NINE

Alan led the way up the shallow rise and into the jungle. Upon entering the tree line, they proceeded single file, following no discernable path, but there was no hesitance in Alan’s pace, so it was apparent that he had traveled this way many times.

Here, the forest trees were not as dense as they had been in the areas of the supply route, and the canopy did not filter out all the sunlight, allowing the vast assortment of plants and trees beneath it to grow uninhibited. In contrasting variations of growth, the low growing ferns and shrubs were very dense in places, forcing them to push their way through it, while in other areas, the undergrowth thinned out, providing excellent visibility through the trees.

The temperature was pleasant in the dappled shade, with a gentle breeze that wafted softly along the hills and streams that formed Isla Sorna’s topography. Alan had assumed the lead, guiding her toward the valley he had spoken of. Occasionally, he glanced over his shoulder to make certain that she was still with him. As always, he was alert to everything around him.

Relying totally on him to advise her of danger, Ellie inhaled deeply, savoring the wonderful earthy smell of nature, and the way her lungs expanded to take in the fresh, unpolluted air as she trudged behind him. Already, she could feel her tired, battered body responding positively to the healing effects of the climate, assuring her that she had been correct in her decision to join Alan on the island. Even with the mild fatigue she already felt in response to the distance they had traveled, her body and her wounded spirit felt exhilarated. They could have been simply taking a leisurely, scenic hike through any forest in the tropics. Except for the constant danger . . .

They had walked for nearly twenty minutes when Alan became conscious of the fact that Ellie was beginning to breathe heavily. He could hear her behind him, drawing deep, gasping breaths, as if her lungs could not expand far enough to fulfill her need. He stopped near the remains of a large tree that had blown over during a past storm, and allowed the backpack to slide to the ground. "We’ll rest here for a few minutes."

Gratefully, she sank down on the mossy log, inhaling deeply from the exertion.

Alan reached into the backpack and withdrew a couple of bottles of water, and passed one of them to her. "It’s important to stay hydrated out here," he told her.

She accepted the bottle and removed the top, noticing as she did this that Alan was not even slightly winded. "Thanks," she said, then tipped it up and drank deeply.

He sat down on the huge log beside her, impressed that she was trying to maintain the pace he set, but aware that it was not easy for her. "Ellie, we’re in not hurry. It’ll be another six weeks before Miguel comes to take you back, so we have plenty of time."

Her eyes narrowed slightly at his reference to sending her back with Miguel when he delivered the next supply drop. Unless the situation changed drastically, he would have to hog-tie her to get her off that island!

Unaware of her rebellious thoughts, he continued, "Any time you feel tired and need to rest, just say so. If there was ever a person in this world I could always count on, it would be you, so trying to demonstrate that you can keep up with me is not worth damaging your health over. You don’t have to prove anything to me; I already know your worth. I’ve been here a long time, and I’m in better shape. Okay?"

"I didn’t come here to be a burden," she said, lowering her gaze, feeling suddenly ashamed of her poor physical condition. There had been a time when she could keep up with him, even in the most intense heat, no matter where he went or how long he traveled.

"You could never be a burden to me, Ellie."

She looked up at him quickly, surprised by his answer, and he gazed back at her with eyes that were unusually transparent. Aware of the fact that it had always been difficult for Alan to discuss his private feelings with anyone, even her, she had learned to read his expression and the unspoken implications behind his words in an effort to gain an understanding of his thoughts, and at that moment, she knew that he still had feelings for her, too, even if he was unable to adequately express them. The thought that he still cared lifted her heart with jubilation and inspired a feeling of optimism for the future.

Suddenly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was headed, as if aware that he had somehow communicated his most personal thoughts to her, he took a deep breath and looked away. "In a primeval sort of way, this is really a beautiful location," he said, making uncharacteristic small talk.

"Yes, it is," she agreed, but her spirits were not dampened by his abrupt change of topic. After several minutes of silence, she recapped the bottle. "I’m rested enough, now."

"You’re sure?"

"I’m sure."

He reached for the bottle, intending to return it to the backpack, but she held on to it.

"I’ve got it," she said. "You already have enough to carry."

They stood up, and resumed their hike through the jungle.

They walked another ten minutes before Alan stopped abruptly. She was quick to notice that there was no expression of alarm on his face as he stepped aside, providing her with an unobstructed view, and pointed. "Look."

Following the direction he had indicated, she saw an animal crossing their path, a creature that resembled a giant horned toad. "Ankylosaurus," she breathed, mesmerized, clutching Alan’s arm, excitedly.

It lumbered slowly through the undergrowth, it’s squat, armored body close to the ground. Briefly, it turned its large, armored head to look at them before proceeding on its way. Its long tail, tipped with a huge bony club, made a single threatening gesture toward them, warning them to keep their distance, but it made no aggressive movement toward them. Behind it, three more of the bizarre looking dinosaurs followed the first, each one casting an emotionless glance at the humans who observed, but none of them were concerned with their presence.

