Dinosaur Thunder (32 page)

“Is that good or bad?” Carson asked.

“We’re in God’s hands,” Reverend said.

“I don’t do the church thing, Reverend. Is that good or bad?” Carson asked.

“You can wait here,” Nick said, moving to the opening with Reverend right behind.

“Forget that,” Carson said, keeping close.

Inside, Nick found himself facing a large opening that looked out onto a bizarre landscape of waving, golden grasses and strange trees.

“It’s another conjunction,” Nick said.

Reverend took off his sunglasses, stepping close to the opening. “It’s beautiful,” Reverend said.

“Where is that?” Carson asked. “Is that this time or is it our time?”

“It’s not like anything in our time,” Nick said. “It could be another time, but I’ve never seen anything like those trees in the fossil record. It could be another dimension.”

Now one of the Inhumans stepped forward and held up the Dinosaur Wrangler patch. Then he held out his left hand flat, and then used two of his three-clawed fingers to do a walking motion toward the opening.

“No, no, no,” Carson moaned. “Tell me she didn’t.”

“Afraid so,” Nick said. “Wherever and whenever that is, that’s where we need to go next.”

38

Attack

The fact is that velociraptor attack is the third leading cause of death among the Community. Only disease and Inhumans kill more of my people.

—Reverend to Nick Paulson

Unknown Time
Unknown Place

Do attacked before Elizabeth and Jeanette sensed the danger. Me, Fa, and Ti launched as well, angling left and right. Re, So, and La held their ground, heads low, legs bunched. Nearly as slow as the human women, Sally snapped her jaws shut in surprise at the response of the velociraptors.

Leaping out of the golden-topped grasses was a feline creature built like an emaciated lion, but with long bony legs that lifted it above the grasses. Covered with brown fur and marked with yellowish flame-shaped coloration around the neck, the creature bounded up the hill, mouth open in a silent roar, revealing a double row of needle teeth.

Do leapt, meeting the attacking creature in midair, feetfirst, toe claws extended. As quick as Do, the feline creature twisted, Do striking its shoulder and bouncing off. The creature swiped at Do with an oversized clawed paw, missing, but then switched its tail, clubbing Do with the large knob on the tip.

Fa and Ti struck next, toe claws drawing blood, raking the sides of the creature. Large square jaws snapping left and then right, the creature spun, keeping the attacking velociraptors in sight. Now Re, So, and La joined the melee, jumping high and long, striking the creature’s haunches. Attacked from all sides, the creature spun, snapping jaws, swiping at the velociraptors with wide paws, and whipping its tail club. Smart and quick, Jeanette’s chicks darted in and out, gashing and nipping, and then jumping out of range. The velociraptors were quick, but so was the creature, and chicks were clubbed and slashed. Despite their injuries, the chicks kept attacking. Suddenly, the creature bunched, then leapt high, disappearing into the grass, pink gashes in its brown fur.

Jeanette and Elizabeth had their rifles at their shoulders, but had no shot with the velociraptors jumping and bouncing in and out, attacking and then chasing the creature away. Tenacious, the velociraptors followed the creature into the grass.

“Do, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, Ti,” Jeanette sang out.

The velociraptors did not return.

“Put the kitten down,” Elizabeth said.

“My velociraptors might kill it,” Jeanette said.

“That thing was after the kitten,” Elizabeth said. “It could come back.”

“I’ll put it over there,” Jeanette said. She walked to a large boulder with a crevice at its base and put the kitten in the crevice. “You’ll be safe here,” Jeanette said.

“Let’s go,” Elizabeth said. “The velociraptors can catch up.”

Jeanette called for them again, but then reluctantly followed Elizabeth down the hill, pausing for one look back for her chicks.

“Elizabeth, you better look at this,” Jeanette said, lingering at the top of the hill.

Reluctantly, Elizabeth walked back up the hill.

“Ripples,” Jeanette said, pointing.

A half dozen ripples in the sea of golden grass were converging on the hill where they stood. Looking closer, Jeanette realized there were even more smaller ripples moving away from the larger ripples.

“It’s like an ocean,” Elizabeth said. “The grass is full of animals.”

“We walked through it,” Jeanette said.

“We still have to get back,” Elizabeth said.

Turning to look for their exit, Elizabeth had just enough time to scream.

“Jeanette!”

