by David Alric
For a few moments Richard was speechless. Eventually he broke his silence. ‘I’ve been worrying so much about what to say to you and now I find you’ve been thinking along exactly the same lines. It’s wonderful. But there’s one thing that’s been bothering me ever since I started thinking this way; that is the fact that, even if you two should feel the same as I do, there is someone else involved – the pilot who came to rescue you. There is so much game in the crater he must have seen it and unless he were incredibly stupid he would have noticed that the animals were special.’
‘You’re right, of course,’ said Helen with a little smile, ‘and that’s why I made sure he didn’t see any animals.’
‘How on earth did you do that?’ said Richard. ‘You can’t exactly blindfold a pilot, and he would see things from the air before he even landed.’
‘Simple,’ she replied. ‘I didn’t try to stop him seeing anything, I just made sure that there was nothing for him to see.’ They all looked mystified.
‘You, Richard, will remember being a little impatient when you were climbing the rope ladder to leave the crater and I called Lucy back for a chat. I told her not to tell you what it was about, because I wasn’t certain of your own views at that time.’
Richard nodded. ‘I remember, Lucy said it was “girls’ talk” – I presumed it was just that.’
‘I asked her to tell all the animals to disappear completely into hiding if they ever heard the sound of an aeroplane again and, if one landed, to remain hidden until it had gone away. She immediately understood what I was up to and did just as I asked. The effect in practice was incredible: long before Julian and I had the slightest inkling that a plane was drawing near, the game disappeared as if by magic. The ground sloths had always been my biggest worry because of their enormous size but they moved more quickly than you’d ever believe and hid among the trees. By the time our pathetic human ears heard the plane the crater was already apparently deserted. When the pilot landed and we were chatting he actually expressed surprise at the paucity of animal life. I told him the plane had frightened everything away – which, in a way, was true.’
Richard shook his head slowly from side to side in admiration and whistled softly.
‘What a woman! When it comes to forward planning you run rings round us feeble males.’ He looked at Julian who chuckled and said:
‘Yes, by the time we were rescued she had already convinced me that it would be disastrous for the flora and fauna of that special place if we ever revealed our finds to other scientists and the public. And just as you can still publish about your bananas I think we can still benefit from our stay in the crater even if we keep it a secret. Having been there has given us a new insight into prehistory and we’ve already started on a major review article – it’s called “The Pliocene revisited: fresh thoughts on old bones.” Nobody who reads it will ever guess that we’ve actually revisited the Pliocene but they certainly won’t be able to prove that anything we say is incorrect!’
The three sisters came downstairs to collect stocks of snacks and drink to take back upstairs. The lounge door was open and the adults saw them go past, chattering and giggling. When the girls had gone Helen looked across at Julian. ‘And now,’ she said, ‘I think it’s time to tell them the really big news, don’t you, darling?’
‘OK,’ replied Julian. ‘I’m glad you’re all sitting down, because you’re not going to believe this.’
‘After what we’ve heard in the last few weeks we’d believe anything,’ said Grandma. ‘Just try us!’
‘Well,’ said Julian, ‘as you all now know, our lives in the valley were transformed after Lucy left because we had the sabre-tooths and the ground sloths to protect us. Three days after you left we made an expedition right across the valley to the precipice separating us from the other valley in the crater. Even though we started to set off on foot, a sabre-tooth came and lay in front of Helen. Its intention to give her a ride was unmistakable and it would have seemed unkind to refuse, so she got her prehistoric cat ride after all. In the event it was just as well because the journey was difficult in several places and I think we’d have had to turn back much earlier than we did if she’d been on foot.’ He broke off his story for a few moments and drew a map on a paper napkin so that Joanna and her parents would understand what he was describing.
