CHAPTER 354

Dodgson and Daniel stood among the grass and bracken watching Richard, Kyra, Seth, and the raptors leave. They both remained quiet, and soon chattering insects and buzzing bugs filled their silence.

Dodgson slowly turned to Daniel. He was ridged with insanity. There was a grin, a glare, and a silent screaming face all at once. He stared at Daniel like this, keeping his expression frozen in this single psychotic moment. "You just… let them go," he murmured through gritted teeth.

Daniel did not look at him. He kept his eyes on the departing raptors with a look of steady contemplation. Beside him, Dodgson maintained his frightful expression, though now he raised his brass knuckles. In one ridged snap he struck at Daniel, but Daniel was ready for it.

Dodgson did not even see it coming. He never even came close to hitting Daniel. He just fell to the ground. The pain came next. It seared into the side of his neck and shoulder like his nerves had burst into flames. Dodgson refrained from screaming, but he let out a forceful and angry exhale. With his free hand he dug his fingers into the soil with fury, and then he jumped to his feet.

Daniel was still standing there. He beckoned Dodgson to come at him again with an inward wave of both hands. Dodgson was enraged as he lunged forward. He snapped his brass knuckles at Daniel who simply leaned out of the way at his attack. Dodgson threw his bare fist and his brass knuckles at Daniel again and again, throwing jabs and swinging hooks. Daniel never failed to get out of the way, if even by a centimeter. As Dodgson threw his next round of punches Daniel slipped between them and laid an open palm clear across Dodgson's cheek. There was a loud clap, and Dodgson almost fell over. The force with which Daniel had administered the open faced palm scarcely seemed possible. Dodgson puckered his face with rage and threw a kick. Daniel caught his foot and twisted Dodgson over by the ankle, causing him to fall flat on his face. Dodgson felt a blow to the back of his ribs, but after that no other attack came. He couldn't breath for a moment. He couldn't get up right away. As his breath returned he started getting the sense that he was alone.

"Daniel?" Dodgson grumbled quietly.

He rolled over in the bracken and lifted his head. Daniel was nowhere in sight. As he searched he spotted a big shape emerging from the tree line. Dodgson recognized it at once as the Version B spinosaurus. He flattened his back to the ground and hoped to God it hadn't seen him. Dodgson was looking up at the sky and cursing silently. He wondered whether the vegetation around him was enough to obscure him or not, but he couldn't afford to move now. The beast was right there. It would surly see him. Dodgson waited.

The ground started to shake beneath him. There was a low thud, and it became louder. The spinosaurus was getting closer, but then the footsteps ceased. Dodgson remained where he was, and soon he heard the animal grunting and breathing. It was nearby, but not right over him. Slowly, ever so slowly Dodgson lifted his head and turned it until he saw the creature. It had walked just past him and stopped. The spinosaurus was a good bus length or more away from him, and it was not looking in his direction. The carnivore was looking down toward the edge of the enclosure. Dodgson watched it for a bit, admiring the powerful hunter until its long face started to turn his way. Dodgson dropped his head back amongst the bracken.

A bit of time passed, and the footsteps resumed. Dodgson listened carefully until he was certain they were moving away from him. He waited a good bit longer before raising his head again.

The spinosaurus was departing toward the enclosure's edge. Dodgson's gaze trailed further ahead and he spotted Dr. Levine, the two kids, and the raptors. They were all steadily making their way to the gate. The spinosaurus was clearly after them.

Dodgson began to think. If he kept behind the spinosaurus, he might have a shot at getting to the boats first, if the carnivore attacked them before they got there.

Dodgson angrily got to his feet. Fueled by a madness that was coursing through every inch of his body he followed after the spinosaurus.