They moved in a quick birdlike manner and had voices that warbled and crackled and whistled.
The Raptors all stood stock still when they spotted Ben and Kate.
Then one of them began to offer bananas through the fence making warbling noises. Kate swallowed and felt like running.
King Olaf indicated to follow, and Ben took her hand and they went towards the fence.
****
In the front room of the farmhouse, the Raptor Farmer turned sharply, a frown on his gnarled forehead.
The rooms were large and laid out so that the long Raptor tail did not crash into everything as they turned, as they could, very quickly.
“What’s up?” the Farmer demanded.
“Two more humans,” the Farmhand explained, indicating for the Farmer to come look.
“Two, where did you get them?” he asked.
“King Olaf brought them to the fence so we rounded them up.”
The Farmer rubbed his chin with his wiry hand and walked a circle about Ben and Kate, examining them with his hard beady crafty intelligent eyes.
“I wonder is there a nest of them out in the woods?” he mused.
“They are young animals,” the experienced farmhand offered.
“I wonder would we find it?”
“They die too easily,” the farmhand said.
“But they must be breeding somewhere?”
“Not an easy crop to rear,” the farmhand added with a knowing shake of his head.
“None the less, a very valuable animal,” the Farmer commented.
“We’ll bring them to the Mart?”
“Maybe, they are sure to get a good price, the gourmet restaurants are crying out for feral stock. The humans they farm artificially in Norway are all very well but the Gourmets say the flavour is not the same as in the wild.”
“What will I do with them boss?” the farmhand asked, not an expert in exotic food flavours or market prices.
“We’ll pen them for the moment.”
“Where would you like me to store them?”
“I’ll show them to the children. Humans are a rare species these days.”
“You want to take them into the house?”
“Yes and before I forget, make sure King Olaf gets an extra ration of bananas. Sometimes I think old Olaf is intelligent. We must encourage him.”
“Yes boss, will do.”
“Leave them to me. I’ll herd them into the kitchen.”
“I’ll come back when I’ve have looked after King Olaf’s bananas,” the farmhand promised.
The Farmer used hand signals and ‘mush’ like sounds and whipped around with his long tail to steer Kate and Ben through a door that led into the kitchen.
“What’s this?” the farmer’s wife sounded aghast.
“More humans,” the farmer explained.
“So?”
“I thought I’d show the kids.”
“Get them out of my kitchen,” his wife snapped.
“But…”
“Dirty beasts,” she added with distaste.
“Just a minute,” the Farmer replied.
“Nahc, Asil, what do you think?” he added.
As he spoke he pushed Ben and Kate gently with his tail into full view of his children.
The two teenage Raptors turned and regarded Ben and Kate with hungry eyes.
“Can we have them for breakfast?” Nahc asked.
“I’m tired of Orang-utan,” Asil complained.
“Nonsense,” the Farmer’s wife chided.
“We can sell these for cash to the restaurants,” the Farmer pointed out.
“Just a bite,” Asil, who appeared to be feminine, asked.
She was moving very swiftly and opening her jaws.
Ben whacked her jaw with his Hurley stick and she jumped back in shock.
“Father!” the farmer’s wife said in alarm.
But the Farmer looked like he might burst his sides laughing.
“I told you not to play with your food,” he roared but Asil was not amused.
“Outside children,” the Farmer’s wife instructed firmly.
“Mom!” Asil protested.
“There’s a fresh Orang-utan in the slaughter area, go catch your breakfast and don’t be too long about it.”
“We have to get you to the school bus soon,” the Farmer reminded them.
“And be sure to put your eating bibs on. I don’t want to have to wash your school uniforms every time you eat,” the Farmer’s wife chided.
“I’ll put these two out with the other one,” the Farmer suggested as his kids ran out for breakfast.
“Yes, out of my kitchen if you please.”
His wife was cross and afraid of a mess.
“Just keep them away from the egg incubation room,’ she added. “Nahc and Asil’s little brother will hatch soon.”
“Don’t worry,” the Farmer said. “I’ll stick them in the cage.”
As he shooed them out the kitchen door the farmhand returned and assisted the farmer.
‘We’re to put them with the other one,” the Farmer explained.
The farmhand grunted and joined in herding the two children.
From a nearby enclosure they could hear the hoops of the young raptors and the cries of the captive Orang-utan they were chasing for breakfast.
“Those kids are growing up fast,” the Farmer remarked.
“I remember when they could only catch wild dogs,” the farmhand chuckled.
“I keep telling them not to play with their food,” the Farmer complained.
“Hunting builds them up,” the farmhand defended.
“They’ll be late for the school bus,” the Farmer added.
Together they steered Ben and Kate towards a large outhouse.
Chapter seven
Conchobar
Conchobar rose from his straw when he heard the noise as they entered the outhouse.
The Farmhand used the claw on his foot to pull back the cage door.
The Farmer ushered Ben and Kate forward into the cage and then the Farmhand closed the door again making sure the lever-lock was fastened.
“Worth a pretty penny,” the Farmer remarked as he viewed his prizes.
