No Time For Dinosaurs

by John Benjamin Sciarra

  Without taking its eye off its prey, it picked up speed as it cruised just above the treetops. There was no warning cry. Quietly, with only the swishing sound of its mighty wings thrusting it forward, it opened its mouth. The beak was long and full of jagged teeth—its jaws powerful. It would grab its prey and carry it off to its waiting young who would then rip the flesh from the animal. Often while it was still alive.

  ***

  Kyle ran from the pond as fast as his legs would carry him. There was something about the pair of eyes staring up through the water that frightened him to the bone. All attempts at reasoning, at present, were lost in his body’s natural instincts: and they were telling him to flee from the potential predator. He didn’t want to wait and find out what it was. The eyes were evil looking, almost demonic.

  He spotted a large tree not far from the distortion field with an enormous root system at its base. He decided to head for it and changed direction. As he did, something hit him from behind and sent him sprawling to the ground. Fortunately, the grass was soft. Kyle turned to see what it was and his mouth opened wide—a pterosaur!

  The creature thrust out its wings and began a tight turn. It screeched loudly and angrily having lost the advantage of surprise. Now it would have to beat its wings with a great surge of power and chase its prey down.

  Kyle jumped to his feet and began running toward the tree. It was a good twenty yards away. Huffing and puffing he ran. Instead of heading straight for the tree, however, he began changing direction rapidly. First, he ran one way and then pivoted in the opposite direction as if he were dodging a competitor while dribbling a basketball down the court. It had the effect of confusing the pterosaur. Frustrated, it lunged at Kyle snapping its mouth with a thud and clacking its long teeth.

  Kyle ran right past the tree he was running toward and grabbed a branch hanging low toward one side. It catapulted him around the trunk. As the creature tried to adjust, it caught one of its wings on the tree. Spinning wildly out of control it slammed head first into a palm tree and lay in a heap on the ground.

  Kyle let go of the branch, ran back around the tree, and jumped into a large space between the roots where it was partially hollowed out. It looked like something with powerful jaws and razor sharp teeth had been nibbling it out but left off in the middle. There were fresh wood chips all over the ground. He caught his breath and listened. Cautiously, he stuck his head out of the hollow and peered around the corner to see what had happened to the pterosaur when a beak full of jagged, sharp teeth lunged at his head. Suddenly, the pterosaur screeched loudly nearly shattering Kyle’s eardrums.

  ***

  Dr. Bashan and Dr. Donavan sat at the computer screen and analyzed the data stream. It was late that evening when they finally decided on a plan of action.

  “We sent the capsule back approximately five years earlier according to the analysis I ran. It could be off by no more than two percent. Of course, there are variables that I can not factor in,” said Dr. Bashan.

  “So, if we believe the girls, the capsule would stay in transit until Kyle stepped back into the field. It won’t go anywhere until that happens. But…what if one of us goes back, too? Wouldn’t the capsule complete the transit?”

  “Not necessarily. If one of us went back, we would more than likely remain in transit as well. I do not know what effect that would have. We do not even know what is happening to the matter! All we know is, that we vibrate the strings with the harmonics and the capsule appears in the past. Beyond that, we have a lot to learn. This is most unfortunate.”

  Dr. Donavan fought back the urge to panic. He always relied on his mental abilities, not his emotions and he wasn’t about to let that change now with so much at stake. “Perhaps…but maybe not. We have learned an enormous amount just from what the girls told us. What I find most peculiar is why Kyle would think that the string had anything to do with the capsule returning? How could he possibly know what that meant? I don’t even know if it means anything!”

  “But it is a variable. We should not move the string.”

  “Ha! We can’t move the string. It’s like it isn’t even there!”

  “Yes,” said Dr. Bashan thoughtfully. “It is like it is not even there! Maybe that is the key! Somehow, the shoestring is in transit—in flux—not really matter, not quite energy. What if…what if the shoestring is causing the harmonics to vibrate just enough to pull it back in time to restore itself to completeness?”

