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Justin and his team had been scavenging for the second dinosaur, if it existed at all, for over a week, which along with the seven days before the helicopter went down, made nearly two weeks they’d been out on the hunt. They had seen not one trace of any large predatory dinosaur anywhere. Nothing. Which was fine with the men doing the searching. The sooner they could say the park was clear, the sooner they could reopen it, and park life could reclaim its normalcy.
They’d also revisited and further explored the two caves where the broken eggs had been discovered. Justin suspected there was some sort of correlation between the two, a theory he hadn’t been able to prove as of yet.
They’d spent days exploring the caverns and hadn’t found any more eggs, though they’d been limited to how far they could go into the caves’ bowels because the connecting tunnels were so narrow.
Ranger Finch had volunteered to crawl into the cramped passageways and see what was in them, but there was no way Justin was going to jeopardize any more of the team if he didn’t have to. They had the drones, another one of Jeff Smith’s gifts. They’d already used them at times in the woods, in the densest sections they couldn’t get into or see into. So, when they could, they also sent the small flying drones into the narrowest tunnels. But again, nothing, no more eggs or baby dinosaurs, were revealed.
Chief Ranger Collins was still recovering at home, though he regularly kept in touch with the team out in the field by cell phone, or had his wife bring him in for headquarters meetings, so the group was a man short.
After the first helicopter’s crash, Justin’s boss had generously sent out another one for them to use.
“Don’t wreck this one,” Jeff Smith had chided Justin, when speaking to him on the phone the week before. “These babies cost a bundle.”
“I’ll try really hard not to, boss.” But Justin knew Jeff had meant it in a kidding, good-natured way. Jeff cared far more for the safety of his scientists, for human life, than for any expensive piece of machinery, no matter how enhanced the machine was. And Justin was more than one of his scientist employees. Justin was his friend, his brother-in-law, and always received special treatment.
They’d also been keeping their eyes out for Oscar, Henry’s miniature antediluvian friend, but hadn’t see it, or any signs of it, either. After spending time with the small dinosaur in Henry’s kitchen the week before, Justin had to admit he was beginning to feel differently about the creature. Henry was right. It did seem, at times, as if Oscar was more human than dinosaur. So he hoped the little guy was safe and still alive somewhere.
Thinking of Oscar reminded him he hadn’t called and updated Henry on the search since he’d left the cabin. He’d been so busy, it had slipped his mind. Working in New York and living a separate existence that usually didn’t include his ex-father-in-law, did that. Distance did that. Henry was no longer the first person Justin thought about when something happened in his life. It was early, soon after dawn, but he knew Henry wouldn’t mind if he called. The man usually got up early. He pulled out his cell phone and gave Henry a quick catch-up call.
“I’m so happy you finally called, Justin,” Henry stated on the other end of the line almost immediately. “We were getting worried.”
“I thought you would be. I’m sorry I haven’t called sooner, but you know how it is dinosaur hunting in the deep woods. One day bleeds into another. There’s so much to do. We get in late, and after something to eat, some conversation with the guys, and calling our wives, we hit the cots. Then start all over again at first light.”
“That’s okay,” Henry said, on the other end of the line.
“And for your next question, no, we haven’t seen anything dinosaur out here. Thank goodness. Nothing. Nada. No more One-Eyes.”
“I pretty much guessed you hadn’t seen or run into anything, or you really would have called me. That’s great news, then.”
“That’s what I think. I believe there’s no second dinosaur, no more dinosaurs, roaming in Crater Lake National Park. We looked everywhere. We’re supposed to have a sit down meeting tonight here at ranger headquarters with Superintendent Pelley and the whole team. I’m pretty sure they’re going to call off the search and reopen the park. I’m going to agree.”
“I’d feel better if you spent more time out there searching.”
“I know, but we’ve looked everywhere and many times, over and over. I think we’re safe. No more killer dinosaurs out here.”
Then Henry inquired, “Have you seen Oscar out there anywhere?”
“No. I’m sorry, I haven’t. No one has seen it that I know of, and I would have been the one they would have told. I put out the word.”
