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and began to crawl toward the sound. The cold mud she was crawling through
turned to warm sand. She looked around, and the darkness was gone. She could
see snowcapped mountains towering over a bright green forest. Near the
forest s edge was a wooden cabin, and Joe and Rick stepped out of it. Con
waved to them, but she did not want to rise from the sand it was too
pleasantly warm to leave. Instead, she lay down and waited for them to come to
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her. Instantly, Rick was lying beside her. He was crying and whispering at the
same time. Over and over he repeated the same word.
Con opened her eyes, but there was nothing to see. The warm sand became skin
pressed against her bare back, her bare legs, and her bare chest. Arms wrapped
around her and legs pressed against hers.
Fabric was piled over her. Her head rested on something soft, and a stubbly
cheek touched hers.
Someone was breathing in her ear and softly whispering her name.
Rick? Joe?
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Con heard Rick s quiet voice next to her ear. We re here. We found you.
What . . . what are you doing?
Sharing body heat, he said. You re suffering from hypothermia.
I feel warmer now. I thought it was a dream.
It s no dream, thank God, said Joe.
So I m not dead?
No . . . no you re not, said Rick.
Rick s voice sounded far away. Con felt warm wetness on her cheeks. She
wondered, Whose tears are those?
She was too groggy to decide. The sound of waves returned, and soon they
lulled her to sleep.
28
WHEN CON AWOKE
in the meager light of day, she was confused. She was wearing clothes, and
they were dry. There were socks on her feet, a sweatshirt warmed her torso,
and long pants covered her legs. She lay beneath blankets and was covered by a
poncho. She could also feel someone nestled against her back. She looked at
the arm around her waist.
Rick?
Yes.
I m clothed. I thought I was . . .
That was only to warm you up, said Rick quickly and awkwardly.
Where did you get dry clothes? Where s Joe? How s the plane? Is there
anything to eat?
Rick laughed. You sure wake up fast!
Will you answer my questions!
All right. The clothes were dried the hard way body heat under a poncho.
Joe s out hunting. We ve got some leftovers from last night.
And the plane! Tell me about the plane!
Rick hesitated before saying, Gone without a trace.
The news hit Con like a blow. Are you sure?
We re sure.
Oh, said Con softly, and she began to cry.
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Rick held her until she stifled her sobs. When I was alone, said Con,
thinking about our cabin kept me going. I wanted to be there so much.
Don t give up hope. We ll get through this yet.
How? asked Con. The doubt in her voice was plain.
You want to eat something? We can discuss my plan when Joe returns.
A hint of a smile crept onto her face. You know me too well, she said. Want
to shut me up? Put food in my mouth.
I wasn t trying to do that.
Why not? It works.
Con turned to look at Rick s face in the dim light that filtered through the
poncho. It was dirty, unshaven, and haggard, but his loving expression made it
beautiful to her. She was reminded of the gaze he had on the beach, when he
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believed they were doomed. Although his look brought her joy, it also gave
birth to a disturbing thought
Maybe he still thinks we re doomed.
EVER SINCE CON
had been found, Rick had turned his thoughts to their dire situation. Until
her rescue, his plans for the future had not extended beyond putting her to
rest. If that sad duty was not to be merely postponed, he knew he must come up
with a strategy for survival. He had spent much of the night weighing
unpromising alternatives, before choosing one he had previously rejected. It
was a desperate plan, if it could be called a plan at all. It was more of a
gamble, and a long shot at that.
I m truly the guide now, Rick thought.
Joe and Con will expect me to show the way.
He realized that, despite their precarious circumstances, he must exude
confidence. That knowledge burdened him, for as a scientist he dealt in
probabilities, not certainties. The course he would propose was a calculated
risk at best. Yet, as the guide, he would have to keep his doubts to himself.
He was aware that a positive attitude enhanced the chances for survival. In
facing the times ahead, a sense of hope would be crucial.
Rick resolved to instill one in Con and Joe as he struggled to foster one in
himself.
As Con ate leftover nightstalker, Rick mentally rehearsed what he would say.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps from outside the
poncho, followed by a thud. A cheerful voice called out. Joe s Bed and
Breakfast. I hope my guests are decent.
Con threw off the poncho. Joe! she said joyfully.
Joe was standing, wrapped in the Tyrannosaur hide, with a dead nightstalker at
his feet. You get under that poncho, young lady. You weren t easy to warm
up.
Con complied, and Joe crawled beneath the poncho to join her and Rick. She
immediately threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. You re all
damp! she said.
That dinosaur skin is a better fashion statement than it is a raincoat, said
Joe with a grin. He looked at the bone Con had been gnawing. You re not going
to spoil your breakfast, are you? I ve prepared
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something special.
What?
Nightstalker à la Joe. It s served very rare.
You shouldn t.
I know, said Joe, but since the bastard ate you out of house and home, it
seemed only fitting.
Con laughed, and her laughter brought happiness to Joe s face. Rick s going
to tell me all about your plans, she said.
Plans? said Joe, giving Rick a puzzled look. Plans are good. Let s hear
them, Rick.
First, we need to set up a temporary camp. Someplace out of the rain.
That sound s fine, said Joe. But why temporary?
I see it as a base to hunt and build up our food supplies and our strength.
As long as there s carrion, there ll be nightstalkers for food.
Oh goody, said Joe.
Don t complain, said Con. You should try what I had.
I ve seen that carcass, said Joe. I can t believe you ate that thing.
Remember, I was sleeping under it, replied Con. I got used to the smell.
We could do a lot worse than eat nightstalker, said Rick.
You still haven t answered my question, said Joe. Why a temporary camp?
Soon as the weather clears, we ll head out, said Rick.
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