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Well； he thought； that was fine。 King would be there in a few minutes。 After working his wav through dense jungle； he could finally see exactly where he was。 The ridge road was high； following the crest of one of the volcanic spines。 There was almost no foliage up here； and as the road twisted and turned； he had views across the entire island。 To the east； he could look down into the ravine； and the boat at the shore。 To the west； he could look straight across at the laboratory； and Malcolm's twin trailers parked near the far edge of the clearing。
They never did find out what the hell Malcolm was doing here； he thought。 Not that it mattered now。 King was getting off the island。 That was the only thing that mattered。 He could almost feel the deck beneath his feet。 Maybe one of the fishermen would even have a beer。 A nice cold beer； while they chugged down the river； and pulled out of this damned island。 He'd toast Dodgson； is what he'd do。
Maybe； he thought； I'll have two beers。
King came around a curve； and saw a herd of animals standing thickly in the road。 They were some kind of green dinosaurs； about four feet tall； with big domed heads and a bunch of little horns。 They reminded him of green water buffalo。 But there were a lot of them。 He braked sharply； the car swerved to a stop。
The green dinosaurs looked at his car； but they did not move。 The herd just stood there in a lazy； contented way。 King waited； drumming his fingers on the steering wheel。 When nothing happened； he honked the horn； and flashed his headlights。
The animals just stared。
They were funny…looking creatures； with that smooth bulging curve on the forehead and all those little horns around it。 They just stared at him； with a stupid cow…like look。 He slipped the car into gear and edged it forward slowly； expecting that he could push his way through the animals。 They didn't move aside。 Finally his front bumper nudged the nearest animal； which grunted； took a couple of steps back； lowered its head； and butted the front of the car； hard； with a metallic clang！
Christ； he thought。 It could puncture the radiator； if he wasn't careful。 He stopped the car again and waited； the motor idling。 The animals settled down again。
Several of them lay down on the road。 He couldn't drive over them。 He looked ahead toward the river and saw the boat； not more than a quarter of a mile away。 He hadn't realized it was so near。 As he watched； he realized that the fishermen were very busy on the deck。 They were swinging the crane back； lashing it down。 They were getting ready to leave！
The hell with waiting； he thought。 He opened the door； and climbed out； leaving the car in the center of the road。 Immediately； the animals jumped to their feet； and the nearest one charged him。 He had the door open； the animal smashed into it； slamming it shut； leaving a deep dent in the metal。 King scrambled toward the edge of the hill； only to find he was at the top of a steep vertical descent of more than a hundred feet。 He'd never make it down； at least not here。 Farther along； the slope was not so steep。 But now more animals were charging him。 He had no choice。 He ran around the back of the car； just as another animal smashed into the rear taillight； shattering the plastic。
A third animal charged the back of the car directly。 King scrambled up onto the spare tire； as the animal slammed into the bumper。 The jolt knocked him off； and he fell to the ground； rolling； while the buffaloes snorted all around him。 He got to his feet and ran to the opposite side of the Toad； where there was a slight rise； he scrambled up it； moving into foliage。 The animals did not pursue him。 Not that it did him any good…now he was on the wrong side of the road！
Somehow he had to get back to the other side。
He climbed to the top of the rise and started down； swearing to himself。 He decided to work his way forward a hundred yards or so； until he was beyond the butting animals； and then cross the road。 If he could do that； then he could get to the boat。
Almost immediately； he was surrounded by dense jungle。 He tripped； tumbled down a muddy slope； and when he got to his feet was no longer sure which way to go。 He was at the bottom of a ravine； and the palm trees were ten feet tall； and very thick。 He couldn't see more than a few feet in any direction。 In a moment of panic； he realized he didn't know which way to go。 He pushed forward through the wet leaves； hoping to get his bearings back。
The kids were still peering over the railing； looking at the departing raptors。 Thorne pulled Levine to one side； and said quietly； 〃Why did you want us to e here？〃
〃Just a precaution；〃 Levine said。 〃Bringing the infant to the trailer is asking for trouble。〃
〃What sort of trouble？〃
Levine shrugged。 〃We don't know； is the point。 But in general； parents don't like it when their babies are taken away。 And that baby has some very big parents。〃
From the other side of the shelter Arby said； 〃Look！ Look！〃
〃What is it？〃 Levine said。
〃It's a man。〃
Gasping for breath； King emerged from the jungle and walked out onto the plain。 At last he could see where he was！ He paused； soaked and muddy； to get his bearings。
He was disappointed to find that he was nowhere near the boat。 In fact； he still seemed to be on the wrong side of the road。 He was facing a broad grassy plain； with a river coursing through it。 The plain was mostly deserted； although there were several dinosaurs farther down the banks。 They were the horned ones： triceratops。 And they looked a little agitated。 The big adults were raising their heads up and down； making barking sounds。
Obviously； he would have to follow the river； until it brought him to the boat。 But he'd have to be careful getting past these triceratops。 He reached in his pocket and pulled out a candy bar。 He ripped the wrapping while he watched the triceratops； wishing they would go away。 How long would it take him to reach the boat？ That was the only question on his mind。 He decided to move； triceratops or not。 He began walking through the tall grass。
Then he heard a reptilian hiss。 It was ing from the grass； somewhere to his left。 And he noticed a smell； a peculiar rotten smell。 He paused； waiting。 The candy bar didn't taste so good； any more。
Then； behind him； he heard splashing。 It was ing from the river。
King turned to look。
〃It's one of those men from the jeep；〃 Arby said； standing in the high hide。 〃But why is he waiting？〃
From their vantage point； they could see the dark shapes of the raptors； moving through the grass on the other side of the river。 Now two of the raptors came forward； splashing in the water。 Moving toward the man。
〃Oh no；〃 Arby said。
King saw two dark； striped lizards moving across the river。 They walked on their hind legs； with a sort of hopping motion。 Their bodies were reflected in the flowing water of the river。 They snapped their long jaws； and hissed menacingly at King。
He glanced upstream； and saw another lizard crossing； and another beyond that。 Those other animals were already deep in the water； and had begun to swim。
Howard King b