George Henson positioned himself in the control room. Leaning against the wall, his arms gracefully crossed, and a pleasant smile adorning his face, all the while observing John Arnold diligently carry out his tasks.
At the tender age of three, George's sole preoccupation revolved around the captivating world of dinosaurs. His slumber was accompanied by the presence of dinosaur toys, while his viewing preferences were strictly limited to animated programs featuring these prehistoric creatures. Within the confines of his abode, George would traverse with mighty stomps, emitting growls and mimicking the act of chomping at his father's legs. In response, his father would graciously assume a lifeless state, allowing George to indulge in the make-believe act of gnawing upon his figurative carcass.
So when he was offered the job to be Jurassic Park’s second game warden, he was enthralled. He found his place within the park, and he couldn’t ask for a better job. All the scientists and ingen workers in the island knew George as a man that loved dinosaurs more than anything.
George’s smile widened. He’ll never forget the first time he saw a dinosaur. Apatosaurus, a North American herbivore from the late Jurassic horizon. He remembered being so amazed at how enormous they were, so amazed that he hardly noticed his tears trickling down his cheeks. The memory alone was treasured in his heart.
And now, these visitors are gonna have the same experience that he had. At least he hoped so.
“Gears are grinding,” John Arnold said, in the darkened control room. “Have maintenance check the electric clutches on vehicles BB4 and BB5 when they come back.”
“Yes, Mr. Arnold,” replied the voice on the intercom.
“A minor detail,” Hammond said, walking in the room. Looking out, he could see the two Land Cruisers moving south through the park. Muldoon stood in the corner, silently watching.
Arnold pushed his chair back from the central console at the control panel.
“There are no minor details, Mr. Hammond,” he said, and he lit another cigarette.
George shook his head in disapproval as he watched Arnold place said cigarette in his mouth, pulled back and puffed out smoke from his lips.
Often plagued by nervousness, Arnold was particularly on edge at this moment. He was acutely aware that this marked the inaugural occasion where visitors were granted the opportunity to tour the park. In truth, Arnold's team seldom ventured into the park itself. On occasion, Harding, the veterinarian, would make his way there. The animal handlers would only visit the individual feeding houses. Otherwise, they would observe the park's activities from the control room. However, with visitors now present, Arnold found himself consumed by concern over a multitude of intricate details.
John Arnold had dedicated his expertise to the development of the Polaris submarine missile during the late 1960s. However, upon the arrival of his first child, he found the notion of contributing to the production of weapons to be quite distasteful. Coincidentally, Disney had embarked on the creation of amusement park rides that showcased remarkable technological sophistication, attracting numerous professionals from the aerospace industry. Arnold, in turn, played a pivotal role in the construction of Disney World in Orlando, and subsequently spearheaded the implementation of major parks at Magic Mountain in California, Old Country in Virginia, and Astroworld in Houston.
His continuous employment at parks had eventually given him a somewhat skewed view of reality.
Over the course of the previous two years, Arnold has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the successful establishment of Jurassic Park. Being an engineer, he is well-acquainted with the extensive timeframes that are often required for such endeavors. He frequently alludes to the anticipated "September opening," which pertains to the following year's September.
As this significant milestone draws near, Arnold finds himself dissatisfied with the progress that has been achieved thus far. Drawing from his past experiences, he is aware that rectifying any issues with a single park ride can often take several years, let alone the complex task of ensuring the seamless operation of an entire park.
“You’re just a worrier,” Hammond said.
“I don’t think so,” said Arnold. “You’ve got to realize that, from an engineering standpoint, Jurassic Park is by far the most ambitious theme park in history. Visitors will never think about it, but I do.”
Arnold ticked the points off on his fingers.
“First, Jurassic Park has all the problems of any amusement park—ride maintenance, queue control, transportation, food handling, living accommodations, trash disposal, security. Second, we have all the problems of a major zoo—care of the animals; health and welfare; feeding and cleanliness; protection from insects, pests, allergies, and illnesses; maintenance of barriers; and all the rest. And, finally, we have the unprecedented problems of caring for a population of animals that no one has ever tried to maintain before.”