"There are several small herds on the island," he told her. "As I mentioned before, the infant mortality rate is very high among all species."

"Any theories?" she asked, genuinely interested.

"Well, several, actually. One is natural population control. You know, like in an overstocked aquarium where the weaker fish will begin to die off. Another is the density of the air. We know the atmosphere was very different at the time of the original dinosaurs. It could be that only the strongest ones have the ability to adapt to the current atmospheric conditions. I’ve seen Compies steal eggs from the nests, so that reduces the number of successful hatchings. There is also the possibility of parasitic infestations, diseases; the possibilities are endless. Whatever the reason, the animals are not outgrowing their environment. And, as you can see by the density of the jungles and grasslands, the eco-system is stable."

Once the Ankylosaurs had passed, the two humans moved on, falling silent again as they proceeded. Finally, after nearly two hours of alternately walking and resting, they emerged into a small open space atop a high rocky ridge overlooking the valley Alan had spoken of.

Unaccustomed to the exertion, Ellie was breathing heavily again as she moved to the edge and gazed out across the huge expanse of grassland. Below them, a herd of Stegosaurus grazed in the tall grass, and farther out, the ever-present Brachiosaurs browsed on the treetops. In the distance beyond the valley were the mountains, a rolling, forested range hiding untold secrets in the dark shadows beneath the jungle canopy.

“Oh, Alan, this is beautiful!” she said, softly. “And look! A herd of Stegosaurus!”

He had forgotten that this was a species she had not seen on Isla Nublar. "Yes,” he said, coming up behind her. “They’re pretty well established, and easy to find. This is one of my favorite spots on the island."

"You come here often?"

"Yes. It’s a great place to watch the animals, to see how they interact with one another and with other species. He set down the backpack, but did not reach inside for the ever-present video cameras. "I have a lot of footage of the Stegos," he explained.

She sat down on the rocky edge, taking in the magnificent view. "We should have brought a picnic lunch," she lamented.

"I hope you like peanut butter sandwiches," he said with a smile as he sat down beside her.

She turned to look at him, surprised by his thoughtfulness. "You made sandwiches?"

"I always bring sandwiches when I come up here because I never know how long I’m going to be." He glanced at his watch. "It’s still a little early, yet, but when we’re ready, they’re here."

She turned back to the view in the valley, and he sat down beside her, pleased with her interest.

"We didn’t see any Stegos on the other island," she said. “Or Ankies, for that matter,” she added.

"They were on the list, though, so I’m sure they were there. Remember, our tour was cut short by the storm."

She was quiet for several moments. "You know, Hammond’s idea almost worked. If there had been a backup plan in effect to deal with the possible loss of power in the electric fences, he would be reaping the benefits, now. Did you ever think about that?”

He nodded. “Maybe he should have called us in before he started all this. I would have been in a better frame of mind to help him understand the folly of reintroducing these predators to the world. Instead, he almost exposed the public to the dangers that we faced when those fences failed.”

“I don't think he would have listened to you, even if he had called you in sooner," Ellie told him.  She fell silent for several moments, then added, "I think that was the most frightened I’ve ever been, knowing that you were out there with the fences down and the animals wandering around unrestrained."

"We made it, though," he reminded her. "Barely."

They fell silent again as they observed the animals, most of which continued to browse. A couple of youngsters got into a scuffle with their spiked tails, but Alan and Ellie both knew that, like deer and other wild animals, the playful sparring was practice for the day when they would fight over mates.

"It’s like stepping back in time, seeing what the earth must have looked like before humans came along to destroy the natural habitats of every creature they encountered," Ellie said, mesmerized.

"This is the closest we’ll ever get to seeing how it really was. Hammond chose his locations well."

“Have you ever been to those mountains?” Ellie asked.

“No. I’d like to, but they’re too far away. It would take several days of traveling on foot, which means sleeping out in the open. With no one to stand guard and no shelter, it would be suicidal.”

They fell silent for awhile, just taking in the splendor of the scenery and the magnificence of the animals which continued to browse peacefully in the valley below them. The two young ones eventually tired of their play, and settled down to graze with the adults.

"Did you read Malcolm’s book?" Ellie asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes."

"He mentioned the control center, but not the dormitory or the research facility."

"That’s not really surprising. This is a big island, a lot bigger than Isla Nublar. Malcolm’s expedition came ashore by boat, and stayed pretty much near the coast and on the plains, where the jeeps and trailers could travel easier."

"I wish we had one of those jeeps," she commented, wistfully.

He smiled, and for the first time since her arrival to the island, he placed his arm around her, gripping the opposite shoulder with his hand. "Not used to walking?"

