The Ice Fortress (Frozen World Book 2) by Hannah Ross

Author:Hannah Ross [Ross, Hannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-08-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

When Scott made it to McMurdo, he found Annette Geels, together with Chris and Adam, insanely busy in the laboratory. Annette was barely able to tear her eyes away from the microscope to greet him.

“Hi, Scott. Come on in and take a look at this! I’ve never been so excited in my life.”

“What do you have there?”

“A sample of vascular tissue. It’s quite different from any other reptile I have ever seen. I believe these will be classified as a family of its own. As they are warm-blooded, they are like aliens to the reptile world. The hypothalamus is surprisingly mammal-like.”

“Have you dissected the specimen, then?” Scott asked, caught up in scientific enthusiasm.

“We have taken scans and samples, enough for an extensive analysis, but very carefully so as not to damage the whole. Once we have taken all we need, the carcass will be transported to New Zealand, where expert taxidermists will work on preserving it. It will be the centerpiece of the Back to the Jurassic exhibition that will be held in Wellington in a few months.”

“Well, this has worked out alright, then. You got your sensational specimen without violating the Antarctic Treaty yourself. The research you do on this will likely make your career.”

Annette frowned. “I would give up on all that if I could bring this magnificent creature back to life. An analysis of the reproductive system shows it was a female, and we extracted several eggs that look to be in an advanced stage of development. She was probably going to lay a clutch. I want to kick something when I think that the species might go extinct just after its discovery, all because of human rashness and stupidity.”

Scott shook his head. “Don’t forget about the circumstances, Annette.”

She turned away from the microscope and looked him square in the face. “If you ask me,” she said, “that big brute – Ne Tarveg, I think you called him – is on some sort of irrational vendetta against the entire Antarctosaurus species!”

“Can you blame him? One of them killed his father.”

“They are animals, Scott. Carnivores seeking prey. It is really quite ridiculous –“

“You think there’s no more than that? If they are just looking for food, there’s plenty at the bay. They want the valley.”

“Well, it is part of their natural habitat. They have evolved there.”

“But they can’t be allowed there again. They can’t coexist with people.”

“I still think the Anai would do better to relinquish their hold on the valley,” Annette said stubbornly. “This would correct a… a great historical injustice.”

Scott fought the urge to roll his eyes. “The Anai can’t all settle at McMurdo, even if they were inclined to leave their homes. But they are not. We are not. Nature was made to serve men, not the other way around, Annette.”

She snorted. “You sound like a narrow-minded dogmatic bureaucrat of two centuries ago. By the way,” she went on, “I have reported the Russians to the Antarctic Committee. There isn’t an official statement yet,

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