Dinosaur Stakeout

by Judith Silverthorne

  “Okay, young man,” she said, tucking her camera ­away.

  “Do you need some help?” Daniel asked, seeing her sudden look of ­terror.

  “Maybe,” she said ­tightly.

  Daniel groaned ­inwardly.

  “I’ve never rightly been up a tree before. Not sure I can get down.”

  “Dr. Roost!” Daniel couldn’t hide his ­dismay.

  “Don’t worry, Daniel,” she said, easing herself out of the crook of the tree and grasping a nearby bough. “I’m a believer in Newton’s law of gravity.”

  With sudden realization, Daniel chuckled. “What goes up must come down.”

  She smiled, and then began the descent in earnest, grabbing at branches and muttering under her breath whenever she hit a snag or couldn’t find her footing. Daniel slid down the other side of the tree quickly and waited at the bottom, helping her as best he could. Her bulky figure was too much for him to catch and she dropped that last few feet to the ground and ­rolled.

  “Whew!” Dr. Roost said, struggling back to her feet. “That was quite an experience.”

  “Let’s hope we don’t have any more of them!” Daniel said, helping to brush her off and picking up her cane. She took it ­gratefully.

  “Would you mind picking up my hat?” she asked. “I’m sure Ole will get a kick out of it.”

  Daniel retrieved the shredded hat, and she tucked it into a side pocket of her backpack. Then he crept forward, keeping a sharp lookout. Now that he knew in which the direction the river lay, he headed there. They wouldn’t stop until they reached their main ­destination – ­the nesting Edmontosaurus. But they had to get a move on! Danger lurked everywhere. This wasn’t some fossil field expedition where everything stood still and he had all the time in the world to ­investigate.

  They pushed on through the undergrowth, weaving through dense bush and marshy areas, avoiding any places that seemed likely to be inhabited. There was little time for conversation and Dr. Roost ploughed valiantly along behind him for quite some time. Daniel thought they must be getting close to the meadow, but as he searched for an opening in the trees, he suddenly realized he was in unfamiliar ­territory.

  The trees seemed larger and towered higher above them than anywhere else. Other plants and vines wound around the densely packed trees, reaching towards the sunlight. As Daniel and Mildred Roost went farther along, they found themselves under a canopy of vegetation that seemed dark and foreboding. The foliage formed an umbrella over them and blocked out the sun and the mist. He froze! Where were ­they?

  “Something wrong, Daniel?” Dr. Roost asked, noticing his ­hesitation.

  “I just need to check something.” Dragging off his backpack, he dug out his ­hand-­drawn map. Then he pulled his compass out of his pocket. As he studied his surroundings, he realized he was lost!

  Mildred Roost peered over his shoulder. “So what’s the prognosis?” she ­asked.

  “We’re a little off course,” he managed to croak out. “We’ll have to do some backtracking.”

  “You’re sure, lad?” Dr. Roost asked, trying to keep her voice ­steady.

  “Yes,” Daniel answered, his own voice wavering ­slightly.

  “Do you know where we went wrong?” she asked gently but ­firmly.

  “I think so,” he answered, looking carefully ­around.

  All the plant life here looked more abnormally large than anything they’d previously encountered. The blossoms on the magnolia trees and the other bright flowers seemed magnified even from their normal prehistoric size. Daniel brushed against an ­oval-­shaped plant with yellow leaves lying flat to the ground. The leaves immediately tried to curl around his foot. He jumped back. He looked more closely at the plants around them, noticing another plant covered with tiny, red hairs. A huge insect buzzed close by it, and was instantly stuck to it. Daniel ­froze.

  “Don’t move,” he ­yelled.

  Dr. Roost stopped in her ­tracks.

  “These plants may be ­flesh-­eating,” he ­exclaimed.

  Mildred Roost studied them without moving any part of her body except her head. She indicated the vine close to Daniel’s feet. Was it his imagination, or was it snaking out towards ­him?

  “Back out the way you came,” Dr. Roost said, clutching her ­cane.