He pulled a lever to release water and bananas into a trough.
“I brought them in,” the farmhand reminded him.
“Don’t worry,” the Farmer said with a laugh-like warble. “You’ll get a bonus on sale.”
“I’ve never had a whole one,” the farmhand remarked.
“The restaurants will offer a good price,” the Farmer replied.
“Some say humans are wonderful roasted with Cashew nuts,” the farmhand added with a warble of a laugh.
“I don’t go for the fancy tuff,” the Farmer offered.
“I prefer my food freshly killed,” the farmhand agreed.
“Me too,” the Farmer said as they departed.
“You can’t beat an old style fresh kill after a chase,” the farmhand added.
“I wonder where they get the clothes in the wild?” the Farmer remarked.
“Furs and vegetable matter I believe.”
“Some say humans are intelligent but it’s hard to believe,” the Farmer added as they were leaving.
They carefully locked the outhouse as they left.
“I’m not going back, I don’t care who sent you,” Conchobar protested when the farmers were gone.
“We were asked to get you,” Kate began.
“You’re just a couple of kids.” Conchobar was contemptuous.
“Nonsense,” Kate said dismissively.
“Is this your first mission?”
“Danu said it would be straightforward. She believes you lost your bracelet.”
“I put it on the ground,” Conchobar admitted. “It turned a pewter colour.”
“Danu said you are stranded?”
“I just took it off so they could not call me back.”
> “On purpose?”
“I hate them all, those bossy adults.”
“Did you touch the ground?”
“Do you think I’m crazy?”
“What language is he speaking?” Ben asked, unable to understand a word.
“What language is he speaking?” Conchobar asked.
“Can we repair your bracelet?” Kate stayed on the problem.
Conchobar laughed.
“Have a banana,” he offered indicating to the trough.
Ben understood and picked a few bananas and wiped them clean before he peeled them. He handed one to Kate.
Ben realised Kate could understand Conchobar just as she had understood the Orang-utan and the Raptors. He decided he might as well eat until Kate got around to explaining everything.
“Well?” Kate insisted.
Conchobar assumed a superior look. “You children may not understand,” he said.
“Try me,” Kate offered.
“The meteor that wiped out the Dinosaur did not strike in this Time-line.”
“I understand that,” Kate said feeling cross.
“Well,” Conchobar continued. “That Meteor spread a layer of Iridium around the earth. Iridium is a rare metal and comes from Meteors.”
“I know that also,” Kate said in exasperation.
“As a result in this Time-line meteors are very rare and so as a result, is Iridium,” Conchobr continued.
“What has that to do with your bracelet?” Kate demanded.
‘Simple,” Conchobar explained as if to an idiot. “The bracelet can only be revived if it is held in contact with Iridium.”
“Ben has a meteor stone in his backpack,” Kate said with a little smile.
This became a grin as she enjoyed watching Conchobar’s jaw drop.
“I left the bracelet in the Fairy Mound under some Blackthorn,” he stammered.
But then he drew himself up.
“I don’t care,” he spat. “I’m not going back and that’s final.”
“Danu will be cross,” Kate explained.
“What about you and your friend here?” Conchobar mocked.
“He’s my brother.”
“Now they have you, you won’t get back to the Fairy Mound. Most likely you will end up in a zoo.”
“I think he actually wants to sell us to a Gourmet restaurant as food,” Kate said gravely.
“How do you know, you’re just a child?”
“I still have my bracelet,” Kate explained simply.
“Give it to me,” Conchobar advanced.
Ben was watching carefully as he chewed his banana and he picked up his hurly stick.
“That’s far enough!” he warned.
Conchobar stopped. He could understand Ben’s tone of voice.
He could see Ben was stocky and seemed to know what he was doing with a Hurley stick. A blow from that would clearly be painful and if he had a fight he might accidentally touch the earth.
Conchobar smiled, held up his hands in a peace gesture and sat on his straw.
“Eat some Bananas. What are your names?”
“I am Kate and this is Ben,” Kate introduced.
“Conchobar,” Conchobar said to Ben and waved a gloved hand as he smiled.
“Hi” Ben said.
“Danu asked us to fetch you,” Kate persisted.
“Danu, always bossing, always gives orders, never any fun.”
“If you stay here you will be eaten.”
“Nonsense,” Conchobar laughed.
“What, you want to stay?”
“I’m going to study raptors, to learn their language and become and expert and share my knowledge with them.”
“You sure?” Kate was doubtful.
“Once I learn their language they’ll treat me properly.”
“I don’t think they are going to give you time,” Kate said doubtfully.
“Eat some bananas,” Conchobar suggested.
“I’m not hungry,” Kate protested.
“Kate you can talk to them and explain that we are not food. That should get us off on the right foot.”
“You think?”
“It could be great fun living here, the Raptors will understand they need our knowledge and treat us with respect.”
With a sigh Kate went and sat beside Ben. Ben handed her a banana.
“We have to escape,” Ben said.
“Yes,” Kate agreed.
