Dinosaur Breakout

by Judith Silverthorne

  Sneaking behind the outhouses, they could see the pair sitting on a picnic table, digging at the surface with something. Daniel decided it was time to confront them. They were damaging property! His property! He was just about to come out from hiding when Jed pulled him back.

  “They’ve got a knife!”

  Daniel peeked around the corner again. Jed was right! They were using a big jackknife. Probably carving their initials into the table. Daniel gulped and huddled with the others behind the outhouse.

  “Now what?” he murmured.

  “We get out of here as fast as possible,” Jed answered. “We’ll let the adults deal with it.”

  Lucy frantically nodded her head in agreement.

  “Okay,” Daniel agreed, reluctantly. He motioned for Lucy to go first. He’d take up the rear.

  By now it was quite dark and difficult to see where they were going. A moon struggled on the horizon behind them, giving them faint light. They stumbled along, as carefully as they could. Suddenly Lucy tripped.

  “Ooof!” she went down with a thud.

  “You okay?” Jed asked, as Lucy righted herself quickly. His voice echoed into the night.

  “Shhh!” Daniel said behind them.

  They all looked towards the Nelwins, who had been alerted by the sound and had stopped their carving. The two talked amongst themselves. Whichever one of them held the knife tucked it away into his pocket, seeming to be alarmed that someone might catch them with it. Then the pair headed towards the sound to investigate.

  Daniel, Jed, and Lucy dropped to the ground and lay still. They hoped the Nelwins would give up and go away, as they hadn’t ventured very far from the campsite.

  “ACHOOO!!” Jed sneezed loudly. Then he whispered, “Sorry.”

  Daniel touched him on the back, and motioned them all to run. Lucy couldn’t see and Daniel had to drop back to grab her.

  The Nelwins raced towards them, stumbling over the clumps of grass. The moon suddenly seemed to shine brighter over the hillside, illuminating them all.

  “We know you’re out there, Daniel!” Craig shouted.

  “We’re going to get you now!” Todd taunted them.

  “Run hard!” Daniel yelled, making sure Lucy was ahead of him.

  As cautiously as he could in the darkness, Daniel ran. When he chanced to look back, he saw the Nelwins weren’t far behind them. All of a sudden, Daniel pitched forward. One second he was on his feet and the next he was spitting out dirt. Darn, he hadn’t seen the gopher hole! Before he had a chance to recover, the Nelwins reached him. They each grabbed an arm and dragged him to his feet.

  “Looky, who we have here!” Todd grinned into his face. “Dino boy!”

  Daniel saw Jed and Lucy stop.

  “Go!” he yelled at the top of his lungs! “Get help!”

  Jed hesitated and started back.

  Daniel shouted again. “Take Lucy! Get help!”

  Jed grabbed Lucy by the arm and they pelted up the hill as fast as they could go.

  Craig made a movement to follow them, but Todd motioned him to stay put.

  “Ixnay! Let ’em go. We’ll have fun with Dino boy here!” He prodded Daniel forward, dragging him back to the rest area.

  “What about the adults coming?” Craig asked, worried.

  “Who cares!” Todd said. “By the time they get here, Dino Boy will tell us what we want to know.”

  “What do you want from me?” Daniel asked, as bravely as he could. He gasped for breath, but Todd had a tight hold on him, and he wasn’t about to let go. He could hear the faint sounds of Jed and Lucy pounding up the hillside. Would they be back in time?

  “We want to know where your hideout is!” Craig demanded.

  “No way!” Daniel said, alarmed. They’d have to torture him to get the information.

  “I think we can be convincing,” Todd said, poking his angry, pudgy face into Daniel’s.

  As he spoke, spittle flew onto Daniel’s face. He couldn’t wipe it off, because they each had one of his arms. He didn’t dare say anything to provoke them, as they dragged him along.

  “Come on, Craig,” Daniel appealed to the brother he knew a little better. “What do you want with my old hideout anyway?”

  “We won’t know that until we see it, now, will we?” Todd responded with a snarl.

  Daniel gulped. How was he going to get away from them without telling?