  Daniel clasped his arms to his body and carefully backed out of the dense woods. He kept his eye pinned on the foliage, not sure what would try to grab him. He carefully avoided what looked like a giant Venus flytrap. He’d seen how quickly this plant, with its unusual bristled lobes, snapped shut on insects, and this one was so huge that he might become its next ­prey.

  When he was safely out, Mildred Roost pulled out her camera and took a number of shots from different angles without taking a step. Daniel hoped there was enough light to have good photographs. This opportunity was too good to ­miss.

  At last, Dr. Roost came out with her cane raised, prepared to hack if something threatened to engulf her. They didn’t take the time to look at the photographs. When they considered themselves safe again, they ­stopped.

  “Whew, I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Daniel ­claimed.

  “I don’t know that we want to again, either,” said Dr. Roost with an indignant chortle. “It’s one thing to be gobbled by a prehistoric reptile that thinks you’re nothing more than an annoying insect, but quite another for a plant to squeeze the life out of you.”

  Daniel started laughing nervously. “Yeah, being slowly absorbed by a plant doesn’t make quite as good a story as being swallowed by a T. rex.”

  Dr. Roost chuckled. “No telling if they were poisonous or not. I decided we could do without samples for now!”

  “At least you got some photos!”

  “Good thing, otherwise no one would ever believe us! Not that many will anyway.”

  Serious once again, they consulted about how far they had to go to get back on the right trail. In order to get his bearings, Daniel scrabbled up the nearest tree, pushing vines out of the way, ignoring thoughts of ­people-­eating plants. He cut his hands on ­sharp-­edged leaves, and scraped his legs and arms on rough bark as he dragged himself upwards as fast and as high as he could go. Exhausted, he clung to a tiny branch near the top of the redwood tree. The sweat ran down his forehead and his face stung where it seeped into open scratches. The treetop swayed with his ­weight.

  All at once, he caught a glimpse of the river and could see the path to their right where they’d veered in the wrong direction. Mentally, he imprinted the information and joined Mildred Roost back on the ground, sure that he knew the route to ­take.

  Not long afterwards they found their way, following the strips of tape Daniel had tied along their path. He made sure to take away those that led to the weird carnivorous plants. He never wanted to go there again. As they pushed onwards, the fresh smell of pine and the sweetness of magnolia blossoms were keen in the pure air untouched by modern pollution. Several times they nearly tripped on roots and scrubby brush, startling little ­lizard-­like things that flicked into previously unseen ­holes.

  A short time later, they came to the marshy meadow. The temperature had risen, and so had the humidity. Tying a piece of tape to a tree on the edge of the open area, Daniel decided they would need to drag some branches with them to mark the way across. Quickly, he dug out his Swiss Army knife and cut several lengths, handing them to Dr. ­Roost.

  “Maybe just a few more,” she suggested, clutching them in her arms. “We want to make sure we find our way back.”

  Daniel loaded her up, then put away his knife and took the bundle from her. Every few hundred metres, they stopped and Daniel constructed a teepee shape tied with tape, until the markers stretched in a wavering line behind them that they could easily ­see.

  At times, they almost sank to their ankles in sticky black ooze when they came through a particularly low spot. Mostly, they were on solid but rough ground. Camouflaged beetles and unfamiliar ­gopher-­sized
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  mammals with beaky noses darted about, ­criss-­crossing their path in the long grass and reeds. Once they came upon a string of marsupials – ­odd-­shaped ­opossum-­like ­creatures.

  “In all my days in paleontology, I never expected to see such cute but ­odd-­looking creatures!” Dr. Roost lifted her camera to take more shots. “I wish Ole could see this.”

  “So how long have you been doing paleontology work?” asked Daniel, suddenly ­curious.

  “As far back as I can remember,” she shrugged her shoulders. “Even when I was younger than you, I knew what I wanted to do. Guess it helped that we lived near the hoodoos in Alberta.”

  “Awesome!”

  “Indeed, we went there on school trips often when I was going to high school, but I’d beg my parents to take me to the badlands any chance I could. I couldn’t get enough of it. I volunteered to work at the Alberta dinosaur park during the summers after it opened in 1955. I had some good guidance and eventually went on to study paleontology formally.” She stopped for breath and smiled. “Guess that doesn’t rightly answer your question about how long I’ve been doing it, but I’m not about to tell you my age!”