"Not really. I need to do something to get back into shape, like exercise or something."

”We’ll get you started on some of that exercise equipment back at the dorm,” he suggested. “That and some good nutritious food and we’ll have you back in shape in no time.”

Encouraged by his cheerful words and the arm around her shoulders, she gazed into his smiling face only inches away and started to lean closer to him, savoring the physical contact. At that moment, he rubbed her shoulder affectionately, then withdrew the arm, sliding his hand down her back before removing it altogether. "I have to admit, though, I’ve thought about asking Miguel to bring out a motorcycle. That would better enable me to travel distances, and perhaps even outrun some of the predators. On a motorcycle, I could probably reach the mountains in one day instead of two."

Concealing the disappointment she felt that he had suddenly backpedaled, she shifted her gaze from the valley to his face, noticing the wistful expression as he observed the distant mountains. “Why haven’t you?”

“Well, there is still the problem of safety, about where to sleep that won’t put myself in danger of attack. Even if I got there in a day, I’d still have to sleep in the open while exploring. Plus, there is also the possibility that a motorcycle might even alert the predators of my presence. It’s a double edged sword that I haven’t been able to overcome.”

"The noise?"

"The noise, the smell of fuel. All unfamiliar to the younger generations, but reminders of their origins to the older generations. They probably know that vehicles represent humans, the species who kept them in cages and subjected them to cruel experiments. No, a motorcycle probably would attract them like a magnet. You haven’t seen the parking area in front of the research facility yet. It’s littered with damaged vehicles, I suspect not just from the hurricane."

Ellie was surprised by his comments. He had been the island’s most outspoken critic for many years, declaring the animals to be nothing more than theme park monsters. "You sound sympathetic to them."

He shrugged with an ironic smile. "Let’s just say I’m getting to know them better. They had no say in all this. And the things Hammond’s nephew was doing: rounding them up, drugging them, putting them in cages to transport them to San Diego, just reinforced their hatred of humans." He shook his head in disbelief. "Taking those animals to the mainland --- That was the most foolhardy thing I ever imagined. Malcolm and his party were wise to release them before they could get them off the island."

"Except the Rex and its infant," she reminded him.

"Yes. That was unfortunate, especially because it opened up this Pandora’s Box to the whole world. As long as this island is here, people will succumb to the temptation to sneak ashore, and many of them will be killed. No matter what the Costa Rican government does to guard the coastline, it won’t be enough."

That was a sobering thought.

"It would have been better if this place had remained a secret. I blame Hammond’s stupid, money-grubbing nephew and his corporate idiots for allowing the existence of this island to get out to the general public."

"He paid for his mistakes with his life."

Alan sighed. "Yeah, I know. Greed can come with a high price. Well, at least InGen is back in Hammond’s hands. Hopefully, he’s learned from his mistakes and can rebuild the company into something more suitable to the civilized world. I presume it will pass down to Tim and Lex, if they want it."

Ellie was quiet a moment, thinking about Hammond’s young grandchildren. "Have you seen them since the accident?"

"No, have you?"

"No. They would be young adults, now. Malcolm saw them, once, just before his expedition. He said they’ve really grown."

Alan smiled, fondly, recalling the two youngsters. In spite of the fact that he had no particular affection for children, both had been attracted to him: Tim because of his fascination with dinosaurs, Lex because she had developed a childish crush on him. "They were good kids." He was quiet for a moment, then asked, curiously, "When did you see Malcolm?"

"Mark and I were in Los Angeles a couple of years ago. Mark had an important meeting to attend, so I did some shopping while he was working. I stopped for lunch at this little restaurant; I can’t remember the name of it, but I was standing there looking for a place to sit, and heard someone calling my name. He was dining alone, too, so we shared a table. He asked about you."

"Did he?"

"Mm-hm. I was surprised he recognized me. I was pregnant with Halley at the time, and was big as a barrel. He naturally assumed . . ." She stopped before completing the sentence, then added, "He was surprised that we weren’t together anymore."

Alan was quiet for a moment. He had heard the unusually regretful tone in her voice as she had spoken, and wondered if she had truly been happy with the State Department employee. "How is he doing?"

"He looked good. Still dresses in black. He said he was in L.A. giving a lecture or something. He also mentioned that he was dating a paleontologist."

"Yes, Sarah Harding; Doctor Harding’s daughter. I’ve heard of her. She’s very talented. She spent several days and nights on this island alone before the rest of the part arrived. She was lucky she didn’t encounter any of the predators during that time."

"Malcolm admitted it was the longest relationship he’d ever had with a woman, but he indicated that they were having some trouble."

"That doesn’t surprise me. He told me that he was always on the lookout for a ‘future ex-Mrs. Malcolm’. I thought he was a bit shallow."

