te might be。 Four cars were parked in a level area at the end of the road by the administrative building； and Emmett decided to start there。
They parked in the lot and then dressed more warmly。 Car…roilee's red checked； sweater would only be adequate for a short walk in this kind of weather。 When they opened the doors the cold dry air immediately sucked out moisture and warmth。 Carrollee led the way； trotting to the building and bursting through the door。 Inside they found chairs and tables making up a rudimentary lounge。 It was empty； but music drifted down the hall； then a man came toward them； tall and slender； balding； with glasses pushed up on his forehead。 He paused when he saw the visitors； staring at Carrollee； amused。
〃We're here to see Dr。 LaSalle。〃
〃I'll tell her you're here。〃 The man continued to survey Carrollee； but with another amused glance he turned and walked back down the hall。 While they waited； Carrollee wandered around； picking up astronomy journals and leafing through them。 Suddenly the door opened。
Bridgette was as beautiful and sexy as Emmett remembered her。 She was wearing what must have been designer overalls； baby blue and trimmed in white。 Her matching jacket was trimmed in what looked to be needlepoint。 She was as color coordinated as Carrollee； but more understated。 Bridgette would draw attention； Carrollee screamed for it。 Bridgette's figure pushed and pulled at the fabric in ways that made Emmett's body long for their old days together。
When the look on her face said she had none of those old feelings left for Emmett； his lustful reminiscence evaporated。 Then Bridgette turned to look at Carrollee； eyeing her from the big bow on her head to her matching red socks。
〃Qui est…ce que cela pourrait…etre； Emmett？ Elle reassemble a Minnie Mouse。〃
Emmett wanted to laugh； but bit his lip。 He had to admit that Carrollee did look like Minnie Mouse； with the short brown hair； and the red checked outfit topped with a big checked bow。 You wouldn't have to know any French to pick out the reference to Minnie Mouse。 Carrollee's face was red； but with anger； not embarrassment。 You couldn't dress like Carrollee and be easily embarrassed。 Emmett held his breath when Carrollee's mouth opened。
〃It's so nice to meet you； Dr。 LaSalle； I've heard a lot about you from Emmett。 He said you were so 。 。 。 well 。 。 。 easy 。 。 。〃
Emmett waited for Carrollee to add 〃to get to know〃 but she just let her unfinished sentence hang in the air。 Bridgette bristled； but rushed on； as if she had not understood。
〃How did you get Dr。 Paulson to go along with this？ If he hadn't called I never would have consented to 。 。 。 this 。 。 。 abominable waste。〃
〃It was Dr。 Paulson's idea to confirm…〃
〃It doesn't matter whose idea it was； it is a waste of resources。 e here； I want to show you something。〃
Bridgette turned and walked outside。 Emmett turned to follow； catching Carrollee's eyes。
〃Minnie Mouse！ Everyone knows Minnie wears only polka dots and never checks！〃 Carrollee snorted。 〃Warm； isn't she？〃 she continued。 〃She must have been awfully good in bed for you to put up with that kind of crap。〃
Emmett didn't answer。 He just followed Carrollee out the door。
〃Look over there；〃 Bridgette was saying； pointing to a dome set apart from the others； a road curving up to its rectangular base。 〃That's NASA's IRTF。 Infrared telescope；〃 she translated； looking directly at Carrollee。 〃The only single…mirror infrared telescope bigger than NASA's is right there；〃 she said； pointing to another dome that blended smoothly into its base。 〃And over there；〃 she continued； 〃is the seventh largest optical telescope in the world。 And do you know what this telescope is doing right now？〃
〃Taking pictures of the moon？〃 Carrollee offered。
〃That's right；〃 Bridgette said patronizingly； turning to face Carrollee。
〃It's not my idea；〃 Carrollee said defensively。 〃I just came along to keep Emmett pany。 If I had my way I'd be taking pictures of Pluto。〃
Clearly Carrollee was referring to Bridgette's ments about Minnie Mouse。 But Bridgette continued coolly；
〃There are many things in the sky more worthy of an instrument of this power。 I would have refused Paulson's request outright if we hadn't had some cancellations。〃
〃Cancellations？〃 Emmett prompted。
〃Well； no shows actually。 We have some gaps in our observation rotation； and we've had trouble contacting those on the waiting list。〃
Use of the facilities was highly petitive； and not showing up was unheard of。 Emmett understood why there were gaps in Bridgette's schedule； but obviously Bridgette was uninformed about what had happened to the world below her。 He decided not to tell her。 He wanted his photographs。