  “That’s okay! You don’t have to tell me.” Daniel laughed. “So how long have you known Mr. Pederson?”

  “My, you are inquisitive.” Mildred Roost grinned. “We met as undergrads at the University of Alberta, but I went away to graduate school and he stayed behind.”

  “But you kept in touch?” asked ­Daniel.

  “Off and on. We met from time to time at various paleontological dig sites, but by then we were both married to other people, and over the years I kind of lost track of him. But I’d never forgotten him.”

  They pressed on into the middle of the clearing, wondering if they’d ever get to the other side. Whenever the trail allowed, Dr. Roost stayed close beside him, not speaking a word, nor taking many pictures. He knew she scoured the area as intently as he did, both making sure nothing was sneaking up on them, including from behind or above. They could certainly see something coming from a long distance away, but there really wasn’t anywhere for them to ­hide.

  Mildred Roost pushed on without any complaint, although Daniel could see she struggled to keep up with him. He didn’t know what he’d do if she couldn’t go on or was injured somehow. So far they’d managed, but what lay ahead? Fear spurred them on, but Daniel was tense the whole time until they’d crossed the meadow, their feet squishing in their sodden ­shoes.

  Finally they reached the other side and found cover in the trees. Daniel stopped momentarily so he could catch his breath. He knew Dr. Roost needed a break. She whipped a handkerchief out of her pocket and wiped her ­brow.

  “Whew,” she said. “That wasn’t much fun.”

  Daniel agreed, but they had to keep moving. They must be close to their destination. Although his stomach rumbled with hunger, they couldn’t stop to eat yet. The sooner they got where they were going, the sooner they could return home. Besides, he’d thrown all of the sandwiches to the Troodon, so all they had were the granola ­bars.

  They took quick drinks of water, while he tied another marker, and then they entered dense trees again. The stands were so tall and overbearing and their girth so wide that Daniel soon became confused about direction. Although he used his compass, he wanted to see where he was headed. Once again, he climbed a tree to determine their position, while Dr. Roost waited patiently ­below.

  As Daniel began to descend, he saw a ­fifteen-­centimetre spider scrambling up the trunk towards him. Its beady scarlet eyes and ­tentacle-­like hairy legs were scary enough, but its long pointy beak looked like it could drill a hole right into his ­leg.

  He tried to kick at it, but it seemed to be glued to the bark. He needed something to pry it off with. One eye on the spider, he dug around in his backpack, but there was nothing. In a blur of legs, the spider suddenly moved much closer. In a panic, Daniel reached up to another branch, hoping to climb away.

  The branch felt all ­wrong.

  Daniel screamed. It was a snake! He let go and clutched the branch below him. He was caught between the ­two-­metre, ­boa-­like reptile and the furry spider. He was too high to jump to the ground. Either one could come at him any second. He saw the spider start towards him, but the snake was faster. He drew in his breath it as slithered downwards past him and snapped up the spider, swallowing it ­whole.

  Daniel hoped the serpent would disappear. It did at last, continuing down the tree until it reached the ground and vanished into the ­undergrowth.

  Chapter Ten

  When they reached the edge of another smaller open area, Daniel stopped short. Dr. Roost almost bumped into him. Two creatures, each about the size of a ­full-­length car, although they weren’t much taller than Daniel, confronted one another. They reminded him of bighorn sheep with their enormous domed heads. Their skulls were bumpy and they had a ring of bony knobs at the base around the neck and towards the small eyes. Short, bony spikes protruded upwards from the back of their ­heads.

  Suddenly, Daniel’s mouth dropped open when he realized what he was ­seeing.

  “Stygimoloch,” he ­whispered.

  Dr. Roost whispered back. “They look different from what I expected. They’re even fiercer looking than any drawings, especially their heads.”

  Suddenly, the pair of Stygimolochs stood on their hind legs. They each let out a booming low call, like a foghorn on a ­ship.

  “That’s what we heard before,” Daniel ­realized.