"He’s okay," she told him. "Her career occupies a lot of her time. Plus, he just doesn’t seem to be able to settle down."

There was a message in that statement for him, one that he did not fail to notice.

A long, slender neck balancing a small head emerged from the line of tall trees in the valley, followed by the plump body and a whip-like tail as long as the neck. It was not as tall or as stocky as the Brachiosaurus, but it was mostly neck and tail.

Ellie raised up, surprised by the sight of the new arrival. "Diplodocus?"

"Yes. One of the species not on the original list. It’s quite docile, so there is no reason to think they were deliberately hiding it."

She glanced at him, surprised that he was giving the geneticists the benefit of the doubt. "So, why do you think they kept it a secret?"

"Two possible reasons that I can think of: One, that they were concerned about competitors stealing all their species, and wanted to keep some of them from the competition. We know that there is at least one other biogenetic corporation that was attempting to duplicate InGen’s advancements, and that they were not above the thievery of embryos to reach their goal. The other possibility is that this particular genus may have been obtained after the events on the other island. The amber mines, as well as the research facility here, remained active after the incident on Isla Nublar, so it could be that they continued to conduct their research intending to ultimately repair the damage and open the park as originally planned. Eventually, the catastrophic events on this island forced the evacuation. The plans were ditched, the animals were released or escaped, and the island abandoned.”

They fell silent again, watching the animals in the valley, but Ellie was thinking about Alan’s experiences in total isolation from the outside world. How could he stand being so completely alone?

Finally, she turned her attention away from the ancient creatures, and studied Alan’s face as he watched the animals in childlike fascination, the same expression she had seen whenever a fossil find had been successfully mounted and displayed in the museum.

"Alan?"

He turned his head to look at her, waiting for the question.

"You were here almost seven months, completely alone. Didn’t you ever get lonely?"

He hesitated, as if surprised by the query, then smiled. "Well, I have to confess, standing there on the landing strip watching Miguel’s plane fly off that first day, I was asking myself, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ Even though it was my idea to be here, I couldn’t shake off that feeling of abandonment." The smile faded with the remembrance of the alarming sensation of being left behind. "After the plane had disappeared, there was total silence all around me, the most intense silence you could imagine. This sounds crazy, but it was almost like the island was scrutinizing me, judging whether I was worthy to be here, or whether I would be relegated to dinosaur fodder. I just stood there awhile, surrounded by my supplies, wondering how I was going to get through the next six weeks."

She touched his arm, gently. "I can’t even imagine what that must have been like for you."

"That was the most impulsive thing I’ve ever done, and at that moment, I have to admit, I was having serious doubts whether or not it was the right decision. Finally, I gathered up my supplies and walked to the compound. The Costa Rican military had delivered the generator and hooked everything up for me, but I spent the first week cleaning up the mess that had accumulated over the years so that I could have a decent living environment. I was so tired when I went to bed each night that I couldn’t stay awake long enough to think about being alone. Besides, I knew it wasn’t forever, that I would eventually return to civilization, and continue my life. I had a job to do, and I’ve been doing it. It hasn’t been that bad, Ellie. I haven’t really been that lonely. I’ve been too busy. I’ve learned more about dinosaurs in the last seven months than I had in all the years of digging up fossils. It’s been a revelation. They’re much more complex than we ever imagined."

"In what ways?"

"Their social structure, their maternal instincts, among other things. Almost every species nourishes and cares for their young, even the T-Rex and velociraptor. For a hundred years, it’s been entrenched into our thinking that the carnivorous species must surely have abandoned their young, or even thought of them as a food source. It’s totally false. They were caring, nurturing parents."

Realizing by her sudden downcast expression that his careless choice of words had caused her to think about her own parenting instinct and the loss of her children, he glanced quickly at his watch and changed the subject. "It’s still a little early, yet, but I’m getting hungry. Want to break open the sandwiches?"

She forced a smile. "Sure."

He reached into the backpack and withdrew two sandwiches, wrapped in plastic wrap. He passed one to her, and they settled down to an early lunch.

A rustling noise behind them caused both of them to start, and as one, they whirled around to face the creature that had emerged from the tree line.

A compy stood there, only a few yards away, watching them. It rose up on its hind legs and squawked a communication to its flock. Twenty-five or thirty more of the small creatures scurried from the forest, and all moved closer to the two humans. Several jumped up and down with excitement, many of them were vocalizing with peculiar squawking and chittering sounds.

Ellie looked to Alan to see his reaction, and found him frowning at the little creatures’ persistence. "Are they begging for our sandwiches?" she asked.

“No. I haven’t been feeding them, so they wouldn’t know a sandwich from anything else on the island. They’re a nuisance, and they’re very bold when they’re in a flock like this." He started to withdraw the shock prod from its loop, intending to drive them away with it, then changed his mind. Glancing at Ellie, he asked, "Want to see one up close?"

