| "The mussaur walked around, sniffed Levine's fingers. Levine smiled, charmed. Then, suddenly, the little creature hissed in annoyance, and jumped off his hand, disappearing into the palms. Levine, blinked, unable to understand why. Then he smelled a foul odor, and heard a heavy rustling' in the bushes on the other side. There was a soft grunting sound. More rustling. For a brief moment, Levine remembered that wild hunted near streambeds, attacking animals when they were vulnerable, bending over to drink. But the recognition came too late; he heard a terrifying high-pitched cry, and when he turned he saw that Diego was screaming as his body was hauled away, into the bushes. Diego struggled; the bushes shook fiercely; Levine caught a glimpse of a single large foot, its middle toe bearing a short curving claw. Then the foot pulled back. The bushes continued to shake. Suddenly, the forest erupted in frightening animal roars all around him. He glimpsed a large animal charging him. Richard Levine turned and fled, feeling the adrenaline surge of pure panic, not knowing where to go, knowing only that it was hopeless. He felt a heavy weight suddenly tear at his backpack, forcing him to his knees in the mud, and he realized in that moment that despite all his planning, despite all his clever deductions, things had gone terribly wrong, and he was about to die." |
