They disappeared into the trees and were gone, the sound of their engine beat an aggressive tune on the quiet island.
“I guess that just leaves us, mate,” Nattie said with a smile.
“Knock it off, would ya? Bad enough I have to put up with that shit from Dennis,” Clarke grumbled.
“Sure thing. You cheer up a little, and I’ll knock off the whole Australian thing,” Nattie negotiated.
“Cheer up? You do know where we are, right?” Clarke looked at her, unsure as to why she felt any need for cheer.
“Yes, I know where we are. I also know we are alive. We have survived, and that in itself is reason for cheer. Besides, I don’t want to die with some grumpy old man beside me.” Nattie slid a new magazine into the rifle and sat down behind Clarke, who nodded at her and flashed a half-smile.
“That’s better,” Nattie answered.
“You are all fucking nuts,” Clarke uttered under his breath, the words drowned out by the roar of the engine.
They drove with a small gap between them, never reducing it to less than five meters or increasing to more than ten. They were not alone. Everybody knew that, and each of them had, at different times, spotted movement through the trees.
The forest seemed denser on this island, the darkness created in places by the tall overhead canopy seeming that much darker.
The dinosaur came out of nowhere, charging through the trees like a bipedal bull. Its large domed head looked like a vision of Christ with his crown of thorns. The spiked horns ringed the base of the domed skull, which collided with Dennis before he had the chance to react.
He was sent flying from his quad, which continued driving for some way without anybody behind the controls. Dennis landed in a heap on the floor, and the dinosaur just kept on coming. Three more charged out of the trees behind it, running towards, and over, the downed Black Arrow man.
Nattie raised her gun to fire, but Clarke bellowed for her to stop. Her reactions were fast, and she released the pressure on the trigger just before it was too late.
In the middle, Rob never had the chance to take aim because Caroline spun the quad around in a donut, bringing it to a stop just as the last beast ran over the spot where Dennis lay.
Nattie and Rob were off their vehicles in no time and over beside Dennis in a sprint.
He lay still, his eyes closed. A deep wound on his scalp, just behind his hairline, painted his face with a scarlet mask.
“Dennis,” Nattie called.
The man groaned in response, which in itself was a relief.
“Help me get him to us,” Rob said, looking around the trees, waiting for the next attack to arrive.
“I don’t think that is a good idea, mate,” Clarke replied. “That leg is busted pretty bad.”
Only then did they look at the Dennis and notice the way one of his legs was twisted at over a ninety-degree angle when compared to the rest of his body.
“Holy shit,” Rob said. “We need to set that a little if we want to move him.”
“Whatever it is, do it fast. Something spooked those things, and if they were scared, we should be too,” Caroline spoke.
“They attacked us,” Nattie said.
“No, trust me. I’ve seen enough spooked cattle and such to know fear in a beast when I see it. Something scared those things, and that means we should be terrified.”
As if on cue, a roar tore through the forest that made the roots of the trees tremble, sending a vibrations of fear through the muddy ground.
“What was that?” Nattie asked, spinning around with her rifle raised.
“Something that will eat that rifle for a breakfast and us as dessert,” Clarke said, understanding the need for haste.
“Move him onto the quad. Caroline, you and Rob take point; just follow the road, there’s only one way. Nattie, you take the second bike and I’ll come with him,” Clarke spoke fast as the rumble in the trees drew closer.
Panic spread through the group. They focused their energies and between them, managed to lift Dennis onto the back of a quad. It was an uncomfortable fit, and undoubtedly bad for his leg, but they managed it. Luck was on their side when Dennis passed out, his agonised screams falling silent.
“Hurry,” Clarke called to the others as the thunder of the approaching danger drowned out the revving of his quad’s engine.
They set off at a pace, spinning wheels kicking up thick streams of mud just as the beast appeared. The Tyrannosaurus charged through the trees, smashing trunks and uprooting smaller examples without so much as slowing down.
Caroline screamed as she saw the beast behind them. Easily the size of two busses, its body belied belief. The long counter-balancing tail extended behind it, whipping and scything deep gouges into the flanks of the nearby trees.
The air around them vibrated as the king of beasts stood tall and surveyed the area that was its own. The speeding quads caught its eyes, for the roar that followed them was one of pure, unfiltered rage.
The ground shook as the beast gave chase, its barking howls chilling the sweat that formed on their flesh.
The quads skidded and slid their way down the muddy trail. The forest sped by in a blur. The building appeared before them. A small concrete structure, it did not look strong enough to keep them safe from a rampaging T-rex. Yet, it offered them a modicum of refuge, and they would take it.
Caroline sped towards the building, circling behind it without slowing down.
“What are you doing?” Rob asked when the quad came to a sudden and jarring halt.
“There was no storage around the front, which means it is back here. Look.” Caroline pointed to the open fronted extension that grew from the rear corner of the building. “I put money on that door here being open, or at least breakable.”
The other quads appeared and everything happened at such a pace that Rob had no time to question anything.
Clarke drove his quad right into the building and jumped out. In two strides, his shoulder connected with the door, and after three thrusts, it burst open.
