by Raymond Bean
“You also haven’t managed to catch them yet,” I pointed out. “Just trust me.”
$$$
The team and I worked all day setting up my plan. We built three large enclosures out of the thick, clear plastic. In one, we built a corral for the cows and in another a huge coop for the chickens. They were completely enclosed with the exception of airholes in the top. Nothing could get in or out.
The enclosures were placed right next to each other in the far field behind the old hangar.
The plastic was so clear that from a distance you couldn’t see it at all.
In front of those enclosures, we placed the third. The third was identical to the other two, except the side facing the woods, where we knew the Troodon were hiding, was designed to be remotely lowered once they entered the structure.
The first part of my plan was that the Troodon would see and smell the cows and chickens. Once it was dark, they would come out of the woods to prey on the farm animals. They would mistakenly enter the empty container thinking they could reach the cows and chickens. But, when they were inside, I’d remotely close the fourth wall and capture them.
The plan was simple enough. If it worked, everyone would be amazed. I just had to pull it off without anything going wrong.
By the time night fell, everything was in place. There was only one thing left to do...
Find the Troodon.
The remote-control helicopter that I ordered had a night-vision camera mounted on the front. I flew it over the woods where we knew the Troodon were hiding.
“Do you think this will work?” Dad asked.
“I’m not sure,” I said, concentrating on the remote. “But there’s only one way to find out.”
I flew the helicopter behind the Troodon. I didn’t want them going in the opposite direction of the enclosure. They caught the scent of the cows and chickens because they were moving toward them. I followed close behind.
When the Troodon reached the edge of the woods, the dinos all stopped. I hovered above with the helicopter. The creatures seemed to be analyzing the situation. It was like a full buffet just waiting for them, but they were super cautious.
Over the course of an hour, the dinosaurs inched closer and closer toward the glass enclosure.
I was so afraid they would see their reflections and get spooked, but luckily that didn’t happen. A cloudy sky hid the moonlight.
One after the other, the Troodon went inside. They walked to the far side of the enclosure thinking they’d be able to reach the cows and chickens.
Once they were all safely inside, I clicked the button and closed the enclosure with the fourth wall. Yes! I let out a sigh of relief, and Dr. Snow and his team cheered. For the first time since I’d met him, Dr. Clive smiled.
It worked like a charm. The Troodon were safely captured. We loaded the enclosure holding the dinosaurs onto a flat bed truck. Dr. Snow’s team covered the beds with old semi trailers taken from grandpa’s workshop.
Within a few hours, a truck bearing the logo “Ocean Wave Underwear” rolled out the front gate of the airport. The Troodon were on their way to a safe new location.
CHAPTER 10
Food for Thought
In the morning, I called Mom and told her to come out to the old airport. An hour later, I met her at the entrance.
Everyone else had gone with Dr. Snow to set up the Troodon in their new location. Dad and I had spent the night at the old airport and completed the second phase of my plan with the carpenters.
“How did it go last night?” Mom asked.
“You would have been very proud,” Dad said. “Your son was like a hero without the cape and the silly suit.”
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” she said. “He’s always been brilliant.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said. “But I have a surprise for you, too.”
“You bought the dinosaurs as pets?” she asked.
“Haha. Funny, Mom,” I said.
Dad and I climbed in her car and drove around to the back of the property, where the cows and chickens were located.
Overnight, Dad and I had released them into the field. It was completely fenced in, and they were free to roam. The main hangar was a perfect barn. The chickens were set up in the other hangar, which we turned into a giant chicken coop.
“I didn’t know this was a farm. I thought it was all just abandoned,” Mom said.
“It was, sort of. The cows and chickens are new. So are the two greenhouses,” I said. The clear plastic enclosures made perfect greenhouses for growing crops.
“I don’t get it,” Mom said, puzzled. “What was the project you and your dad were working on up here? Where are the dinosaurs you told me about?”
“They’re gone. Dr. Snow and his team are taking them somewhere safe,” I explained. “In return for my help, I convinced them to give me all this land. I thought a farm might help solve the food shortage at the pantry. I think with all these cows and chickens your pantry will be sustainable now.”
“What are you talking about, Benji?” Mom asked.
“Remember when you told me to let you know when I’d found a better way?” I asked. “I’m saying this farm is yours.”
Mom opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, she gave me a hug.
“And I put several million dollars in an account,” I said. “You can hire farmers to work the land and take care of the animals. You can buy trucks and staff to deliver the food. Whatever you need, I’ve got you covered.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Mom exclaimed. “I’m amazed at what goes on in that brain of yours, Benjamin.”
I thought about telling her that Troodon could be trained to make excellent pets. But I figured that could wait until after breakfast!
CHAPTER 11
Asteroids!
