Fatalis

Chapter Seventy-Seven

After Grand left the pit with Ha

"Don't be sorry." Mindar said. "The sheriff died the way a man like that hopes to die. With his boots on."

"And with his work unfinished," Grand said.

"Yeah. Well, you make your choices."

The sheriff's body was taken away with those of the other victims of the saber-tooth attack. Lieutenant Mindar said he would see to it that Gearhart was brought back to Santa Barbara for burial. Before leaving, Ha

Mindar said sure. Ha

As Grand, Ha

The Wall drove them back.

Grand and Ha

Ha

And then, suddenly, Grand looked at her.

"Do you have the geologic charts?"

"They're in the back. Why?"

"We have to go to Monte Arido."

"Now?"

"Yes," Grand said urgently.

"The National Guardsmen will still be there-"

"I know. That's why we need the charts."

"Why? What's there?"

"Something else the Chumash may have missed," he said.

Chapter Seventy-Eight

The geologic charts of the Santa Ynez Mountains showed a different cave access. It was an eighth of a mile to the west of where the National Guardsmen were removing the last of the dead saber-tooths. The Wall drove to the foot of the hill; the cave was just twenty feet up, little more than a yard-wide opening in a white stone face.

Grand, Ha

Grand moved up the gently sloping hillside like a wraith. He seemed to glide over the rocks, focused on a goal only he could see, and it wasn't the cave. Ha

Ha

Grand turned and walked back down.

"Don't," Ha

He came back to her anyway.

"You go ahead," she said.

"No, I'll wait," he said. "Another few minutes won't matter."

Ha

"There were more than a dozen saber-tooths," Grand said.

"Which means?"

"The Chumash shaman only painted twelve sets of eyes."

"All right. He missed some of the cats," Ha

"Possibly," Grand said. "But that may not be all he missed."

"I don't follow."

"I've been trying to understand why the pride split into male and female groups," Grand said.

"You said they often hunted separately," Ha

"That may not have been the reason they came to this spot," Grand told her. "They may not have smelled asphalt until after they were here."

"Then what attracted them?"

Grand said. "That's what I want to check."

"Okay. You've got me hooked." Ha

Grand helped her up. They continued up the mountainside together, the Wall trudging behind.

Dawn was just begi

The cave widened the deeper they went, until they were finally able to stand. They continued along the sloping path. When they were about two hundred yards in, Grand motioned for her to stop. She listened.

There were sounds like sobbing.

Grand hurried ahead.

The cave widened. They were finally able to stand. Grand covered the penlight with his hand and the cave was filled with a dull red glow. He moved ahead slowly, cautiously.

Then be stopped. Ha

"Jim-"

"I know," Grand said. He crouched, being very careful to keep the light shielded.

Huddled in the corner were six small saber-tooths. They were about the size of small bobcats and were all golden-haired save for one, which had a silver coat. It was a male, larger than the rest. Their paws were large, out of proportion with the rest of their bodies, and their fangs were small and sharp.

Ha

The cubs probably couldn't make the trip back to the tar pits without resting," Grand said. The females looked for underground shelter and smelled tar, expecting to find prey. They stayed here to take care of the young while the males went back to La Brea. "

The silver-coated cub suddenly broke from the group and walked a few steps toward the intruders. It stood looking at them and then made a sound that was a cross between a purr and a hiss.

"A little tough guy," Ha

"No."

"Look at them!" she said. "Why are they here-how did you know? We should call someone at the zoo. They could house and feed the litter until a permanent sanctuary could be established."

"And then what?" Grand asked.

"I don't understand. They survive."

"As what?"

"Jim, you've lost me."

He shuffled closer to the small silver cat. It growled again and didn't back away.

"These cats are hunters," Grand said. "Put them in a zoo and they become an attraction."

"They'll also survive."

"As what?"

"As not-extinct," Ha

"I know," Grand said. He continued to stare at the bold little cat. "But you can't lock a soldier up."