Justin knew that had disappointed Henry, so he’d added, “I’ll ask Chief Collins that even if we halt the searches, to have all his other rangers keep looking out for it, though–looking for a small non-aggressive dinosaur–and let you know if they see it anywhere. Maybe it will show up.”
“Thanks. You’re stopping here before you return to New York, of course?”
“You know I will. I left some of my stuff there, and I want to see you and Ann before I fly home. I should be wrapping this all up here in another day or two. See you then. I’ll call before I drop by.”
“See you soon, then.”
Justin ended the call and rejoined his men, who’d been waiting for him. It was time to send the helicopters into the sky and over the park’s forest. Perhaps one last day of searching for a nonexistent dinosaur. He’d be glad when it was over, and he could go home. He had so many projects at the lab he needed to oversee. His work there had been piling up, and just as importantly, he missed it, his family, and his real life. He and Bridges could fly home, and if Chief Collins needed them to, if more dinosaurs were sighted, they could always fly back.
*****
AT THE END OF THE DAY, over dinner at ranger headquarters, as expected, Justin and his team met with Superintendent Pelley, and they discussed what they should do next. There was little debate about calling off the search. After all, in Justin’s mind, the existence of a second dinosaur was somewhat more of a myth than reality. It was only because Henry believed his little dinosaur friend had been describing a second dinosaur with his miming, that they were even looking for one, were afraid there was one. Henry could have gotten the whole silent conversation wrong.
When Justin had blown up One-Eye that could have been the end of it, and he really hoped that was true. For the park’s sake and for the world’s sake. No one wanted to fight dinosaurs anymore. No one wanted to be bitten, clawed or slaughtered. Good riddance, dinosaurs.
Truth was, before this latest misadventure, Justin had been more than comfortable in New York, with his children and Delores in their luxurious apartment, heading up his division at the Institute and compiling stories and scientific data about all the dinosaurs they’d dealt with the last decade. He’d finally achieved what he’d always dreamed of: recognition, respectability and a prestigious position in the paleontological world. When he published his articles, people read them; when he talked, people all over the world listened. He was proud of himself, but chose to remain humble about all his accolades. A lot of other people had helped him along the way. A lot of people he’d cared about had died helping him.
And, a nagging voice deep in his heart reminded him, he’d achieved his great life without Laura. But that was all right. Memories of his late wife often visited him, but now he could recall her without the heartrending grief. He could remember the good times, and smile.
He’d been happy the last few years–especially without the horrifying experiences of dealing with live dinosaurs. He realized he wanted nothing more than to be in New York again. That was where his life was, he missed it, and this place was his past. It was time to go home.
At the night meeting, they’d come to the unanimous decision to halt the searches, and Superintendent Pelley would notify the military authorities of it. Justin would update the president. Chief Ranger Collins gave his approval of the verdict, and not feeling well, he left, and the men drifted off to one more night in their headquarters cots. They’d disperse in the morning and go their separate ways, the rangers to their scheduled shifts or home, the military to their base, and the scientists to New York. The park would be reopened.
There was only Justin and his friend Bridges conversing at the table before they went to bed themselves.
“Do you,” Bridges pressed him, “believe there was, or is, a second dinosaur?”
“I sure hope to God not, and Henry simply misunderstood what his friendly little dinosaur was trying to tell him. I hope the park is safe. Either way, we’re going home. Two weeks is long enough. But I wager, if you had your way, we’d keep looking for dinosaurs. Didn’t you get enough of that these last ten years, Bridges?”
“Nah. You have to remember, Boss, I was up in Alaska most of that time, working my last job before the Institute and you hired me; on the lookout for any dinosaurs that might have been meandering around. I didn’t see too many dinosaurs up there in the frozen tundra. In fact, I never saw a one, not even in the summer season. Apparently, dinosaurs don’t particularly like continuous subfreezing temperatures. It’s not like here, where you have seasons. Up there, the winter is so much worse, much colder, much longer, than Oregon’s. So, this adventure has been interesting for me. Exciting. I got to see a real live dinosaur in the wild, hunt and kill it. But, you’re wrong, on the other hand, I’m also amendable to flying back to New York. I’ve had enough fun.”
“You’re right, dinosaurs don’t like it when their environment is solid ice. When we were battling them here, the fighting practically vanished in the dead of winter. It gave us a chance, a reprieve, to recuperate and prepare for the next onslaught. Believe me, at times, we needed it.”