‘We found that the sabre-tooths could cross the main river here,’ he pointed to the map, ‘where it runs through a deep narrow gully and where a massive tree has fallen across the gap – it must have fallen years ago, because the trunk is now worn bare by the feet of all the animals that have crossed it. It’s too high above the river for the caymans to pose any threat.’ He paused to take a long draught of the beer Richard had set in front of him, then continued. ‘We had started very early and reached the cliff about midday. It was even more impressive close to than we could possibly imagine, having only once briefly seen it from the air. The wall was a sheer rock face and it ran the entire length of the crater, as we had always suspected, and without any break that we could see.’
‘So the two valleys really are completely separate!’ interrupted Richard. He was sitting forward on his chair listening intently.
‘Exactly,’ Julian nodded. ‘Anyway, we started to walk along the foot of the escarpment and we’d gone only a few yards when we came across a lizard-like creature with a beak. It was lying on the ground – a perfect specimen. We’d only seen reconstructed fragments before but neither of us was in any doubt as to what it was, even though, so far as we knew, no traces of it had ever been found in South America.’
‘What was it and what was so special about it?’ asked Joanna. ‘I mean, apart from being in such good condition.’
‘It was a dinosaur,’ said Julian, ‘a psittacosaurus or its South American equivalent, a species that dates from the Cretaceous period.’
‘Phew!’ said Richard, ‘and to find a perfect specimen just lying on the surface! Presumably it had been exposed by a recent rock fall or something. That find alone is enough for your academic credentials – and you could have found it anywhere. You don’t need to say anything about the crater.’
Julian looked at Helen and they both smiled.
‘You don’t quite understand what I’m saying, Richard,’ he said. ‘This wasn’t a fossil. It was alive – just. It was bleeding from its beak and it died a few minutes after we found it. We think it had fallen from the top of the cliff. It had presumably clambered up the other side which, for all we know, is less steep than our side.’
‘But that means …’ Richard began; he looked very excited.
‘Yes,’ said Julian, ‘the other valley was isolated even earlier than the one we now think of as “ours”. This tiny dinosaur may just be a one-off survival freak but it probably indicates …’ His voice trailed off. He didn’t need to elaborate. His audience were all ahead of him. There was a stunned silence, broken eventually by Grandpa.
‘Did you find anything else?’
‘No, we spent the next couple of hours searching unsuccessfully for other finds along the base of the cliff and collecting rock fragments. As we returned to pick up our precious specimen we were just in time to see a large, vulture-like bird flying off with it. That, of course, is why we didn’t find anything else; it was obviously a favourite spot for scavengers and we were fortunate to have arrived just after the psittacosaurus had fallen. We couldn’t stay any longer because we were keen to get back before nightfall and it was a very long way – even with the help of the big cats. We were only a short distance from the cave on our side of the valley when the sabre-tooths suddenly left us and we saw the ground sloths heading for the forest. At first we wondered what on earth was happening, then we heard the drone of the rescue plane and got back to the cleared strip just as it was landing. We never had another opportunity to go back, so it remains a tantalizing mystery.’
‘We’ve got to go back!’ said Richard, glancing apologetically at his wife.
; ‘Tell me something I wasn’t expecting,’ she said with a resigned smile.
‘But we need Lucy …’ Helen started, then looked at Joanna and Richard. ‘Sorry, what I mean is, it would be great if Lucy could come.’
Richard looked at Joanna. ‘I’ve got to spend some time in Brazil every year with the new job, as you know. Why don’t we arrange a family holiday during the summer holidays so Lucy doesn’t miss any school? We can all visit the Pantanal – a fantastic nature reserve – and then anyone who wants can come with me and Lucy and Helen and Julian to the new valley for a short expedition – say, a week. Anyone who doesn’t can stay with José and his family, who I’m sure won’t mind, and see all the sights around the mouth of the Amazon.’
‘Well, I know this is going to happen whatever I say,’ said Joanna, ‘and as long as Lucy wants to go and doesn’t miss any school I don’t have a problem with it. I’ve always wanted to visit South America and I’m quite sure Clare and Sarah will jump at it.’