  Dr. Donavan had a puzzled look on his face. “Whoa, now you’re losing me. What are you saying?”

  “There is another theory that says something about all things in the material universe have a memory of other things it comes in contact with. I do not remember all the specifics, but it is what popped into my head when I tried to understand the significance of the shoestring. I am sure it has to do with string theory in some way—maybe it has to do with the different bits of matter vibrating at different frequencies. It is all connected somehow. We are just missing the pieces of the puzzle to solve it.”

  “If what you’re saying is true, Kyle figured it out? I find that hard to believe.”

  “Where is your son?”

  Dr. Donavan just stared; the point had been made. Either Kyle was doing things that were entirely by accident, or he was brighter than anyone, particularly he, thought possible. Much brighter.

  ***

  The pterosaur’s breath was wretched. Kyle thrust himself into the tree hollow as far as he could. The beast was dragging one wing behind, but it didn’t seem to stop it from trying to get at Kyle. It was very narrow-minded. Despite whatever pain it may or may not have been in at that moment, it still wanted to eat Kyle.

  The jaw came around the corner and snapped at Kyle’s leg. He kicked out and caught the creature in the snout. It drew blood and the monster screeched. Blood was also oozing down its forehead from the collision with the tree yet it seemed oblivious to the pain and continued to snap at the tree opening.

  Out of nowhere, an enormous head appeared and huge powerful jaws with cone-shaped teeth snapped down over the pterosaur’s head. Kyle jumped up and ran around behind the tree. An enormous dinosaur with three horns on its head shook the pterosaur like a little broken toy. It dropped it to the ground, stepped on its body and began ripping flesh off in chunks and chewing the winged monster piece by piece.

  A Triceratops!

  The triceratops didn’t appear to notice Kyle. If it did, it was satisfied with its current prey. Kyle was getting desperate to leave this time period. The rule of the forest was clearly an “eat or be eaten” society and Kyle didn’t think the odds were in his favor. As he watched, partly horrified and partly fascinated with the scene before him, something brushed against his leg. He jumped and yelled, “Ahhhh!”

  When he turned to see what it was, there was nothing there. His leg felt wet—as if a sponge had brushed against it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something dart around a tree. A flash of gray.

  He turned to check on the triceratops. The mammoth animal stopped chewing and looked over at Kyle indifferently, then resumed its meal. With most of the pterosaur consumed, it headed back to the valley below making sounds that Kyle could only assume was belching. Satisfied he wasn’t in any immediate danger, Kyle tiptoed over toward the tree he last saw the movement. He heard a rustling coming from behind the tree and quickly peered around it. Nothing. He knew he didn’t imagine it.

  He walked all the way around the tree again. Puzzled, he scratched his head as he leaned casually against the tree and attempted to catch his breath. It had been a rough return so far and he was exhausted from all of the surprises. He even wished his sister was with him.

  What am I saying? Have I gone completely insane?

  He glanced back toward the distortion field, still shimmering as if vapors were rising from a hot, tar road and that gave him a sense of hope. Maybe they have to launch it from the future again before I can get back inside?

  Deep in thought, he for
got about whatever had brushed against his leg—until something touched him again. “Ahhhh!” he screamed as he jumped back. But again, there was nothing there.

  “Who’s…who’s there? What are you? Come out so I can see whatever you are!”

  Kyle peeked back around the tree and got the shock of his life.

  “Priti!”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The sound of a hundred violins in perfect harmony filled the lab as the two doctors, their wives, Teresa and Sonja watched through the thick window of the vault door. The tubes and lines running through the ceiling and down to various computers glowed brilliant green behind them and cast strange shadows across the anxious faces. Louder and louder the music grew and penetrated the earplugs each of them wore—except for Dr. Donavan. On a hunch, he decided to test the theory that the harmonics could influence a person’s ability to use his or her brain to capacity, essentially enhancing one’s intelligence. Not that he thought his son incapable of accomplishing amazing things, but it would account for the sudden surge in brilliance he exhibited. Again, he felt his countenance fall as he thought about the way he treated Kyle. How wrong he had been to ignore him. He determined that, if he ever got his son back, he would do everything in his power to show him how much he loved him and help him to achieve great things in life. Why, he thought, if he had achieved this level of intelligence, there will be no limitations to what he could accomplish!