“Oh, it’s not as bad as all that,” Hammond said, waving him off.
“Yes, it is. You’re just not here to see it,” Arnold said. “The tyrannosaurs drink the lagoon water and sometimes get sick; we aren’t sure why. The triceratops females kill each other in fights for dominance and have to be separated into groups smaller than six. We don’t know why. The stegosaurs frequently get blisters on their tongues and diarrhea, for reasons no one yet understands, even though we’ve lost two. Hypsilophodonts get skin rashes. And the velociraptors—”
“Let’s not start on the velociraptors,” Hammond abruptly cut Arnold off. “I’m sick of hearing about the velociraptors. How they’re the most vicious creatures anyone has ever seen.”
“They are,” Muldoon said, in a low voice. “They should all be destroyed.”
George shifted his gaze from Hammond and stared at the back of his partner: Robert Muldoon. Attentively listening to the discourse between the duo.
“You wanted to fit them with radio collars,” Hammond said. “And I agreed.”
“Yes. And they promptly chewed the collars off. But even if the raptors never get free,” Arnold responded, “I think we have to accept that Jurassic Park is inherently hazardous.”
“Oh balls,” Hammond said. “Whose side are you on, anyway?”
“We now have fifteen species of extinct animals, and most of them are dangerous,” Arnold said. “We’ve been forced to delay the Jungle River Ride because of the dilophosaurs; and the Pteratops Lodge in the aviary, because the pterodactyls are so unpredictable. These aren’t engineering delays, Mr. Hammond. They’re problems with control of the animals.”
“You’ve had plenty of engineering delays,” Hammond said. “Don’t blame it on the animals.”
“Yes, we have. In fact, it’s all we could do to get the main attraction, Park Drive, working correctly, to get the CD-ROMs inside the cars to be controlled by the motion sensors. It’s taken weeks of adjustment to get that working properly—and now the electric gearshifts on the cars are acting up! The gearshifts!”
“Let’s keep it in perspective,” Hammond said. “You get the engineering correct and the animals will fall into place. After all, they’re trainable. Meanwhile, how’s the computer?” He glanced at Dennis Nedry, who was working at a terminal in the corner of the room. “This damn computer has always been a headache.”
“We’re getting there,” Nedry informed him.
“If you had done it right in the first place,” Hammond began, but Arnold put a restraining hand on his arm. Arnold knew there was no point in antagonizing Nedry while he was working.
“It’s a large system,” Arnold said. “There are bound to be glitches.”
“Hey, it’ll be alright Arnold,” George reassured, placing his hand on Arnold’s shoulder. “With you and Nedry together I’m sure you guys will figure something out.”
Nedry shook his head at George’s optimism. “You’re too optimistic.”
George shrugged his shoulders. “Point proven.”
As Nedry diligently carried out his tasks, Arnold skillfully opened a fresh window on his personal monitor. This window granted him the ability to observe Nedry's actions at the corner console. It is not that Arnold harbored any doubts regarding Nedry's trustworthiness. Rather, Arnold simply possessed a fondness for being aware of the ongoing proceedings.
Arnold directed his attention towards the graphics display situated on his right-hand console. This display provided a visual representation of the advancing electric Land Cruisers. Presently, they were traversing the river, situated just north of the aviary, and the paddock housing the ornithischian creatures.
“If you look to your left, you will see the dome of the Jurassic Park aviary, which is not yet finished for visitors.” Tim saw sunlight glinting off aluminum struts in the distance. “And directly below is our Mesozoic jungle river—where, if you are lucky, you just may catch a glimpse of a very rare carnivore. Keep your eyes peeled, everyone!”
Inside the Land Cruiser, the screens showed a bird-like head topped with a flaming red crest. But everyone in Tim’s car was looking out the windows. The car was driving along a high ridge, overlooking a fast-moving river below. The river was almost enclosed by dense foliage on both sides.
“There they are now,” said the voice. “The animals you see are called dilophosaurs.”
Contrary to the information provided in the recording, only a solitary specimen was observed by the individuals. Positioned on its hind limbs near the river, the dilophosaurus was engaged in the act of drinking. Its physical structure adhered to the fundamental carnivorous blueprint, featuring a robust tail, sturdy hind limbs, and an elongated neck. The creature's stature reached an impressive ten feet, while its body exhibited a striking pattern of yellow and black spots, reminiscent of a leopard.
