“Stay alert,” Reece said as they came across a mass of stripped bones. “Be ready to run if I say. If anything happens to me, the helicopter’s that way, east, half a mile. Use the radio and call Mohammed, channel sixteen. Basecamp can pick you up in the stargo-jet.”
“What’s in here?” Ash asked, desperate to know but not really wanting to hear the answer.
“Something big,” Reece replied. “Let’s hope they’re off hunting. They’re the most lethal predators out here. We definitely don’t wanna meet them.”
“Oh, well that’s good to know,” Marissa peeped incredulously. “I feel so much happier now that’s all cleared up.”
“Let’s just keep moving. Come on, let’s quicken our pace.”
The sheer volume of bones they were stumbling across gave the impression of a graveyard, a place where giants came to die. But Ash knew this wasn’t where dinosaurs came to die, it was where they were dragged to and slaughtered. The stale air grew muggy and was scented with a pungent musk. Vines hung from the trees, the tops of which were obscured by mist. On the ground too, mist rolled around the tree trunks. Ferns poked above the phantom sea. Unidentifiable wriggling creatures unsettled the mist as the trio moved. Ash spotted an enormous red centipede, with spines and pincers. It reared up and hissed, then scuttled up a tree trunk, curling round the bark as it moved up and away.
The group walked through an enormous rib cage that arched above their heads. It must have been something like a diplodocus, something huge. Whatever had dragged it here must have been a super predator. Ash noticed deep gouges in the bone, which he imagined were caused by massive teeth. Large insects buzzed around the tatters of rotting flesh and sinew hanging from the bones.
“Euuuch, it stinks!” Marissa said, holding her nose.
“Shhhh,” Reece said quietly, leading them through the bone tunnel. “Be very quiet. Tread carefully. We’re nearly there.”
Occasionally, Ash felt insects bump the material of his suit. Normally it would have freaked him out, but right now he was too concentrated on their surroundings to care. His heart rate was rising steadily and the sweat running down his face was now a torrent. Acidic adrenaline stung his throat. The mist was thickening and rising up around their waists. Ash was sure something was in here with them, lying in wait, watching and waiting to pounce.
“There it is,” Reece whispered, pointing. “The helicopter.”
“Thank g…” Ash stopped as his foot bumped against something hard, yet soft at the same time. “Huh?” He said, prodding the object gently with his toe.
There was a deep rumbling growl and Ash froze. It felt like he’d been dunked into a nerve-shattering ice bath. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t think. Terror was stripping his brain of all logical thought. Slowly, an enormous head the size of a car, with fat teeth poking from a huge jaw, rose out of the mist. Reece and Marissa backed away, their mouths hanging open in horror, but there was nowhere for Ash to go. He was too close. As soon as he moved those jaws would lunge and split him in two. The dinosaur growled and glared. Its nostrils flared as it sniffed Ash’s chest. Its eyes opened wide and it roared into his face, painfully loud, the pink flesh of its throat wobbling.
The ground shook as the creature lumbered to its feet, sending the mist rolling from the clearing. The towering dinosaur roared again and loomed over Ash, its teeth hovering inches from his head, its hot breath ruffling his hair. The animal suddenly rocked its head to the side and swung it back, swatting Ash from the ground and sending him flying through the air. He smacked into a tree trunk, slid down the bark and crumpled into a heap on the floor.
“Ash… Ash!” Reece called.
“Ahhhh… Mmmmuu,” Ash managed, gazing around at the ghostly vapour that was curling in around him. Where was the dinosaur? His senses were too stunned by the impact to make sense of what was happening.
“ASH, GET UP! Come this way. Towards us. NOW!”
Ash pulled himself up using the tree trunk and rose above the mist. He saw the enormous dinosaur, standing over the body of a similar looking animal. At first he thought the dinosaur was feasting, but it moaned, then leaned forwards and nuzzled the body at its feet, which was covered in scorch wounds and shrapnel cuts, like it had been in an explosion. The dinosaur looked at Ash, then threw its head back and roared at the sky.
