by C. G. Mosley
Chapter 21
Charlotte Nelson, or “Charlie” as her friends knew her, was a go-getter. She’d always been labeled that by anyone that truly knew her. She was a gal that was willing to get her hands dirty and do whatever it took to get where she wanted to go. She became fascinated with dinosaurs at an early age. She was very much aware of the fact that most other children were fascinated with dinosaurs also, but for her, the fascination never faded. It became a passion, and ultimately, a lifestyle. She’d learned from the best in the Badlands of Montana, and eventually, she became a professor at a major university. Dinosaurs—more specifically, paleontology—was all that she ever thought about. So when a strange, good-looking fellow named Eric Gill had visited her six months ago, the cryptic things he’d said and hinted about had left her with a lot of unanswered questions. He kept referring to ‘animals’ that were related to her field. He’d made it clear that he was not offering her a job, but simply recruiting for a possible opening in the future. He, in a polite way, threatened her with legal action if she did not keep quiet about their meeting, and made it abundantly clear that if she did speak to anyone, she would most definitely be taken off his list of potential candidates. He’d said just enough to make her insanely curious and interested. He’d said just enough to make her want to keep quiet. And she did…almost.
***
Eric Gill’s operation depended on many things for success. The dependable, armored protection that his small fleet of four jeeps provided was certainly among the most important of all. The jeeps were used for everything from scouting missions all the way up to capturing and towing dinosaurs back to base camp for their eventual sale. Unfortunately, after the mishap with Dave, the operation was now down to three fully functional jeeps. This didn’t seem like a major setback to one without inside knowledge, but Hardcastle, of course, had inside knowledge. Multiple jeeps were often used in a choreographed way to capture larger dinosaurs. Two of the vehicles served as a distraction, while one served as a chase vehicle, and sometimes a fourth was used as a lookout. Sarcosuchus was clearly a larger animal and was a classic example of when four vehicles were truly needed to capture with relative safety.
There were other vehicles on the island, notably a large semi and flatbed trailer. Glenn Hardcastle had often wondered if or when they’d even find a use for such a large vehicle, and now it seemed he had his answer. Although the semi would be present when the time arrived to catch the animal, it was nowhere near agile and quick enough to be used in a way like one of the jeeps. About the only help the semi would provide, aside from actually towing the monstrosity, would perhaps be as a lookout vehicle.
So now that Eric had ordered the use of two of the jeeps to go and find Dave, Hardcastle felt very uneasy and anxious. Losing another vehicle at this point would be catastrophic to the operation. This was a catch-22, Glenn knew, because venturing out into the harsh jungle in one vehicle could also result in catastrophic results—mainly, loss of life.
If it had been up to him, Glenn would’ve quickly briefed the new paleontologist of the situation, get whatever input she had to offer, and then an operation would be planned that would involve getting Dave and the super croc all in one swoop. This would of course probably mean a minimum of another day of planning, and he knew Eric would not settle for that. He wanted his precious Dave back as soon as possible, the best interests of everyone else be damned. At least this was all how Glenn Hardcastle saw it.
***
Charlotte Nelson arrived during the night by sea—by what seemed to her to be some sort of tugboat. She thought that was odd, but she didn’t question it. She’d been waiting a long time for this opportunity, so it was no surprise to her when she finally arrived around one a.m. that morning that the very last thing she wanted to do was sleep. She couldn’t see much, Eric had made it very clear after he saw her to her room that she needed to get a good night of sleep and to stay there until morning, but even if he hadn’t made those demands, seeing anything was next to impossible in the pitch darkness of the night. So Charlie did the next best thing: she dragged a chair toward the door that led to the balcony. She then opened the balcony and listened to the hypnotic tones of the nearby surf gently rolling onto the beach. But it wasn’t just the beach she heard. There were lots of unusual animal sounds. She realized how silly she probably would’ve looked to any of the employees that had worked for Eric Gill for a long period of time, but those people were used to the unusual sounds she was hearing. For someone like her, it was suddenly the only sounds she could hear anymore. The surf was gone and replaced by the wailing and moaning of the dinosaurs that had called the island home for undoubtedly millions of years.
