look pretty damn real to me, Lew," Thorne said.
"But the raptors, they're different, aren't they?" Dr. Levine pressed.
Dodgson glared from his crouch. "What does it matter, Richard? It's over."
Dr. Levine shifted her eyes to Howard King who was hiding amongst the rear of the group. "Howard?"
His eyes glued to the floor, but there was some part of him that had had enough of Dodgson's bullshit. He murmured, "we were trying to weaponize them… for military use."
Dodgson slammed his fists upon the floor and sprang from his crouch. "Shut up!" He glared. "God damn it, Howard. Keep your mouth shut."
Thorne cut in with a booming voice, "alright, that's it! Everybody take a seat, or I'll put you in one." He stared straight at Dodgson as he said it.
Dodgson wasn't looking at him. He had gotten in Howard's face, and Howard was cringing as though Dodgson had an aura that was singeing his skin.
Dodgson's lips were touching Howard's ear as he fumed, "what in the deep recess of Satan's ass crack were you thinking, mentioning that? I ought to cut out your tongue and feed it back to you, you stupid shit."
Thorne's shadow was looming over Dodgson. "That means you, Lew."
Dodgson turned to Thorne with knife blades in his eyes. "Yours is coming."
Thorne stepped closer. "Is that so?"
It was then that Diego shouted from the rear door, "hey! There is people down there."
Seth was frantic and desperate. He jumped up and down, waving his arms and screaming at the top of his lungs. Kyra was next to him doing the same thing. They both had been doing it for several minutes, ever since they had spotted the low flying Chinook traveling just beyond the runway.
"Do they see us?" Kyra gasped. "They must see us. They have to see us!"
Seth shook his head, "I don't know. Keep waving." His voice was hoarse from yelling, and he was getting out of breath.
"Hey!" They both shouted. "Over here! Over here!"
Dr. Dianna Johnson was kneeling beside them on the roof of the hanger with Dr. Conners sprawled across her lap. With one arm she hugged him to her knees. "Hold on Bryce. Just a little longer." She looked up at the helicopter and said, "god damn it, we're right here! Turn around. Turn around!"
Joan Murdock was standing close by. She was scanning the air. "I could've sworn I heard two helicopters earlier."
Daniel had his eyes to the sky as well. "You did. I heard it too."
The Chinook stayed its course. Slowly, smoothly, without deviation it flew past the runway and moved along toward the volcanic rim. Seth's arms dropped. Kyra's froze above her head. They both stopped hollering.
Already the thumping of the rotors faded, and their soft lingering wake was empty of hope and replaced by despair.
Ms. Murdock sighed and lowered her head. "Well I guess that's just our luck then, isn't it. I'm going back to sleep."
Kyra flung her arms down and shrieked like nothing Seth had ever heard. As she dropped to her knees and started crying he swore he heard it echo off the island's outer ridge. Seth tried to hold her shoulder, but she slapped him away.
Dianna was silent. She truly felt hopeless.
Around the outer perimeter of the fence on the hanger's rooftop the remaining velociraptor guards turned their heads away from the departing Chinook and fixed their attention back on the captive humans.
Daniel looked from one guard to the next and said, "if anyone wants it to be over now I'll be over there." He nodded to a far corner of the fencing. "I promise it'll be quick and painless." He started walking off.
Ms. Murdock turned to him and said, "if it comes down to the two of us I promise you I'll be the last one standing."
Daniel stopped and looked back at her. "If it comes down to the two of us I promise you I'll take that bet." He nodded past her, "but I don't think I'll have to. They're coming back."
Ms. Murdock snapped her head toward the sky, and sure enough the Chinook was circling back around.
Aboard the helicopter Thorne clung to the edge of the door and looked out as they passed over the runway. He saw three dinosaurs ambling along the tarmac. They looked like stegosaurus to him, but they were smaller than he'd imagined they would be, and they had more spines on their tails.
"Kentrosaurus," Dr. Levine said as she craned her neck around him.
Thorne passed her a glance and nodded but said nothing.
The hanger appeared below them soon after, and sure enough there were six people on the rooftop. The Chinook slowed into a holding position above them and then began a careful descent until it was hovering just a few feet over the roof.
Thorne and Smith barely had their hands outstretched to beckon them aboard before the first two people came rushing up the ramp. Two teenagers. A boy, and a girl with a shaved head. They were wearing matching jumpsuits. Thorne looked across the ramp at Smith with a raised brow. Smith shrugged and shook his head.
The next three people to climb onto the ramp were two women and a man. The man was unconscious and looked to be badly injured. His feet were dragging as the two women carried him aboard by the underarms. The injured man and one of the women were also wearing the matching jumpsuits. This woman also had a shaved head.
