The Flock Part 13

"Depends on what's on here," she said. "But even if it's some complicated graphics it'll only take a minute or so." While the machine whirred and purred, Kate turned in her swivel chair and looked up at Ron. There was an expression of concern on her face. She reached up and gently brushed his chin with the tips of her fingers. "Are you okay?"

Ron rubbed his lips and drew his hand away. "Oh, sure. One of the guys slapped me a couple of times. Once to get my attention after one of them suckered me with the proverbial blunt instrument." He reached back and touched the swollen flesh on the back of his neck. Kate winced as he did so. "And again when I didn't react to his question fast enough."

"But don't let that fool you," Mary said. "He was getting ready to sing."

"The Barber of Seville, if he'd asked me to," Ron admitted.

Kate smiled and chuckled lightly. "You guys are a couple of jokers. Been pals a long time, have you?"

"Entirely too long," Mary said. Which made Kate laugh aloud, and Ron wince.

"Just pals?" Kate added the question; it exploded like a landmine underfoot.

Before Mary could react, Ron said, "Just pals." Mary said nothing, but Ron could see the muscles of her jaws tensing.

"Well," Kate said. The computer had ceased to purr and hum, and had beeped at them briefly, getting their attention even over their shared unease. "Looks like the files are all downloaded." Her hands played over the keyboard, and soon she was pointing the mouse hither, thither, and yon.

"What is it?" Mary asked.

"Well, it's just as Ron thought. Photographs. These are the contents of a digital camera. Good one. Fast, with lots of memory."

"Much there?"

"Sixteen files, Ron." She was poking the little arrow and clicking.

"Can we see them? I want to see what got Dodd killed," Ron said.

"So do I. So," she pointed and clicked again. "Let's see what we shall see."

The screen then began to slowly fill with an image, line by line. The photo grew smoothly, in grainy colors, as the file uploaded to the video terminal. Soon, they were seeing the green in the center of Salutations, what appeared to be a turtle crossing the sidewalk and moving toward the cla.s.sically constructed bandstand. "What the h.e.l.l," Mary uttered. "A tortoise?"

"Good eye," Kate admitted. "Gopher tortoise. A big one, too. Probably pushed out of its home by someone building a house over its burrowing ground. Salutations is displacing all kinds of animal populations. You'd be surprised at the things we're doc.u.menting."

"What do you mean?" Mary asked. "Most of that place was a military base for sixty years or more."

"Longer than that," she said, bringing up the next image, this one an alligator in a drainage ditch. "But the base was pretty compact. Most of the construction was very limited. Not much of a human population was here after about 1950, and before that it wasn't much to talk about and they were packed in here in some old Quonset type barracks. But now the studio boys are really creating some urban sprawl out here. They shouldn't be allowed to, but they are. Government's working hand in hand with them," she added. Once more Ron did an inward wince.

"Look," Mary offered. "Why don't you skip ahead a few pictures? Whatever got him in trouble was probably later on."

"Good thinking," Ron admitted. "Try that, Kate. Let's see what's on the ninth or tenth shot."

"Will do," she said. And soon they were looking at what appeared to be a hastily taken shot of bear gra.s.s and palmettos.

"Nothing there," Kate said.

But Mary's dark index finger was jotting at the screen, actually touching it. The terminal s.h.i.+vered each time she poked. "No. Look there. What's that? At the bottom. There There."

"What the h.e.l.l," Ron said.

Kate froze. And even Mary, who was not watching her every move, as Ron was, noticed.

"Seen that before?" Mary asked.

Kate was silent. All three of them peered close, leaning into the screen, looking at what appeared to be a scaly, three-toed foot of reptilian origin. "What the h.e.l.l is it?" Ron asked.

"Look. Let's see the next one," Mary insisted. Kate just continued to stare at the screen, and only slowly complied with the command. Once again they were waiting as the terminal filled with image, line by line.

This time, they were all stunned by what they were seeing. Ron's mouth opened in amazement. Mary squinted, not believing what she was seeing. Kate sat stony-faced, quiet, almost in a kind of silent anger.

"It's a trick," Mary said.

"It's a dinosaur," Ron said. Then, his mind locked on the same track: "It's a dinosaur. dinosaur."

"Can't be, be," Niccols again insisted. "It's some kind of computer graphics, I'm telling you."

Finally, Kate stirred. She shoved back violently, pus.h.i.+ng both Mary and Ron out of her way. They parted for her as she rolled to a halt beyond them, her eyes fiery with anger. Despite what was on the screen, they turned to look at the woman, her attractive face a bit frightening with the rage seething just beneath the surface.

"It's no trick," she said hoa.r.s.ely. "It's the real thing."