Early the next morning, Charlie was awoken by a gentle knock at the door. When she answered it, Eric Gill was standing on the other side with a can of Diet Coke in hand. She glanced down at the beverage and then back up to Eric.
“This is your preferred soft drink?” Eric said…and it actually came out more like a statement than an actual question.
“Uh, yes, it is,” Charlie replied, somewhat surprised. “How did you possibly know that?”
Eric smiled a mischievous grin. “There’s a lot of things I know about you. I’m very careful about who I bring to this island, Ms. Nelson.”
“I see,” she replied, trying her best to not sound creeped out. “And please call me Charlie.”
“Very well…Charlie,” Eric said. “Please hurry and get dressed; we’ve got some scouting to do.”
Charlie did as she was bade, and in less than half an hour, she stepped out of the pyramid-shaped building everyone on the island called home. Eric was waiting for her with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
“Do you mind?” he asked, gesturing toward the cigarette.
“No, of course not,” she lied. Charlie had just managed to quit smoking and now the very thought of a cigarette was enough to make her nauseous.
Eric began walking toward a rather large building that appeared to be an aircraft hangar. Charlie observed numerous armored vehicles parked inside. Then she heard a rather curious sound coming from a trailer parked near the rear corner of the building. It sounded like a cross between an elephant and a mountain lion.
“What is that sound?” she asked.
“Why don’t you go see for yourself?” Eric answered.
Charlie made her way toward the trailer and was nothing short of amazed when she found the source of the sound.
“Is this a—is this a…a…?”
“Dinosaur?” Glenn Hardcastle said, emerging from the shadows. “Why, yes, it is. A young tyrannosaur to be specific.”
Charlie looked at him with wide-eyed amazement. “This isn’t possible…I’m seeing it, but it’s just not possible!”
“Honey, you’re just getting started,” Hardcastle said, offering a handshake. “My name is Glenn Hardcastle…I’m the dinosaur wrangler.”
Charlie took his hand. His hands were large and rough compared to her small and dainty ones. “Charlotte Nelson,” she replied. “But just call me Charlie.”
“Okay, Charlie. Don’t worry, the initial shock will wear off after a day or two and then you’ll be able to work,” he said.
“I’m afraid we don’t have that much time to spare,” Eric said, as he approached.
Charlie glanced over at him, breathing deeply, and still wide-eyed.
“I’m sorry about that, truly I am,” he said. “But I’m afraid one of our men is out there hiding in a bunker waiting on us to retrieve him. And while we’re out retrieving him, we’re going to scout a location for a dinosaur we’re pursuing. It’s rather complex, and we need to work out the logistics of how we will get the animal to the sea.”
Charlie nodded. “Alright,” she said, feeling a bit overwhelmed. “I’ll help you however I can.”
“Good,” Eric replied, rather pleased. “Well, we’d better get going then.”
***
Glenn Hardcastle was immediately struck by Cha
rlotte Nelson’s appearance. She was very short, he estimated 5’5”, and could not have weighed more than 120 pounds soaking wet. Her hair was short and so blonde it was nearly white. Her pink lips were so enticing; he’d almost forgot to check out the rest of her assets. There wasn’t anything spectacular about the rest of her body, but she was exactly the sort of woman he’d be proud to bring home to his parents. He’d lobbied for her to ride along with him, but Eric had vetoed his request (like he always did) and she rode with him. Glenn got the pleasure of George’s company instead.
They raced down the narrow dirt road that weaved its way through the outer edge of the jungle at a brisk pace. It was best to travel fast, and the sooner they retrieved Dave, the sooner they could scope out the super croc and then finally get back to base. That would be his moment to spend some quality time with Charlie and get to know her. That would be his moment to try and charm her. In the back of his mind, he knew Dave could potentially cause him problems once he got a moment to speak to Eric in private. Hardcastle decided he’d done enough worrying about that. If Dave was going to tattle to Eric, then so be it. He’d deal with the consequences when they came. The fact of the matter was that Eric Gill needed Glenn Hardcastle a lot more than he needed him.