"Must be some kind of cult," Smith shouted over the rotors at Thorne.
Thorne didn't have a chance to react to that. The woman with the jumpsuit and shaved head was shouting at him.
"Grab a first aid kit!" She yelled. "He needs antibiotics."
Thorne could smell the stench of rotting flesh on the man as they passed. Glancing back he saw that Howard King was already opening a medical kit and helping the women lay the man across the floor of the chopper. Thorne noticed then that the other woman looked as though she'd been rolling around in pig shit. Thorne raised another eyebrow at Smith and then they turned to watch the last person come up the ramp.
His demeanor was different. He was strangely calm. He walked on board like he was in no hurry at all. When he was in line with Thorne and Smith he stopped and said, "you should tell your pilots to get this helicopter in the air before they come back. You scared them off, but they won't be gone long."
Thorne nodded to Smith, and he ran up to the cockpit. Thorne didn't need to know or want to ask what kind of creature the man was talking about. For his own part he'd had enough as it was.
"Daniel."
"What?" Thorne turned back to the man who had just boarded.
He said, "you were going to ask who I was. My name is Daniel."
"Ok?" Thorne thought it was strange the way he brought it up.
"You're not a rescue party," Daniel stated.
"No." Thorne shook his head.
Daniel's eyes darted up the fuselage where they met Dodgson's piercing gaze partway through. "Ah." He raised his chin and strutted off without another word to Thorne.
Near the head of the fuselage Seth and Kyra collapsed against the wall and slid to the floor. They both breathed heavy sighs of exhaustion.
"I can't believe it," Seth said. "We actually made it."
Kyra nodded.
"I could sleep for days," Seth drooped. "Right here on this hard metal floor."
"Weeks." Kyra's eyes sagged.
"Your dad will be ok, I think." Seth said.
Kyra looked down the fuselage with a spark of worry. "I hope so."
"Just let them work," Seth put a hand on her shoulder. "They know what they're doing." As he said it he could feel the chopper ascending.
Kyra let her eyes fall again. She was seconds from dozing off when she felt something wet soaking into the seat of her pants. Her hand went down to the floor, and it bumped into an object laying next to her. Her palm and fingers wrapped around it, and she picked it up. Holding it in front of her she felt that it had a dead droopy weight to it. When she opened her eyes Kyra saw somebody's forearm. It perplexed her, and she analyzed it further. Then she saw the bloody stump and realized the appendage was not attached to anyone.
Kyra screamed.
Seth's eyes opened, and he started screaming too.
Kyra threw the arm, and they both jumped to their feet. In their hyper alert state they now saw the dismembered remains of Marty Guitierrez all around them. They turned to run but slammed right into Lew Dodgson.
Dodgson gripped their arms and glared at them with ferocity. "What's the matter kids? I'm sure by now you've seen a whole lot worse."
"They have." Daniel appeared next to Dodgson. He looked at Seth and Kyra and said, "why don't you two go up and keep a vigil over Dr. Conners. Just give them space to work."
Kyra and Seth looked down at Dodgson's grip on them. It was not letting up.
Daniel put a hand on Dodgson's upper back and said, "come on Lew. We should talk."
Dodgson's hands released like a spring loaded mechanism, and a smile crept onto his face.
Kyra nudged Seth, and they both hurried along.
Daniel waited until they were gone and then examined Marty's remains with a whistle.
Behind him Dodgson said, "you look empty handed."
"So do you," Daniel replied. "They're not easy to control, are they?" His eyes followed the talon marks on the walls and floor. He tightened his expression and turned to Dodgson. "You had two on board?"
"Yes," Dodgson nodded.
Daniel scanned the claw gouges further and looked at Dodgson again. "But they were fighting each other?"
"Yes." Dodgson sounded somewhat impatient. "It would appear that there are at least two rival clans on the island."
Daniel mulled this over. "The Falcon and The Vulture are at odds…How very interesting."
Dodgson shook his head, "Daniel, enough! Everything has gone completely ass backwards. We need to cut our losses and tie up our loose ends. Can you fly this aircraft?"
Daniel nodded.
"Good," Dodgson's face grew dark. "Then let's start by taking care of the loose ends."
There was a crowd of people around Ms. Murdock and Dr. Johnson as they administered aid to Dr. Conners. Howard King was holding the medical kit steady and handing them supplies as they needed them.
As Dianna was filling a syringe with antibiotics a knee bumped her arm, and she almost dropped the glass vial.
