The Nibiru Effect

Memory 38

The Triceratops gallop toward us. I will myself to move, but my legs are frozen in place. Kara and Jonn also remain, though I'm not sure if they're frozen in fear or merely brave. Only Korri manages to escape. In fact, he flees with such speed all I see is a dark blur, followed by a small gust of displaced air. I make a mental note reminding myself to ask about his superhuman speed once the danger has passed. That is if I'm still alive.

The dinosaurs charge forward, their heads tilted forward so all three of their large, sharp horns are pointed straight at us. Their powerful legs propel their massive bodies forward, causing the ground to shake every time one of them takes a step. It's a miracle we can stand.

The Triceratops are less than a dozen metres from us when Jonn finally comes up with a plan.

"Run!" he yells.

It would be a good plan if not for one small detail. It's too late. By the time Jonn's order leaves his lips, the dinosaurs are upon us. All we can do is close our eyes and pray we don't get trampled.

Somehow, not being able to see the Triceratops barrel past me is worse than witnessing the terrifying sight of their sharp horns slicing through the air mere centimetres from my face. All I feel is the shaking of the ground and the gusts of wind as the massive reptiles speed past. I wait for the searing pain of impalement, but it never comes.

Silence eventually returns, and I open my eyes. I prepare myself for the possibility that my companions are dead, but both Jonn and Kara are unharmed. I would be relieved if not for the fact that we're surrounded by a dozen snorting prehistoric reptiles.

Since the immediate danger seems to have passed, I take a moment to study the Triceratops. They vary greatly in length, going from the size of a minivan to that of a bus. They tower above us at nearly twice my height. Their tails swing from side to side, the nearest ones only barely avoiding us. But what scares me most of all is the horns. The longest pair is as long as my arm. The third horn, while shorter, still measures the length of my forearm.

"Don't move," mutters Jonn, still brandishing his woefully inadequate weapon.

"Don't worry," comes Korri's voice from our left. "They're not hostile unless they sense danger." I look around and spot the small korrigan peering at us from behind a nearby tree.

"If he's so sure they're not dangerous, why is he hiding?" asks Jonn once I translate the korrigan's words.

Korri bolts before I can repeat the comment. This in itself is enough to worry me, but my fear spikes further when I notice the dinosaurs' restlessness. They stomp and snort, turning their heads left and right. I'm not sure what they're nervous about, but I fear I won't like it.

"I think now would be a good time to leave," says Kara.

Jonn and I nod in agreement, but escaping the herd of nervous reptiles proves impossible because they are packed together tighter than sardines in a can. But then something happens that makes me realize how lucky we are to be surrounded by powerful dinosaurs.

With an ear-splitting roar and the cracking of dozens of branches, a beast even more dangerous than the Triceratops emerges from the jungle. It takes a moment before I accept the image my eyes are relaying to my brain.

Standing before us, mere metresaway, is a Tyrannosaurus rex.