  They all watched mesmerized as the spinning swirling gel glowed with all of the colors of the rainbow as it pulsed up and down. The flashes of electricity and increasing intensity of the sheer power of energy cascading over the capsule, was like watching a lightning storm. The gel turned an intense blue and finally, crystal clear like water before shimmering out of existence.

  The sound of the violins in full intensity struck Dr. Donavan with the exhilarating feeling the music induced in his head. Never had he or Dr. Bashan allowed themselves to listen in the past assuming the noise would be deafening and, ultimately, would cause severe hearing loss. A hunch. Only he dared take the risk the harmonics wouldn’t burst his eardrums. The girls had said Kyle insisted they hold their ears and close their eyes, but they didn’t think that Kyle did. A hunch. Dr. Donavan had to know if it affected Kyle’s thinking.

  Dr. Donovan couldn’t remember any time in his life that his mind felt so clear. So wonderful! What the harmonics was doing to his mind, was incredible. He wondered, could the harmonics, responsible for the time capsule’s ability to move back in time, have caused changes in his brain chemistry somehow? Is that why Kyle was able to understand so much about it? What an amazing discovery! Kyle will become famous—a genius scientist—and yet, he is only fourteen. If he comes back.

  They all stared at the shimmering distortion field for several minutes each deep in his or her own thoughts. There was a sad feeling among them. Sadness and emptiness. And a terrifying feeling that Kyle might be gone forever.

  Sonja looked down and pointed to something near the bottom of the distortion field. There, half visible and half invisible was Kyle’s’ shoestring. Dr. Donavan felt the odd sensation of feeling confident. It wasn’t like him to allow his feelings to dominate, yet, there it was. For some inexplicable reason, he was sure Kyle would be coming back. He knew it had something to do with the shoestring, but the answer eluded him. It lingered deep in the recesses of his changed mind. Yet, the answer was there—just beyond his grasp.

  ***

  How far back have I gone? Could this really be Priti? She…I can’t believe I’m calling it a she…doesn’t act like she recognizes me. Of course she wouldn’t! It has to be earlier in time or the planet would be a charred ruin and all of these creatures would be dead. Maybe it’s only been a few years. Maybe Priti really is an adult animal. I thought so! Look at Toby. He’s ten and he still acts like a puppy. Maybe this is just normal behavior for this species of dinosaur.

  Kyle reached out as he had before and tried to make contact. “Come ‘ere, Priti. Come on,” he cooed in his best Teresa imitation. The little raptor, not much bigger than his dog, cocked her head to one side and blinked.

  “Here ya go, little lady. Here…try this,” said Kyle as he peeled a piece of bark from the tree. He remembered Teresa and Sonja doing that. Then, ever so slowly, he sat down and crossed his legs to appear less intimidating. Priti sniffed at the bark and then reached up and sniffed at Kyle’s hand. She opened her mouth and Kyle saw the jaw full of teeth. She hadn’t hurt him before, so he was sure she wouldn’t bite if he didn’t spook her.

  Priti stuck out a long, thin, black tongue and touched Kyle’s’ hand. She jerked back. Kyle didn’t move an inch. Slowly, Priti reached out again and opened her mouth and gently took the bark in her teeth and withdrew it from Kyle’s hand.

  “That’s a girl,” he squeaked still trying to sound like his sister. “I don’t believe I’m talking like this. And don’t you tell Teresa when we get back! Okay?”