The shadows of night had filled the windows and corners of the kitchen. Justin looked around. For him, the room resurrected so many memories, some good, some horrendous, he could barely tolerate sitting in it for long.
“What’s the final plan, Boss? We leaving tomorrow morning?” Bridges asked, standing up. It was late, morning would come soon enough, and everyone needed rest.
Justin yawned. It had been a long day in a long two weeks. “We leave tomorrow morning, after a few things are wrapped up. Paperwork, you know. Superintendent Pelley asked to see me one more time before we leave. And I want to stop by Henry’s again, too. Tell him what’s going on, pick up the stuff I left there, and say goodbye. See what he thinks. I’m telephoning him as soon as you retire to bed, to let him know we’ll be there tomorrow sometime.”
“Old habits die hard, huh? You’re used to getting Henry’s counsel and approval.”
“Not for everything. But when it comes to the park and all things to do with the park, yes. He’s the expert. He was chief ranger here for years, before and during all the dinosaur years. It’s that, and I do still have a smidgeon of doubt if we’re doing the right thing by abandoning the search now, and another viewpoint, besides mine, might help ease my mind.”
“Okay then. Make your call. I’ll see you in the morning, buddy. Good night.” Bridges smiled, and walked out of the room.
*****
WHEN HE WAS ALONE, Justin telephoned Henry. “Did I get you up, old man?”
“You did not. I expected you to call, had a feeling, so after Ann went to bed, I stayed up in case you did. I’ve been dying to know what happened in the park today. So? Did you see any signs of that second dinosaur? Did you see Oscar out there today?”
“First...we didn’t see any traces of any dinosaurs whatsoever, anywhere. Not a glimpse. Either that second dinosaur you fear is out here is really good at avoiding us, hiding, or it never existed. I’d like to believe the latter. That would solve everything.”
“Not one sighting or any other evidence?”
“None,” Justin finished. “As I told you already, we did explore the two caves where we found the shattered eggs. We didn’t find any more eggs or any other caves with eggs, whole or smashed. So, if no other dinosaurs exist, the park should be clear. We had that meeting tonight with the superintendent and the rest of the team. We’re calling it quits. We are going home tomorrow. Of course, Chief Ranger Collins, who was also at the meeting, and his rangers, will keep their eyes open for anything suspicious moving forward, if you know what I mean.”
“He’s not reopening the park yet, is he?”
Justin paused before replying. “He believes it’s fairly safe for him to reopen it, but to be extra cautious, he’s going to have his men continue patrolling, especially the distant territories. If they spot a dinosaur anywhere, anytime, they’ll contact us immediately.”
“Does he, do you, really think reopening the park is wise?”
Justin released a sigh. “As Superintendent Pelley rationalized, they can’t keep the park closed forever without proof there is still a danger. Chief Collins did want to wait and be sure the park is actually dinosaur free, but Pelley overruled him. I sure hope Pelley doesn’t live to regret it, or any of the future visitors to the park will have cause to regret it.”
“Me, too. Before we get off the phone, did you see Oscar out there anywhere today?”
“No. We didn’t run across it, either, or signs of it, and I was looking. We even went to the scene of the crime where you were attacked. A couple of times. Checked the cave again that held its family’s remains and its eggs. No Oscar. Sorry Henry.”
“You know, I think Oscar, after he left here that day, might have made a detour into town to poke around and eavesdrop on the townsfolk before he high-tailed it to the park again.” Henry told him about Oscar possibly being spotted on the fringe of town, and all the outrageous stories circulating about the giant dinosaur people had seen.
“The town’s going crazy, Ann says. Some of the townsfolks are talking about going vigilante and hunting it down.”
Justin was disturbed by the news. “You really think it was Oscar, and the people imagined it as bigger than it was?”
“That, I don’t know. I hope it was only Oscar, and he made it to the park in one piece. I mean, it was an extremely risky thing to do, if it was Oscar, showing himself like that.”
“But,” Justin remarked, “if it wasn’t Oscar...what was it?”
“Exactly. The alternative isn’t good.”
