Dinosaur Breakout (12 page)

“Well, everyone, as you know the townspeople and community around Climax have rallied together and we have the fine beginnings of a paleontological museum. We have a long way to go to equal Eastend, and in fact that’s probably not going to be a reality or even advisable.”

“Yeah, I’m sure the federal and provincial governments won’t consider financing another huge research station,” said Dad. “However, I think we have a case to fund a research outpost, but that’s another topic for some other time.”

“Agreed,” said Doug Lindstrom.

Pederson shifted in his chair, and added, “Yes, we’ll talk about that possibility later. For now, Ed and Doug, are you all set for the weekend’s first reservations?”

“Yes, indeed,” Dad said.

“We just finished outlining the parking lot this afternoon. Tomorrow we’ll haul the garbage cans to the camping sites, and then we can finish the rest area at the dig site,” Doug added.

“Fantastic!” Pederson said, and then turned to the ladies. “I probably don’t even need to ask, but it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t.” He looked at them expectantly.

Jed’s mom answered for them, “All, a-okay! We’ll put the finishing touches on the rest areas and pick up the fresh food we need in town tomorrow.”

“All the painting is done, and the kitchen area in the yard is ready to go.” Mom nodded confidently. “And it seems you all liked the snacks we’re planning on serving,” she pointed to the near empty dessert trays.

Everyone laughed.

“No problem there, Libby,” Pederson agreed.

“We’re ready too,” Lucy spoke up from across the table. She handed Cheryl, who’d been sitting in her lap, over to her two younger sisters. They took her to the kitchen to play with her. “I’ve drawn up the maps for the hiking trails and we’ve all gone down them a few times.”

“Yeah, we put discreet markers in places so no one gets lost.” Daniel tried hard not to look over at Jed, but everyone knew who he was talking about anyway, and they all laughed again.

Lucy continued, “I also have the info sheets for the fossil hunters ready to be photocopied.”

“Did you make sure the information about it being illegal to take fossils away from the site is in big letters, like Mr. Tokaryk told us to do?” Daniel asked.

Lucy nodded and passed him the sheet.

“Great!” said Pederson. “And I’ve got the dig sites prepared and roped off, and all the tools ready. Good teamwork everyone!”

They congratulated themselves and the chattering escalated again, until Pederson called them back to attention.

“As you know, the mayor of Climax is bending over backwards to help us, which in turn helps the community by bringing tourists here.” Everyone nodded in agreement. “She’d like to see us linked more strongly to the Eastend ventures, including with the rsm. Especially as we’re already working with them on the
Edmontosaurus
find.”

Everyone nodded and he continued. “We’re really starting to attract the tourists to the town now, with the museum up and running. And from the sounds of it, we have quite a number of reservations for camping and day digs out here.” He looked at Daniel’s mom, who had the reservation book open on the table.

She nodded. “And we’re sure to have many who will just drop in without prior notice, which is great too.”

Doug said, “Yes, and word has been getting around, so we want to make sure whatever we do here works well. I think we’ve got a good thing going.”

“Guess we’ll find out this weekend,” Dad said with a wry grin.

“Well, we certainly have a great start,” Pederson continued. “When I met with the people at the T.rex Discovery Centre today, they were quite enthusiastic about us becoming partners.”

“Yahoo!” Daniel and Jed clapped. “All right!”

“Hold on,” Pederson calmed them. “These were just initial talks, and of course we’ll have to have many meetings and discussions with their authorities, and with the town council, and so on. As far as they can see, partnering with us will enhance what they are doing as well and it will benefit us all to bring as many people to the area as possible.”

“What about the red tape? How many papers are we going to have to sign?” asked Mom.

“Yes, and are they going to have special rules and regulations we’re going to have to follow?” Doug asked.

Pederson answered. “Probably all of the above. And of course, we may need to think about extra insurance and other legal costs.”

“But it’s doable, isn’t it?” Daniel asked with sudden concern.

“I’m sure it is, but it can be tedious as all get-out when you start doing the paperwork for government-run operations!”

“Isn’t that the truth!” Jed’s mom sighed.

“Okay, people, now the hard work of this evening begins. Ed, let’s go over your figures first.” Pederson pointed to Dad as he shared the graphs with the others. Mom and Greta Lindstrom moved closer to the men at the other end of the table.

Daniel and Jed looked at one another and eased out of their chairs. They weren’t interested in the money details. No one seemed to notice them leave. Lucy followed close behind them. Sometimes she annoyed them, but tonight they let her join them as they headed outdoors. They passed by Leanne and Lindsay playing with Cheryl and Dactyl on the back step. Dactyl ignored them. He was getting great attention from all the girls.

The others all seemed to gravitate towards the yard where the kitchen and snack bar were set up. An old tire swing hung from a big tree nearby. Lucy sat twisting on it, while Daniel and Jed sat on some stumps near the firepit a few feet away, chatting idly about the day.

“Those Nelwins sure have some nerve,” Jed said. “I’d like to teach them a thing or two.”

“Wouldn’t we all,” said Daniel, pointing to the bruises on his head and face.

“They’re such bullies,” said Lucy. “Seems they just get away with everything!”

“I’ve read somewhere that some bullies are actually scared if you stand up to them, but I don’t know if that would work with those two. They’re so big!”

“Yeah, and they’re always together – two picking on one isn’t fair!” Lucy added.

“Guess it’s best if we just stay out of their way!” Jed said.

“That would be fine, except they keep tracking me.” Daniel explained the last couple of days to Lucy. Of course, he left out the bit about going back into prehistoric time.

Restless again, the three of them wandered over the pasture towards the edge of the land before it dipped into the valley. The sun hovered above the horizon in a blaze of oranges and golds. They sat on some rocks and looked over the landscape in front of them. Although it was somewhat scrubby and without monumental landmarks, there was something about the quiet and peacefulness as nighttime neared. A gentle breeze brushed their arms as the crickets started their evening chirpings and the frogs chorused by the dugout.

From where they sat, if they looked to the distant right, they could see the rest station for the hikers, situated halfway down the valley on a flatter area at the top of a hill that gave a panoramic view of the coulee below. A small, open-walled structure, covered with a waterproof roof, had some benches and a couple of picnic tables in it. A hitching post had been erected nearby in case some people chose to ride horses. A couple of empty forty-five-gallon barrels that had years ago contained gas sat by some trees. One was for washing and drinking water for the horses, and one to hold their feed. Another couple of outhouses stood discreetly off to one side.

As Daniel looked, he thought he saw movement, but he couldn’t be sure. The fading sun cast a shadow over the site. He ignored it until it happened a second time.

“Do you see something moving down there?” he asked the others.

They fixed their eyes on the rest area, waiting in
silence.

“There it is again!” Daniel lowered his voice, afraid to scare whatever it was off before they found out more.

“I saw it,” Jed whispered back.

“Me too,” Lucy said quietly.

In unison, as if they’d made a verbal agreement, all three of them started moving stealthily down the hillside for a closer look. They darted from rocks to low bushes to dips in the landscape, zigzagging down the hill and keeping as quiet as they could. There was definitely someone down there. They could hear some sort of scraping going on.

“I think there are two of them,” Jed whispered from behind a bush.

The closer they got, the lower the sun set, until they were enshrouded in twilight. That made it easier for them to approach unnoticed, but more difficult to see what was going on. There was no mistake, though, when they heard a rough, rowdy laugh, that it was the Nelwin brothers, up to no good.

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.