It was just like old times.
Just like hunting humans.
And then a wonderful thought occurred to Cohen. Why, if he killed enough of these little screaming balls of fur, they wouldn’t have any descendants. There wouldn’t ever be any Homo sapiens. In a very real sense, Cohen realized he was hunting humans — every single human being who would ever exist.
Of course, a few hours wouldn’t be enough time to kill many of them. Judge Hoskins no doubt thought it was wonderfully poetic justice, or she wouldn’t have allowed the transfer: sending him back to fall into the pit, damned.
Stupid judge. Why, now that he could control the beast, there was no way he was going to let it die young. He’d just -
There it was. The fissure, a long gash in the earth, with a crumbling edge. Damn, it was hard to see. The shadows cast by neighboring trees made a confusing gridwork on the ground that obscured the ragged opening. No wonder the dull-witted rex had missed seeing it until it was too late.
But not this time.
Turn left, thought Cohen.
Left.
His rex obeyed.
He’d avoid this particular area in future, just to be on the safe side. Besides, there was plenty of territory to cover. Fortunately, this was a young rex — a juvenile. There would be decades in which to continue his very special hunt. Cohen was sure that Axworthy knew his stuff: once it became apparent that the link had lasted longer than a few hours, he’d keep any attempt to pull the plug tied up in the courts for years.
Cohen felt the old pressure building in himself, and in the rex. The tyrannosaur marched on.
This was better than old times, he thought. Much better.
Hunting all of humanity.
The release would be wonderful.
He watched intently for any sign of movement in the underbrush.