“Well, let’s assume it was Oscar who showed himself on the edge of town. Let’s hope it was, because it means there’s not another dinosaur out there we would have to worry about. You know though, it could explain why none of us ever set eyes on Oscar in the park. It might still be out and about, lollygagging and spying on humans from the woods.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it. He is a curious and brave little fellow. So,” Henry finished, “I should expect you here when?”
“Tomorrow sometime. I have some things to wrap up here at ranger headquarters first, and, then Bridges and I will fly out. We will have to use your yard again as a temporary helipad, if you don’t mind. We’ll be taking the bird straight away to New York after we leave you. See you for lunch maybe? No later than one or two o’clock, I imagine. Maybe Ann will pull out something from her magic freezer to feed us.”
“Or I will. I can take some aluminum-foiled frozen hunk of something or other out of the freezer, unfreeze and heat it up as well as Ann can.” Henry chuckled. “I think there’s half a frozen roast in there I can made sandwiches with.
“By the way, Scott is home for a while. I’ll call him when you get here. I’m sure he’ll want to come over and grill you over your exploits in the park. He’ll be happy to see you.”
“Wow, a reunion. And it’ll be good to see him. It’s been a while.”
“See you tomorrow then, Justin.”
“Tomorrow.”
Justin exited the kitchen and found his hard cot for the night. He was anxious to sleep, wake up and head home. He was more than ready. He’d been away too long from his wife and kids, New York and the Institute. Hunting destructive dinosaurs had already taken enough of his time and his life. Enough already.
*****
THE NEXT MORNING, HENRY woke up extra early, dressed, and clumped out onto the porch to see what the day was like. He inhaled the freezing air and, jacket or no jacket, he found himself shivering. Squinting up into the smudgy sky, he had to accept it was much colder than any day before. It might only be the early days of October, but he could smell more snow in the air. This time it would be a heavier snow than the one a week before, and would probably stay on the ground longer.
He balanced between his crutches, and his eyes scanned the yard and the tree line around it. He had an eerie premonition something was watching, but as hard as he stared at his surroundings, he couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. It must be nerves. Since he’d been hurt, everything made him jumpy, and he often thought someone or something was watching him. Too many years running from and fighting dinosaurs had made him paranoid in that way.
It was too frigid to loiter outside for long, so he pivoted around and reentered the kitchen. He was brewing coffee when Ann entered the room. She was in her nightgown and robe.
“Good morning husband. Wow, you’re already dressed and everything. If it takes company to accomplish that, I’m all for it. I finally have my real husband back. In real clothes and everything. I like it.”
Henry smiled at her over his shoulder. He’d been spending too much time in his pajamas and robe, and Ann had begun to comment on it. But it wasn’t easy getting jeans over his cast, if at all, so Ann had bought him these soft, baggy lounging pants. He called them his clown pants, because that was what he felt like when he was wearing them. Today, he had put them on along with a regular pull-over shirt, when usually he’d be in his sleepwear and robe.
“I feel more like myself every day. Now all I have to do is get this irritating cast off, and I’ll be my old self.” He came to the table, propped his crutches against the counter behind him, and dropped into a chair. Ann knew the drill, and she brought his cup to him. It was hard to carry coffee when on crutches, though he often tried, usually spilling drops across the kitchen floor. “Thanks, honey,” he said.
“Your old self? Not quite, yet closer. Your leg won’t be completely healed instantly out of the cast, you realize. You’ll still have to be careful with it.”
“I know that, but it’ll just be great to have this darn cast off.”
Ann was getting her own cup of coffee. “When did you say the crowd was arriving today?”
“Around one or two o’clock. Something like that. When I called Scott last night after I spoke to Justin, I gave him the same time frame. Of course, I invited Sherman and Dylan, as well.”
Ann sat down beside him. “Of course. Sherman wouldn’t miss a chance to see Justin. She also sticks pretty close to Scott when he’s home.”
“Thing is, I was surprised at how, when Scott heard Justin was coming today how emphatically he insisted he also be invited. He said he had something important to discuss with me and Justin.”
“Hmm, a mystery.” Ann winked at him.
“Ha, Scott’s whole life has been a mystery if you ask me.”
“So true. We’re having a lunch party. I’m in.”