  Mildred Roost ­nodded.

  “Could I have the camera?” Daniel asked when the massive creatures didn’t appear to notice ­them.

  Dr. Roost handed it to Daniel wordlessly. He took several shots as the two animals circled one another, and then another couple when they began clashing heads. They made tremendous clunking noises each time their ­armour-­like skulls connected. Daniel skirted them with ­care.

  “Don’t go any closer,” Dr. Roost warned, treading softly behind ­him.

  “No way,” he agreed, sticking the camera away within easy access. Then he tied a piece of tape on a tree branch and they set off again. Daniel eyed the creatures warily until they were out of ­sight.

  They continued to hear the foghorn sounds after they’d left the pair of discontented creatures. Not long afterwards, they came across a small herd of about ten hadrosaurs under a grove of pine trees. Daniel recognized them right away as Edmontosaurus saskatchewanensis. They were gathered loosely together, foraging for food. Some concentrated on higher pine needles, while the smaller ones feasted on cones and twigs. Their nesting grounds must be nearby! Maybe he and Mildred Roost were getting closer to the injured ­female.

  Daniel quickened their pace. They circled the meadow and the herd. Even though these dinosaurs were ­plant-­eaters, he wasn’t sure what they’d do in order to protect themselves and their young if they saw humans or smelled human scent. They were huge beasts, and one stomp from them would end his or Dr. Roost’s life in seconds. He did take several snapshots of them, though, from different angles, and Dr. Roost jotted notes in a journal. Daniel also made sure to take time to mark the places they ­passed.

  Soon the air became moister and breathing became more difficult. Dr. Roost wheezed behind Daniel, but wouldn’t let him stop. He could feel himself tiring. All of the terrain looked the same, and he couldn’t recall any distinguishing features. Then he noticed ­gull-­like creatures wheeling into the sky in the distance. They must be flying over the river! They had to be near the injured female! He hurried forward, and Dr. Roost sensed his excitement and moved faster as ­well.

  “Are we almost there?” she asked, puffing ­slightly.

  “Yes,” Daniel said confidently. He wasn’t going to admit to Mildred Roost that all he could remember was that the Edmontosaurus was sheltered under an overhanging bank beside the ­river.

  Finally, as they struggled through some particularly dense foliage, they emerged into a clear
ing. The water’s edge was just ahead. Daniel followed the river’s twists and turns for several hundred metres, hoping they’d stumble upon the duckbill nest without further endangering the crusty old doctor or himself. They scuffled unevenly through the silt on the shore, stopping every once in a while to shake the dirt out of their ­shoes.

  All at once, they rounded a bend in the river, and there she was!

  Daniel and Dr. Roost crept towards the nest. She had already commandeered the camera and was snapping shots. Daniel kept watch for predators. He didn’t want to be caught off guard, but it was hard to concentrate when the goal of his trip lay just ­ahead.

  When they got closer, they saw that the mother Edmontosaurus lay encircled around her nest, guarding her eggs as best as she could. Her leathery sides heaved as she tried to take in air, the large pouches by her nose expanding with each breath. Her huge golden eyes barely opened as they approached. She had little strength left and gave only a weak ­snort.

  “Is that the same Edmontosaurus you saw before?” Dr. Roost ­asked.

  “Yes, I’m positive it is,” Daniel ­answered.

  “This is an amazing opportunity to see one up close.”

  Mildred Roost crept nearer, seeming not the least concerned for her own safety. Daniel moved to pull her back, but soon realized that although the Edmontosaurus seemed aware that they were there, she could do nothing about it and they were relatively safe. Mildred took more ­close-­up photographs as Daniel moved in to study the Edmontosaurus, looking for evidence that she might be Roxanne, the same one that he and Mr. Pederson had excavated in the ­present.

  As he circled her body, he saw again the unnatural angle of her left hindquarter. The injury was obviously serious enough to inhibit activity. He moved around her until he stood where he could reach her forearms with their ­mitten-­like hands. The top one was tucked tightly against her chest, while the bottom one flopped outward onto the ground. From the angle of it, Daniel was positive it was broken ­too.