Chapter 22
It seemed Jonathon hadn’t gotten a good night’s rest in many, many days. It all began when he received the terrible news about Lucy, and suddenly he remembered the reason why he’d returned to this island in the first place. It was because of Lucy, and although he’d ran into more than he’d bargained for since arriving on the island, her well-being was still the ultimate goal. Finding the fountain again before they left was just as important as stopping the dinosaur trafficking business he’d stumbled upon.
The previous night offered little sleep again, but this time it had just as much to do with the uncomfortable chair he’d tried to sleep in than anything else. Jonathon stood, stretched, and the popping sounds from his back were loud enough to wake Silas from his slumber on one of the cots. Henry had rested on the other cot, while Dave was tied down to the other chair.
“Sleep well?” Silas asked, and he yawned.
“No, not at all. You?”
“I’ve done worse,” he replied.
Jonathon glanced up the staircase. “I’ve got to empty the bladder.”
“Alright,” Silas said as he was getting to his feet. “I’ll follow you up and hold the door so you don’t get locked out.”
The two men left Dave and Henry to their slumber and made their way up the stairs and into the fresh air of the morning. Jonathon found a nearby tree, leaned against it, and relieved himself, while Silas stood in the doorway to the bunker. He occasionally glanced down the stairs, but there was no movement from either Dave or Henry.
Jonathon turned to walk back toward the bunker when suddenly something grabbed his attention. He stopped abruptly.
“What is it?” Silas asked.
“Quiet,” Jonathon whispered. He turned his head sideways and then looked back over his shoulder, listening intently. “Do you hear a humming noise?”
Silas listened hard, and after a moment he heard it too. “That sounds like a vehicle headed this way.”
“That’s what I thought,” Jonathon said. Panicked, he ran down the steps. “Okay, up and at ‘em! We’ve got to go—now!”
Henry popped up and instantly grabbed his bag. He threw a few canned goods in it and began making his way up the stairs. Silas was already in the amphibious ATV and had it running by the time Henry got to it.
“Okay, Dave,” Jonathon said as he untied his bindings. “Get in the ATV…quickly.”
“Alright,” he said in an agitated tone. “But you’ve got to know this is useless. They’ll find me. You may as well let me go and take off alone. I won’t tell them anything about you.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Jonathon said, clearly not believing him. “Get in the ATV—and be quick about it or I’ll mess up your other leg.”
Dave did as he was told and no sooner did Jonathon fasten down the protective cage, Silas had the vehicle rumbling along the road away from the approaching vehicle. Unfortunately, they were delayed just enough for Glenn to catch a glimpse of the fleeing ATV.
***
Hardcastle slowed just enough for Eric Gill to pull alongside him in the other jeep.
“There is no way they’ll outrun us in that little ATV,” he said, pointing toward the dust trail the fleeing vehicle was leaving behind.
“Well, we aren’t taking any chances. We need to catch whoever that is and find out what they’re doing on my island,” Eric replied.
Glenn Hardcastle nodded and then accelerated after the small vehicle.
“Piece of cake,” he muttered to himself. He glanced over at George Powell. “We’ll try and do this peacefully, but if they don’t obey, I’ll be forced to run them off the road. This could get messy.”
George nodded. “Do what you have to do,” he replied, and then his expression hardened. “But just know we will not leave Dave behind again.”
Hardcastle bit his lip and nodded.
***
“They saw us!” Jonathon shouted over the high-pitched wail coming from the ATV’s engine. “Will this thing go any faster?”
“I’m afraid this is all she’s got!” Silas replied.
“Pull over and let me reason with them,” Dave said.
Jonathon glanced back at the first of two jeeps closing in on them rapidly. He immediately noticed the large turret machine gun mounted on the rear of the vehicle. “Somehow, I’m just not comfortable pulling over and reasoning with these guys,” he said to Dave.