Surprise flickered across her face. "You mean catch one?"

"Sure. They’re not really afraid of humans, so that makes them quite easy to catch. I’ve done it before."

To prove his point, he lunged at the nearest one, and just as it turned to flee what it perceived as an attack, his hand snatched it by the tail and lifted it off the ground.

The little creature squawked in fright and kicked to free itself, attempting to twist its body so that its mouth, filled with tiny, needle sharp teeth, could reach the hand that held it securely by its tail, but Alan arched his arm, holding the animal away from his body. Its companions squeaked in alarm and retreated to the edge of the forest to watch, thinking their pack-mate was about to become dinner for a larger predator.

Still holding tightly to the tail, Alan closed his other hand around its neck, and, held securely in his firm grasp, its struggles began to cease. “I prefer to do this with gloves, but I didn’t bring them with me,” he told her. He turned toward Ellie, offering the creature for her scrutiny.

Ellie moved closer to observe its small, greenish body, the long, sharp claws, and its round eyes, which stared at her in a fixed, emotionless gaze.

"You can touch it," Alan told her.

Tentatively, she reached out her hand and carefully stroked the smooth body. "It feels lizard-like," she commented. Growing more comfortable, her scientist’s mind caught up in the experience of discovery, she stroked its smooth breast, and could feel its tiny heart pounding rapidly beneath her fingertips and its lungs expanding and contracting as it breathed. Her fingers slid slowly along its flank. "Impossible to determine sex," she noticed.

"Correct. Like birds and reptiles, the sex organs are concealed inside the body."

Her fingers slid down the compy’s hind leg, examining the muscle beneath the leathery skin, and she gently pressed on its foot, spreading its toes to observe its sharp claws.

Alan watched, pleased with her intense interest. He shifted his grasp on its head, using his thumb and forefinger to press on its jaws until its mouth opened slightly. "Look at those teeth. Like dozens of needles."

She looked without getting her fingers close to its mouth. "So dozens of compies, working together as a pack, can bring down a larger animal?"

"Easily."

The compy was beginning to struggle again, and Alan lowered it to the ground and released it. It scurried away, darting into the forest without looking back. The flock watched it go, then turned back to the two humans with uncertainty, apparently indecisive on whether they could find a meal here, or possibly become a meal themselves. At last, they turned and scurried into the forest.

When the tiny lizards had all retreated, the two humans turned back to the valley where the giants were still grazing, but as Ellie gazed at the animals, enchanted by their awesome beauty, Alan’s attention was diverted to the slight darkening of the skyline in the distance.

"We have to get back to the compound," he told her.

She turned toward him, surprised by the urgency in his voice. "Why? What’s wrong?"

He pointed to the horizon. "Storm’s moving in."

She looked, but only saw what appeared to be a very minor, insignificant difference in the shade of blue just at the level of the rugged mountainous horizon. "Are you sure?" she asked, then felt foolish as soon as she had said it. He had been living on the island for seven months. Of course, he knew the local weather signs.

"I’m positive," he replied. "We don’t want to be caught out here when it hits. Usually, we just get nice rain showers, but when you see that darkening on the horizon like that, you can count on a bad storm."

He gathered the plastic wrap and the uneaten portions of their lunch, and returned them to the backpack, which was hurriedly slung onto his back. With a quick glance over his shoulder to be certain that Ellie was following, he strode toward the forest once again.

With a wistful, backward glance at the inspiring sight of the giants in the valley, Ellie followed him back into the tree line, moving in the direction they had come.

 

TEN

They had gone more than halfway when Alan suddenly froze, bringing up his hand in a wordless demand for complete silence.

Unprepared for the sudden stop, Ellie bumped into him from behind, but, recognizing the seriousness of his expression, she instantly complied with his urgent command. She swallowed hard, eyes wide, wondering what he had seen or heard that had alerted him to danger. Unconsciously, her hand sought his arm for comfort as her large eyes scanned the forest around them.

Alan turned slowly in a half-circle, listening carefully, his eyes searching the underbrush, seeking the source of the danger. Every muscle was tense, ready to react. Slowly, he withdrew the shock prod from its loop on his belt, preparing to defend himself and the woman from the unidentified creature that he knew was nearby.

Ellie saw nothing out of the ordinary, but quickly became acutely aware of the total, unnatural silence that had settled over the jungle, the danger signal that Alan had warned her about. Even the breeze seemed to have dissipated in breathless anticipation of an impending attack, leaving the leaves and fronds limp in the humid air.

In the treetops, a parrot abruptly took flight, startling both humans with its alarmed squawking and the flurried beating of its wings. They looked up, watching as the large, colorful bird moved to a safer roosting place.