Elizabeth shoved Jeanette aside, the pair tripping over each other and falling. With a snarl, Sally charged. The golden retriever was bowled over but managed to sink her teeth into the shoulder of the creature, three times her weight. Twisting violently, Sally broke free and then lunged. The feline raked Sally’s right side and then tore off her left ear. Sally squealed but continued the fight.

Jeanette was up, rifle ready, trying to shoot the creature. “I can’t get a shot!” Jeanette shouted.

Velociraptors raced over the hill, joining the fight. Ti, Fa, and Me slashed at the creature that was killing Sally, ripping its haunches, and clamped powerful jaws on bony legs. Pink blood flowed, and then like the other feline, it broke free and bounded down the hill, leaving bloody footsteps. This time the velociraptors did not give chase. Jeanette shot the creature just as it reached the beginning of the tall grass at the bottom. It collapsed, violently flopping and twisting. Then, whimpering, it crawled deeper into the grass. Just before it disappeared, Jeanette shot it again.

Going to Sally, Jeanette squatted next to her dog. Sally’s left ear was gone, along with most of the flesh from that side of Sally’s head. Blood flowed from deep gashes in her side, and a chunk of flesh had been torn from her shoulder. Ti, Fa, and Me alternated between licking Sally’s wounds and their own. Sally seemed impervious to their attentions but whimpered when Jeanette stroked her head.

“Good dog,” Jeanette said, voice quivering. “Good dog.”

Tears running, Jeanette shrugged off her pack, dumping the contents and finding the first aid kit. Soaking a cotton swab with alcohol, she dabbed a bleeding wound. Sally whined. Jeanette hesitated, unsure whether to keep treating the dog.

Elizabeth looked at the spreading pool of blood and knew there was no hope. “Jeanette, there’s nothing we can do for her,” Elizabeth said.

Still holding the cotton ball, Jeanette was frozen with indecision. Sally’s breathing quickened, and she whined constantly now. Ti, Fa, and Me stopped the attentions, hovering but not touching the suffering dog.

“Will you do it?” Jeanette asked.

“Yes,” Elizabeth said, knowing it would be hard.

Gently, Jeanette stroked Sally’s head one more time, then bent and kissed her forehead. Then she stood, and began walking away. “Ti, Fa, Me, come,” Jeanette said.

Ti and Fa came at once, but Me hesitated, giving Sally one last lick. Then Me trotted after Jeanette.

Quickly, so she wouldn’t have to think about it, Elizabeth shot Sally in the head, her own eyes tearing. As Elizabeth turned away, Ti, Fa, and Me trotted back to Sally, sniffing and nudging her. Elizabeth froze, worried the velociraptors would blame her for Sally’s death. After another couple of nudges, the velociraptors trotted back to where Jeanette sat, crying.

“She saved my life,” Jeanette said.

Elizabeth sat close, unsure of what to say.

“You saved me too,” Jeanette said, pulling Elizabeth close, hugging her.

Re, So, and Do came over the hill, nursing wounds, Do collapsing every few yards, and then resuming the climb. Re and So stayed with Do, resting when he rested, licking their own wounds. Jeanette jumped up and ran for the first aid kit and then hurried to Do. Carefully, Jeanette cleaned Do’s wounds, the velociraptor’s breaths quick and shallow.

The rest of the velociraptors formed a circle around Jeanette and Do, lying down and licking their wounds. Elizabeth walked from velociraptor to velociraptor, checking the severity of their wounds. Ti was hurt the worst, but Elizabeth dared not touch the wound, since the velociraptor watched her intently when she leaned in to get a better look. Elizabeth read warning in Ti’s green eyes. There was blood on Ti’s snout, and the chick licked it, still looking at her.

Elizabeth took off her pack and dug out dog food and water, feeding and watering each of the velociraptors. They ate greedily. Elizabeth then put a pile of food in front of Do, but he did not eat.

“He’s hurt bad,” Jeanette said.

Do was bleeding in several places, but the worst wound was on his belly. Elizabeth could see intestines bulging from the gash.

“I don’t know that we can help him,” Elizabeth said.

“I can’t lose another one,” Jeanette said, lifting Do’s head and scooting underneath, so his head rested in her lap.

Elizabeth had never been comfortable with the velociraptors. To her, the little horrors were vicious killers, different from the tyrannosaurs only in size, and in some ways worse. Velociraptors were intelligent, stealthy hunters, who coordinated their killing. Because Jeanette and Sally had been there since their birth, they accepted them as part of the pack, but Elizabeth was a latecomer. Elizabeth never felt more than tolerated, and if she put Do down, the others might not respond the same way as they did to Sally’s death.

