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e； he saw a raptor crouched in the middle of the road； facing them； its head lowered menacingly。 Thorne accelerated toward it。 The raptor leapt up in the air； legs raised high。 It landed on the hood of the car； claws squealing as they raked metal。 It smashed against the windshield； the glass streaking spiderwebs。 With the animal's body lying against the windshield； Thorne couldn't see anything。 On this dangerous road； he slammed on the brakes。
〃Hey！〃 Levine shouted； tumbling forward。
The raptor on the hood slid off to the side。 Now Thorne could see again； and he stamped on the gas。 Levine fell back again as the car moved forward。 But three raptors were charging the car from the side。
One jumped onto the running board and locked its jaws on the side mirror。 The animal's glaring eye was close to Thorne's face。 He swung the wheel left； scraping the car along the rocky face of the road。 Ten yards ahead a boulder protruded。 He glanced at the raptor； which continued to hold on tenaciously； right to the moment when the boulder smashed into the side mirror； tearing it away。 The raptor was gone。
The road widened a little。 Thorne had more room to maneuver now。 He felt a heavy thump； and looked up to see the canvas top sagging above his head。 Claws slashed down by his ear； ripping through the canvas。
He swung the car right； then left again。 The claws pulled out； but the animal was still up there； its body still indenting the cloth。 Beside him； Levine produced a big hunting knife； and thrust it upward through the Cloth。 Immediately； another claw raked downward； slashing Levine's hand。 He yelled in pain； dropping the knife。 Thorne bent over； reaching down to the floor for it。
In the rearview mirror； he saw two more raptors in the road behind him； chasing the Jeep。 They were gaining on him；
But the road was broader now； and he accelerated。 The raptor on the roof peered over the top； looking in through the broken windshield。 Thorne held the knife in his fist and jabbed it straight up with full force； again and again。 It didn't seem to make any difference。 As the road curved； he jerked the wheel right； then back； the whole jeep tilting； and the raptor on the roof lost its grip and rolled backward off the top。 It tore most of the canvas roof away as it went。 The animal bounced on the ground and hit the two pursuing raptors。 The impact knocked all three over the side； they fell snarling down the cliff face。
〃That does it！〃 Levine shouted。
But a moment later； another raptor jumped down from the cliff and ran forward； only a few feet from the Jeep。
And lightly； almost easily； the raptor leapt up into the back of the Jeep。
In； the passenger seat； Levine stared。 The raptor was fully inside the Jeep； its head low； arms up； jaws wide； in an unmistakable posture。 The raptor hissed at him。
Levine thought； It's all over。
He was shocked： his entire body broke out in sweat； be felt dizzy； and he realized in a single instant there was nothing he could do； that he was moments from death。 The creature hissed again； snapping its jaws； crouching to lunge … and then suddenly white foam appeared at the corners of its mouth； and its eyes rolled back。 Foam bubbled out of its jaws。 It began to twitch； its body going into spasms。 It fell over on its side in the back of the car。
Behind them he now saw Sarah on the motorcycle； and Kelly holding the rifle。 Thorne slowed； and Sarah pulled alongside them。 She handed the key to Levine。
〃For the cage！〃 she shouted。
Levine took it numbly； almost dropped it。 He was in shock。 Moving slowly。 Dumbly。 I nearly died； he thought。
〃Get her gun！〃 Thorne said。
Levine looked off to the left； where more raptors were still racing along； parallel to the car。 He counted six； but there were probably more。 He tried to count again； his mind working slowly …
〃Get the damned gun！〃
Levine took the gun from Kelly； feeling the cold metal of the barrel in his hands。
But now the car sputtered； the engine coughing； dying； then coughing again。 Jerking forward。
〃What's that？〃 he said； turning to Thorne。
〃Trouble；〃 Thorne said。 〃We're out of gas。〃
Thorne popped the car into neutral； and it rolled forward； losing speed。
Ahead was a slight rise； and beyond that； across a curve； he could see the road sloped down again。 Sarah was on the motorcycle behind them； shaking her head。
Thorne realized his only hope was to make it over the rise。 He said to Levine； 〃Unlock the cage。 Get him out of there。〃 Levine was suddenly moving quickly； almost panicky； but crawled back； and got the key in the lock。 The cage creaked open。 He helped Arby out。
Thorne watched the speedometer as the needle fell。 They were going twenty…five miles an hour。。。then twenty。。。then fifteen。 The raptors； running alongside； began to move closer； sensing the car was in trouble。
Fifteen miles an hour。 Still falling。
〃He's out；〃 Levine said； from the back。 He clanged the cage shut。
〃Push the cage off；〃 Thorne said。 The cage rolled off the back； bouncing down the hill。
Ten miles an hour。
The car seemed to be creeping。 And then they were over the rise； moving down the other side； gaining speed again。 Twelve miles an hour。 Fifteen。 Twenty。 He careened around the curves； trying not to touch the brakes。
Levine said； 〃We'll never make it to the trailer！〃 He was screaming at the top of his lungs； eyes wide with fear。
〃I know。〃 Thorne could see the trailer off to the left； but separated from them by a gentle rise in the road。 They could not get there。 But up ahead the road forked； sloping down to the right； toward the laboratory。 And if he remembered correctly； that road was all downhill。
Thorne turned right； away from the trailer。
He saw the big roof of the laboratory； a flat expanse in the moonlight。 He followed the road past the laboratory； down around the back； toward the worker village。 He saw the manager's house to the right； and the convenience store； with the gas pumps in front。 Was there a chance they might still have gasoline？
〃Look！〃 Levine said； pointing behind them。 〃Look！ Look！〃 Thorne glanced over his shoulder and saw that the raptors were dropping back； giving up the chase。 In the vicinity of the laboratory； they seemed to hesitate。
〃They're not following us any more！〃 Levine shouted。
〃Yeah；〃 Thorne said。 〃But where's Sarah？〃
Behind them； Sarah's motorcycle was nowhere to be seen。
Trailer
Sarah Harding twisted the handlebars； and the motorcycle shot forward over the low rise in the road ahead。 She crested and came down again； heading toward the trailer。 Behind her； four raptors snarled in pursuit。 She accelerated； trying to get ahead of them； to gain precious yards。 Because they were going to need it。
She leaned back； and shouted to Kelly； 〃Okay！ This has to be fast！〃
〃What？〃 Kelly shouted。
〃When we get to the trailer； you jump off and run in。 Don't wait for me。 Understand？〃
Kelly nodded； tensely。
〃Whatever happens； don't wait for me！〃
〃Okay。〃
Harding roared up to the trailer； braked hard。 The bike skidded on the wet grass； banged into the metal siding。 But Kel