Ash staggered towards Marissa and Reece. The dinosaur moaned, then slumped to the ground, clearing the area of mist once more. It licked the dead dinosaur and blinked its large sad eyes. Then it rested its head on the body of its companion and whimpered, like a grief stricken dog guarding the body of its master. The creature sounded so sad it broke Ash’s heart. It simply wanted to be left alone, to mourn its partner in peace.
“I never realized,” Reece said as the mist gently rolled in around the creatures. “I never knew how tender they could be. They’re not monsters. What have we done?”
“Poor creature,” Marissa said, her voice crackling with emotion. “That’s so sad. They must be intelligent to have feelings that strong, no?”
“For sure,” Reece replied. “That old boy’s ancestors have been around for millions of years. That’s a lot of evolution, much more than we’ve had. Come on, let’s leave him in peace before he decides he’s hungry. Helicopter’s this way.”
Reece made sure Marissa and Ash were buckled in securely, then he seated himself and span the helicopter up to full power. The Allosaur moaned as they lifted from the ground and cleared the trees.
“You poor animals,” Reece said, swinging the helicopter round and heading for basecamp. “Please forgive us. I never meant for it to be like this.”
As they flew, the volcano released a bloodcurdling shriek, like a vengeful god waking from eons of slumber. The shriek was followed by a deafening explosion that sent out a shockwave that caused the helicopter to veer sideways. The planet wasn’t done with them yet. It wouldn’t forgive them for the damage they’d caused.
Hellfire
F laming hunks of smouldering rock sliced through the air either side of the helicopter, smashing into the trees which exploded into bouquets of flame. Reece swung the helicopter left and right, trying to avoid the fists of molten fury crisscrossing the sky, leaving smoky trails. Fragments pattered the helicopter’s airframe. Within minutes, the jungle was ablaze, alive with twisting flames that breached the darkness. Here and there, columns of sunlight sliced through the clouds as chunks of rock punched through, the sunlit columns quickly thinning to nothing.
Reece pulled back hard on the controls as the trees ahead exploded. Flames reached into the cockpit, briefly licking against his face. He flew through the fireball and scanned the controls, smelling his own singed hair.
“We’re okay,” he called over his shoulder. “No damage.”
“Look,” Marissa yelled. “The monorail, it’s moving… a train... there’s a train!”
Ahead and to their right, Reece spotted a monorail cart weaving through the burning forest.
“Becca!” He exclaimed, feeling overcome with relief. “I knew you’d make it. I knew it’d take more than a wave and a few dinosaurs to take you down. Atta girl.”
He angled towards the speeding monorail cart, which was now heading out of the burning trees and towards the lakeside viewing platform. Across the ash covered plains, frightened dinosaurs were scattering in all directions, but there was nowhere for them to go. They were penned in by walls of flame tearing through the surrounding forest. A ball of rock splashed into the lake, which boiled furiously as it sank. Another chunk streaked through the sky and barrelled across the plains, taking out dinosaurs and gouging holes as it bounced. Reece cried out as it splintered apart and shredded through one of the struts holding the monorail track aloft. The strut buckled and collapsed, causing an entire section of track to sag and bow outwards, beginning to twist and warp under the strain of its unsupported weight. The next strut along the track buckled and started to lean. Unable to withstand the twisting forces, the track sudden
ly snapped and swung out, scraping across the grass before coming to rest angled towards the lake.
Becca must have spotted the danger as the monorail cart sprayed sparks, its breaks squealing. Reece grabbed a headset.
“Mo, Mo, you there?”
“Roger,” Mohammed came. “I’m tracking both parties. I…”
“Is the stargo-jet fuelled?” Reece demanded.
“Jay’s in the pilot’s seat, it’s on the runway and we’re uncoupling the fuelling hoses now. It’s fifty-three percent. More than enough to make orbit.”
“Send it to the lakeside platform,” Reece said, watching the train cart hit the section of broken track. He could see Becca inside, frantically motioning for the kids to duck their heads.
“Planetary flight takes a lot of juice,” Mohammed replied. “We won’t make orbit if…”
“I know, Mo, just send it. We won’t make it without you guys. I gotta go. Tell Jay to come asap.”
