CHAPTER 238
Arby felt the weight of a camera around his neck, and the words that Dr. Levine said to him began to register. He lifted it up and took aim over the doctor's shoulder, focused, and then snapped the first shot.
After that he couldn't help himself. He circled around the carcass taking one shot after another. In an instant all the hardships, disappointments, and boredom of the last six months vanished.
Tattered feathers filled the view finder. Arby snapped a shot. A partially exposed ribcage came into focus. He snapped another shot. These were no fossils. There was actual bone with soft tissue. Muscle, fat, and internal organs were all present. It was bloated with gas in the heat and decaying, but it was all there. It was all real.
Arby moved around to the head of the carcass and bumped into Diego who was staring dumbfounded. Arby took several pictures and then lowered the camera. He and Diego leaned closer.
The head was covered in dark scales. One side of it was partially buried in the sand, while the other faced them with a hollowed out rotting orbit and a set of teeth with a festering grimace.
Diego nodded his head. His expression had changed as though he'd gained some understanding of the carcass. "I know what exactly this is. Mi abuela, she always speaks of these giant iguanas she has to chase from the house with her broom."
Arby glanced at him. He was searching for words, but in the excitement he couldn't find them right away. He started lifting the camera back towards his face and then shook his head and looked at Diego. "Man, that's what you think we've been looking for this whole time?"
Diego shrugged, "I don't know what you crazy Americans doing here." He made a motion with his fingers like he was working a large wad of cash. "I just take you money, eh." He grinned.
Arby chuckled and went back to photographing.