“The more the merrier.” Henry was in a good mood. One-Eye was dead and gone, his leg was healing; Oscar was hopefully–he had his fingers crossed–resettled in the park somewhere, and unharmed, and perhaps would even visit him again one day. And soon, Henry would have some of the old gang at the lunch table with him and Ann. He didn’t think a man could ask for more. After weeks of troubles, he could finally see the light ahead.
“And this will make you a happy wife. I’m going to make lunch for everyone. Sandwiches, with fresh fruit on the side.”
Ann clapped her hands delightedly. “You are truly a wonderful husband.”
“But,” he smiled hopefully, “if you’d be so kind, you can gather ingredients for me and put them on the counter. I could use the help.” He taped one of his crutches. “Crutches, you know?”
“Clever. You offer to make lunch, but you get me to help you.” Ann flashed him a humorous look and patted his arm. “But sure, you know I’ll help.” She glanced at the microwave’s clock. “But right now, the clock says it’s time for me to go get showered and dressed.”
“Clocks don’t say anything.” He joked. “They don’t talk.”
Ann let out a small chuckle. “Ha, ha. I’m just going to go get ready for the day now.”
An hour later, she reentered the kitchen fully dressed, with make-up on, even jewelry. “I’m back.”
“So I see. And looking beautiful, as always. Trying to impress someone, are you?”
Ann smiled and put her arms around him. “Not really. It’s just nice to have company coming for lunch. That’s all.”
“Yeah, it’s like a party.” Henry grinned at her.
“And, as I see it, we do have a lot to party about. You’re getting better every day, and One-Eye is dead. Yippie! Things are looking up.”
“That they are.”
*****
THE SOUND OF THE HELICOPTER sent them both to the door. In the silence after the blades ceased whirling, a car was heard coming up the driveway.
“Looks like everyone’s here,” Ann announced, with a grin on her face, as Justin and Bridges were walking across the yard towards the cabin, and Scott, Sherman and Dylan spilled out of the car and headed for the porch.
Henry was happy to have all of them in his new home at one time. “Well,” he told them as they came onto the porch at the same time, “I guess this is sort of like an official cabin warming party.”
“It’s a party, all right.” Scott stepped forward, gave Ann a hug and nodded at Henry.
“How are you doing today, Henry?” Scott wanted to know, as he indicated the crutches with a motion of his hand.
“Better every day, my friend,” Henry admitted as he led the crowd into the kitchen.
Then introductions were made between Simon Bridges, Scott, Sherman and Dylan.
Sherman lowered Dylan to the floor, and the child ran through the kitchen and into the adjoining room, with Sherman and Ann right behind him.
Taking the moments they were alone, Scott addressed Justin and Bridges, including Henry with a serious glance. “After lunch, the four of us need to have a talk. It’s half the reason I’m here.”
“Oh,” Henry said, “you’re not just here for the roast beef sandwiches then, huh?”
“Sandwiches are good.” Scott’s smile had a grave mien to it. “But I have some serious matters to discuss with Justin. With all three of you.”
“Serious matters, huh?” Justin’s attention had been captured. “You do know Bridges and I blew up One-Eye, as Henry called him? So humanity is safe for now–again. The dinosaur threat is over. Again.”
“I know. That’s great. Henry told me all about it. This is something else.”
The women were back in the kitchen.
“We’ll talk later,” Scott said to the men.
The lunch was made and consumed. Afterwards, the friends sat over coffee and caught each other up on things, as Dylan giggled and ran around the house chasing Sasha, who was now an expert at avoiding the child’s grasping hands. The cat ended up sleeping on the top of a cabinet to evade the small human. Smart kitty.
Scott and Bridges formed an instant bond on so many invisible levels. After a half hour of conversation, they behaved as if they were already old friends. Both adventure junkies, they were wild game hunters, loved poker, liked Scotch, reading and solving mysteries and, most importantly, both were ex-military.
Even Sasha had warmed up to Bridges. She ended up in his lap, purring and kneading his leg. Simon Bridges fit right into their little group.
When Ann and Sherman wandered off to the living room to chat, Dylan napping on the couch, the men were in the kitchen at the table.