Ron and Mary looked at one another, back at the screen, back to Kate.

"You knew about this?" they asked, almost in unison.

"We knew about it," she said. "And now those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds at Berg Brothers know, too. And apparently they're willing to kill over it."

"Grief," Mary said.

"Grief says it pretty well, indeed." Kate was nodding solemnly.

Chapter Twenty-Five.

Out in the shelter of the trees and the savanna, the Flock was bedding down for the day. Only the youngsters and the smallest chicks still stirred in the growing light. Soon, even those would have to cease their youthful fidgeting. It couldn't be allowed, especially on a day with a cloudless sky. The huge golden eye would be staring down at them for a long stretch, and they all knew what could happen if it spied upon you. The Flock had learned well over the generations. There were none in the forests as adept at hiding as they. There were things they could do that were unimaginable to the Man from whom they hid. They had quite a collection of tricks.

Soon, all movement ceased. Even respiration went into a lower gear. The Flock rested, a few remaining alert to taste the wind, eyes wide to watch for even the slightest sign of danger.

Walks Backward had chosen his mate. The female would be his, would bear his his clutch after he had gained control of the unit. Indeed, he had already stolen a secret moment and begun a courting dance with her. She would not sing of it. Not until the battle between himself and Egg Father had been fought and he had emerged victorious. And even if he lost, she must sing a tune of lamentation, for which she would be killed, of course. But Walks Backward would not lose. clutch after he had gained control of the unit. Indeed, he had already stolen a secret moment and begun a courting dance with her. She would not sing of it. Not until the battle between himself and Egg Father had been fought and he had emerged victorious. And even if he lost, she must sing a tune of lamentation, for which she would be killed, of course. But Walks Backward would not lose.

What had set him off was the latest appearance of the Scarlet. The rogue had come into the meal circle after the latest hunt and had stolen a great deal of flesh, taking it for himself. Nothing had been done to prevent it, and nothing had been done after the thievery. And then, some hours later, during the bedding in the early glow of dawn, once more the foolish one had rushed among them; he had tried to cull out one of the young females-one not yet even old enough to lay. It was obvious what he was doing, to all and to himself. Only the intervention of the Egg Mother had prevented the huge rebel from taking the female away with him.

She had rushed at him, and the Scarlet, confused at the belligerency of his own mother, had turned and run back into the forests. And his voice had been raised high enough for any creature to hear. Even men.

After that, the Flock had hunkered down for the day, letting sedges and branches and leaves cover them, their own silence and camouflaging doing the rest. It was after that moment that Walks Backward had come to the conclusion he had known he must reach. The Flock would soon become his complete responsibility. There would be a new Walks Backward to watch the rear and hide the sign. And he would take over as Egg Father. His name would change. He wanted to sing his new name, but realized that must wait. When night came, after they had rested hidden all the day, he would sing his song of challenge.

And, later, he would sing another song. One that would doom the Scarlet and save them all. He only hoped there was time.

Chapter Twenty-Six.

Levin was furious. Not at being called suddenly back from what he had hoped was going to be a rewarding stay in the bush, but at the outside discovery of their carefully guarded secrets. He was dangerously close to losing control of his emotions.

"This is crazy, Kate. Why the h.e.l.l h.e.l.l did you let them know?" On a hunch, after he and his companion had parted company with Holcomb, he'd radioed back to the compound. Kate had told him to come back, to bring Vance, if possible. But Vance was long gone and maintaining radio silence, as he almost always did in the backcountry. did you let them know?" On a hunch, after he and his companion had parted company with Holcomb, he'd radioed back to the compound. Kate had told him to come back, to bring Vance, if possible. But Vance was long gone and maintaining radio silence, as he almost always did in the backcountry.

Ron and Mary were there, standing quietly while the biologist pointed at them from across the lab, where they had all gathered. Mary was not amused at Levin's anger and was not going to sit still and be docile for long. Ron, by contrast, remained stunned by what they had so far discovered, and was confused as to how he should act or where he should next proceed. In addition to finding that the wilderness that had formerly been a bombing range was the last redoubt for a species of predatory ground birds, he was also concerned over any laws he had broken concerning his contact with the dead reporter. In fact, he was only barely aware of the screaming tech.

"I didn't didn't let let them find out them find out anything anything. They found it out independently of me, me, you sanctimonious you sanctimonious b.a.s.t.a.r.d b.a.s.t.a.r.d." Kate was easily as angry as her fellow employee and her color was rising, her face flushed with anger and her eyes like frozen jots of ice. "What was I supposed to do? Kill them? Kill them?"