“It was dangerous to come to the Farmhouse,” Ben added.
“Danu said not to leave the Fairy Mound. I should have realised it was very dangerous and Conchobar is an idiot.”
“No I’m not,” Conchobar contradicted from his heap of straw, able to understand Kate’s half of the conversation.
“We need a plan,” Ben suggested.
“Right,” Kate agreed
“Conchobar can go or stay, I don’t care but we are out of here. Kate if I give you a sign you are to do exactly as I say. O.K?”
“O.K. Oisin,” Kate agreed.
She was not the slightest bit bothered that Ben was being bossy.
Ben took the bottle of water out of his knapsack and passed it to Kate.
“Clean water?” Conchobar said, standing up on his straw.
Kate took a sip and handed the bottle to Ben.
“Please,” Conchobar begged, “all they have here is dirty water.”
Ben took a sip, put the lid back on and threw the bottle to Conchobar who caught it. Immediately Conchobar began to gulp down the remaining water.
A rattle at the Outhouse door disturbed them.
Conchobar hid the water bottle under the straw and they waited.
The Farmer and his wife came in with Nahc and Asil.
Nahc and Asil had bags on their back and were dressed in what Kate assumed was their school uniform.
“All right,” the Farmer said in indulgent tones.
“Please Dad,” Asil said.
“As we have three you can have one for lunch,” the Farmers wife offered.
“Can we have the biggest one?” Nahc said, pointing at Conchobar.
“Now don’t be greedy,” the Farmer’s wife admonished.
“We’ll share him with our classmates,” Asil offered.
“As long as there is enough to go around?” the Farmer’s wife said doubtfully.
“We can have fun in the slaughter area at school. I wonder how fast he can run?”
“What’s going on?” Conchobar asked feeling unnerved as they stared at him.
Kate held up the skin of her eaten banana and waved it a Conchobar.
“They want me for lunch?” Conchobar guessed with horror.
“They want him for lunch,” Ben suggested.
“They really are carnivores,” Kate said in wonder.
“Are they talking?” Asil asked her father.
“Don’t be silly dear,” her Mom said.
“All animals make animal noises,” the Farmer added.
“Which one?” Nach asked.
“Let’s try herd the bigger one without spooking the other two,” the Farmer suggested.
“The smaller pair looks healthier and they’ll get a good price,” his wife observed.
“Now kids remember this is a treat, when you get home I want you to clean your rooms,” the Farmer said and looked gravely at Nach and Asil as he spoke.
“Are they girls or boys?” Asil asked.
“You’d have to ask the veterinary surgeon,” the Farmer replied.
“Can you not tell?” his wife asked.
“It’s practically impossible to tell from their plumage but I hear the males get a facial plumage as they age.”
The farmer slid back the slide lock on the cage and they began to come in walking slowly and crooning a ‘hush-like’ sound.
“Let’s not be too long, we must remember the school bus,” Mom said softly.
Chapter eight
Escape
Kate stood up as th
e Raptor family came into the cage.
“Just a minute,” she said.
“Holy smoke,” the Farmer exclaimed, jumping up several feet and hitting his head of the roof of the cage.
“It talked!” he exclaimed.
Nahc and Asil moved closer to their mother.
“We aren’t food!” Kate protested. “We are people like you.”
“Well this is the limit!” the Farmer wife protested, having got over her initial shock.
“Talking food, I never heard the like,” she added.
“I’d bet these are not wild at all. I bet they are farmed,” Nahc said.
“It is some sort of a food promotion?” Asil asked.
“You should show more respect,” Kate added.
“But I like my food,” Nahc defended.
“Maybe it’s not such a bad idea,” the Farmer remarked, not yet over the initial shock.
“What!” his wife demanded.
“Imagine, if you were tired with your food raw, it could tell you how it’s best cooked and what vegetables go with it.”
“Give me a marker from your school bag,” Kate demanded.
Kate took a deep breath and gathering her courage she walked up to Asil, who took her mother’s hand.
“I will show you something,” Kate promised with her best smile.
“I don’t like these sales promotion gimmicks,” Asil’s mother protested.
“Let’s see what the human will do,” Asil suggested with an interested gleam in her eye.
Kate went over to the dry stone back wall of the cage and drew grid three boxes wide and three boxes deep. The Farmer’s family watched in amazement.
Then she drew a second grid, exactly the same as the first.
Kate stood in her best teacher’s pose and pointed at one of the grids.
“This is a nine box grid,” she explained.
“Nine boxes,” the Farmer said incredulously
“It is called a magic circle. You have to put numbers into the boxes but they must add up to fifteen in any direction.”
“Up to fifteen?’ the Farmer echoed.
“Do you understand?” Kate insisted.
“Careful,” the Farmer’s wife said.
“This may be how they set prices per unit for the promotion?” the Farmer added with a puzzled frown.
“It’s to show you that we are as intelligent as you are,” Kate explained firmly.
“Right?” Nahc said sarcastically.
“Do you understand the challenge?”
Kate and the Raptor Dinosaurs Page 4