Henry had been dying of curiosity throughout lunch, and finally persuaded Scott into spilling everything. “Okay, the women are gone, what was it you needed to speak to Justin about? And am I and Bridges, here, allowed to hear it?”
Scott threw Henry a hard look. “Actually, I need to speak to all three of you. I’ve cleared all of you with my bosses. I can’t even let my wife, ex-military as she is, or Ann for that matter, in on this thing. I’ve had to keep my mouth shut now for almost a year. With Sherman and her sixth sense for government conspiracies, it hasn’t been easy.
“But since you, Henry, have been in the inner circle throughout all the dinosaur crises from the beginning, basically helping to solve them, and you, Justin, and your colleague Bridges are two of the leading paleontologists in the country, it wasn’t hard to get permission for all three of you to be brought into our new discovery. I’ve been working towards that for a long time. And Justin in particular, is pivotal to our investigation going forward.
“So, with saying all that, Justin, you and Bridges will be getting an official invitation by the end of the day. By phone.” His eyes went to Henry. “You as well, Henry. Seems you’re also considered one of the principal authorities on all things dinosaur these days. Though you don’t have to accept the invitation unless you want to. You are retired. It will be your decision. I hope you accept, though.”
“What is this about?” Justin’s attention was now fully engaged.
“It’s about the dinosaurs.”
“The dinosaurs?” Justin seemed baffled. “As far as I know, they’re all dead, except perhaps for Henry’s little friend, Oscar, and, having met it, I don’t think it’s a threat. Henry and I will both vouch for it. If it is still alive. That’s in doubt.”
“No, I don’t think it concerns Oscar and One-Eye, except indirectly. It’s something else.” Scott leaned back in his chair and his eyes went to the window. There was a heaviness of spirit about the man, as if he’d been carrying this problem for a long time and was tired of doing so.
Henry’s gaze also traveled to the window. It had begun to snow. A heavy snow, with thick angry flakes. That hadn’t been on the weather report the night before. Welcome to winter in Oregon.
“Well?” Justin pushed at Scott. “What am I going to be invited to join? You know I have a job and a boss in New York. Bridges and I are heading back there now. Did you see the helicopter parked in Henry’s backyard?”
“I couldn’t miss it,” Scott retorted. “It’s a nice one, too, with bells and whistles new to me, state of the art and a lot better than the one my bosses fly me around in. Maybe you can ask your boss if we can borrow one...if we need it.”
Justin stared at Scott. “Just tell me what you’re here to tell me. The suspense is killing me, and Bridges and I need to get going. New York is waiting.”
Scott’s eyes went to Henry, then Bridges, and ended up on Justin. He released a muffled grunt. “I guess Henry has told you, as an FBI consultant, I’ve been off on a top secret mission this last year or so?”
“He’s mentioned it.”
“Now, what I’m about to tell you all must be kept to yourself. And I trust you not to disappoint me.”
Henry and Justin nodded their heads in agreement.
“Bridges?”
“Of course. Ask Justin. I can keep a secret.”
“All right,” Scott acknowledged. “Let me say what I have to say first, then I’ll answer any questions. Here goes. I’ve been part of this top secret government task force for a while now, almost a year. As one of our cases, we’ve been investigating a strange craft that had crashed years ago in the Egyptian desert. An alien spaceship.”
“Really?” Justin whistled, eyes lighting up. “An alien spaceship?”
“Yes, an alien spaceship.”
“Whoa,” Bridges murmured, shaking his head.
“Were there any aliens found in it?” Henry felt as if he’d just dropped into another Twilight Zone. First, he’d spent a decade in a dinosaur Twilight Zone, and now Scott was telling him there might be an alien one. The whole notion of now an alien scenario, was so disturbing. Wasn’t the world going to get a break? He recaptured a past memory of, while in that cave hunting the first dinosaur, FBI agent Dylan Greer telling them that bizarre alien story about the entire town vanishing. Greer had believed in aliens. A shiver coursed along his skin.
“No aliens. And we searched a radius of five hundred miles around, but found no live, dead or remnants of, any aliens anywhere. They’re still searching. The ship had gone down in a very isolated area. That’s why it took so long to be discovered. There was nothing inside...except dinosaur eggs. Mainly disintegrated, they were no longer viable, and had been in that state for a while.”