"Jesus Christ! Could you give us some air, people?" She shouted.
"Watch it Arb," Kelly said as she tugged him back a foot.
"Alright. Alright. It's not a show. We're not taking any pictures here." Dr. Levine shooed them back further. "You as well, Smith. It's clear they don't need any extra hands here."
Smith gave a passive snarl, but retreated as he was told.
"Can you shut that god damned door already?" Dianna yelled at Thorne and Diego who were still leaning over the open ramp.
"There could be more survivors," Thorne hollered back at her.
"I assure you there aren't," Dianna responded with an icy voice. "Now shut it, please. We're trying to save a man's life here."
Dianna caught Seth and Kyra standing close by and watching. She said, "we're doing everything we can for him. You two should take a seat. Please. Just take a seat until we land."
Dianna turned back to Bryce, and she heard a loud bang like a gunshot. She didn't know how to make sense of it, but his brains were splattered all over the floor around his head, and blood was gushing out of a cavernous hole in his skull. Her head snapped around just in time to see the barrel of a gun in her eyes. There was another bang, and everything went dark for Dr. Dianna Johnson.
"Oh my God, Lew!" Howard fell on his back.
Dodgson turned the pistol to Ms. Murdock.
She looked back at him, and every muscle in her body poised like she planned to dodge the bullet that was about to come at her.
Dodgson steadied his arm to shoot, but a massive shape tackled him to the floor. It was Thorne. He slammed Dodgson's back against the deck and slugged him in the face. Dodgson's pistol went clattering across the floor to where Seth and Kyra were standing in utter shock.
They were both paralyzed by the cold blooded killing that had transpired in front of them. They both collapsed to the hard metal under their feet with no bearing or understanding of what was going on around them.
Thorne pummeled Dodgson's face three more times and then cocked his fist by his shoulder.
Ms. Murdock leapt past him and ran for the head of the fuselage where she saw that there was more trouble afoot.
Thorne felt a sudden stab at his ribs. It cracked through his body like an electric jolt and took the air out of his lungs. He gasped and fell over.
Dodgson slipped out from under Thorne and shot his brass knuckles at the side of his ribs over and over again. Thorne had never felt such pain and numbness all at once. Dodgson punched him in the deltoids and the pectorals. He was about to go for the face when someone grabbed him.
"Lew, stop!" Howard shouted.
Dodgson wrapped his bare knuckled hand across King's cheekbone and knocked him to the ground. Before he could do anything else Dodgson was tackled by yet another person.
Diego rushed in low and went for his hips, but Dodgson kneed him in the eye and shattered his orbit. Snapping a straight front kick into Diego's chest Dodgson sent him flying out the rear door and down the ramp, where he ultimately tumbled off the edge.
Dodgson turned back to Thorne who was staggering to his feet. Dodgson shot the brass knuckles into the side of his thigh and dropped him to his knees.
"I told you yours was coming." Dodgson grinned through bruised and split lips. He squeezed the brass in his fist, and aimed to drive it into Thorne's windpipe.
A gunshot went off next to Dodgson, and the bullet ricocheted off the top of the fuselage above his head. He turned and saw Seth holding the pistol he'd dropped. With both palms wrapped around the handle Seth aimed for Dodgson's chest.
Dodgson watched him for a moment. In his eyes he saw a dark anger, but he also saw that he was an exhausted wreck. Seth was crying, shaking, and emotionally destroyed.
A smile slipped across Dodgson's face. "Well, if you're gonna shoot me, kid, you better do it now, because I promise you I'm coming for you next."
Kyra was standing right behind Seth, squeezing his shoulder. She shouted, "do it, Seth! Shoot him! Shoot him!"
At the front of the fuselage Ms. Murdock came upon another feud. Daniel and Smith were exchanging punches with brutal speed. They blocked and ducked and swooped around each other as the fists snapped out and back.
Ms. Murdock ran up, turned, and drove her heel into Daniel's hip. He fell across the floor and hit his head.
Smith spat blood off his lip and said, "I can handle myself, lady."
Ms. Murdock replied, "I've had too long a day to take that chance."
With a bound she moved to stomp on Daniel's chest, but found herself with his boot stuck straight through her gut. Ms. Murdock doubled over and fell back into Smith, and they both toppled on the floor.
From that position she saw that Arby was laying nearby. His eyes were open, but she could tell he was dead. The way his head was twisted he likely sustained a broken neck. Kelly was sprawled just beyond him in the same condition. Dr. Levine was curled up on the deck next to the both of them. It looked like she was still moving.
