missing and had not, as yet, resurfaced. She was shocked and, for once, speechless. She wrote up the story and Zeke ran it on the second page, per Henry’s request. He didn’t want a panic.
And Justin reluctantly divulged the fossil discovery to John Day’s.
Henry was afraid it’d only take a few days until the park was swarming with more paleontologists and the curious. He wasn’t looking forward to it, but on the other hand, he was curious about what the experts and the world would say. Just like a kid on his birthday waited to see under the wrapping of his presents, he wondered what the dig would ultimately unearth.
It wasn’t until a week or so later, long after the Seabird’s loss had been reported and investigated with no results that Willie Sander’s boat also went missing. As with the Seabird, Willie Sander had been alone on the water after dark when he and his boat disappeared.
Henry and his rangers scoured the lake, filed more reports and expressed growing concern over the situation. But, as before, they found nothing except bits of floating debris. Henry still resisted initiating an ICS Team, which would have meant calling in specialists to help him investigate the situation, because he wasn’t sure what the problem was. But he knew one more incident would moot that line of thinking altogether. Something was wrong in his park and he couldn’t allow things to go on as they were if it meant people would keep vanishing.
The Klamath Falls Journal ran a front-page story on the two boats, their destruction, and their missing captains.
Henry notified the proper park authorities of the situation. He made public what Sam Cutler had been saying about a covert creature in the lake; what had been reported to Ann and Zeke; about the dead animals the rangers had found. Henry didn’t think the National Park Service believed most of it, which didn’t surprise him.
In the worst way, he wanted to admit his own suspicions about the bizarre animal tracks and the other sightings; but liked his job too much to take the chance. He wasn’t a fool. They’d think he was certifiable if he started yakking about monsters in the lake. So he said nothing.
Justin hung around, pestering Ann and him and spending more time with Laura. He told everyone he was staying in the park so he could monitor the dig. He wanted to be there when history was uncovered. He wanted to protect the find.
Ann thought he also wanted to be with Laura.
Henry knew another reason Justin was staying–their night patrols on Crater Lake had resumed.
Chapter 5
Henry, as the other park rangers, was licensed to carry a firearm. After all, they were commissioned law officers; not just friendly tour guides. But since his police days, he hadn’t felt comfortable carrying a gun. He’d never meant to kill the child who’d shot him in the projects. It’d been a horrible accident and he’d lived with the guilt ever since. Only human monsters, his guilt haunted him, would kill a child.
Each day it was difficult for him to strap the gun on his hip. But knowing he’d probably only use it on some maddened animal, not a person, had kept his head on straight. In all his years at the park he’d never had to draw the thing out of its holster once.
“Much good that gun will do you if we come across a prehistoric monster with teeth and an attitude,” Justin remarked sarcastically, his eyes skimming the dark water around them. “Since I found those prints in the mud I’ve been doing some more reading. I just finished the most recent treatise on what my fellow experts now believe to be true about certain dinosaurs, known and unknown. Your Sig there wouldn’t even have nicked their tough hides, much less stopped them from attacking you.”
They were out on another of their evening patrols, but as with the other nights, nothing except the voices of the night insects and park animals had marred the tranquil summer darkness.
“So what you’re saying is if we
And Justin reluctantly divulged the fossil discovery to John Day’s.
Henry was afraid it’d only take a few days until the park was swarming with more paleontologists and the curious. He wasn’t looking forward to it, but on the other hand, he was curious about what the experts and the world would say. Just like a kid on his birthday waited to see under the wrapping of his presents, he wondered what the dig would ultimately unearth.
It wasn’t until a week or so later, long after the Seabird’s loss had been reported and investigated with no results that Willie Sander’s boat also went missing. As with the Seabird, Willie Sander had been alone on the water after dark when he and his boat disappeared.
Henry and his rangers scoured the lake, filed more reports and expressed growing concern over the situation. But, as before, they found nothing except bits of floating debris. Henry still resisted initiating an ICS Team, which would have meant calling in specialists to help him investigate the situation, because he wasn’t sure what the problem was. But he knew one more incident would moot that line of thinking altogether. Something was wrong in his park and he couldn’t allow things to go on as they were if it meant people would keep vanishing.
The Klamath Falls Journal ran a front-page story on the two boats, their destruction, and their missing captains.
Henry notified the proper park authorities of the situation. He made public what Sam Cutler had been saying about a covert creature in the lake; what had been reported to Ann and Zeke; about the dead animals the rangers had found. Henry didn’t think the National Park Service believed most of it, which didn’t surprise him.
In the worst way, he wanted to admit his own suspicions about the bizarre animal tracks and the other sightings; but liked his job too much to take the chance. He wasn’t a fool. They’d think he was certifiable if he started yakking about monsters in the lake. So he said nothing.
Justin hung around, pestering Ann and him and spending more time with Laura. He told everyone he was staying in the park so he could monitor the dig. He wanted to be there when history was uncovered. He wanted to protect the find.
Ann thought he also wanted to be with Laura.
Henry knew another reason Justin was staying–their night patrols on Crater Lake had resumed.
Chapter 5
Henry, as the other park rangers, was licensed to carry a firearm. After all, they were commissioned law officers; not just friendly tour guides. But since his police days, he hadn’t felt comfortable carrying a gun. He’d never meant to kill the child who’d shot him in the projects. It’d been a horrible accident and he’d lived with the guilt ever since. Only human monsters, his guilt haunted him, would kill a child.
Each day it was difficult for him to strap the gun on his hip. But knowing he’d probably only use it on some maddened animal, not a person, had kept his head on straight. In all his years at the park he’d never had to draw the thing out of its holster once.
“Much good that gun will do you if we come across a prehistoric monster with teeth and an attitude,” Justin remarked sarcastically, his eyes skimming the dark water around them. “Since I found those prints in the mud I’ve been doing some more reading. I just finished the most recent treatise on what my fellow experts now believe to be true about certain dinosaurs, known and unknown. Your Sig there wouldn’t even have nicked their tough hides, much less stopped them from attacking you.”
They were out on another of their evening patrols, but as with the other nights, nothing except the voices of the night insects and park animals had marred the tranquil summer darkness.
“So what you’re saying is if we
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