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he top。〃
〃While there were a few swamp areas like the one in which we had found ourselves at the outset； most of the hundreds or thousands of square miles of the Lizard Lounge appeared to be flood plain； with seasonal bodies of water。 We had no idea how the builders managed that。 But it was no wonder the place was so enormous； the land creatures' lives revolved around the herbivores' need for a slow； constant feeding migration； and the carnivores' constant need to follow and hunt。〃
〃We had seen dinos no bigger than chipmunks； and the real heavyweights as well； most or all of the biological niches were filled； including the ones for small； furtive mammals。〃
We had seen things that verified the work of Ostrom； Horner； Bakker； and the rest of the last great paleontologists。 Stegosaurus actually did have a single row of bony plates on its back。 Do they know； I hope？〃
〃What we had stumbled into were warm…blooded dinosaurs…endotherms！ The Brontosauruses protected their young while on the move； like a herd of elephants。 I watched huge duckbill females exhibiting maternal behavior； feeding and protecting their hatchlings。 Of course； we didn't have any time to witness live births among the brontos： we were sorta busy keeping away from hungry meat…eaters。〃
〃The predators were warm…blooded； and therefore had to eat a lot。 They were fast…moving； very aggressive； and always ready for a meal。 I watched a pack of swift Deinonychuses； running on bird…hipped hind legs； drag down a much bigger Tenontosaurus。 The Deinoychuses tore the helpless giant to pieces and devoured it。〃
〃Annie hid her eyes against my back； and while I was fascinated even though I was sickened； I made up my mind to try to spare her any similar sight； if possible。〃
〃We had already had a few close encounters； though。 Scott may go down in history as the only human being to ever kill a T。 Rex； he did it with a rocket barrage of Scorpions from his Cyc's forward racks。 We were safe for the time being； but how long could we last once we ran out of power and ordnance？〃
〃I'm probably the last member of the legendary King Kong Klub； having passed the rigorous written and oral exams and proven my love for that movie。 But in spite of my avowed devotion to stop…motion critters； I wished in those next hours that the Cycs were teleportation machines。 I suspect we all did。 You would have； too。〃
〃I had forgotten that smell of blood。 If you have ever had a serious laceration or been around major trauma； you know what I'm talking about。 Fresh blood； spilled； lost。 That smell was so thick down there that I swear it would have snuffed a candle。〃
〃Still； that wasn't what I was trying to sort out while I sat watching the fire that night； to the sound of Pachycephalosauruses batting heads like bighorn sheep and oinking and spitting at each other。 I was considering the awesome size of the artificial world around me。〃
〃The Human race； even at its prewar height； didn't have the power or the knowledge to create this Lost World。 It was pretty obvious who was behind it。〃
〃But the Invid certainly had little motivation to build an Earth museum。 Then I stopped thinking of the Invid I had been catching glimpses of in terms of soldiers and started trying to think。 of them as some other kind of force…say； park rangers？ Guarding a sanctuary； perhaps？〃
〃‘Clear enough！' I was mumbling； and Scott sat up； rubbing his eyes； to look at me。 ‘This place is one big lab！' I cried。 ‘Now I'm beginning to understand！ It's incredible！'〃
〃‘Well； I'm not beginning to understand；' he was grousing。 ‘Back up and try again。'〃
〃He was right。 I forced myself to slow down。 ‘I'm sure this is an Invid test facility。 They're playing around with the history of life on Earth…evolution； from the start right down to today！'〃
〃Were there other arenas where Tertiary organisms fought and strove； or basic Earth life…forms had been mutated with coldly clinical intent； against some possible future？ There wasn't any time to think about that now； I was about to trip over my own tongue as it was。 I tried again。 ‘They're doing evolution experiments…cloning； genetic engineering！ Darwinism in the passing lane！'〃
〃‘Are you drunk？'〃
〃‘I wish！ Listen； Scott： the Invid intend to make Earth their home； because that's where the Flower of Life grows best； right？ Well； before they choose the final physical form…or forms…they'll take on； they're testing； studying！'〃
〃Scott was standing up with a lot of well…now…hold…on…a…second…there talk and flat…handed calming gestures。〃
〃‘And now we're part of the experiment；' I yelled over him； sorry that Annie was going to have to wake up to bad news； because I was shouting it。 ‘They're using us as guinea pigs somehow； that's why the Invid keep hidden instead of showing themselves and attacking…'〃
〃Scott was trying to shush me； but I backed away； I couldn't let him think I had had a hysterical episode； or he would never believe me。 ‘Scott； we've got to get out of here。 Or at least get word to the others！ This is more important than your damned Reflex Point！ Once the Invid find a form that they figure will let them dominate the Earth； there'll be no more need for…uh！'〃
〃At least； I think that was the sound I made。 We had both stopped in midsyllable； mouths open； because the voice we heard then seemed to e from everywhere。 It was female； and there was something slightly familiar about it。 It was mostly alien and cold； yet with an arrogant undertone to it。〃
〃I also got the feeling； somehow； that its words were being transmitted to and echoed by some multitude that spoke with a single voice； subordinate to the main one。 And I know this is strange； but…it sounded like a stage voice to me； like somebody doing Lady Macbeth through a lot of voice…processing equipment。〃
〃It said； ‘Humans； your time on this planet is almost spent！'〃
〃We were both looking around for the source of the voice。 And then I felt cold night air on my neck； because the hair there was standing up； because Annie came to a sitting position； arms folded across her chest。
〃She was still facing away from us； the firelight playing over the hair that looked so straggly after a day of roughing it in that sweaty theme park。〃
〃Scott began； ‘Um； Annie； are you feeling all…'〃
〃That voice came again。 ‘The age of Humans is ing to an end！' What sat on the ground turned toward us； but the features we saw weren't Annie's anymore。 It was something old and malign； using her face and form。〃
〃‘Now；' it gloated； ‘a new era begins on Earth！'〃
〃‘What's she babbling about？' I said； but I didn't mean Annie。〃
〃'Rand； she…sounds possessed；' Scott swallowed。 And I had been hoping he would have some idea what we should do。〃
〃The thing using Annie's body rose to its feet； standing across the camp fire from us。 ‘Humans； you do not know the extent of our power！'〃
〃With that； the fire expanded； the flames leapt high above our heads。 Scott and I backed off a step or two； shielding our faces。〃
〃We saw Annie across the flames from us as she let them die down a bit； her hair floating as if windblown； her hands making passes as if she were a sorceress。〃
〃‘Humans are merely a dead end in the great