Joan could feel Daniel looming over her and knew his next attack was coming. She rolled aside as his heel smashed down, then she sprang to her feet and faced him. Beside her, Smith stood up and put his fists in front of him.
Daniel backed away a hair and nodded to Smith. "Remember that gun I knocked out of your hand a moment before she showed up? I just found it on the floor."
Daniel raised a pistol he had hidden at his side and shot at Smith's head. Ms. Murdock jumped forward and knocked his arm as he pulled the trigger. A spray of blood spattered across the wall of the fuselage behind Smith, and he fell to the floor.
Joan and Daniel's arms locked and they wrestled back and forth with the gun. She kicked at his shin, but it did not weaken his integrity. Daniel shoved her, and they both stumbled until they hit the side of the fuselage. He had her pinned, and with a snap he head butted her temple. She weakened, and then he did it again.
Ms. Murdock's knees sagged, and she slid to the floor. Daniel took a step back and pointed the pistol at her.
"What's that you were saying about being the last one standing?" He said.
A voice from the cockpit shouted, "hey! What's all the goddamned racket and gunfire about?"
Daniel turned and saw Reuben standing at the entrance to the cockpit. Reuben's eyes darted around, and he saw the bodies laying on the deck. His stare snapped over to Daniel and zeroed in on the pistol in his hand.
Reuben exclaimed, "My God, we've acquired a psychopath!"
When Daniel saw him reach for his Leuger he took quick aim and shot at Reuben.
Reuben threw a hand to his breast and toppled into the cockpit with a wail. Daniel turned back to Ms. Murdock, but before he could shoot her a bullet zipped past his face. He turned back to the cockpit and saw that Reuben was laying on his side and shooting from the floor.
Daniel pointed his barrel, but Ms. Murdock had regained her wits, and she kicked out his legs. Daniel hit the floor and she kicked him again in the face this time. He rolled away from her, and she sprang to her feet. Ms. Murdock leapt at Daniel, and raised her boot to drop an ax kick into his sternum, but he swept her ankle, and she dropped. Daniel pinned her and clubbed her across the temple with the butt of his pistol. Flipping his gun in his hand he pointed it at Reuben and fired. Reuben retreated into the cockpit, and Daniel sprang from the floor in pursuit.
Near the rear of the fuselage Seth still held a gun on Dodgson.
"Seth, what are you waiting for?" Kyra shook him. "Seth!"
"He can't," Dodgson smiled. "He's weak."
Lew kicked Thorne aside and took a step toward Seth. He held out his hand. "Give me the gun, kid. You don't have it in you."
Seth shifted his eyes to the floor where his mother was laying in a pool of blood. His wrists went limp, and he began to bawl.
Dodgson cupped his palms over the pistol that hung loose in Seth's palms. He slid the weapon smoothly from between the pads of his fingers and took it in his own hands.
Curling a firm grip around the handle Dodgson put the gun to Seth's temple and said, "see ya."
There was a shudder that rocked the whole aircraft, and gunshots could be heard down the fuselage from the cockpit. This delayed Dodgson's pulling of the trigger, and the next thing he knew, Thorne had sprung from the floor and tackled him.
Seth watched the two men wrestle around on the floor like it was a dream he was having, like it wasn't really there, like he wasn't even really there. He was out of his body. He was out of reality. Thorne punched Dodgson over and over, and Dodgson returned the favor with his brass knuckles. They were up on their feet and throwing each other against the walls. Dodgson moved like a cobra, striking and dodging with snake-like precision. His body flexed and snapped like he was made of rubber.
Thorne rumbled around like a gorilla, swinging his arms and throwing his muscle around. It was violent. It was bloody. It was brutal.
None of it mattered. Seth wasn't there. He'd checked out. He knew what it was like to be paralyzed by Dilophosaurus venom, and this was deeper than that.
The two men fought. They tumbled toward him and away from him. It did not matter. The helicopter shuddered, lurched, and dropped. They were losing altitude, spinning out of control, crashing. Nothing mattered.
The valley, full of dinosaurs, spun past the open cargo door like they were inside of a top. The wind whipped in. The helicopter motors whined and struggled.
Kyra grabbed Seth and yelled in his ear. She drug him, shook him, even punched him.
Seth didn't hear it. He didn't feel it.
They had fought so hard only to have his mother and Dr. Conners shot to death, executed by some stranger. And now the helicopter was crashing. They were all going to die. If they had stayed on the island they were all going to die. There was never any winning.
The world spun. The ground rushed up to meet them.
Seth was enveloped in blackness, like a door to consciousness had slammed shut in front of his eyes. He felt a tumultuous shaking and then nothing. Nothing.