That seemed to stun Levin for a second, and it looked to Riggs as if the man was actually considering it as a viable alternative. He did respond, though. "But you didn't have to confirm confirm what they were seeing. Those photos could have been what they were seeing. Those photos could have been faked, faked, for G.o.d's sake. That's all they had to know." In fact, Levin was almost in tears. His chest hitched with every other breath, and Ron had figured it was only his anger that had so far kept the man from breaking down and crying like a heartbroken fool. for G.o.d's sake. That's all they had to know." In fact, Levin was almost in tears. His chest hitched with every other breath, and Ron had figured it was only his anger that had so far kept the man from breaking down and crying like a heartbroken fool.

"It's too late for that kind of thing, Adam. We can't keep it a secret any more. Ron and Niccols know about the Flock, now. Dodd apparently knew about it, and I strongly, strongly suspect that Berg Brothers know about them, too."

Mary, listening, spoke up. "Did you say flock? flock? There are more than one of these things?" There are more than one of these things?"

Levin stared at him, his face blank with what remained of his rage, the panic and shock just beginning to rise. Kate rubbed a thin-fingered hand across her brow, wiping sweat and her auburn hair out of the way.

"Yes," Kate admitted. "There's a flock of them out there. We're not sure just how many. But maybe twenty or so. That we know of. Could be more."

"More?" Ron squeaked.

"Holcomb even thinks there are more than one flock. At least two, he thinks. Again...maybe more. There's almost half a million untouched acres of woods, swamps, and savanna out there." She waved a long arm in the general direction of the wilderness.

"Jesus," Ron swore. "How...how can things like this exist with no one knowing about them? How? How?"

Levin backed up a few steps and collapsed into a wheeled office chair that he seemed to have detected behind him with some sort of radar. He was wearing a blue flannel s.h.i.+rt, jeans, boots. He'd been out in the field when Kate had contacted him via radio. Each of the ATVs was equipped with the communications systems, for emergencies. This, Kate had deemed a dire emergency. Levin and his fellow crewmember, a very quiet j.a.panese ornithologist introduced to them merely as Kamaguchi had returned quickly. So far, there was still no sign of Holcomb. Apparently, Holcomb and the four employees now at the compound were the only people who were in on the discovery.

Kate walked over to a desk and grabbed a chair for herself and sat back, relaxing. Briefly, she buried her face in her hands, then looked toward Ron. He saw, for the first time, that she was already in tears. Moisture streaked her cheeks. "This place has been, for all intents and purposes, a wilderness area for the last seventy years, Ron. You know that. These birds apparently have been living here all along, hiding hiding."

"Hiding," Mary yelled. Her strong arms went up. "You can't hide hide something that big. How big something that big. How big is is that thing, anyway?" She stood there, shoulders squared, facing the seated figures of Kate and Adam. that thing, anyway?" She stood there, shoulders squared, facing the seated figures of Kate and Adam.

"That one was Big Red," Adam muttered. "We've estimated he stands about ten feet. Weighs around nine hundred, maybe a thousand pounds. But he's the biggest. Most of the other adults are no more than eight feet tall, maybe six hundred pounds. Chicks and young are much smaller, but we don't know since we've only gotten a glimpse or two at the young."

"You can't hide hide anything that big. I know what I'm talking about," Mary insisted. "Nothing that big can live in these woods and not be discovered by men. anything that big. I know what I'm talking about," Mary insisted. "Nothing that big can live in these woods and not be discovered by men. Nothing Nothing."

"You're wrong," Kate told her. "In the past twenty years, man has revealed the existence of a number of large mammals. A while back, an unidentified species of peccary was found in South America. Just five years ago we discovered a new type of deer living in the rain forests of Vietnam. It's rare, but it happens."

"But we're not talking about South America, South America, and this isn't some rain forest in Vietnam," Mary yelled. "This is Florida, one of the most populous states in the east. Drive an hour and a half north of here and you're in Orlando with about ten jillion people. This ain't the same thing!" and this isn't some rain forest in Vietnam," Mary yelled. "This is Florida, one of the most populous states in the east. Drive an hour and a half north of here and you're in Orlando with about ten jillion people. This ain't the same thing!"

"You weren't listening to us," Kate said. There was a barely perceptible expression of arrogance tilting her lips. "I said they were hiding hiding. You get me?"

Slowly, Ron stirred and retrieved a chair for himself. He rolled it across the tiled floor until he was sitting a few feet in front of Levin and Kate. "What are you saying, Kate? That these things can think?"

"Yes."

Ron turned to look into Mary's face, and then he was talking to Kate again. "So. They've always lived here, since even before this place became a military base, and they hide hide from us. You're saying they think. Plan." He paused. "Right?" from us. You're saying they think. Plan." He paused. "Right?"

"Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying."

Ron looked Adam directly in the eye. "Are these things something Holcomb bio-engineered? Because if they are, I want to know right this minute minute. At least one person has been killed killed over this, and someone was going to put me six feet under because of it, and I want a straight answer. Right now, G.o.ddammit." over this, and someone was going to put me six feet under because of it, and I want a straight answer. Right now, G.o.ddammit."

Levin drew in a breath and sat up. "No. They aren't bio-engineered bio-engineered. You've been reading too many science fiction books. That's just in the movies and the ess eff mags, pal."

Mary stepped up, finally grabbed a chair of her own and straddled it; pus.h.i.+ng off and rolling up until she was level with Ron, facing the other two. She didn't know where the quiet Mr. Kamaguchi was, but she was beginning to be worried about it. "I've heard about this kind of thing. I once saw a show where that paleontologist...whatsisname...the one who wears a cowboy hat..."

"Bakker," Kate said. "Robert Bakker." She followed that with a definite sneer.

"Yeah. That's him. I saw him talk about how you could take the DNA of a hornbill and mess with it. Tell it to turn off the feathers, turn on teeth, make a tail. Then you'd have one of those raptor dinosaurs. Maybe you guys did something like that. Huh?" She was looking at Ron, for support.

"That kind of stuff is fairy tales, fairy tales," Adam screamed. He went rod straight in his seat. "These creatures have survived here on the last remaining expanse of savanna on the Gulf Coast. The last expanse of any importance, anyway. They know know what they're doing. They hide from us. They've been doing it probably since the first Indians came down from the north fifteen thousand years ago." what they're doing. They hide from us. They've been doing it probably since the first Indians came down from the north fifteen thousand years ago."

"How can you know that?" Ron asked.

Kate rubbed her hands across her face, through her hair, as if taking all of the tension from herself and pus.h.i.+ng it away. "We've been studying them," she said. "We've seen them do do things. Things that only a sentient, thinking creature could do." things. Things that only a sentient, thinking creature could do."

"Such as?" Ron asked.

"Such as detecting our video monitors and cutting the power supplies to them. Such as locating hidden cameras and stealing stealing them. Things such as altering their hunting patterns and movements to avoid us. We've only logged maybe six hours of actual sightings in the last four years of intensive observations. They leave absolutely no sign of their pa.s.sing. Apparently, the flock has at least one member whose them. Things such as altering their hunting patterns and movements to avoid us. We've only logged maybe six hours of actual sightings in the last four years of intensive observations. They leave absolutely no sign of their pa.s.sing. Apparently, the flock has at least one member whose job job it is to hide all sign of their presence." it is to hide all sign of their presence."

"Hide sign?" Mary looked at her, the question painting her face with a frown.

"We think he picks up feathers, bones, that kind of thing. We think he scratches out their tracks, covers fecal matter, and consumes leftover prey. Things like that."

"Give me a break," Ron said.

"It's true," Levin told him. "We've got tape of the flock moving through the edge of a savanna about four miles north of here. They move almost as a single unit. Adults in the front, along the periphery, with young in the center. And behind them is this large individual, walking backwards walking backwards and scratching in the gra.s.s, running from one side to the next. We got about ten minutes that time, with a night vision camera. But the one who walks backward found it, found the camera. Tore right into it. Cut through the cables like they were made of b.u.t.ter." and scratching in the gra.s.s, running from one side to the next. We got about ten minutes that time, with a night vision camera. But the one who walks backward found it, found the camera. Tore right into it. Cut through the cables like they were made of b.u.t.ter."

Ron and Mary stared at one another.

"What? What?" Adam repeated. "You guys know something we should know?"

"Yeah," Ron told him. "One of the dogs missing from Salutations. We found some remains. A paw and a chain, just like I told Kate. The chain looked like it had been cut right through. Same with the dog's paw. We figured some kind of saw."

"Their beaks are adapted for slicing," Adam said. "They're very narrow. In place of slicing teeth, they've gone with large beaks that are slimmed down like a pair of razor knives, one sliding inside the other. We estimate a pressure of eight, maybe nine thousand pounds per square inch, all along a pair of edges maybe one hundredth of a millimeter wide on the surface area. You can imagine the cutting power."

"Why haven't they done this kind of thing before?" Mary asked. "If they've always been here in Florida, and they like to eat dogs, then why haven't we known about them?"

"We think one of them is a rogue," Kate told him. "We think the big one, the one in Dodd's photos, is a rogue. Disrupting the flock. It's the only explanation. In fact, it's been our latest project to trap it."

"Trap it," Ron repeated. "How were you going to do that?" it," Ron repeated. "How were you going to do that?"