The Jeep descended the steep banks toward the river, its tyres straining against the deep mud. Ellie saw a pale shape slumped on the bank of the river. “Over there!”
Muldoon pulled up next to the Gallimimus. It lay completely motionless. Ellie rushed over with a med kit, and begun applying pressure to a large wound in the dinosaur’s side.
“She’s been attacked. These are gash marks, caused by a predator.”
A distant-sounding series of barking caws eerily echoed through the trees to the west on the other side of the river.
“Raptors.” Muldoon whispered gravely as the hairs pricked up on the back of his neck.
Malcolm looked around nervously. “I’m fairly alarmed here.”
Suddenly, a Velociraptor sprang from the bushes right next to the Jeep, snarling at the group.
“Clever girl” said Muldoon. In that moment he regretted leaving his gun in the car.
Ellie hurled the med kit dinosaur, taking it by surprise. It bought her and Muldoon just enough time to scramble into the Jeep.
“We’ve gotta get our of here, now, NOW, RIGHT NOW!” cried Malcolm, flailing his arms as the raptor regained it’s posture and hunched, ready to pounce.
Muldoon floored the gas, and the Jeep sped off along the river bank with the raptor in hot pursuit.
With the sound of tearing vegetation, a second raptor burst from the trees on the other side of the river and leapt across the channel, almost intercepting the Jeep.
Malcolm recoiled in terror as the raptor snapped at the Jeep, grazing the rear bumper. “Must go faster!”
Abruptly the Jeep lurched forward as the tyres connected with a dirt access road. Up ahead was a large metallic gate.
“Ellie, when I tell you, push that green button on the dash!” Muldoon ordered. The Jeep was almost at the gate. “Now!”
She slammed the button, and the gate ahead swung open. The Jeep raced through the gate. “Press it again!” Muldoon yelled.
The gate swung back into place, slamming shut just as the raptors hit the fence, which were repelled in a shower of sparks as 10,000 volts knocked them back.
Malcolm exhaled as the Jeep sped off. “Think they’ll have that on the tour?”