  They held him against the hitching post, while they thought about what they were going to do with him. Daniel’s knees felt weak, and his head ached again. His stomach felt a little queasy too! He could hear the faint shouts of Lucy and Jed calling for help as they ran.

  “Maybe we should get out of here before anyone comes,” suggested Craig, looking up the hillside uneasily.

  “Don’t wimp out on me now, bro,” Todd taunted, not taking his eyes off Daniel.

  His eyes lighted on the barrels by the trees. He signalled to Craig.

  “What are you going to do?” Craig asked. “There’s no time.”

  “Nothing serious. Just make him talk,” Todd said. “Let’s take him over there. We’ll just have a little fun.”

  They grabbed Daniel again and hauled him over to the barrels. Todd moved one a little closer to the edge of the hill, while Craig pinned his arms behind his back. Then with only a couple of grunts, they lifted Daniel and stuffed him inside the barrel.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” Daniel yelled, kicking and grabbing at them to escape.

  “We’re not letting you go until you tell us where your hideout is!” Todd breathed into his face.

  “I’m not telling!” He defied them again.

  “Fine!” Todd pushed him farther into the barrel. “Stay there then!”

  Daniel shuddered inside the rusty old barrel. It was hot and confining and all he could do was keep breathing in the dusty metallic air. Every time he tried to push himself upwards, the Nelwins slammed him back down again.

  “Just tell us where it is!” Craig had a pleading whine in his voice.

  Daniel rested for a few moments, catching his breath. He really was trapped! Maybe if he gave them the wrong directions, they’d go away?

  As if reading his thoughts, Todd’s words echoed down to him, “Don’t even think about telling us a lie!”

  “I’m not telling you the truth either!” Daniel spat out at them.

  He could hear the two whispering above him, but he couldn’t make out the words. From way off in the distance, he thought he heard Dactyl barking. Maybe help was on the way! He just needed to stall.

  “Tell us now, Daniel. Time is running out!” Todd hovered above him.

  Daniel struck up and punched towards Todd’s face. But he was too cramped and didn’t connect as well as he’d hoped.

  Todd darted back, grabbing his nose.

  Daniel heard voices coming down towards them. Yes! Help was on the way!!

  “You’ll pay for that, Dino boy!”

  “Let’s just get out of here,” Craig implored.

  Todd rushed at the barrel and knocked it over. The next thing Daniel felt was his body clashing against metal and he was staring at the ground. Then he felt a force against the barrel and suddenly he was careening down the hillside. He thumped and banged about, yelling as he went. All he could do was protect his face and hands as his body crashed from side to side, and he flopped over with each rotation, banging into the metal walls of the container.

  He felt the jolt of every rock and tuft of grass he rolled over. His stomach did flip-flops and his head pounded. There was a terrible clanging in his ears. The horrible tumbling seemed to go on forever, as if time stood still. At one point, he bounced exceptionally hard against a large protrusion and he seemed to be airborne. Then he crashed into some bushes with a resounding clang and came to a shuddering stop.

  He lay stunned for a few moments, feeling as if he was still spinning. Every part of his body hurt. He lay there for quite some time, half in and half out of the dented drum,
spitting rust. He wiped other flakes of rust out of his face and tried to open his eyes all the way. He could see the stars pinpricking the night sky above him, and when he managed to turn his head, he could see lights bobbing at the top of the hill. He closed his eyes and rested, hoping someone would rescue him soon.

  Chapter Nine

  Dactyl reached Daniel first. He whimpered and padded around Daniel softly, licking his face.

  “I’m okay, boy,” he said reaching up to pat his side, then dropping his arm back down again, as a pain shot up his arm. He felt so weak.

  “He’s down this way!” he heard Dad call to the others.

  “Daniel!” Mom screamed from farther back.

  “I’m okay, Mom,” he croaked out.

  Just then Dad knelt down by his side, setting his flashlight on the ground so it shone on him, but not in his eyes.

  “Son, is anything broken?”

  “I don’t think so,” he murmured. “But I sure do hurt!”

  Gently, Dad slid Daniel all the way out of the barrel, and then checked Daniel’s arms, his legs, and lastly his neck.