“You’re kidding. Dinosaur eggs? What does that have to do with the aliens and their discarded spaceship?” Bridges inquired, fully invested in the conversation by then.
“By other evidence found in the spaceship, it is now believed the aliens had brought the eggs along with them from wherever they had traveled from. Then, a few months ago, another alien ship was unearthed, also abandoned. There were dinosaur eggs in it, too.”
Justin got the connection before the others. “You think the aliens have been seeding our planet with dinosaur eggs...and that is where the dinosaurs originally came from?”
Scott shrugged and spread his hands. “That’s what the military suspects. The spaceships and the egg specimens are at a secret location not far from here, being further studied. There’s a team of military scientists examining the wreckage, but they have requested the top paleontologists in the country to inspect the eggs. I recommended you; knowing you’d be interested in what we’ve found. You’re the best. So those in charge have sent me to ask you to join our team. You, Bridges and Henry. Interested?”
“Oh, I’m interested, Scott,” Justin confessed, leaning towards the man, excitement in his expression, “but I work for my brother-in-law Jeff Smith remember? I head up the Institute on dinosaur studies for him. He’s expecting me and Bridges in New York later today. We’re in the middle of an important assignment at the moment, and it’s already been interrupted for the last two weeks while we were searching for dinosaurs in the park.”
Scott was grinning. “Your boss has already been contacted by my boss, and your boss has agreed to lend you, both of you, to us for as long as we need you and any other of your paleontologists from the Institute you’d like to join you. We can arrange to have them invited as well.
“Mr. Smith also gave his okay for you to borrow that pretty new helicopter outside, and the three of us can fly to where they’re keeping the spaceships and the eggs, whenever you two are ready to go.”
Henry could tell Justin was more than intrigued. Scott had him.
“I’m in, then.” Justin slapped his thigh.
“Me, too,” Bridges seconded, without hesitation. “It sounds like quite an adventure. I’m sure some of the other paleontologists at the Institute will feel the same way and want to join us. After all, it does tie in with our research. We’ve always wanted to know the origin of the dinosaurs, and possibly here it is falling right into our lap.”
Henry was still attempting to get his head around crashed alien spaceships and alien planet seeding, but suddenly felt the weight of being on the outside, being left out. This was an adventure he wouldn’t be part of. Oh, how he wanted to fly off with Justin and the others, but knew that was not to be. He laid his hand on his cast. He’d promised Ann he wasn’t going anywhere anymore, not without her. No, that part of his life was behind him. Leave solving the dinosaur mysteries to the ones still working on them. No one he cared about or loved was in danger, and that would be the only reason he’d go into the fight again. He couldn’t break that promise to Ann.
“I can’t go with you,” Henry confessed to Scott. “I wish I could, but after that last unfortunate dinosaur safari when this happened,” he lightly touched the cast with his fingers, “I promised Ann I was done. No more dinosaur hunts, no more anything to do with dinosaurs. I was staying home for good. So, as much as I’d like to, I’m not going with you all. Sorry.”
“I was afraid of that,” Scott said. “But I understand. I’m married, myself. A promise is a promise. My bosses will just be pleased if I recruit Justin and his scientists for now.”
“But maybe you can keep me apprised on what you learn. I’d appreciate that.”
“If I’m allowed to, I will. There’s a high level of secrecy around the investigation, and unless you are part of it, I’m not supposed to share information. Not anymore than I already have when I offered you the invitation, anyway. Going forward, I’m not sure.” But a sly smile said otherwise. Henry knew he’d find out about everything sooner or later.
The men finished their talk, and Scott drove his wife and son home. Ann followed in her car to drive him back to the house to catch a ride on Justin’s helicopter. Scott had already packed for the trip, and had stashed his suitcase in the car.
When Scott returned, he flew off in the helicopter with Bridges and Justin.
Henry stood on the porch and watched the bird lift off and fly away into the snowy day, wishing them luck and still feeling left behind, then he reentered his house.
The snow became heavier by afternoon, and for the next week Henry and Ann were stuck inside until it began to melt. But that was all right with them. They cherished gazing out at the white world, and knowing they were safe and warm within the walls of their home.