The next morning, I was out in the workshop downloading data from the satellite. Dad was back working on his magnetic suits. He’d reversed the magnets and his safety system seemed about ready for a real-life trial. He had a fisherman in town that agreed to try it out with his crew. He’d dropped his boat off at our workshop earlier in the morning, and Dad was installing the system in the boat.
That’s when I saw it...
An asteroid appeared on the satellite’s data system. It was on course to collide with Earth!
“You might want to take a look at this, Dad,” I said, my heart pounding.
He was by the boat, twisting at something with his wrench. “I can’t right now, Benji. Is it good news or bad?” he asked.
“Both,” I said.
“Well, does it look like something’s going to take out our satellite?” he asked.
“Well, no, and that’s part of the good news,” I told him. “The bad news...it might take out the planet. The WHOLE planet!!”
My dad is super organized. Everything he owns has a place, and he always puts things where they belong. I thought it was kind of funny that even though there was an asteroid screaming toward the planet, the first thing he did was put his wrench carefully back in his toolbox. If there was a time to simply drop it on the floor and be sloppy, this was it!
“What’s the other good news?” asked Dad.
“Maybe we can stop it,” I said.
“Benji, this asteroid is rushing toward Earth at incredible speed. I don’t think we can do anything,” he said, skeptical.
“From my calculations, the asteroid is still sixty days from impact,” I explained.
“Then I wouldn’t panic just yet,” he said. “I’ve seen space debris that looked like it was on course for impact suddenly change direction and sail right on by. Now, it’s getting late. You need to get to the bus stop.”
Huh?!? How can he expect me to go to school after what I just told him? “I don’t think you heard me when I screamed, ‘the W
HOLE planet,’” I said. “I need to track this asteroid and send the data to someone who can help save us! Then maybe I can buy a laser canon...or a supersized missile launcher...or a titanium flyswatter the size of a football field, or—”
“Benji, you’re in sixth grade,” he said. “The world can survive without you on this one. You’re not the only person with a satellite tracking this thing. Everything will be fine.”
Obviously, I didn’t agree, but I could tell there was no way Dad was going to let me stay home.
$$$
On the ride to school, all I could think about was the asteroid. I was working on my smartphone, which was really hard to do with the bus bouncing and all the kids talking. I made a list of the ways to destroy or send an asteroid off course:
HOW TO STOP THE ASTEROID
Blow to bits.
Send off course with mega-ton explosion..
Redirect course with giant sail.
Jackhammer to pieces with high-tech machines.
Create a chemical reaction to disintegrate.
I was so focused on my list that I didn’t notice this person sitting next to me. Cindy Meyers. “You know, you’re no2 allowed to use your smartphone on the bus,” she said. “You think just because your app is so popular that you can do whatever you want?”
I rolled my eyes. “Good morning to you, too, Cindy,” I said, trying to be polite. “I’m busy on an important project. It’s not like I’m playing video games or texting like you.”
“I’m not texting or talking on my phone because that would be against school rules,” she whined.
“I’ll be watching,” I said, getting back to work.
“That makes two of us,” she warned. “It’s going to be a real shame when the principal takes your smartphone away and bans you from the bus.”
“If you knew what I was working on you wouldn’t be giving me a hard time,” I said.
She laughed. “I find that hard to believe.”
Cindy had always been difficult, but she was being extra annoying today.
“What’s your problem?” I asked.
“I don’t have a problem,” she said. “You’re the one who thinks you’re so cool ever since you created that ridiculous computer app.”
“Who said I think I’m cool?” I said. “For your information, I’ve never been considered cool.”
“Well, you don’t act like it. You created that app, and then you didn’t even have to come to school because you’re a big shot now. You weren’t the only one who worked hard on that app project,” she said.
She was upset that her app didn’t get more attention than mine. I couldn’t even remember what her app did! “I haven’t been to school because I was busy helping out the food shelter,” I explained.
“I think you’re a troublemaker,” she said.
“Then why’d you sit next to me?” I asked. I had bigger things to think about than Cindy.
“Because I’m on the School Decency Committee and you’re on my radar,” Cindy explained. “You haven’t been around to see the damage your app created. Kids are making up all kinds of excuses for things thanks to your reckless idea.”
I got a little anxious because I had barely been to school since I created the app. I knew tons of people had downloaded it, but I hadn’t had any time to see how kids were using it.
“Well,” I began, “I’m about to see for myself.”
CHAPTER 12
Big Trouble
Everything seemed pretty much the same as usual when I got to school. My app wasn’t causing any problems as far as I could see. I was definitely getting more attention than usual though. More people seemed to know my name, which was funny because before the app I wasn’t exactly popular.
