Bone Quarry

by K D McNiven

  “Appreciate it. Talk with you tomorrow.”

  This happened to be a paleoanthropologist’s dream, he mused. A real live dinosaur! Rourke could scarcely believe his luck. Then again, after hearing about the bones of humans discovered offshore, maybe it wasn’t luck at all. Whatever the case, nothing would short circuit his going. He grabbed his briefcase and hurried down the steps and headed for home.

  Anxiously, he wove his way through the heavy San Diego traffic, today seeming worse than most days due to the increased adrenaline. All he could think of was getting home and filing through his stacks of research data on the Purussaurus. He pulled into his driveway, nearly running through the front door when he heard his cell phone jingle. He knew the photos Captain Burke said he would send him had arrived. With careless abandonment, he tossed his leather case onto the sofa and headed immediately for his study, stripping off his tie and unbuttoning the top two buttons of his starched white shirt.

  When he opened up his email, his mouth dropped. Not that he wasn’t expecting the snapshots, but staring at the evidence in front of his face sent shock-waves rippling through him.

  “This can’t be,” he muttered under his breath, raking his fingers through his neatly clipped black hair, salted with gray at the sides. He knew right then and there he didn’t need to wait until morning to make his decision. He would pack this very night and contact the airport to make travel arrangements.

  Hastily, Rourke changed out of his urban clothes and donned himself in his usual casual garments. He thrust his arms into his brown leather jacket, grabbed his fedora hat, keys off the counter where he’d dropped them, and rushed out the door, his heart jack-hammering.

  First thing on his agenda—contact his friend Jake Patterson, whom Rourke had worked with over the years. Jake, also a paleontologist, would be an asset to have along, and Rourke couldn’t imagine him turning down this incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity. He only hoped Jake hadn’t committed himself to some other job that would prevent him from going. Hands-down, this would be one of the greatest discoveries of all time—so long as it turned out to be the real deal.

  Rourke rapped soundly on Jake’s door. Overly anxious, it seemed an eternity before Jake swung it open and popped his head out. Not waiting for an invitation from his friend, Rourke stepped inside, standing over his friend by at least a head, a wide smile on his thin lips.

  “Pack your bags!”

  “Come again?” said Jake, one brow cocked and looking more than a little bamboozled by Rourke’s unannounced visit.

  Rourke’s slate-gray eyes flashed with excitement. “I’ve got something to show you.”

  Curious, Jake motioned for Rourke to follow him into the kitchen where he had been busily preparing his dinner. He bustled over to the stove, shutting off the burner hastily, water bubbling over the sides of the pan and sizzling on the glass top burner.

  “Holy crap!” he sputtered as scalding-hot fluid burnt his fingers. “Okay, what’s so important it couldn’t wait until morning…now that you’ve ruined my dinner,” he said, pulling out one of the stools from underneath the granite counter and plopped down. Paperwork was scattered across the surface, and Jake casually swept it aside, patting the stool beside him, inviting Rourke to join him.

  Rourke whipped out his cell phone, opened his email and laid it in front of Jake, a wide Cheshire cat grin on his face. “Take a good look, Jake. You won’t believe your eyes. This is our moment!”

  Puzzled by his brash behavior, Jake grabbed hold of the phone and began studying the photos, scrolling through one by one, then back again as if he couldn’t believe what he was looking at. He glanced up a couple of times, the corners of his eyes crinkled in fascination. It took several minutes before he finally acknowledged what his friend had handed off to him.

  “This is unbelievable! Are these measurements accurate?”

  “My first thought. However, look at the evidence, it doesn’t lie. I’d like you to come to Brazil with me. I’m flying out tomorrow…if you’re interested that is?”

  The question sucked Jake into a moment of deep contemplation. A time of silence, while he processed the whole incident. After a time, he looked up at Rourke, a wide smile breaking his thin lips. “You’re joking, right? I’m already mentally packing my clothes. I have to cancel one thing, make a few arrangements, and I’m ready to go.”