‘Do you think …’ Julian began ‘… I’m jumping ahead now, but just say there is a valley containing dinosaurs, will Lucy be able to talk to them?’ Richard looked at Grandpa, who thought for a moment before replying.
‘It seems almost incredible when we’re talking about periods involving tens of millions of years, but I’ve seen her talking to birds and I know from Richard that she can speak to alligators and lizards. It’s very likely that she could talk to dinosaurs. Having said that, there’s obviously only one way we’re ever going to find out. By the way, if there’s room for wrinklies on this trip I’d love to come with you – and I can help out with some of the expenses.’
Just then Lucy came down again. ‘Where’s the album with our holiday photos, Mum? I want to show Mark where we stay in Cornwall.’
Joanna went to a cupboard for the album and gave it to her.
‘Stay just a moment, Lucy, I’ve something to tell you,’ said Richard. He told her what Helen and Julian had discovered.
‘Oh, that other valley,’ said Lucy, flicking through the pages of the album. ‘Queenie called it the Valley of the Ancients. I thought it must be something a bit older than the one you landed in. Bye now!’ She rushed back upstairs clutching the album.
The others looked at each other in amazement; then they all laughed.
‘What a kid!’ said Helen.
‘What a kid!’ they all chorused in reply.
Richard got up and disappeared for a moment. He returned with a bottle of champagne and six glasses.
‘I’ve been saving this for something really special,’ he said, ‘and if this reunion isn’t it, then I don’t know what is.’
As he opened the bottle hoots of laughter floated down from above and the house started vibrating to the beat of music.
Joanna gazed up at the ceiling. ‘Something tells me,’ she said, ‘that those kids are going to have some amazing adventures together.’
‘I think we all are,’ said Richard, pouring out the champagne and handing the glasses round. He lifted his glass and proposed a toast:
‘Here’s to the Future!’ he said.
‘The Future,’ they all echoed.
Lucy’s Lexicon
(The suffix -kin is both singular and plural)
Albion England
animanet animal communication network
arachnopod spider
arboribane harpy eagle
arborikin monkey
Brilliant One the sun
buzzithorn bee, wasp, hornet, etc.
City of the Great Clock London
City of the Great River in the Sand Ancient Babylon
clovenkin antelope, gazelle, etc.
coatikin coati mundi
coneybane stoat, weasel, etc.
coneyhop rabbit
crawlibane giant anteater
crawlipod crawling insect, spider, etc.
croakihop frog, toad
crustakin crustacean: prawn, shrimp, etc.
Dreadful One cayman, crocodile, alligator
dreykin squirrel
dromedkin dromedary, camel
fellfang any species of venomous snake
fledgiquill bird
fleetfang cheetah
flexishield armadillo
flitterkin bat
flutterkin butterfly, moth
furriclaws cat
furripelt furry mammal
gillifin fish
greatfang sabre-tooth
Great Ice polar region
Great One whale
Great Salt the sea
Great Saltiquill albatross
Great Silver One the moon
Great Southern Land Australia
Hairy Tailless One great ape
hedgiquill hedgehog
henbane fox
hippophant tapir
Isles of Albion Britain
junglefang jaguar
Little Great One dolphin
Malevolent One snake
manefang lion
marsupihop kangaroo, wallaby
Middle Salt the Mediterranean
Mighty One giant ground sloth
monkeybane harpy eagle
moonwraith owl
mountainfang cougar
nightbane owl
paterpromise Lucy’s father
raspihop cricket, grasshopper, cicada, etc.
reptocool cayman, crocodile, alligator
Sagacious Ones Lucy’s grandparents
Salt of the Many Islands the Caribbean Sea
scurrident agouti
scurripod rat, mouse, vole, shrew, etc.
shieldkin tortoise
snortikin peccary, pig
snowsleep hibernation
soariquill condor
spotfang leopard
squitohum mosquito, gnat, etc.
stranglekin boa constrictor
stripedfang tiger
sunsleep night
Tailless One human being
Terrible One any species of great cat
thunderquill aeroplane
thunder-stick firearm
velvetkin mole
wolfkin dog
Notes on the names in the book
Many of the names that appear in the book tell you something about the character they belong to. Some are very obvious, others much less so, and some are in Portuguese, the language of Brazil. Here is a list describing them. See how many hidden meanings or associations you spotted as you read the story.