Reece tore off the headset and cast it aside. The monorail cart corkscrewed through the broken section of track and skidded across the grass. It ploughed through the reeds at the edge of the lake and splashed to a sudden stop, sending out rippling waves.
“That’s gonna wake them up. This is bad… very very bad.”
A vast dorsal fin slowly emerged from the dark water, in which the fiery sky was reflected. The giant sail forged towards the stricken monorail cart, sending out a bow wave as it moved. The spinosaurus lifted its head, as though curious to spy the delights fortune had delivered it for lunch. The beast ducked under the water and flicked its tail, gaining momentum. Behind it, the giant head of the crocodilian sarcosuchus breached the water. The sarcosuchus’ bulging eyes glared at the monorail cart. It flicked its tail and followed the spinosaurus, water lapping across its knobbly armor plating.
“Ah shit, this is so fricking bad...”
Reece pulled back on the controls, desperately trying to gain height as quickly as possible. He brought the aircraft down hard on the topside of the lakeside viewing platform.
“Quick, out,” he ordered.
The kids obviously understood the urgency as they quickly unbuckled themselves and disembarked without question.
“I’ll come back for you. If something happens to me, take the stairs down and head for the stargo-jet when it arrives, understand?
The youngsters nodded and Reece took to the sky. He angled the helicopter down and forwards, zooming across the lake’s surface, hoping the prop wash would scare off the swimming dinosaurs or entice them away from the stricken monorail cart. The spinosaurus leapt up and snapped at the helicopter’s skids before splashing back into the dark water. It resurfaced and eyed the helicopter dangerously, slowly gliding forwards.
“That’s it,” Reece said, moving sideways and drawing the spinosaurus away. “Come on, that’s it. You want me, come and get me.”
The sarcosuchus didn’t seem as easily conned by the ruse and it continued towards the rail cart, ploughing stoically onwards. At least Becca and the kids chances were increasing now they only had one terrible lizard to deal with.
Nearing the edge of the lake, Reece hovered inches above the ground and moved sideways across the plains. Particles of volcanic ash, flecks of grass and water whipped up around him.
“Come on, this way,” he shouted at the approaching spinosaurus. Its savage teeth were getting larger with every second. “Come on you ugly bastard, let’s go, you and me. Come and get some!”
In his wildest nightmares he’d never imagined he’d be facing off with the largest amphibious predator the world had ever seen. He waited as long as he dared, then thudded the aircraft to the ground and jumped out of the far side, making sure to keep his head low so he wasn’t decapitated by the decelerating rotor blades. Behind him he heard water cascading as the beast reared from the depths and howled a gurgling roar.
“Well, what big teeth you have,” Reece said, gazing through the helicopter’s open cabin at the spinosaurus, shedding water on the bank. He turned and sprinted. Ahead of him was a herd of diplodocus. The ninety meter long titanosaurs were huddling amongst one another, vying for position at the middle of the herd, terrified by the burning trees and volcanic rain. “Please don’t crush me,” Reece said, heading for their legs that were as thick as hundred meter tall sequoias.
He looked over his shoulder and watched the spinosaurus smash through the helicopter. The beast shrieked as the craft exploded, covering the animal in burning aviation fuel, but it didn’t seem to bother it much. If anything, it had added fuel to its fury as it was now charging, dripping flames that set the grassland ablaze.
“Come on,” Reece yelled. “That’s right, you focus on me. Come on you ugly spud.”
The animal hunched forwards and snarled, still charging. Reece locked eyes with the giant. He sensed its urge to kill, its manic desire to rip and devour flesh. The spinosaurus lowered its head, the ground quaking, its gleaming eyes wide and its tongue bouncing behind its monstrous teeth.
* * * * * *
“This way,” Becca called, tugging at the door to the monorail cart, through which water was flooding.
The cart was slowly sliding into the lake and with only one good arm, the fight to open the door was hopeless. She reached out with her broken arm but the sudden surge of pain almost made her black out.
“Here,” Marty said, nudging past her, “let me. Bad legs make strong arms.”