  “What if…what if we actually come face to face with a Purussaurus brasiliensis, Jake? I’m staring at this phenomenon totally stupefied, my mind unable to wrap around this! I know Purussaurus were wandering around in the northern part of South America during the Late Miocene period, and that we’ve only discovered a few skulls. It was only through regression equations based on crocodilians we were able to determine their approximate length, bite-force, and weight.”

  “This is more than a small breakthrough,” Jake said, seemingly speaking to himself, his eyes looking dazed, his face drawn in wonderment. Not that his response was too surprising. It had been Rourke’s first reaction as well.

  “I dug through a few files to brush up on the prehistoric animal,” Rourke explained, “named because their fossil remains were discovered by the Purus River in Brazil. There were three specific genera of the prehistoric crocodile. One, the Purussaurus neivensis which thrived in Pan-Amazonia wetlands in Columbia. The second, Purussaurus mirandai uncovered in Venezuela, and the third, Purussaurus brasiliensis, considered the largest, discovered in Bolivia and in Brazil, found in shallow river tributaries.”

  “Far as I knew all Brazil has is the black caiman. As you can see, we’re not dealing with a crocodilian alligatoroid. Not when you consider the size of these footprints. This is going to be one helluva ride, Rourke!”

  “Better put on your seat belt then. Brazil, here we come.”

  Before leaving Jake’s house, Rourke began making the necessary arrangements for their flight, a direct flight, first class. Everything was falling into place. Making his last call, he contacted his house-keeper, Ruth Stiles, to tend his place while he was away, watering plants, tending to his macaw, Bogi, which he paid extra for because of the mess the bird could make. Ruth never minded because she adored the macaw.

  Headed for home, Rourke settled back on the leather car seat, delighted to find Jake plenty willing to hop on the plane at such short notice. He was grateful he and Jake had up-to-date passports and visas, so there wouldn’t be any hold-ups so far as he could see. Adrenalin surged through him as he conjured up images as to what they might discover. And he couldn’t help wondering what they would do if they actually come upon a live Purussaurus? In his wildest dreams, he’d never believed something this extraordinary could happen…least of all to him.

  Once back at his house, he put a call into Captain Burke who sounded more than a little relieved they were coming, and he assured Rourke someone would be at the airport to pick them up. With all the loose ends tied up, Rourke headed for the shower, packed his suitcase, and headed off to bed, though he couldn’t imagine sleeping for all the anticipation he felt.

  Chapter Five

  ⁂

  Captain Burke filled in the team about the two paleontologists heading their way. Relief replaced their anxiety. None of them were eager to plunge into the ocean at this point, knowing what might be awaiting them beneath the crystal blue waves, except for perhaps Meg, who had an inquisitive nature, and who wanted to actually see the creature for herself.

  “I’d like to go back upstream to see what other evidence we might find,” she said, shoveling a forkful of scrambled eggs into her mouth.

  Except for Jayden, the others looked skeptical, if not downright fearful and with good reason. She appreciated their reluctance, after all, it had not been one skeleton they’d come across, rather a ‘bone quarry’ as Meg so dubbed it.

  “I’d like to hold off until the two paleontologists arrive,” Captain Burke said. “I feel fortunate to find someone willing to hop on a plane and fly all the way to Brazil at the drop of a hat
, though I did sense a surge of excitement when I spoke to him.”

  “How could they not? This will be the find of the century if they locate the prehistoric beast. Nevertheless, I have to consider the dangers of doing such a thing.”

  “We’ll have to wait and see.”

  Meg took a sip of coffee, gazing at him over the rim. She wasn’t too keen on waiting. Patience was not one of her better attributes, she had to admit. On the other hand, respect happened to be one of her characteristics and Captain Burke did not need a recalcitrant on board to contend with. With that in mind, she feigned a smile, trying to relax.

  “Look, I know you’re anxious. However, we must be cautious. We don’t want to go traipsing around without being properly equipped in case we do encounter this creature.”

  “Like harpoons and flame throwers?”

  He laughed. “Not a bad idea. I, for one, don’t want to come face to face with the monster unless I’m armed.”