“Everybody inside. Rob, help me with Dennis.” Clarke moved fast, not stopping for a moment.
Their disappearing act behind the building bought them some time from the charging beast that pursued them, but it would not last forever.
“What about that door?” Nattie asked as the two men rushed by, awkwardly carrying the pale and sweaty Dennis between them.
“Fuck it, we are heading underground anyway,” Clarke answered. “Now hurry. Keep those weapons ready. I have no idea what could be waiting inside for us. Rob, take a gun, I’ve got him from here.”
Clarke crouched and slung the unconscious Dennis over his shoulder. The leg of Dennis’s trouser was soaked in blood, and they could see the bulge around his thigh from where the bone had broken through the skin.
“Hold on, buddy,” Clarke whispered to him. “Somebody take point, goddammit.”
Outside, the Tyrannosaurs moved around the building, using its frame as a battering ram to try and force entry. The walls shook and the lighting flickered, yet everything remained standing.
“Where are the stairs?” Rob asked as he led the group through the building. Hardly a soldier, Clarke could not help but be impressed by the kid’s guts.
Much like the building on my main island, the layout here was remarkably similar. The corridors wound around the complex, following the building’s basic structure, with rooms, both single and interconnecting, linking from them.
It made it easy for Rob to lead them to the same area he knew of from the main building.
“Nattie, come on,” Caroline said as they stood by the reinforced steel door on the lower level of the building.
“This is where it all began,” Nattie spoke, more to herself than anybody else.
Above them, the sound of footsteps plodding through the halls echoed down in a series of thuds. A variety of small creatures had followed them inside, but other than providing a few jump moments, they showed no
interest in attacking the group.
The constant impacts of the impatient Tyrannosaurs were a distant, semi-rhythmic thud as the beast continued to try and force its way inside.
“What?” Caroline said, confused.
“In the other building, this is where it all started. When we had to destroy the subjects with strain twelve, Ferry and I came to incinerate them. It was in this room that they escaped. They attacked Ferry, and I had to get away. I opened the door and that is when everything started to go to shit,” Nattie continued to speak in a wispy, airy voice, almost as if she were not aware that she was talking at all.
“It wasn’t your fault, Doc.” Clarke stepped forward towards Nattie. “This place was doomed from the start.” He placed his arms around her shoulders, and she allowed herself to be led inside.
Rob closed the door, which locked shut, sealing them inside.
“So what, we just have to stand here and wait?” Rob said, turning around to look at the small bare brick space.
“We can do, or we can go and call for help,” Clarke said, resting Dennis on the floor. He had started to come to, groaning in his semi-conscious state.
Clarke moved to the far corner of the room, disappearing into the shroud. A few moments later, a light appeared on the floor as he opened up a trapdoor, revealing a second underground level.
“Everybody get down there,” he instructed.
“Dennis, hey, buddy, come on, stay with me,” Clarke whispered to his colleague. “I need you to work with me, mate.”
Dennis grunted, and his eyes opened. For a moment, they were vague and distant, but soon found their focus and held Clarke’s gaze. Raising his arm, Dennis draped it over Clarke’s shoulder, and using his good leg, heaved himself off the floor.
He screamed into white-clenched lips as his broken leg moved, but Dennis pushed himself on. Clarke took almost all of his buddy’s body weight, but they made it to the trapdoor.
“Almost there,” Clarke said as he helped Dennis position himself above the ladder.
“I’ve got him,” Rob’s voice came from beneath them. His hands appeared and took the weight of the injured man.
Clarke hurried down the ladder, closing and locking the trapdoor from the inside.
Once there, he turned around and saw the others staring at him.
“What is this place?” Caroline asked, looking around the large space.
“Think of it is the ultimate panic room. From here, we can sustain ourselves long enough for a rescue party to come for us,” Clarke said, moving away from the ladder and deeper into the bunker. “This place is divided into four units; sleeping, recreation, systems, and medical. We are perfectly safe down here, so make yourselves feel at home. Rehydrate some food if you want.”
Clarke walked away from the group, following the bloody trail left by Rob and Dennis.
“This leg is bad, man,” Rob said when he saw Clarke in the doorway. “It’s fully compound, and I think his knee is also smashed. It’s all mangled.”
“Let me take a look.” Clarke moved forward, but even his stern face paled at the sight of the mangled limb. “Fuck me.”
“He passed out again as I moved him. Good thing too,” Rob said, rooting around through the medical supplies.
“Yeah,” Clarke answered. “What are you looking for?”
Rob did not answer straight away, but after a few moments stood up holding a small bottle of liquid. “This,” he said.
“What is it?”
“Morphine. We are going to dose him up and hope for the best. You said it yourself, help will be on the way soon. Best we can do here is keep him comfortable.”
Rob didn’t wait for any authorization, but measured out the syringe and injected Dennis in a single fluid motion. “That should help,” he spoke to Dennis, replacing the bottle and discarding the needle.
“Can you watch him?” Clarke asked.
“Sure, if you go get us out of this hell hole.” Dennis tried a smile, but knew it failed.
