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You squeeze off two shots. The pterosaur falls dead with a scream, a spray of blood, and a sickening splut into the tar pit. The rest of the swarm flap away faster than you imagined possible.
You catch Casey looking daggers at you while hauling Darien Vance from the death trap slowly, slowly, a few inches, then a foot. A tentative cheer goes up from the onlookers. Sweat pours off the paleontologist. You find yourself holding your breath until…yes! Casey does it! Vance emerges from the tar pit, staggering and suffering from dehydration. Casey and Brett both fear that he's about to pass out.