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； and had begun to swim。
Howard King backed away from the river； moving deeper into the tall grass。 Then he turned； and ran。 He was chest…deep in grass and running hard； gasping for breath； when suddenly another lizard head rose up in front of him； hissing and snarling。 He dodged； changed direction； but suddenly the nearest lizard leapt in the air。 It jumped so high its body cleared the grass…； he could see the entire animal flying through the air； its two hind legs raised to pounce。 He glimpsed curved； dagger…like claws。
King turned again and the lizard shrieked as it landed on the ground behind him； and tumbled away in the grass。 King ran on。 He was energized by pure fear。 Behind him he heard the lizard snarling。 He ran hard： ahead was another twenty yards of grassy clearing； and then the jungle began again。 He saw trees … big trees。 He could climb one and get away。
Off to the left； he saw another lizard moving diagonally across the clearing toward him。 King could only see the head above the grass。 The lizard seemed to be moving incredibly fast。 He thought： I'm not going to make it。
But he would try。
Panting； lungs searing； he sprinted for the trees。 Only ten more yards now。 His arms pumped； his legs churned。 His breath came in ragged gasps。
And then something heavy struck him from behind； forcing him to the ground； and he felt searing pain down his back and he knew …it was the claws； they dug into the flesh of his back as he was knocked down。 He hit the dirt hard； and tried to roll； but the animal on his back held on； he could not move。 He was pinned down on his stomach； hearing the animal snarl behind him。 The pain in his back was excruciating； dizzying。
And then he felt the animal's hot breath on the back of his neck； and he heard the snorting breath； and his terror was extreme。 Then suddenly a kind of lassitude； a deep and wele sleepiness； took him。 Everything became slow。 As if in a dream； he could see all the blades of grass in the ground in front of his face。 He saw them with a kind of languid intensity； and he almost did not mind the sharp pain on his neck； and he almost did not care that his neck was within the animal's hot jaws。 It seemed to be happening to someone else。 He was many miles away。 He had a moment of surprise when he felt the bones of his neck crunching loudly …
And then blackness。
Nothing。
〃Don't look；〃 Thorne said； turning Arby away from the railing in the high hide。 He drew the boy toward his chest； but Arby impatiently pushed away again； to watch what was happening。 Thorne reached for Kelly； but she stepped away from him； and stared out at the plain。
〃Don't look；〃 Thorne kept saying。 〃Don't look。〃
The kids watched； in silence。
Levine focused his binoculars on the kill。 There were now five raptors snarling around the man's body； tearing viciously at the carcass。 As he watched； one of the raptors jerked its head up； tearing away a piece of blood…soaked shirt； the ragged edge of the collar。 Another was shaking the man's severed head in its jaws； before finally dropping it on the ground。 Thunder rumbled； and lightning flashed in the distant sky。 It was growing dark； and Levine was having difficulty seeing exactly what was happening。 But it was clear that whatever hierarchical organization they had adopted for hunting was abandoned for a kill。
Here it was every animal for itself； the frenzied raptors hopped and ducked their heads as they tore the body to pieces； and there was plenty of nipping and fighting among themselves。 One animal came up； with something brown hanging from its jaws。 The animal got an odd expression on its face as it chewed。 Then it turned away from the rest of the pack； and held the brown object carefully in its forearms。 In the growing darkness； it took Levine a moment to recognize what it was doing： it was eating a candy bar。 And it seemed to be enjoying it。
The raptor turned back； and buried its long nose in the bloody carcass again。 From across the plain； other raptors were racing to join the feast； half…running； half…bounding in great forward leaps。 Snarling and furious； they threw themselves into the fray。
Levine lowered his glasses； and looked at the two kids。 They were staring silently and calmly at the kill。
Dodgson
Dodgson was awakened by a noisy chattering； like the sound of a hundred tiny birds。 It seemed to be ing from all around him。 Slowly； he realized that he was lying on his back； on damp sloping ground。 He tried to move； but his body felt painful and heavy。 Some sort of weight pressed down on his legs； his stomach； his arms。 The weight on his chest made it difficult to breathe。
And he was sleepy； incredibly sleepy。 He wanted nothing more in all the world than to go back to sleep。 Dodgson started to drift off to unconsciousness； but something was pulling at his hand。 Tugging at his fingers； one by one。 As if pulling him back to consciousness。 Slowly； slowly； pulling him back。
Dodgson opened his eyes。
There was a little green dinosaur standing beside his hand。 It leaned over； and bit his finger in its tiny jaws； tugging at the flesh。 His fingers were bleeding； ragged chunks of flesh had already been bitten away。
He pulled his hand away in surprise； and suddenly the chattering grew louder。 He turned and saw that he was surrounded by these little dinosaurs； they were standing on his chest and legs as well。 They were the size of chickens and they pecked at him like chickens； quick darting bites on his stomach； his thighs； his crotch …
Revolted； Dodgson jumped to his feet； scattering the lizards； which hopped away； chirping in annoyance。 The little animals moved a few feet away； then stopped。 They turned back； and stared at him； showing no sign of fear。 On the contrary； they seemed to be waiting。
That was when he realized what they were。 They were propsognathids。 pys。
Scavengers。
Christ； he thought。 They thought I was dead。
He staggered back； almost losing his balance。 He felt pain and a wave of dizziness。 The little animals chittered； watched his every move。
〃Go on；〃 he said； waving his hand。 〃Get out of here。〃
They did not leave。 They stood there； cocking their heads to one side quizzically； and waited。
He bent his head； stared down at himself。 His shirt； his trousers were torn in a hundred places。 Blood dribbled from a hundred tiny wounds down his clothes。 He felt a wave of dizziness and put his hands on his knees。 He took a deep breath； and watched his blood drip onto the leaf…strewn ground。
Christ； he thought。 He took another deep breath。
When he did not move； the animals began to inch forward。 He stood up； and they backed away。 But a moment later； they began to e forward again。
One came close。 Dodgson kicked it viciously； sending the little body flying through the air。 The animal squealed in alarm； but it landed like a cat； upright and uninjured。
The others remained where they were。 Waiting。
He looked around； realized it was getting dark。 He looked at his watch： 6：40。 There were only a few minutes more of daylight。 Beneath the jungle canopy； it was already quite dark。
He had to get to safety； a