“Something’s coming,” Babs said. “It’s in the water. Guys, it’s getting faster. It’s big, really really big…”
“Hurry with the damn door then,” Harper snapped, pushing past Becca and squeezing his hands through the door’s rubber seals, just below Marty’s. “Come on, together,” he yelled, gurning and heaving.
The group stumbled forwards as something bashed the cart from behind. Becca shot a look through the rear windows, feeling woozy. She instantly recognised the danger. Babs and Marty screamed as the enormous crocodile opened its jaws and crunched down on the rear of the rail cart, its teeth puncturing the metal and shattering the windows. It shook its head and tore the section clean off, in one terrifyingly swift bite, like the cart was made of tissue paper. The sarcosuchus flicked its tail and forced its head and meaty forearms into the cart, snorting heavy breaths. It lay still, glaring at the group, growling savagely.
“We got it,” Marty said triumphantly, prizing a gap in the doors. “It’s open, come on.”
“Out,” Becca ordered, pushing each of the kids through. “Get to the viewing platform. Just run.”
She’d barely squeezed half of her body through the gap when the cart lifted into the air and swung sideways. She tried to force herself through the opening, fighting against the momentum of the swing that was trying to drag her back inside. The cart whipped the other way and she was flung out. She hit the ground rolling, bashing her broken arm with each revolution. A shadow moved over her. The pain was unbelievable. She retched. She could hear the sarcosuchus shrieking. She rolled aside as the cart slamed down beside her.
She lay, breathing heavily. The sarcosuchus whirled into a frenzy, glaring at Becca, clearly furious its jaws were muzzled by the carriage. The creature screeched and began rearing up and slamming the cart up and down, up and down, sending pieces of metal and glass flying in all directions.
Ignoring the pain in her arm, Becca jumped up and staggered after the kids. A few hundred meters away she saw Reece running towards a herd of agitated diplodocus. She gasped, noticing the spinosaurus thundering after him, flames engulfing the enormous beast. It was closing on him fast. He looked so small. He wasn’t going to make it. The monster was almost on top of him.
“Reece!” She screamed. “Reece… look out behind you!”
* * * * * *
“They’re out,” Marissa said, peering over the railings of the viewing platform. “It got its head stuck in the carriage. Come on guys, run!”
“The other one’s gonna get Reece,” Ash said, pointing. “Jeezu
s, it’s almost on him…”
Then it happened. Reece stumbled and fell. The spinosaurus pulled up and gazed down at him, snarling. From afar it looked like a cat playing with a tiny mouse. The spinosaurus lunged forwards and snapped Reece up in its jaws. It jerked its head back and tossed him into the air, then caught him and bit down. Its teeth shattered as they crunched down on Reece’s survival suit. The animal shook its head violently, jaw muscles bulging. A diplodocus at the edge of the herd charged at the spinosaurus, who flung Reece aside, sending him bouncing across the water like a skipping stone. He came to rest, floating face down, unmoving.
“I gotta get him,” Ash said, clambering onto the railings. “I gotta save him.”
“It’s too high, you’ll die,” Marissa cried. “Come back down!”
“The suit’ll take the impact. He saved us. I can’t leave him. I won’t leave him.”
“Then I’m coming too. I’m not staying here on my own,” Marissa said, climbing up beside Ash. “Oh, god… It’s so high…”
“You ready?” Ash asked.
Marissa nodded, then they leapt forwards. Ash watched the diplodocus whip the spinosaurus with its long muscular tail, sending the great beast skittering sideways. Then Ash plunged into the water, which closed around him like a vice, splitting his suit down one side, allowing water to rush in. He kicked for the surface, emerging at the same time as Marissa, who was bleeding from her nose. Behind her Ash saw the stargo-jet glide over the trees.
Ash powered through the water and came up beside Reece. He turned him onto his back and held his face above the water. He could see blood seeping from a gash on the side of his suit. Beside him, Ash noticed the crocodilian dinosaur sink into the water, the monorail cart still clamped around its head and neck.
“Is he breathing?” Marissa panted, swimming alongside.
“I dunno. He’s bleeding a lot. I’m pretty sure I’ve broken something. My foot maybe. He’s not good. Help me.”
Jurassic Earth Trilogy Box Set Page 20
