The harsh texture of the rock wall scratched at Grant’s face, as he clung on to the wall of the quarry for his dear life. The Herrerasaurus was stood directly below him, furiously snapping at his ankles.
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He’d managed to climb about 10ft from the base of the quarry, but was running out of footholds as the cliff face became more unstable as he ascended.
The Herrerasaurus was getting dangerously close to his legs. Despite it’s small stature, it could leap rather high.
Grant continued to frantically scramble for holds further up the cliff. He’d now scaled a large boulder which had gotten him out of immediate harms way. He was almost at the top.
Grant began to panic when he felt the rock under his feet begin to give way abruptly. Small pebbles tumbled down the cliff as loose sediment crumbled underneath his weight. The Herrerasaurus looked on in hungry anticipation.
Suddenly, a gleaming chunk of amber appeared right in front of his eyes, glowing in the late afternoon sun. He looked up to see John Hammond himself braced against the edge of the cliff, holding out his amber cane. Grant grabbed hold of the cane just as the rock beneath his feet gave way entirely.
With his newly stabilised grip, Grant hooked his leg into a nook further up the rock face, and with one final push, rolled over the edge of the cliff. The Herrerasaurus howled in frustration below.
Grant and Hammond sat in silence for a few moments, panting on the ground regaining their breath.
“Mr. Hammond? We need to talk.” Grant said between deep breaths.
“Indeed we do, doctor. You’re not the only one who’s had a close encounter today.” Hammond said, visibly shaken. “I’m afraid by the end of the day you might be reconsidering your profession.”
Grant smiled wryly. “Devoting your life to the study of an animal means accepting the harsh truth that it would try to kill you, if you ever came face to face with it.”
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