Clarke hurried through the bunker and found the others still standing together, looking around like schoolchildren in a museum.
“Nothing will break if you touch it. Trust me. We are safe as houses down here,” he called to them as he moved through to the systems room.
The room was not especially large, yet contained enough computer equipment to run a small country.
Firing up the consoles, Clarke studied the data. “Well sweet baby Jesus, would you look at that,” he said to the room, not expecting anybody to response.
“What is it? Good news at last?” Nattie spoke, ignoring the slight twitch she saw in Clarke as her voice broke his concentration.
“Better than good. Everything is still running and calibrated. I was worried we would need to do some real work. Here, come and watch this for me while I try and make a call.”
Clarke left the station he was standing behind and moved two tables further down. He picked up the phone received, and waited, pushing a few buttons every now and then.
“Good morning, sir, this is Clarke. I am afraid there has been a small problem,” he said to whoever picked up on the other end of the line.
Chapter 26
Johan studied the director. Ever since his admission that troops were close by the island, Johan’s gut had been screaming warnings to him.
The conversation had dropped, and a more serious air permeated the large room.
He kept his eyes on Sikke, not letting the man out of his sight. It was not a subtle change in character, but the director seemed equally willing to let the amicable nature of their meeting fall to the wayside.
The silence that had fallen only served for the alarm on Johan’s tablet to sound even more siren-like than normal.
Both men moved across the large room, heading towards it as if there were some race afoot. Sikke backed off as he reached the table ahead of the old man, holding his hands up in mock surrender of the device.
“If you will excuse me, Director,” Johan added as a snide remark.
“By all means, Mr. Krauss.” Sikke backed up half a step, reclaiming it the moment Johan started talking.
“Go ahead, Mr. Hutchinson,” Johan answered, trying hard to keep the relief he felt at hearing Clarke’s voice out of his own. “I see. I understand.”
As he spoke, Johan stared down Director Werkhoven, taunting him, daring him to speak up.
“You are in luck, my friend. The US Navy is nearby, they happened to be in the area. I am sure they will be able to pick you all up. You have three of their scientists with you, great. That will only bolster their best efforts, I am sure.” The smile stretched across Johan’s face could not have been controlled by even the most serious of poker players. “Oh, there won’t be any waiting. I just happen to have a Director Werkhoven of the NSA sitting here with me. Director, you will be happy to assist with the collection of my men, won’t you? Perfect. They will be with you shortly.” Johan concluded and disconnected the call.
Sikke stood staring at him, his face set like thunder. “They are alive?”
“Yes, along with three scientists. I told you, Sikke, my old friend, the Black Arrow team I assembled were some of the best around.”
“You must excuse me. I need to make a call.” Sikke turned and left, striding out of the room like a man running late to the most important meeting of his life.
He returned a few moments later with a smug look plastered on his face.
“You have your wish, Johan. I have ordered Captain Kincaid of the USS Langley to send a crew to rescue my scientists, and your men.” Sikke walked slowly, bouncing the mobile in his hands. He had more to say, but intended on milking it for as long as possible.
“What is really going on out there?” Johan asked, standing up straight to stare the director down.
Director Werkhoven stopped before the large windows of the snooker room. They looked out over the ocean. He looked at Johan and smiled.
“You know what, I’m going to be hone
st with you, Johan. You have earned that much after all the years we have worked together.” The same shark-like smile spread over his face. “We are using the site to biologically engineer dinosaurs, cross breeding them to form the ultimate killer species. Through the use of biometric control, we are able to assume control of the creatures, overriding their basic neural functions and using them for our own purpose.”
“What are you saying?” Johan pushed.
“Oh, don’t be naïve, Johan, you know exactly what I am saying.” Sikke seemed almost irritated with the question.
“You were already on the island.” The realization hit Johan in the gut, despite the fact that the notion had been swinging around the dark corners of his mind ever since the director made the admission of following him.
“Bravo, bravo. Yes, we knew the islands were there, and have been using them as a storage ground of our boys. You see, we are not just building a few creatures to show off to the world, but rather, we are building a new way of life. Imagine it, dinosaurs roaming the wilds of every country on earth, keeping the population in check, all controlled by a central bank here in the United States.” The grin that spread over the director’s face changed. As he walked closer to Johan, the shadows of the sun behind him turned the grin into a twisted and sinister image.
“You cannot be serious.” Johan did not know what else to say.
“I am as serious as an angry triceratops wandering through the suburbs. We have been planning this for a long time.” Sikke gave a laugh.
“So the attacks, my men who died. They were your controls? Why? To test what you can do, to see if your monsters are working?” Johan felt his anger building. “I lost good men, honest men also, men with families.”
“Unfortunately, I cannot claim any responsibility for those incidents. You see, our controls have been limited. After all, what experiment is done without control? No, we have the first island inhabited by dinosaurs fully embedded with our controls. The second we used as the control group. Real dinosaurs, wild and untamed. We needed to monitor behavioural patterns,” Sikke explained.
Island Rampage: A Dinosaur Thriller Page 16