Flyers (9 page)
CHAPTER 21
“Meep,” Goldie said, resting gently next to the Keepers and munching pieces of fish they offered.
Goldie’s father couldn’t believe it. Neither could his mother. The Keepers were helping.
Fire and Flood had tried to bring Goldie food, but he hadn’t eaten. They had cooed to him and bathed him and sheltered him, but all their care had not eased his cries of pain. For the first time since he had been burned, Goldie looked as if he might one day fly again.
YOUNG PTERANODON
Fire knew this place was not for them. It seemed that no matter how far they had flown from the island of their birth, no place was for them.
But what could they do? Where could they go?
Home.
That was the only answer. And the others knew it, too.
Fire looked to the Keepers—and slowly bowed his head. They were going home.
CHAPTER 22
Eric was tired and wired at the same time on the first leg of his journey back to Enid. His body was exhausted and his mind was still racing as the plane jetted through the bright morning sky. Beside him, Amanda was sound asleep, the soft, comforting thrum of the engines singing her a lullaby.
Eric watched a morning news show, his in-flight headphones turned down low. It wasn’t until footage of the flyers came on that he turned them up.
“And here you see a truly one-of-a-kind spectacle,” the newscaster said. “The Pteranodons of Isla Sorna and their children are going home. . . .”
The image accompanying the narration was of the flyers sailing behind a pair of old-fashioned biplanes that had been painted and made up to look a little like Pteranodons themselves. A small harness dangled from one of them, allowing the still-healing littlest flyer to soar with his loved ones.
The scene cut to a studio interview. A clean-cut, well-rested man in a dark suit introduced the first of his guests, a reporter Eric knew all too well. Manly wore a designer suit. Makeup covered the bruise Amanda had left on his jaw.
“Mr. Wilks, I understand you’ve been in negotiations since last night with a handful of top publishers for the rights to your harrowing story. Is that correct?”
“The talks are ongoing,” Manly said confidently. “But I suspect we’ll have an announcement in time for your lunch program.”
“So you’re an expert on Pteranodons,” the interviewer said.
Manly grinned. “Absolutely. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I was the one who studied the behavior of these creatures and discovered the secret that won the day. These are intelligent, highly evolved beings, possessed of a unique social structure. You’ll read all about it in my book.”
The reporter raised an eyebrow. “And from a remote locale, we have another expert joining us. Please welcome Dr. Alan Grant.”
A small box appeared, showing Alan in a remote studio. Manly shrank a little at the sight of the paleontologist.
“Good morning,” Alan said.
“Dr. Grant, do you have anything to say about Mr. Wilks’s comments?” the newscaster asked.
“I’m intrigued by his assertion that Pteranodons have a completely unique social structure,” Alan said. “Like nothing else found in nature.”
Manly cleared his throat. “Yes, that’s right.”
“And you’ve studied Mesozoic life forms for how long? I mean, besides your illustrious work for the tabloids, like these. . . .”
A series of ridiculous headlines flashed on the screen, all culled from Manly’s work:
OLYMPIC ATHLETE HAS DINOSAUR DNA! RAPTORS ROB CONVENIENCE STORE! I MARRIED A MASTODON!
They cut back to Manly, who was rocking uncomfortably in his chair. “Everyone has to make a living. But those stories were well researched and scientifically accurate.”
The reporter frowned. “Mastodons were from the Ice Age. Not the Dinosaur Age.”
“Well—no,” Manly said. “Clearly not.”
Alan spoke up. “And Pteranodons follow a social structure much like birds. That’s something you can read more about in the book
I’m
writing about this incident, the deal for which has already been signed.”
Manly sank in his chair, looking completely busted.
Good,
Eric thought.
He took off the headphones as the news broadcast went to commercials, and someone tapped him on the shoulder. Looking up, he saw Josh standing in the aisle. They were on the same connecting flight. When they changed airplanes in North Carolina, Eric would head home to Enid, Josh to San Diego.
“My dad and I were talking about what happened,” Josh said. “He made me realize some stuff I should have figured out myself. I guess that’s what dads do. Your dad helped you a lot.”
Eric nodded. “My dad’s a great guy.”
“I just wanted to say—I’m sorry I acted like a jerk,” Josh said. “I wanted to meet this celebrity. I blew my chance to maybe make a friend. If I could do it all over again, I would. . . .”
Eric smiled. “I’m sorry, what’d you say your name was?”
Josh was surprised; then he understood. “I’m Josh.”
Eric held out his hand. “I’m Eric Kirby. Glad to meet you.”
Smiling wide, Josh took Eric’s hand.
THIS WAS
NOT
A PART OF THE SHOW!
Eric struggled to get out of his seat as the full-grown male Pteranodon blurred through the sky, set on a dive-bombing course for the little boat.
“We’ve gotta get away!” Eric yelled.
The “captain” of the
Jaws
boat ride hadn’t seen the threat. He put his hands out, attempting to stay in character while he tried to calm what he thought was an overexcited young customer. “Hey, don’t worry. I’m a trained professional—we’ll be fine!”
Then he looked over his shoulder at the water and made a broad, theatrical gulp as the drumming pulse of the
Jaws
theme grew louder and more insistent.
“Not the shark! Up there, up there!” Eric yelled.
His mother looked up first—and screamed.
A couple of people looked up, then laughed and screamed, too, thinking it was all part of the fun. A few saw the real threat as it
cawww
ed a final time and swooped in for its lightning-fast attack.
Read all the JURASSIC PARK
™
Adventures!
JURASSIC PARK™ Adventure #1
SURVIVOR
When thirteen-year-old Eric Kirby strapped himself into a parasailing harness to see the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, he never expected to become stranded there. Now he must rely on his wits and his knowledge of dinosaur behavior to keep himself alive until help arrives. Read about Eric’s harrowing eight weeks waiting for rescue on an island of dinosaurs!
ISBN: 0-375-81289-X
Read all the JURASSIC PARK
™
Adventures!
JURASSIC PARK™ Adventure #2
PREY
A band of teenagers armed with video cameras and what they think are “the rules of the island” invade Jurassic Park. But their dream of making a blockbuster dinosaur documentary soon turns into a nightmare because dinosaurs don’t play by anyone’s rules. Can paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant and thirteen-year-old Eric Kirby save them? Or will they
all
become prey?
ISBN: 0-375-81290-3