Jonathon could only watch as the jeep rapidly closed in on them until it finally was within shouting distance. An African-American man riding shotgun stood up and opened the protective cage on the top of the vehicle. He grabbed a roll bar to steady himself and then began shouting at them.
“Stop the vehicle and release Dave!” he said.
“How about you stop chasing us and we’ll consider releasing Dave,” Jonathon shouted back. “If it wasn’t for us, Dave would be dead right now!”
The two men in the jeep glanced at each other, and Jonathon noticed the man driving shaking his head.
“I’m afraid we can’t let you disappear with Dave,” the man replied.
Suddenly, to Jonathon’s dismay, Dave turned around and began shouting. “You can trust them, George! They will let me go further up the road, just stop chasing us before someone gets hurt.”
Jonathon noticed the man driving look directly at Dave before shouting, “Can’t do that, Dave! Eric wants you back, and we have no idea who these yahoos chauffeuring you around are.” He then looked at Jonathon. “Sir, I’d strongly suggest you stop that vehicle immediately before I have to force you to stop it.”
Silas glanced over his shoulder. “What do you want me to do, Jonathon? I can’t outrun them.”
“Don’t stop!” Jonathon said. “Don’t forget why we’re here!”
The man driving the jeep grinned and shook his head, almost in disbelief. “Okay,” he shouted. “Have it your way!”
Glenn Hardcastle mashed the accelerator and got a wheel alongside the ATV. He forcefully rubbed the jeep against the side of the amphibious vehicle in an attempt to run it off the road. The small vehicle drifted off the edge of the road and slid completely sideways. Hardcastle, thinking the vehicle was about to spin out, decelerated and waited.
Silas fought the steering wheel and miraculously regained control of the six-wheeled vehicle. Glenn Hardcastle could hardly believe it, and the act only angered him. The next hit would be much harder. He gunned the throttle and rammed into the back of the vehicle hard enough that the rear wheels came off the ground. Again, the little ATV fishtailed and slid all over the sandy road, but thanks to Silas’s driving (and six wheels being better than four), somehow the vehicle stayed on the road.
Jonathon took a deep breath and then looked at his father.
“Dad, whatever happens, you get that water to Lucy. It’s why we’re here…please don’t forget that.”
“What are you going to do, son?” Henry asked.
“I’ve got to ensure all of us are not caught,” he answered, standing up. He then threw open the protective gate on the top of the cage.
Jonathon stood up just as Hardcastle began accelerating for another attack on the small ATV. Just as the jeep reached the rear of their vehicle, Jonathon leapt onto the hood. Glenn Hardcastle was stunned and began to slow down.
“Don’t stop now!” Eric yelled at him as the jeep he was piloting raced ahead. “We can’t let them get away!”
Jonathon noticed the familiar face in the other jeep, but it was obvious Eric didn’t immediately recognize him.
Hardcastle gunned the throttle again and inertia forced Jonathon into the windshield.
“Get off my jeep!” Hardcastle yelled. He glanced over at George Powell. The man looked confused. “Get rid of him!”
George nodded and reached over the windshield to grab their unwanted passenger. Jonathon was ready and swiftly met George with an uppercut as he leaned over. George grabbed his mouth and fell backward, hitting his head on the rear cross bar which in turn knocked him out cold. Hardcastle rolled his eyes and became angrier. He reached into a holster mounted on the side of his seat and pulled out a small handgun.
“Last time I’m going to ask,” he said, pointing the gun at Jonathon. “Get off my jeep!”
Jonathon glanced over his shoulder and noticed the other jeep closing in on Silas and his father.
***
Eric Gill aggressively piloted his jeep toward the ATV. He didn’t know what Hardcastle had said to the men fleeing, but whatever it was, it had been unproductive and did nothing to end the confrontation peacefully. Now it was his turn.
“We’re not going to hurt these people, are we?” Charlie asked from the passenger seat.