  “Appears it will be lab work all day then or play in the moon pool,” Cory jumped into the conversation, his copper curls mussed from having just woken. He poured himself a cup of coffee and plopped down on the chair near Meg.

  “The moon pool’s better than nothing,” Meg said dryly. “At least your hands get wet.”

  “I believe I’d much prefer staying in the confines of the lab after examining those footprints,” Cory replied. “Scary enough without seeing what’s attached to them.”

  Meg laughed. “You know me. Adventure is my middle name.”

  “Just keep it squelched for a few more hours if you will, Meg,” Captain Burke said. “Richard and Madison are heading to the airport a little later to pick up the paleontologists. I imagine once they arrive, they’ll be eager to set out and explore the area.”

  “Roger that, Captain,” she replied—not happy, though willing to wait. What else could she do?

  It was late afternoon when Meg wandered amid deck. A slight breeze licked her face, and her long hair floated around her tanned, oval face. The sun was intense and being dressed in her khaki shorts, a grey T-shirt, and flip-flops, she felt a burning sensation on her legs and arms. Jittery, she shoved her hand deep into her side pocket and produced a bottle of sun guard and smeared it over her reddening skin.

  The sound of a motor in the distance aroused her attention. She twisted her head, spotting the zodiac scudding over the swells in the direction of the research ship. Relief filled her. She couldn’t get back to work soon enough. Not that she considered what she did work. She loved exploring, getting her hands dirty, and diving. A sense of abandonment always cloaked her when she finned her way along the seafloor, wending her way through the diverse marine gardens, layered with a color-wheel of coral reefs, giant kelp forests, and marine life.

  She began walking toward the dive platform where the zodiac slid up alongside the ship, anxious to welcome the paleontologists. At the same time, Captain Burke hurried out of the pilothouse, his cap tucked under his arm. She waited for him to catch up and together they headed along the railing aft.

  Suddenly, Meg became immobile. She could barely breathe when she caught sight of the two men following behind Richard and Maddy. Rourke! Of all the paleontologists to have been hired on, it had to be him. A sense of dread filled her. At the same time, her heart drummed with wild excitement in her breast. She battled the surfacing emotions. Exhaling sharply, she squared her shoulders, doing her best to put on a cheerful face, even though his presence shook her to the core.

  Rourke looked up, his eyes locking with Meg’s. No doubt surprised by the unexpected meeting. A smile turned the corners of his lips. He hadn’t known she was working as one of the crew and had to admit, he was glad to see her. It had been almost a year since he’d last had any contact with her. She looked beautiful as ever, he mused.

  As introductions were made, Meg stood rigid, battling her turmoil. Everyone turned to look at her, seeing she made no move to shake Rourke’s hand. Tension hung like a rain-saturated cloud over the deck, putting a damper on her spirit.

  “You two know each other?” Captain Burke asked, noting the strain.

  “My ex-wife,” Rourke said, offering an explanation since inquiring eyes were pleading to know.

  Burke’s brows shot upward. “I-I didn’t realize when I called. I…”

  “It’s quite all right, Captain,” Meg said. “After all, we’re adults and this is work. No problem, right Rourke?”

  “None so far as I can see.” When his steel-gray eyes flashed with humor, he saw her bristle. Without more conversation, she turned to follow Captain Burke.

  The captain flagged his hand. “Well then, why don’t we head to the dining hall for a debriefing and some dinner?”

  Their chef, Patrick Garber, didn’t waste any time bringing out several platters of food, heaped baby red potatoes drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with rosemary, chicken marsala, and mixed green salad. Lastly, a bottle of chardonnay wine.

  “Don’t suppose you’d have a beer handy?” asked Rourke.

  Patrick nodded. “Absolutely. Anyone else rather have a beer than wine?”

  Jake waved his hand in the air. Patrick nodded and went for their drinks.

  After eating, the team began to discuss how they wanted to approach the issue and still maintain some semblance of safety. Because the creature liked feasting on humans, they would have to go prepared with a plan of defense in case of an attack.

  “Meg, fill me in on the bones you discovered,” Rourke said.

