Return To Primordial Island by Rick Poldark (read my book .txt) 📕

“I wouldn’t say that,” said Peter. Then he snapped his fingers, his eyes lighting up in an epiphany. “Crocodilian! It has nostrils on the top of its head. Tell your copter to focus its fire on the top of its head. If we can disrupt its breathing, it might go away.”

Nielsen nodded and got on his radio. “Collins, it’s Nielsen, come in.” He was so excited, he forgot all about callsigns.

The radio crackled. “Chief, here.”

“Our paleontologists said to concentrate fire on its nostrils on top of its head to disrupt its breathing.”

“Copy that.”

*

Nielsen watched as the Spinosaurus tore through the ground forces, roaring at the Humvees as they fired grenades at it. Its long, slender profile allowed it to dodge most of the fire. However, its sail took a few hits. In response, it bellowed at them in fury.

The Huey started firing at the top of its head. Streaks of light flew past its head, most missing their target. The large beast hunched and swerved, scooping its long snout into the melee and snatching up foot soldiers.

It pressed further and further into base camp, stomping on tents. Its massive sail was broken, blood glistening by the light of the moon and gunfire. Collins’ team surrounded it, the Jeeps circling it, firing grenades. Each time it dipped its head to attack, they concentrated fire at the top of its head. One grenade made contact, wreathing its head in fire and smoke. It shook its head and staggered backward as the Huey barraged it with its minigun.

It whipped its tail about as it whirled around, catching one of the Humvees. The vehicle veered off, nearly flipping onto its side. As the hulking predator turned its body, its tail caught the gunner of the other Humvee, pulling him out of the mount.

Nielsen winced as he saw the Spinosaurus stomp on the gunner with a large, clawed foot. The massive lizard swooned as the other Humvee recovered, the gunner firing into its side. The Huey descended, coming in closer, taking advantage. Its minigun fired into its side. The dinosaur fell sideways, hitting the ground hard. It moaned, struggling to regain its footing, but Collins and his team moved in for the kill.

Nielsen turned to face the group. “We did it! Dr. Albanese, that was brilliant!” He looked around and saw the excited and relieved faces of his technicians, but he didn’t see either of his paleontologists. Panic rose up within the project manager. “Where’d they go?”

“Who?” Marcy looked sheepish.

“You know who, our two paleontologists!”

Marcy shrugged her shoulders. “They left the tent.”

The panic was replaced by annoyance. “Where’d they go? Go and find them. Congratulations are in order.”

*

Marcy burst out of the tent, looking around. With all of the technicians inside the main tent and security out by the fallen Spinosaurus, base camp was empty. She strolled between the tents, hands casually in her pockets, her eyes darting back and forth. She squinted, rubbing her eyes as she saw them appear out of thin air. They slipped off Tracey’s company-issued, light-bending camouflage blanket and got into a Jeep.

She stalked over to them. Peter looked over at her and muttered something to Tracey, who was shoving hand-held signal flares and a flare gun she found in the Jeep into her pack along with the camouflage blanket. Tracey looked up and frowned. Marcy thought they both looked like two children who were caught trying to cut class.

“What are you guys doing?”

“We have to go,” said Peter. “There’s something really important I need to do.”

Marcy looked back over her shoulder. “Nielsen’s looking for you two. Collins took the Spinosaurus down. We won.”

Tracey got out of the Jeep and looked into Marcy’s eyes. “Marcy, Peter set something in motion that he needs to correct. It could affect us all, even endanger this expedition. I’m going with him. He’s going to need my help.”

“But…Nielsen…”

Tracey smiled. “If he’s really here to stabilize the portal, he won’t be focused on us.”

“Maybe I should come with you,” offered Marcy.

Peter shook his head. “Too dangerous.”

Tracey reached out and squeezed Marcy’s arm. “You work for Poseidon Tech. Besides, we need you here to keep an eye on what he’s doing. If our hunch is correct, Poseidon Tech’s interest is in keeping the portal open indefinitely. They want to lay claim to this island.”

Marcy shook her head. “I can’t imagine why.”

“Like you said, it’s a major discovery. Maybe they plan on selling the rights to the island to the highest bidder. I don’t know. Whatever the reason, it’s above all of our paygrades.”

Marcy looked as if she didn’t want them to go. “If it’s dangerous, maybe Collins can help you with whatever you have to do.”

Peter shook his head. “He doesn’t have the men to spare on a side mission he knows nothing about and, frankly, wouldn’t believe if we explained it. His priority is securing the camp. Finding us was always secondary.”

Marcy pouted. “You two, be careful. Make sure you’re back in time for extraction.”

“We’ll do our best,” said Peter.

“Be safe,” said Tracey. “There may be other attacks on base camp.”

“I’ll stay in the main tent,” said Marcy. “And, I’ll keep an eye on Nielsen.”

“Come on, Tracey,” said Peter. “We have to go before they see us.”

Tracey nodded. She hugged her friend. “Goodbye, Marcy.”

Marcy’s eyes welled up. “You make it sound so final.”

Tracey rounded the Jeep and hopped back into it. Peter turned the ignition. The engine turned over, and Peter threw the Jeep into gear. Marcy watched as the Jeep pulled away, disappearing into the night.

She worried about her two friends. She hoped that whatever they had to do they’d be successful. She returned to the main tent, working on the cover story she was