Looking down the hill, Elizabeth saw the dead feline’s body disappear into the grass. Ripples in the grass showed converging scavengers, followed by hissing and snapping. Occasionally Elizabeth glimpsed fur, alligator tails, and horns. Checking the other direction, Elizabeth saw nothing, but was certain one or more of the felines was waiting in the grass.

“We’ve got to get away from the kitten,” Elizabeth said.

“I can’t leave him,” Jeanette said.

“Carry him,” Elizabeth said, taking charge.

Elizabeth sorted through the remains of Jeanette’s pack, taking food, ammunition, and a flashlight, then offered more water to the velociraptors. Then Elizabeth cut holes in the bottom of the pack and slit the sides. She and Jeanette gently slipped Do into the pack, his legs dangling. The chick emitted a high-pitched moan. Carefully, Elizabeth lifted the pack with Do in it, freezing when Do made a soft
awk
sound and the other velociraptors oriented toward Elizabeth, heads down.

“Good chicks,” Elizabeth said, helping Jeanette on with the pack. “Good Do.”

Do
awk
ed again, but then rested his head on Jeanette’s shoulder. Now on her back, Jeanette realized how big the chicks had gotten.

“Can you carry him?” Elizabeth asked.

“I’ll do it,” Jeanette said, wiping away a tear and leaving a smear of Do’s blood under her eye.

Handing Jeanette her rifle, Elizabeth scouted down both sides of the hill, seeing nothing, and knowing that seeing nothing meant nothing.

“Let’s move quickly,” Elizabeth said.

“We should bury Sally,” Jeanette said halfheartedly.

“Think about Do,” Elizabeth said.

They started down the hill, the exit from this world nearly a mile through a grass sea that hid the feline predators and a myriad of unknown creatures. Reaching the bottom of the rocky hill, they were about to plunge into the grass when Jeanette reached out, grabbing Elizabeth’s arm.

“Someone’s coming,” Jeanette said.

In the distance, Elizabeth saw three figures, and she could swear one of them was wearing a suit.

39

Pickup

Just what does it require to get into Low Earth Orbit?… First, you need something that can push, pull, drag, or carry a given mass and volume about 150 kilometers up with a net velocity of at least 7,814 m/s tangent to the curve of the Earth. The height is needed to get out of most of the drag in the air, which is noticeable at the needed speeds to stay in orbit. The velocity is what is needed to stay in orbit at that altitude.

—James V. H. Hill, Ph.D.

Present Time
Groom Lake, Nevada

Mike Watson, Sarasa Chandra, and Rick Maven sat around a table with Aurora pilot Rosa Perez-Roberts. Dr. Emmett Puglisi participated from Florida, his image projected on a wall screen in one of Area 51’s conference rooms. Like much of Area 51, the facilities and furnishings were spartan, the lion’s share of resources going to black bag projects like the SR-91 Aurora, a hypersonic aircraft capable of flying a payload into orbit, returning to Earth, and landing on a normal runway. There were other aircraft on-site, but Mike Watson and his flight crew were kept well away from those hangars. Even Rosa Perez-Roberts, who had flown the Aurora to orbit several times, was kept on a short leash.

“So, any idea what’s in those other hangars?” Maven asked Rosa Perez-Roberts one day after finishing simulator training.

Rick Maven was single, and fancied himself a ladies’ man. At five-foot-ten, with a medium build, cropped brown hair, and a face that projected boyish innocence, he was generally liked by women. Perez-Roberts was married, however, and married in the way that mattered. Perez-Roberts’s husband worked for the OSS, doing something with dinosaurs, but Perez-Roberts was a bit vague about his exact job.

“It’s been a few years, but I know what used to be in that hangar over there,” Perez-Roberts said.

Rosa Perez-Roberts was taller than average, maybe five feet five, with short brown hair and brown eyes. Nearing forty, she was entering middle-age an attractive woman who kept herself fit. Her Hispanic heritage showed in her light brown skin and brown eyes so dark, they could be black. Recalled from work as a commercial pilot, Perez-Roberts was very professional, without being overly formal. She was easy to relax around, and Watson was comfortable with her from the first day they met.

“What’s in it?” Maven asked.

“Can’t say, but it could fly circles around the Aurora,” Perez-Roberts said.