Abruptly, Alan whirled around, pinpointing the direction from which the danger was approaching. During his stay on the island, is senses had grown much sharper than hers, but as she listened carefully, Ellie thought she could hear a low snorting sound approaching through the brush, a sound that made the hair stand up on the back of her neck.

“What is it?” she whispered.

"Raptors," Alan whispered back, returning his attention to the danger that lay somewhere out of view. He could not see them, but he knew they were there, and he hoped that they had not yet detected the presence of the two humans. That would buy them a few extra moments.

Ellie felt her pulse quicken with dread, remembering her previous encounters with the animals that were arguably the most dangerous predators ever to walk the face of the earth. She did not ask how Alan knew the creatures he could not yet see were actually raptors. His experiences on the island and with the dinosaurs were greater than her own, and she accepted his words as fact. Her breathing quickened to ragged gasps of panic, knowing that they had no chance of outrunning the fleet-footed creatures.

Alan could feel the terror that was building inside the woman who desperately clutched his arm, and knew that she was looking to him to protect her, a fact that made him uncomfortable. For the last seven months, it had taken every ounce of his concentration to defend himself from the many predators on the island. Now, it was up to him to protect her as well. Already, he could hear the rustling of foliage as the predatory animal moved through it. They would have to act quickly.

His eyes quickly took in the area around them, seeking a place of refuge. Finally, he took her hand and moved off the trail into the density of the jungle, moving away from the sound of the advancing predator.

Ellie submitted willingly to the pull on her hand, and followed him trustingly through the foliage. Large green fronds slapped at her face, and she pushed them away with her free hand, refusing to surrender her hold on Alan with her other hand.

Alan did not move far from their original course. Locating a large tree with strong limbs, he moved toward it, indicating that she should climb. She hesitated only briefly as she gazed up into the heights of the tree. As a child, there was not a tree on the block that she had been unable to climb, but there had been many changes since then, and she hoped she had the strength to carry herself to a safe height. She took hold of the lowest branch, and pulled herself upward, but her arms lacked sufficient muscle to pull herself high enough to scale the branch. She attempted to swing her leg up to the branch to provide leverage. Her shoe scraped the bark, but she could not get it over the limb.

Alan watched uneasily as Ellie struggled to climb the tree, knowing that the raptors would enter the path at any moment. The rustling of the fronds was growing nearer, and he could hear the thuds as their clawed feet struck the earth. They hadn’t a moment to lose. Deciding that this was no time for delicacies, he placed his hands on her denim-clad buttocks and pushed her upward, getting her high enough that she could swing her leg over the thick branch and pull herself onto it.

Safely off the ground, she collapsed briefly on the strong branch to catch her breath, but she did not linger long. Knowing that Alan was in mortal danger as long as he was on the ground, she pulled herself into standing position, and climbed to the next limb.

When she was well on her way, Alan returned the shock prod to the loop on his belt and jumped up, seizing a higher branch, then pulled himself up, throwing his legs over the lower branch that Ellie had used. Safely off the ground, he rose up and reached for the next branch, following her progress up the huge tree.

Once off the ground, the going was easier. Plenty of branches provided handholds and solid foot placement as they climbed from limb to limb, pulling themselves higher and higher into the tree, and hopefully out of reach of danger.

When Ellie attained a height of about twenty feet, she stopped to wait for Alan.

He was right behind her, and when he reached her branch, he sat down with his back against the trunk, urging her to sit as well.

She moved closer to him, sinking down to the thick branch that supported them.

From their perch, they could easily see the ground below them. For the moment, the area around the base of their tree remained empty.

"They haven’t spotted us," he whispered against her hair as he placed an arm around her waist to hold her steady. "Keep as still as possible; don’t give them any reason to look up."

She nodded her compliance, too frightened to speak.

They did not have long to wait.

Within moments, the first velociraptor emerged from the foliage opposite their avenue of escape, and stopped. Familiar with the species, Alan instantly recognized by its small stature that it was young, but he knew that it was still lethal. Its eyes were placed on the sides of its head, like a bird, and it tilted its head from side, observing its surroundings.

Alan felt Ellie’s body shudder at the sight of the creature. On Isla Nublar, they had been terrorized by a pack of angry raptors, and had barely escaped with their lives. This was her first encounter with them since that terrifying day nine years ago.

Below them, the raptor continued to look about, as if searching for something. Alan knew it had detected their scent, and that it was both puzzled and alarmed because it could not locate them.

Lowering its head to the ground, it sampled the scent they had left behind, then snorted to clear its nostrils. While their ability to detect scent was more powerful than mankind, Alan’s observation of them had revealed that their power of smell was not as advanced as that of canines. It would not be able to track him and Ellie to the tree in which they now sat, but it was definitely aware that a different species had crossed its path. Nervously, it clicked its teeth, a threatening gesture, as it continued to gaze about, searching for the source of the unfamiliar scent.