  Priti was making gurgling sounds and nibbling at the bark that she had dropped to the ground. She seemed to be content. Kyle immediately started thinking of how he was going to get Priti back into the capsule. He hoped they had launched. If not…

  Suddenly, Priti’s head jerked back up. Her eyes were wide open. “What? What’s wrong?”

  Priti squealed and then hissed just before she bolted. Kyle remembered that behavior from before—always when there was danger. He turned around and, not twenty feet away, stood a lone velociraptor bobbing its head and body up and down as it watched him with a cold hard look in its eyes.

  ***

  “Paul,” said Dr. Donavan sternly. “If Kyle manages to bring back a dinosaur, isn’t it likely he will cause a paradox.”

  “David, that is just a sci-fi, Star-Trek concept. You have been watching too much television.”

  Dr. Donavan looked insulted. “I never watch television! A paradox is a real possibility, Paul. If Kyle brings back a dinosaur, even a dinosaur egg regardless of how small, it will throw the internal harmony of the entire universe out of whack. The key to string theory has to do with the harmonics. Disharmony—which will be caused by bringing matter back out of time—could result in the destruction of the universe!” Dr. Donavan was almost yelling now. Dr. Bashan had never seen his partner so upset about anything before and it frightened him.

  “You must be wrong, David! You have to be wrong. Because if you are right…this will have been out fault!”

  Dr. Donavan now knew what he had to do. He loved his son dearly, but the fate of the universe was at stake.

  I have to find a way of removing the shoestring. Even if it means I’ll never see my son again.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Kyle backed behind the tree while maintaining eye contact with the raptor. From just beyond the hill, he saw two more approaching rapidly. They were running like chickens—literally. Then several others appeared behind them. They all came up next to the first raptor. It hissed at the others and they engaged in social behavior striking and biting. David felt as if they were arguing about who was going to eat him first.

  He looked around to see if there was anywhere to hide. While they ran awkwardly, it was clear to Kyle they were fast—too fast for him to outrun. The nearest other tree was a good twenty-five yards away and it didn’t appear to offer any more protection than where he was now. Priti had run down the hill toward the valley—down the hill. Perhaps he could outrun them. Every dinosaur he had observed since he had been here, both before and now, ran away from danger by running downhill.

  With his options so narrow, he knew it was his only chance. Like a horse out of the starting gate—like a sprinter off the chocks—like a jet that had just hit its afterburner, Kyle bolted and ran as fast as he could. The raptors, caught off guard because of their fighting amongst themselves, were confused—at first. However, Kyle had a good head start before the raptors gathered their senses and gave chase. It was then he realized his inspiration had been wrong. The raptors lifted their
arms and the feather-like appendages lifted them slightly off the ground increasing their speed.

  Kyle passed the area where the pterosaur had first tried to get him. He was almost on even ground now and the raptors were close—so close he could hear them hissing at him. Occasionally, one of the raptors would nudge the other in an attempt to gain an advantage. It would slow them all down just enough for Kyle to increase the distance—but it wouldn’t last for long.

  Up ahead, he saw the pond where he had washed his clothes. A thought about what might be at the bottom frightened him, but the real fear of being torn to shreds by the velociraptors was a more immediate threat. Kyle headed straight for the pond. As he reached the pond’s edge, there was no time to stop and consider his actions. One of the raptors caught up and grabbed his shirt. With a valiant leap, Kyle tore free from the raptor and dove headfirst into the water with a splash.

  The raptor stopped and the others caught up and fought voraciously over Kyle’s shirt ripping it to shreds. Kyle came to the surface and treaded water as quietly as he could. He had no idea whether the raptors could swim or not, but they appeared to think they had their prey.

  One by one they left off—still hungry—and went looking for a more satisfying meal. Kyle decided the best course of action was to swim across the pond, which was only about as wide as an Olympic sized swimming pool. As he turned, the water began to boil in front of him. It was then he remembered the evil-looking eyes that had stared back from beneath the surface of the water. With all his heart, Kyle wanted to be home. He wished he had never set foot in the capsule in the first place; wished he never even heard of string theory.