  “We’ll get you out of here as quick as we can!” Dad rose and called out to Doug, who was just arriving, “We’re going to need the truck to lay him in!”

  “I’ll get it!” Doug answered. “Good thing we left it at the campsite.”

  He strode off across the pasture and down the next hill, shining a strong beam of light to show the way. From above, Daniel heard Jed’s mom shoo the other kids back to the house. He heard her concern over Lucy, and then, when it appeared she was fine, Greta asked her to put the kettle on and take care of Cheryl. Then Daniel felt sure he heard the quick footsteps of his mom, hurrying down the hill.

  “Libby, we’ll need a warm blanket too,” Dad called to Mom. She in turn asked Jed to run back and grab one off the end of the couch.

  “I don’t think there are any broken bones,” Dad added, when Mom reached his side.

  “Oh, Daniel!” Mom brushed his hair from his face and kissed his forehead. “You’re going to be okay.” She examined him for more cuts and bruises, softly checking him again for broken bones.

  Moments later, Pederson appeared. “Darn, I lost them!” he said, breathing hard. “At least we have witnesses this time and they won’t be able to get away with this! You are going to call the rcmp, aren’t you?”

  “You bet we will,” Mom said without hesitation.

  Dad added, “For attacking Daniel and for damaging property too.” He’d already heard about them carving the picnic tables from Jed and Lucy.

  Jed’s mom reached them and stood peering down at Daniel. He lay dazed on the ground for what seemed like hours, drifting in and out of sleep. Then suddenly there was activity again. Jed arrived, panting, with the blanket. The start of an engine and the grinding of gears told them Doug Lindstrom was on his way uphill with the truck. And Dactyl barked into the night.

  After much scuffling of feet and whispering, Daniel felt himself being lifted into the box of the truck. Mom covered him with the blanket and crawled in beside him. Jed and his mom took the front seat, with his dad driving, and Dad, Mr. Pederson, and Dactyl sat on the tailgate. As they bounced back up the hill, Mom tried to keep Daniel as comfortable as possible, but there were still rough spots that jangled his body against the floor of the truck box. He tried to keep from groaning.

  Instead, he concentrated on the stars in the sky above. Although they wavered with the movement of the truck, he thought he could pick out the Big Dipper. Doug wove back and forth as he moved up the hill, rather than going straight upwards, so that those in the back of the truck wouldn’t have to brace themselves.

  When they finally reached home, Dad and Jed’s dad carried Daniel into the bright lights of the living room and laid him on the couch. Mom brought out her trusty wash basin and warm water and began wiping the rust flakes and smudges from his face and arms with a soft damp cloth. Daniel gritted his teeth as she applied iodine to disinfect the scrapes. When she finished, she rebandaged his head, and placed a few more bandages where they were needed. Dad phoned the rcmp office in Climax to lay a complaint. Everyone sat quietly in the room, watching Daniel begin to move again. He felt every muscle twinge in pain, and his headache was back in full force.

  Dad returned and said, “Constable Fraser was going to come tonight, but I suggested there was no point

  in rushing out here. It’s late, and I figured we all need some rest, especially Daniel. He’ll come first thing in the morning.”

  Jed’s mom brought him a glass of water, which was just what he needed. He’d had a dry ride! He looked around at all the concerned faces and was sorry he’d worried everyone. It had been his idea to see what the Nelwins were up to. More of them could have been hurt.

  “I always wondered what it would feel like to roll downhill in a barrel,” Daniel said, making an attempt at humour. “Now I don’t need to wonder anymore!”

  Everyone laughed weakly. If he could joke, he was going to be all right! The Lindstroms gathered up their children and offered Pederson a ride home. He accepted with gratitude.

  “Take care of yourself, young man!” Pederson said, patting Daniel’s hand before he left. “I’ll be by tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” Daniel smiled feebly. “Thanks, everyone. Good night!”

  Jed lingered behind as the others filed out of the room. He stood by Daniel.

  “Talk to you tomorrow, Jedlock!”

  “Uh, Daniel, I’m sorry I wasn’t more help to you,” his friend said, bowing his head and moving closer.

  “You did just fine, Jed! You got help. Who knows what else they would have done to me? And you took care of Lucy too.”