"It’s a juvenile male," he whispered softly in her ear, using her scientific curiosity to sooth her fear. "See that crest on its head?"

She nodded, observing the crest that stood up on its head like points of twisted hair, a feature that reminded her of Alfalfa of the Little Rascals; only the raptor had many cowlicks to Alfalfa’s one.

"The females have smooth heads," Alan continued, still whispering against her ear. "The pack is led by a dominant pair."

In response to his calm voice, Ellie’s pulse began to steady, and she observed the creatures with the mind of a scientist. The differences Alan had mentioned became apparent in the subtle variations in the shape of its head from the raptors they had encountered at Jurassic Park, and its body seemed more streamlined. Its legs were powerful, its claws long and sharp. Closer observation revealed that its flanks were badly scarred, apparently from a fight. Curiously, she wondered what animal would dare tangle with a raptor.

Below them, the raptor had tired of its inability to locate the humans, apparently deciding that they had passed earlier. Lifting its head, it barked a communication to its pack, and two more raptors emerged from the foliage. Like the first one, these two were also young males.

"The renegades," Alan whispered.

Ellie turned her head slightly to look at him, quizzically, but a slight shake of his head kept her silent. He would explain later.

The two newcomers also detected the humans’ scent, and looked about, as their apparent leader had done. The first raptor uttered a sound like a growl, and moved into the jungle. The others followed.

Alan tensed slightly as they passed the base of the tree, but they trotted past it and moved out of sight, unaware of the humans who watched from above.

He waited several more moments before speaking, giving them time to depart the area, and when he finally spoke, he kept his voice low. "These three are the equivalent of rebellious teenagers in our own society. They’ve been cast out of the regular band. The one with the scars is the leader. He’s the biggest and the meanest of the renegades, and he had to fight to attain that status.”

"That explains the scars," she said.

"Yes. They’re constantly trying to steal young females from the main pack so that they can form their own pack.”

"What would happen if they came across the main pack?"

"They would be driven off, unless they demonstrated signs of submission."

They could not see the sky from where they sat, but the shade beneath the forest canopy was growing darker, even though it was not quite noon, confirming Alan’s prediction of an impending storm. It would be at least another hour before they reached the compound. Still, Alan made no move to descend from the tree.

She gazed at him, anxiously, wondering what he was waiting for. "They’re gone now," she said in a normal tone. "Shouldn’t we be going?"

"Not yet," he replied quietly with a sharp glance. "And keep your voice down."

She realized with a jolt that the danger of detection was not yet over, but she did not know how he was aware of this. She understood at that moment that she had a lot to learn if she was going to survive on the island without becoming a hazard to her safety and his.

They waited for several more minutes, before two more raptors finally emerged from the trees below them. The differences between these creatures and the three juveniles were distinct, their size and body structure indicating that these two raptors were adult males of some authority in the pride.

The raptors paused to look around, their nervous posture and behavior suggesting that they were searching for the three juveniles. Rising high on its hind legs, one of them barked a loud challenge that echoed throughout the forest, and caused Ellie’s ears to throb painfully. She resisted the urge to cover her ears, fearful that the movement would alert the creature of their presence.

The raptors cocked their heads, listening for a response to the challenge. Alan and Ellie, with their inferior human ears, were unable to detect a response, but the two adult raptors must have heard something, for they darted off into the forest, following the path chosen by the juveniles.

When they had disappeared into the brush, Alan said, quietly, "They know the renegades have come into the pride’s territory. When they find them, they will be driven away if they do not submit immediately to the authority of the adults. The coming storm has made them even more nervous, so we’ll need to be extra careful. I’m hoping the rest of the pride will seek shelter, and leave us alone."

His eyes searched the ground below them for several more moments, but detected nothing threatening. The normal sounds of the forest were returning, signaling that the danger had passed.

Alan nodded. "Okay. Let’s go."

Slowly, they descended from the tree, stepping carefully from one limb to another, until they were able to jump the remaining few feet to the ground. The act of coming out of the tree left Ellie winded, and when they were back on solid ground again, she leaned over and placed her hands on her knees, breathing heavily from the exertion.

Alan was concerned. "Do you need to rest?" he asked, removing the shock prod from its loop and readying it for use in their defense.

She shook her again, looking nervously about, indicating that she was eager to be away from that particular spot. "I’ll be fine. Let’s go."

They resumed their hike toward the compound. Alan kept his rapt attention trained on the surrounding foliage, and Ellie kept her attention on him, watching for signs in his posture or in his expression that indicated that their safety was deteriorating. For security, she reached out and seized a handful of the back of his shirt, hanging on to it as if it was a lifeline. He carried the shock prod at the ready, and although his face and posture were tense, he gave no indication of alarm.