On my way to tech class, a few kids patted me on the back. I didn’t like all the attention. It was a little stressful. I found myself walking quicker than usual. I slipped into my seat in tech class, relieved to be out of the hall.
Mrs. Heart started the lesson by welcoming me back to school. The class erupted with applause. “You’re a superstar these days,” she said. “We’ve been following your success online. I can’t believe how huge your app, Excuse Yourself, has become.”
I’d been so busy with the Troodon and Dr. Snow that I hadn’t had time to read what was being said about the app.
“I’m pretty shocked myself,” I said. “Honestly, I haven’t been able to follow what’s going on with the app because I’ve been working.”
“I thought you were out because of the app,” Mrs. Heart said curiously.
“Actually, I was busy with another project for the food pantry,” I explained. “The principal, Mrs. Petty, gave me permission to take a few days to work on it. Remember?”
“That’s not an excuse, is it?” Mrs. Heart joked.
“No, but maybe I should add it to the app,” I said with a smile.
“Are you rich?” said a student in the back.
“It’s not polite to ask someone a question like that,” said Mrs. Heart. “We’re all very happy for you though, Benji.”
Realizing that everyone at school knew I made a TON of money was kind of embarrassing. James, the kid sitting next to me, leaned over and whispered, “How much do you actually have?”
“I don’t know,” I said, which was basically the truth because the number was always changing. I’d checked the total before school, but there were too many zeros to count!
CHA-CHING! CHA-CHING!!
I’d only been out of school for a week, but it felt like a year.
$$$
When I got home later that day, I went straight to the workshop. Dad was at the computer and looked like he’d been there all day.
“Benji, I was wrong,” he said. “People don’t seem to be tracking this thing. You’ve found something that others haven’t noticed yet. I can see why! It’s not a known asteroid. I’ve been searching the database all day and can’t find any record of it.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“We might be the only ones who know it’s there,” he exclaimed. “Most satellites are designed to locate asteroids larger than a kilometer. My satellite is great at detecting asteroids smaller than a kilometer. This one is about the size of a twenty-story building, so it’s much harder to locate than a larger one.”
I did the math in my head. A story on a building is about twelve feet high. If the asteroid was twenty stories, it measured about 240 feet long!
“That’s small?” I asked.
“Compared to some larger asteroids,” said Dad. “It’s big enough to cause a lot of damage, but still small enough to go undetected. The good news is it won’t destroy the planet, but if it hits it will do some real damage.”
“Shouldn’t we call someone or notify the government?” I asked.
“Not yet,” he said. “Let’s give it a few days and see if it changes course. We have some time.”
I logged on to my computer to research the kind of damage an asteroid would do if it impacted Earth. I learned that the asteroid that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs was about six miles wide.
The asteroid I located wasn’t even close to the size of that one, but it was large enough to level buildings for five miles from the impact location.
I worked to try and calculate the impact date. I knew Dad was doing the same.
Neither one of us said anything for about an hour. Then, I broke the silence.
“If my calculations are correct,” I said. “The asteroid will hit Earth on Mom’s birthday!”
I didn’t have the heart to tell Mom that the world could be blasted by an asteroid on her birthday. When I went out to the farm later that night, I didn’t say anything about it.
Mom hadn’t wasted any time taking over the farm I’d bought her. It was already producing milk and eggs, and she had
a full-time staff. She also bought a few refrigerated trucks for deliveries. That night, she was checking on the chickens, as I walked alongside her.
“You’ve been on your computer too long again,” she said. “Your eyes are all bloodshot.”
“No more than usual,” I said.
She stopped and took another look at me. “What’s on your mind, Benji? You look troubled.”
“I’m fine, Mom. Today was my first day back to school. It was a little strange. Kids are really focused on the app and all the money I’m making.” I said this knowing it was partially true, and my real concern was the asteroid.
“Kids your age don’t normally experience this kind of success,” she said. “It’s natural for your friends to be confused and ask a lot of questions.”
“I guess,” I replied.
“There’s something else that you’re not telling me,” she said. “What is it?”
I couldn’t lie to my mother. “Our satellite located an asteroid this morning. It’s on track to smash Earth in about a month.”
“I know. Your father told me a few hours ago,” she said, walking ahead of me.
“WHAT?! Why didn’t you tell me that?”
“I wanted to see if you’d tell me on your own. Why didn’t you tell me?” she said.
“I didn’t want to worry you,” I explained.
“I’m not worried, Benji.”
“You should be!” I exclaimed. “It’s on a collision course with the planet. The WHOLE planet!”
“You’ll figure something out,” she suggested.
Mothers. They’re always so supportive. But this problem was a little out of my league.
“I bet you already have a solution brewing inside that head, and you don’t even know it yet,” she said. “You don’t want an asteroid ruining your mother’s birthday, do you?”