However, it was the head of the dilophosaurus that captivated Tim's attention. Two expansive, gracefully curving crests adorned the crown of its head, extending from the eyes to the nose. These crests converged at the center, forming a distinctive V shape above the dinosaur's cranium. The crests themselves displayed a vibrant combination of red and black stripes, evoking the likeness of a parrot or toucan. Emitting a gentle hooting sound, akin to that of an owl, the creature further intrigued the observers.
“They’re pretty,” Lex said.
Fluttershy nodded in agreement. “Its so colorful.”
“Dilophosaurus,” the tape narrated, “is one of the earliest carnivorous dinosaurs. Scientists thought their jaw muscles were too weak to kill prey, and imagined they were primarily scavengers. But now we know they are poisonous.”
“Hey.” Tim grinned. “All right.”
Again the distinctive hooting call of the dilophosaurus drifted across the afternoon air toward them. Suddenly, the hooting was returned by a similar call. Much to the shock of everyone in the Land Cruisers. Another hoot drifted far away from the forest. Tim couldn’t see where the other dilophosaurs were so he guessed the creatures were hidden behind the foliage.
Lex shifted uneasily in her seat. “Are they really poisonous, Mr. Regis?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Ed Regis said.
“But are they?” Lex probed.
“Well, yes, Lex.” Replied.
Lex frowned at the floor. She hoped that those venomous dinosaurs wouldn’t bite her if they had the chance, that would be bad. Applejack noticed Lex’s expression and placed her hoof on her shoulder.
“It’ll be alright, sugarcube,” Applejack reassured. “Those dinosaurs are well contained in their habitat. They won’t get a nit at us so long as they’re in their enclosures.”
Lex smiled at Applejack. “Really?”
“Eeyup.” Applejack replied.
“Along with such living reptiles as Gila monsters and rattlesnakes, Dilophosaurus secretes a hematotoxin from glands in its mouth. Unconsciousness follows within minutes of a bite. The dinosaur will then finish the victim off at its leisure—making Dilophosaurus a beautiful but deadly addition to the animals you see here at Jurassic Park.”
The Land Cruiser gracefully maneuvered around the corner, bidding farewell to the river that lay in its wake. Tim, filled with a sense of longing, cast a final glance over his shoulder, yearning for one last glimpse of the awe-inspiring dilophosaur. The sheer existence of venomous dinosaurs was nothing short of extraordinary! If only he possessed the ability to halt the vehicle's progress. But alas, every aspect of its operation was automated. Undoubtedly, Twilight and Dr. Grant shared in this desire to pause the car's journey, for such a spectacle was surely captivating to him as well.
“If you look on the bluff to the right, you’ll see Les Gigantes, the site of our superb three-star dining room. Chef Alain Richard hails from the world-famous Le Beaumanière in France. Make your reservations by dialing four from your hotel rooms.”
Both Carter and Tim looked up on the bluff, and saw nothing.
“Not for a while, though,” Ed Regis said. “The restaurant won’t even start construction until November.”
“Continuing on our prehistoric safari, we come next to the herbivores of the ornithischian group. If you look to your right, you can probably see them now.”
Carter saw two creatures, standing still beneath the shelter of a grand tree. These beings were known as Triceratops: possessing the magnitude and hue of an elephant, while exhibiting the resolute posture of a rhinoceros. The horns situated above their eyes arched five feet into the atmosphere, resembling inverted tusks of an elephant. Additionally, a third horn reminiscent of a rhinoceros adorned their nasal region. Furthermore, their snouts bore a resemblance to the beak of a rhinoceros.
“Unlike other dinosaurs,” the voice said, “Triceratops serratus can’t see well. They’re nearsighted, like the rhinos of today, and they tend to be surprised by moving objects. They’d charge our car if they were close enough to see it! But relax, folks—we’re safe enough here. Triceratops have a fan-shaped crest behind their heads. It’s made of solid bone, and it’s very strong. These animals weigh about seven tons each. Despite their appearance, they are actually quite docile. They know their handlers, and they’ll allow themselves to be petted. They particularly like to be scratched in the hindquarters.”