Anther Chapter 1 Miss Anther is Lucy’s biology teacher. An anther is part of the stamen of a flower.
Appleton Chapter 21 Magnus Appleton is a reporter in New York – a city known as ‘the big apple.’ Magnus is the Latin word for big and Appleton means appletown.
Arrumadeira Chapter 8. This is the Portuguese word for maid. Maria Arrumadeira is one of Chopper’s maids.
Babybel Chapter 1 This is the name of a mouse who likes cheese!
Barker Chapter 9 Barker is a lumberjack and cuts bark every day.
Bonaventure Chapter 1 Bonaventure is Lucy’s surname. Saint Bonaventure (1221–74) was a mystic and philosopher who was the author of The Life of St. Francis.
Brown Chapter 1 The Browns live next door to Lucy and have a dog called Jumble. William Brown, in the famous stories by Richmal Crompton, has a dog called Jumble.
Chopper Chapter 2 Chopper runs a logging company which chops down trees.
Cockayne Chapter 19 Inspector Cockayne is from the drug squad at Scotland Yard to help catch people smuggling cocaine.
Colarinho Chapter 19 Captain Colarinho is one of the Brazilian policemen. Colarinho is a Portuguese word for a person who catches someone.
Don-Juan Chapter 7 Don-Juan Enganador is very friendly and charming to Miss Fairfax. The original Don Juan was a legendary Spanish nobleman who was a famous flirt and philanderer.
Ecocidal Chapter 2 The Ecocidal Timber Company is owned by Chopper who thought up the name. The suffix –cide means killing or death (eg homicide, suicide
), so ecocidal means causing death or destruction of the environment. This is, of course, the exact opposite of the meaning the ignorant Chopper intended for the name, but happens to be a very accurate description of the activities of the company.
Enganador Chapter 7 Don-Juan Enganador is Chopper’s ‘inside man’ who tricked Lucy into a trip to the Brazilian embassy and arranged her kidnap. Enganador is a Portuguese word for deceiver.
Fairfax Chapter 7 Miss Fairfax works in an office and undoubtedly sends extremely good faxes.
Fetterson Chapter 11 Inspector Fetterson is a policeman who might have to restrain criminals. Fetters are chains or ankle shackles similar to handcuffs.
Finnegan Chapter 3 Mr. Finnegan is the director of the dolphinarium.
Fossfinder Chapter 22 Helen and Julian Fossfinder are palaeontologists who look for fossils.
Furrowhead Chapter 1 Professor Furrowhead is a brain surgeon who makes furrows in heads.
Goodward Chapter 1 Dr. Christine Goodward works in the hospital and presumably runs a very good ward.
Hermes Chapter 9 This was the name of Lucy’s pilot on her trip from Rio to Macapá. Hermes was the flying messenger of the gods in ancient Greece. He wore winged sandals and was the divinity who protected travellers.
Icares Chapter 6 Domingos Icares was the pilot who crashed to his death while flying Richard across the jungle. Icarus was someone in Greek mythology who had wings made of wax. He flew too near to the sun, the wax melted, and he fell to his death.
Insider Chapter 21 The Insider Dealers’ Arms is a pub near the stock exchange. An insider dealer is someone who cheats on the stock market.
Jumble Chapter 1 Jumble is the name of William Brown’s dog in the famous stories by Richmal Crompton.
Lestrade Chapter 11 Inspector Lestrade is the name of the Scotland Yard detective who appears in the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Littleporkton Chapter 1 A seaside town which must be somewhere similar to Littlehampton.