〃You said the photographic survey has already begun？ Do you need any help？〃
〃We don't need help。 If you want the plates developed and printed it will take another hour and a half。〃
Emmett decided it was worth the wait。 He wasn't sure he could get the developing done at the university； given the situation。
Two hours later they were traveling down off the volcano with a sheaf of photos。 Carrollee drove while Emmett shuffled through them futilely； looking for some obvious change。
〃I just don't know enough about moon topography to do a good job on this；〃 he said finally。 〃Besides； I'm getting car sick。〃
〃Emmy not take his Dramamine？〃 Carrollee said in a babyish voice and clucked her tongue。 〃Just what are you looking for； anyway？〃
〃Something different。 Some kind of change。 Something that would support my model。 Dr。 Paulson wasn't very specific。〃
〃Maybe you could ask someone to help you？〃 Carrollee suggested。
〃I suppose you will be busy with your babies。〃
〃Nothing to do now but wait。 I don't enjoy staring at sand。〃
Emmett knew Carrollee was as hooked as he was on the project。 But she wanted to know he wanted her help。
〃Carrollee； would you help me examine the photos？〃 Emmett asked it politely and seriously； although it came out sounding a little forced。
Carrollee stifled a smile and then said； 〃Oui。〃
53。 MODERN DEATH
tt wasn't the wheel that gave man dominance over other species； nor any other implement； save one； the weapon。
…Sir John Hammond； A Philosophy of History； 1872
Warm Springs Indian Reservation； Oregon
POSTQUILT： TUESDAY； 10：30 P。M。 PST
Colter's survival instinct barely saved him from drowning。 Already physically exhausted； he dove repeatedly； searching for any sign of Petra； but when he found none； he finally splashed to shore and collapsed。 He meant to rest briefly and then search again for Petra； but his good intentions faded with his consciousness。 While his body struggled to renew itself； he was near atose。 Badly chilled and without food to replenish his resources； he woke to find himself still near exhaustion。
It was nearly too much for him。 The loss of Ernie and Mrs。 Wayne scarcely crossed his mind because he hadn't witnessed it。 The losses of Dr。 Coombs and Dr。 Piltcher were painful； but manageable。 He had liked the people in the group。 Sure they were kooks； but they were nice kooks。 Kind of interesting； if you didn't take them too seriously。 He was sad to know how they died。 But the death of Petra caused personal pain； something Colter had never experienced。 He'd never been as close to anyone as to Petra。 He'd never told her； but he loved her。 Now she was gone。
They were all gone。 And it was because of the monsters； the dinosaurs； whatever Dr。 Piltcher called them。 These animals came； they terrorized； they maimed； they killed。
Well； I can kill too； Colter thought。 I'm a human； and humans kill better than any animal ever could。
He got to his feet and ran recklessly through the brush toward the RV； feeling invulnerable； even though he was nearly naked； exhausted； and unarmed。 He defied any dinosaur to cross his path。 He'd be an easy target； of course； but now he didn't care。 He was going to kill； or be killed。
When he burst in the door Moose scrambled to the cabinet； and Sarah waddled to the back and buried herself under a pile of clothes。 Colter flared when he saw them。 But he only cursed at them and then began digging in the piles looking for a pair of jeans。 Still angry and reckless； Colter threw things violently to the side； working his way toward the back。 When he spotted his jeans in the bottom of a mound he jerked at them； eliciting a squeal of pain from Sarah。
The painful cry melted some of the ice from Colter's heart。 Gently； he pulled the clothes off the pile one by one to uncover Sarah。 She had one back foot stuck in his jean's pocket； and when he pulled on it； it twisted her leg up and back。 Sarah flinched when he reached down； but didn't snap。 Slowly； Colter untangled her back leg； and she limped away to another pile and tried burying herself again。
Feeling guilty； Colter dug around in the cabinets until he found a package of raisins。 He tore it open and dumped about half of it in front of Sarah's clothes pile；； and after only half a minute her head and neck collar emerged from under the clothes to sniff at the raisins。 Something pink and lacy was dangling from her collar。 Colter smiled at the sight； but then frowned when he realized i