Jurassic Park^TM III Novelization Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Spinosaurus aegypticus.”
    “I don’t remember that on InGen’s list,” Billy said.
    “That’s because it wasn’t on their list,” Alan said. “Who knows what else they were up to?”
    Alan and Billy watched Paul suspiciously as the man struggled with his backpack like an amateur.
    “So, Mr. Kirby, tell me,” Billy said. “When you climbed K2, did you base-camp at twenty-five or thirty thousand feet?”
    “Thirty thousand, I think,” Paul said. “Closer to the top.”
    “About a thousand feet above it, actually,” Billy said as he moved closer to the man. “Most mountain climbers remember how tall the mountains were.”
    Paul couldn’t hide his guilty expression.
    “There is no Kirby Enterprises, is there?” Alan asked.
    “There is,” Paul said quickly. “I own a place called Kirby Paint and Tile Plus. We’re out in the Westgate Shopping Center in Enid, Oklahoma.”
    Billy shook his head. “I don’t suppose that check you wrote us is any good.”
    Udesky’s gaze narrowed. “He paid
us
half up front. Cash.”
    “Mortgaged everything I had to do it,” Paul said. “Even the store. And if we make it off this island with my son, I swear I’ll make good on the money I owe you. I don’t care if it takes me the rest of my life.”
    Alan and the mercenary exchanged an unhappy glance.
    “However long that is,” Udesky said.
    As Alan led the group through the jungle, a shimmering spot of color in the trees caught his eye.
    A parasail chute!
    Alan allowed Udesky and Billy to climb up and investigate. They found a young adult life vest—and an adult skeleton.
    “Ben,” Amanda said quietly.
    They found Ben’s camcorder, but the footage didn’t offer any clues to the mystery of what had happened to Eric—or Ben.
    “Take the chute,” Alan said. “We can use it to signal a plane from the coast.”
    Tears welled in Amanda’s eyes. “No! Our baby’s out there,” she said. “He’s out there and we’ve got to find him!”
    She ran into the jungle. Paul and Udesky went after her.
    Alan looked to Billy. “You know there’s no chance. Logically, that is.”
    “Hey, don’t go accusing me of being logical,” Billy said as he finished putting the parasail into his backpack.
    Alan nodded and followed the others, Billy at his side.
    They found Amanda, Paul, and Udesky gathered around a large dinosaur nest. Within the nest, Alan saw twelve large eggs laid in a spiral.
    He identified the species in a horrified instant.
    “Raptors,” Alan said.

CHAPTER 6
    A LAN BLASTED THROUGH THE FOREST , the rest of his party struggling to keep up with him. He knew they could not slow down.
    “What’s a raptor?” Amanda asked.
    “They’re not that big,” Udesky said. “Nothing like that thing with the sail.”
    “If we come across one, we
might
live,” Alan said.
    Paul looked relieved. “Well, that’s good.”
    “But you never come across just one,” Alan pointed out.
    Amanda stopped suddenly. “Where’s Billy?”
    Studying the trees around them, Alan looked for some sign of his assistant. Raptors could take down their prey quietly and all too efficiently.
    “Billy!” Alan cried automatically. “Billy!”
    “I thought we weren’t supposed to yell,” whispered Amanda.
    “Here!”
    A few branches rustled and Billy appeared.
    “I got some great pictures of the nest,” Billy said excitedly. “This
proves
raptors raised their young in colonies! This speaks to a larger social structure—”
    Alan cut him off. “This is
not
the time to have a paleontological discussion about the social patterns of raptors!”
    “But I thought we might collaborate on a paper—” Billy said.
    “Right, the first rule of academics,” said Alan in disgust. “Publish . . . or
perish.”
    Turning away in fury, Alan hoped his assistant got the message.
    Hours later, the party came across the outer reaches of the vast InGen compound. No raptors had appeared. It seemed they were safe—for the moment.
    The