“Why don’t they move?” Asked Lex. She rolled down her window. “Hey! Stupid dinosaur! Move!”
Carter looked at Lex over her shoulder. “Sweetie, please close the window.”
“Don’t bother the animals, Lex,” Ed Regis said.
“Why? It’s stupid. They just sit there like a picture in a book,” Lex said.
“That’s not very nice.” Fluttershy said, frowning at Lex.
“Now hold on, sugarcube.” Applejack pulled Lex back from the window and turned her around to face her. “It ain’t nice to call animals stupid. I’m sure the Triceratops was just ‘mindin its business until y’all disturbed its peace. Would y’all want some-pony to come towards ya and call y’all stupid?”
Lex frowned to the floor and shook her head.
“Exactly,” Applejack said. “Now go on. Tell the dinosaur you’re sorry.”
Lex rolled the window down again. “I’m sorry mr. Dinosaur.”
Everyone in the car watched the wholesome scene before them. Tim’s lips formed a sad smile as he watched Lex and Applejack conversed. He turned away from the duo.
She even sounds like her, Tim thought.
The voice spoke again, “—easygoing monsters from a bygone world stand in sharp contrast to what we will see next. The most famous predator in the history of the world: the mighty tyrant lizard, known as Tyrannosaurus rex.”
“Good, Tyrannosaurus rex,” Tim said.
“I hope he’s better than these bozos,” Lex said, turning away from the triceratops.
The Land Cruiser rumbled forward.
“The mighty tyrannosaurs arose late in dinosaur history. Dinosaurs ruled the earth for a hundred and twenty million years, but there were tyrannosaurs for only the last fifteen million years of that period.”
The Land Cruisers had come to a halt at the crest of a hill, affording them a commanding view of a forested expanse that sloped gently towards the edge of the lagoon. The sun, in its descent towards the western horizon, cast a hazy glow upon the entire panorama of Jurassic Park, casting elongated shadows across the land. The lagoon's surface shimmered with delicate pink ripples, resembling crescents.
Further to the south, the observers beheld the elegant necks of the apatosaurs, gracefully poised at the water's edge, their reflections mirrored upon the undulating surface. A profound stillness enveloped the surroundings, save for the gentle hum of cicadas. As they gazed out upon this breathtaking vista, one could almost entertain the notion that they had indeed been transported millions of years into the past; to a world that has long since vanished.
“It works, doesn’t it?” They heard Ed Regis say, over the intercom. “I like to come here sometimes, in the evening. And just sit.”
Grant was unimpressed. “Where is T-rex?”
“Good question. You often see the little one down in the lagoon. The lagoon’s stocked, so we have fish in there. The little one has learned to catch the fish. Interesting how he does it. He doesn’t use his hands, but he ducks his whole head under the water. Like a bird.”
“The little one?” Twilight repeated over the intercom.
“The little T-rex. He’s a juvenile, two years old, and about a third grown now. Stands eight feet high, weighs a ton and a half. The other one’s a full-grown tyrannosaur. But I don’t see him at the moment.”
“Maybe he’s down hunting the apatosaurs,” Grant said.
“Regis laughed, his voice tinny over the radio. “He would if he could, believe me. Sometimes he stands by the lagoon and stares at those animals, and wiggles those little forearms of his in frustration. But the T-rex territory is completely enclosed with trenches and fences. They’re disguised from view, but believe me, he can’t go anywhere.”
“Then where is he?” Twilight asked.
“Hiding,” Regis replied. “He’s a little shy.”
“Shy?” Malcolm repeated. “Tyrannosaurus rex is shy?”
“Well, he conceals himself as a general rule. You almost never see him out in the open, especially in daylight.”
“Why is that?” Carter questioned, raising a brow at him.
“We think it’s because he has sensitive skin and sunburns easily.”
Malcolm began to laugh.
Grant sighed. “You’re destroying a lot of illusions.”
“I don’t think you’ll be disappointed,” Regis said. “Just wait.”
