Cretaceous Sea

'Good-bye, James.'

'Good-bye.'

James watched Con run through the glade until she was hidden by the trees. Then he refilled his cup and recalled the sight of lions in the morning.

19

JOHN GREIGHTON SHIFTED UNEASILY ON THE BENCH AS

he watched the island dwindle below them. He had a fear of heights and the transparent craft around him offered no sense of security. The pulsating red symbols on the strange control panel made him nervous also. They reminded him of warning lights.

'Was it wise to leave Joe behind?' he asked Green. 'Wouldn't it be safer with a pilot?'

'These probes run a predetermined course. Once Joe set the new destination, he was useless. Worse than useless, he was someone who could talk.'

Greighton gripped the edge of the bench tightly. 'Are you sure this is right?'

'A little late for that, isn't it?' said Green caustically. 'What do you want? To be down there with your fiancee? With your daughter?'

'I was only asking if this was the right move. That kid might be fooling us.'

'Oh, he was sincere, all right. Pistols do that to people. If he was lying, he would have cracked.'

'How can you be sure?'

'I have some experience in these matters.'

Green's words gave Greighton a chill. 'So you weren't bluffing?'

'You're either with me or against me. He could have spo-ken to me first. Instead, he tried to work behind my back. I won't tolerate that. If your daughter hadn't interfered, he'd be gut-shot.'

'She's always been willful, a real handful. My ex's fault.'

'She'll be more docile after she's waited for you on that island.'

'I'm not so sure,' said Greighton.

'The sooner your research department solves our technical problems, the sooner you'll find out.'

'Won't a rescue attempt be risky?' asked Greighton.

'Naturally.'

'Then we should postpone any attempt until we're estab-lished in the eighteenth century.' Green looked at his companion with new respect. 'I see your point.'

'I got where I am by knowing my priorities. It won't mat-ter to them when we set out to pick them up.'

'That's true,' said Green. More true than you know.

The probe continued to ascend until the island was but a dot in the wide expanse of sea. They were level with the mountaintops to the west when they stopped climbing. Un-like the other time machine, this craft did not halt in mid air. Instead, it began to travel south, following the coastline. Green was disturbed by this development, yet he was cer-tain Joe had not played him false. Hadn't he expected to be sitting beside him? Another change in plans, he thought. So far, the changes had not worked out badly. He still had a time machine and Greighton was firmly in his grasp. All the witnesses on the island were eliminated without any effort on his part. Only Ann Smythe and her assistant were left to be dealt with. To top it off, he doubted that Greighton would be overly upset when he discovered that a rescue of his daughter and fianc6e was impossible. Perhaps he already knew. Green watched the coastline sliding beneath him and relaxed. It's only a slight delay, he reflected. Fortune's been running in my favor.

CON STRUGGLED UP the path to the plane, laden with a bag filled with bottles of mineral water. It was a heavy and cumbersome load. When it's gone, we'll be drinking from puddles. She had been having thoughts like that with each bundle she hurried to the plane. So many