  Meg tipped the goblet of wine to her lips and took a large swallow. Presently, she wished she had an entire bottle to polish off to steady her nerves. She feigned a smile. After all, she happened to be the divemaster and responsible for the team. Rourke had every right to ask her what they had discovered and where. And she had been the one to inform Captain Burke they were professionals. Therefore, she needed to act like one.

  “We were diving at fifty feet, taking water samples and marine fauna. As I’m sure Captain Burke told you, the locals have had dead fish being washed to shore. It was me and Camilla who first spotted the bones. There is a wallowed-out area on the bottom and crazy as it sounds, we come upon piles of bones. We were shocked to realize how many human bones were mixed in with fish skeletons.”

  “Have you asked around the village about it?”

  “For all the good it did. Seems everyone’s tongues are tied in knots. I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t want to talk about such a horrid thing transpiring in their village, but that’s the case.”

  “Hmm. Peculiar,” he replied, looking absorbed in thought.

  “After we discovered the bones, we decided to go onshore and see what we could find. That’s when we found the footprints and the tooth. We ran it through our database and it matched with that of a Purussaurus. There you have it.”

  “Thanks,” he replied, turning his attention back to Captain Burke. “Curious, what kinds of weapons do you carry onboard?”

  “A few rifles, couple harpoons, sticks of dynamite, and a couple of bang sticks. That’s about it.”

  “Bang stick?”

  “Bang sticks carry an explosive charge. The heads are attached to a two-foot metal pole. I can’t promise they will work on something so enormous—might tick the thing off even more.”

  “Hard to say,” said Rourke. “However, taking a few weapons along would be a practical response. It would be reckless to go out without some means of defense.”

  Meg fought the urge to glance over at Rourke. Instead, she kept her eyes averted. The attraction she had felt for him from the first day they met still remained frustratingly active, and the last thing she wanted was to crack that door open again. Even so, she felt his eyes boring into her, making her shift uncomfortably.

  “I’ll see what I can throw together,” Captain Burke said. “Do you intend on going out today? You’ll have less than three hours before dusk.”

  Rourke gave a moment’s thought. He had a touch of jet-lag. Still, his
curiosity won over, and he nodded. “I believe I’d like to do a bit of investigating if you don’t mind having someone take us to shore and if we can have use of the rental jeep.”

  “No problem. The jeep is at your disposal.”

  Within the half-hour, Rourke and Jake met on deck to go through the weapons the crew had brought up. Rourke began stuffing the contents into a heavy canvas rucksack and slung it over his shoulder. He started to walk aft when he heard the soft patter of feet behind. Turning his head, he spied Meg hurrying toward him.

  “I’m going along,” she said.

  “Not wise,” Rourke replied. “We have no idea what we might come across.”

  She pinched up her face. “Our team has already been there, or did you conveniently forget that? We’re the ones who took the photos and discovered the bones. I don’t intend on being shut out now.”

  “And that’s great. What you need to consider is this could turn into an ugly scenario should we come face to face with this creature, or more than likely, creatures if they’ve been reproducing.”

  “I can handle myself, Rourke.”

  He grinned. That predictable boyish grin, dimples and all. “I’m sure you can, Meg. However…”

  She felt her cheeks burn. “Look, Rourke, I’m the divemaster here. You have no right telling me what I can or cannot do. I’m going, and that’s that!”

  “I still think it would be wise if you stayed put. I would rather not have to worry about your safety.”

  “I don’t need you worrying about me! I can take care of myself, thank you very much,” she replied irritatingly, throwing her hands into the air. “You can be so…so…”

  “Charming and irresistible?”

  “Not exactly what I was thinking.”

  “Okay, fine,” he relinquished. “Do what you want. You always have.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Just what I said.”

  Meg stiffened. He was goading her, no doubt even enjoying their verbal bantering—in fact, she saw amusement flickering in his eyes. In spite of it, she concluded the last thing the crew needed was to hear them squabbling. Whatever his game, she’d not rise to the occasion. They were professionals. They both needed to act accordingly and put their differences aside. Inhaling deeply, she squared her shoulders, managing a tight-lined smile.