A gentle bleating sound reached their ears. In the midst of a vast expanse, a diminutive cage emerged. Ascending on hydraulics from beneath the ground. The bars of the cage gracefully descended while the goat, tethered in the heart of the field, emitted plaintive bleats.
“Any minute now,” Regis said again.
They stared out the window.
Twilight waited in the car, watching quietly. The bleating of the goat became louder, more insistent. The goat tugged frantically at its tether, racing back and forth.
“What’s going to happen to the goat? Is she going to eat the goat?” Lex asked over the radio.
“I think so,” Carter replied to her, and then Ellie turned the radio down. It was then the group smelled the odor, a garbage stench of putrefaction and decay that drifted up the hillside toward them.
Grant whispered, “He’s here.”
“She,” Malcolm corrected in a whisper.
The goat had been securely fastened in the middle of the field, a distance of thirty yards away from the closest trees. The dinosaur undoubtedly was lurking somewhere amidst the foliage. However, for a brief moment, Twilight found herself unable to discern anything at all. It was only upon the realization that she had been directing her gaze too low that she spotted the creature's head, which towered an impressive twenty feet above the earth's surface. The majestic, boxy head was partially obscured by the uppermost branches of the palm trees.
Malcolm whispered, terror evident in his tone. “Oh, my God.… She’s as large as a bloody building.…”
Twilight stared at the enormous square head, five feet long, mottled reddish brown, with huge jaws and fangs. The tyrannosaur’s jaws worked once, opening and closing. But the huge animal did not emerge from hiding.
“How long will it wait?” Malcolm asked in a whisper.
Grant didn’t take his eyes off of the animal. “Maybe three or four minutes. Maybe—”
The tyrannosaur leaped forward, effortlessly unveiling her colossal physique. With four swift and purposeful strides, she swiftly closed the gap between herself and the goat, delicately lowered her head, and decisively seized it by the neck. The plaintive bleating abruptly ceased, leaving behind a profound stillness.
Poised over her kill, the tyrannosaur became suddenly hesitant. Her massive head turned on the muscular neck, looking in all directions. She stared fixedly at the Land Cruiser, high above on the hill.
Malcolm whispered, “Can she see us?”
“Oh yes,” Regis replied, on the intercom. “Let’s see if she’s going to eat here in front of us, or if she’s going to drag the prey away.”
The tyrannosaur bent down, and sniffed the carcass of the goat. A bird chirped: her head snapped up, alert, watchful. She looked back and forth, scanning in small jerking shifts.
The tyrannosaur bent down, and sniffed the carcass of the goat. A bird chirped and the juvenile behemoth snapped her head up. Alert and watchful. She looked back and forth, scanning in small jerking shifts.
“Like a bird,” Ellie deduced.
Still the tyrannosaur hesitated.
“I don’t get it? What is she afraid of?” Twilight whispered.
“Probably another tyrannosaur,” Grant whispered back.
“That would make sense,” Fluttershy whispered over the intercom. “Big carnivores like lions and tigers often become cautious after a kill, behaving as if suddenly exposed. When a carnivore finally brings down an animal, it'll be watchful for another predator, who might attack it and steal its prize. So it would make sense if this tyrannosaur was probably fearful of another tyrannosaur.”
The huge animal bent over the goat again. One great hind limb held the carcass in place as the head shot forward and snatched the tenderness of the goat’s exposed belly in its jaws.
“She’s going to stay,” Regis whispered. “Excellent.”
The tyrannosaur lifted her head again, ragged chunks of bleeding flesh in her jaws. Blood flowed freely down its thick neck. She stared at the Land Cruiser. She began to chew. They all could hear the sickening crunch of bones breaking like chalk between grinding jaws.
“Ewww,” Lex said, over the intercom. “That’s disgusting.”
And then, as if caution had finally gotten the better of her, the tyrannosaur lifted the remains of the goat in her jaws and carried them silently back among the trees.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Tyrannosaurus rex,” the tape said. The Land Cruisers started up, and moved silently off, through the foliage.
Malcolm sat back in his seat. “Fantastic,” he said.
Twilight turned her head in time to see Gennaro wiping his forehead. He looked pale.