CHAPTER 244

Lewis Dodgson took another long drag on his cigarette, watching Dr. Levine mull the decision. As he held the smoke in his lungs he thought back to the moment he barged into a board meeting where he practically begged the head of the Biosyn Corporation to let him have one more chance at acquiring INGEN technology.

Mr. Rossiter had said, "Christ, Lew! get that cigarette out of my god damned face! I'm in the middle of something. Can't you see? And keep your voice down about that shit." He pulled Dodgson into the hallway. Poking his head back in the conference room Mr. Rossiter said, "I apologize for the interruption. I'll only be a moment." As he closed the door behind him Rossiter turned to Dodgson with a scowl. "What in God's name, Lew?"

Dodgson put up his hands in defense. "Jeff, I'll get straight to the point. I may have one more opportunity to acquire the INGEN technology."

Rossiter sighed, "Christ, Lew. After everything that's just happened."

"I know, Jeff. I get it, but-"

"No, Lew, I don't think you do. All your scheming with Ludlow, the whole bit with that moronic computer technician."

"Jeff, we may have an opportunity to get our hands on living specimens."

"Wasn't that supposed to be Daniel's job? Have you heard from him at all?"

"The situation on Isla Sorna has become complex."

Rossiter let out a boisterous laugh.

"But that's the whole thing, Jeff. The facility is practically deserted."

"Practically?" Rossiter raised a brow.

"Never mind that. What I'm saying, Jeff, is that it would be really easy to go in, acquire valuable, hell, priceless assets, and get out before anybody were the wiser. INGEN is falling apart as we speak. They'll never recover from this. It'd be a god damned shame to just let it all go to waste."

"Lew." Rossiter shook his head. "And why? Why at this point is it even worth it after all the trouble its been and the money you've cost Biosyn is it that god damn important?"

"Because the world is changing, Jeff, and you know it." Dodgson put the cigarette to his lips and Rossiter pushed his hand down.

"For Christ's sake, Lew." Rossiter jabbed his thumb at the no smoking sign on the wall next to Dodgson's head.

Dodgson gave an annoyed look and snuffed his butt out on the placard.

"You should give a shit, Jeff, because these animals have no rights. They're completely fabricated, which means we can do whatever we want with them. Animal testing? No issue. It'll get the activists off our back. Animal hunting? No problem. Imagine a place where you could hunt a T-rex instead of a lion or an elephant, and no one would say shit."

"You must be joking. You're insane, Lew."

"Am I? We're not just talking about research here any more, Jeff. John Hammond's little island resort theme park was a cute start, but the applications could be limitless. I've already got somebody interested in combat zone animals to replace dogs. Money is on the table, Jeff. I mean-"

Rossiter put up his hand. He was shaking his head. "Alright, you've made your point, but you really think this is the answer?"

"Jeff," Dodgson put his arm around Rossiter's shoulder. Behind his back he flicked his cigarette butt down the hall. "I know so. If we don't jump on this now somebody else is going to develop the technology that INGEN already has, and there's no promises that it'll be us, and then we're screwed. Why be behind in the race when we could be winning it."

Rossiter sighed. "You need to be sure about this, Lew. Can you pull this off?"

"One hundred percent." Dodgson grinned.

"Do it," Rossiter said.

"Good man." Dodgson was nearly breaking into a sprint down the hall.

Rossiter snatched his arm. "But, Lew, I want to make myself very clear. This is it. Either you acquire the specimens now, or it's over. And when I say over, I mean over."

The memory faded. Dodgson was back on the beach in Costa Rica watching Dr. Levine. And then she started walking toward him.