  “Yeah, at least I did that much!” Jed’s face brightened a little. “Next time though, I won’t leave.”

  “Let’s hope there isn’t a next time!” Daniel said wearily.

  Jed grinned. “That’s for sure. You’re pretty beaten up!”

  “Don’t remind me!” Daniel groaned.

  “See ya, buddy!” Jed gave him a light high-five.

  Daniel rested while Dad ushered everyone out the back door and safely into the vehicle, and Mom tended to Cheryl. Daniel ached all over! He just wanted to go to bed, and forget the whole incident. He knew more trouble was brewing now! If the police charged the Nelwins, they would try to get him back worse than ever. He knew that there was no reasoning with those two. Look what had happened when he tried to defend himself!

  Dad came back with some painkillers and a glass of water, which Daniel swallowed gratefully. While Mom prepared Cheryl for bed, Dad helped Daniel up to his room. Dad left him while he visited the bathroom and changed into his pyjamas. He wobbled about, using the wall and bedposts to steady himself. Every movement hurt. He hoped the painkillers would kick in soon.

  Dad tucked the blankets around him, making sure he was cosy. He even brought him a glass of water for on his nightstand. Then he sat at the edge of the bed with a worried look.

  “You sure do know how to have an adventure,” he said, ruffling Daniel’s hair with a soft touch of his hand.

  “Guess I do,” Daniel agreed. If only Dad knew the half of it!

  “At least maybe we can put a stop to the Nelwins hassling you for a time, and who knows, maybe they’ll learn a lesson.”

  “Temporarily, anyway,” Daniel added, sighing.

  “Yes,” Dad agreed, none too happy at the thought. “We’ll see what Jim Fraser has to say when you give your statement in the morning.”

  Daniel nodded. He felt his eyes grow heavy with sleep. The presence of Dad, and the warmth and softness of his bed were comforting. Just before he drifted off to sleep, he suddenly remembered a conversation he’d had with Mr. Pederson earlier in the day.

  “Dad,” he asked, opening his eyes to look at his father’s expression. “Did I put too much pressure on you and Mom about doing this dinosaur tourist thing?”

  Dad seemed surprised. “No. Whatever gave you that id
ea?”

  “Well, I just wondered, because I didn’t realize until today how much money you might have made if you’d taken the lease offer instead.”

  “Don’t even think it,” Dad said. “Remember, the bank suggested we do this instead, because it was more of a sure thing and probably profitable more quickly too.”

  “Okay, just as long as you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure,” Dad said, seeming touched by Daniel’s concern.

  Daniel yawned and closed his eyes.

  A moment later, Mom planted another kiss on his forehead. She must have been standing at the door and stepped over to the bed without either of them noticing.

  “Good night, Danny-boy,” she whispered.

  That was the last thing he heard until morning.

  ~

  Daniel woke up to Cheryl cooing by his head and poking him in the arm with her chubby fingers.

  “Up?” she asked, standing beside him and holding onto her worn teddy bear by its ear.

  “I’m up,” Daniel said, groaning as he rolled over to face her. His body felt stiff and sore all over. Maybe once he moved around a bit, it would be better.

  “Book?” she asked, smiling at Daniel. Her blonde curls lay in disarray all over her head, as if she’d just woken as well.

  He sighed. “Okay. Book.”

  She toddled out of the room and came back carrying her favourite book, Go Dog Go.

  He reached over and painfully helped Cheryl climb onto his bed. She sat in the middle of the covers in her sleepers. He tried to sit up, but his head pounded, so he lay back down again and helped her crawl up beside him. She lay back on the other pillow, and held the book for him. He began to read just as Mom called in a quiet voice from down the hall.

  “Cheryl? Where are you?”

  She giggled and her eyes twinkled at Daniel, but she kept silent.

  “Cheryl?” Mom called again softly.

  “She’s here, Mom,” Daniel said, and Cheryl tried to hide under the covers.

  Mom came to the side of the bed, smiling. She was still in her dressing gown, with her hair all ruffled too.

  “Guess Cheryl’s gone,” said Mom in a singsong voice. “Guess I get to eat her pancakes instead.”