The forest continued to grow darker as the storm advanced on the island, blocking out the sunlight and creating the illusion that night was falling. Birds returned to the trees to roost, seeking shelter from the impending weather.

Humidity was high, drenching the two humans with perspiration, and the mild breeze that had blown throughout the day ceased completely. Tree limbs and fronds hung limp in the sultry air. Their damp hair clung to their sweaty faces, and perspiration trickled into their eyes and down their backs. Frequently, Alan removed his hat to wipe his forehead with his sleeve, and Ellie’s breath came in ragged gasps, but they did not stop to rest.

They passed only one dinosaur as they neared the compound, a young Ankylosaurus, possibly one of the specimens they had passed earlier. It lumbered through the undergrowth, nibbling on the leaves and fronds, obviously unconcerned with the threatening weather. They gave it a wide berth, circling around it through the brush, then returned to their original course.

Finally, they crested the rise overlooking the compound, and paused briefly to catch their breath. In the open once again, they were able to see the angry black clouds that tumbled across the sky, driven by high winds aloft. Thunder rumbled ominously, and lightning zigzagged toward the ground, illuminating the sinister clouds with brief flashes of light
.
Alan took her hand. "Come on. I think we can beat it."

They picked up their pace, sprinting down the slope toward the dormitory.

A strong gust of wind came up abruptly, striking them from behind with such driving force that Alan had to grab his hat to keep it from blowing away. The first few drops of rain, driven by the fierce wind, spotted the backs of their shirts, striking them so forcefully that it felt like hail.

They reached the barred door on the run, slamming their bodies against it to break the momentum of their frantic dash across the compound yard. Alan fished the key from his pocket, and quickly unlocked it, and they blew inside with a wind gust. Alan pulled the bars shut behind him and locked it, then closed the heavy metal storm door, and they leaned against it, gasping for breath.

"We made it," Ellie panted, a feeble attempt at humor as they stood in the foyer, wind-blown and exhausted.

"Yeah, we made it," Alan agreed. Pushing away from the door, he tossed his hat on the rack. He allowed the backpack to fall to the floor, and left it there. "Barely."

At that moment, the sky opened up and the rain poured, spurring Alan into action again.

"Help me close these windows, or everything will be drenched," he said as he rushed up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

Working together, one on each floor, they made the rounds of the entire building, pulling closed the windows and the heavy shudders built to withstand hurricane force winds. The strong, solid building trembled beneath the impact of the wind and rain, as if the storm was trying to blow over the structure.

Ellie was reminded of the three little pigs story, one of the stories that little Charlie had enjoyed at bedtime. She had read the story to him with animated voices for each character: I’ll huff, and I’ll puff, and I’ll blow your house down!

A wave of grief and emotion swelled inside her, threatening to break free, but she fought to control it. No! I will not break down! Not in front of Alan!

Upon returning to the main floor, Alan immediately noticed her pale complexion and the sickened expression on her face as she struggled to recover from the long walk followed by the sprint to the building. He stepped forward to offer assistance. "Ellie, are you ill?"

"I think I over-exerted myself," she said, still gasping breathlessly for air. Her voice trembled slightly. "I just need to lie down for awhile."

He placed an arm around her waist, allowing her to lean on him as he guided her to the sofa in the living room. "I shouldn’t have taken you that far from the compound,” he said. “That was very foolish of me to assume that you could hold up for that distance.”

“It wasn’t the distance, Alan, it was the pace,” she said in her defense as she sank down on the soft overstuffed cushion. “I haven’t run like that in a long time.”

“It wasn’t just the pace, and you know it. You aren’t ready for this environment.” He shook his head, regretfully. “Coming here was a mistake, Ellie. You should have known better."

"Don’t scold me, Alan," she pleaded, her pent-up tears threatening again to burst forth under his criticism. "I’m really not up to it, right now."

He stood looking down at her with concern on his face. He knew she was fighting her tears. “Maybe you should just let it out, Ellie.”

“I said I’m all right!” she snapped.

Alan’s expression was stern. "I’m going to call the mainland and have Miguel come out to get you when the storm clears," he told her. “You have no business being here!”

"I won’t go," she told him, defiantly.

His voice rose in frustration. "Damn it, Ellie, this is madness! You are in no condition for this! You’re near the point of collapse."

"I need to be here."

"You need rest and relaxation. You should have taken a vacation to Florida or Las Vegas, or something. This island is not what you need."

"Now you sound like my mother."

"Did you ever consider that maybe your mother is right?"

Abruptly, she rolled over onto her side, turning her back to him, a vivid indication that in her mind, at least, the conversation was over.

Alan stared at her a moment longer, then strode from the room.

Ellie listened to his footsteps retreating down the corridor, knowing that he was probably going to telephone Miguel. Then she could hear nothing but the wailing of the wind, the startling crashes of thunder, and the rain pounding the building.