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soon as they hit the ground。 The animals were being a nuisance； but the group； despite their better judgment； couldn't help but feed the unusual little creatures。 Partway through the meal Petra remembered Moose and took him some eggs and part of a biscuit。
After breakfast they started their study by examining the edge of the meadow。 Dr。 Piltcher had Colter dig down where the green meadow met the desert。 The edge of the turf came up easily； and soon Dr。 Piltcher was finger…bing his hair。 Dr。 Coombs spoke first。
〃Everything is intact。 There is not a root broken。 And look along the edge here。 There isn't a broken blade of grass anywhere along the edge。〃
〃Yes； I see；〃 said Dr。 Piltcher。 〃Somewhere a hundred million years in the past is a piece of turf that would match up perfectly with this edge。 Very odd。 I would have expected something violent。 But this seems tender。 Not a blade of grass torn or uprooted。〃
〃Yes；〃 Dr。 Coombs agreed； 〃gentle but perhaps too gentle。 Look at how easily the roots were exposed。 They weren't embedded in the soil。 They need to take root again or these grasses will not survive； not to mention the bushes or trees；〃
Petra had been listening silently； absorbing each word。 Since she rarely broke into their discussions； they listened when she did。
〃They won't live anyway。 This is tropical vegetation； or at least subtropical。 This climate won't even support a pine forest； let alone a jungle。 These grasses are going to start drying up soon； and when the vegetation dies； so will Sid and his friends； and any other animals we might find in here。〃
〃She's right；〃 Dr。 Piltcher said。 〃We need to identify as many species as we can as quickly as possible。 Once we know what we are dealing with we need to get help to relocate the plant and animal life。〃
〃What？〃 Colter cut in。 〃Moose is okay； we can't seem to get him out； but if you're thinking of carrying Sid and his friends along； think again。 Did you smell that mess he made in the RV？〃
Petra quickly stepped in to smooth things over。
〃It may happen again。 You know how badly Sid reacts when he feels trapped。〃
〃One way or another they will move；〃 Dr。 Coombs said。 〃When the vegetation dries up they will start searching for another food source。 This land barely supports the little livestock we've seen。 When these animals start to move； they won't survive long。 If the local vegetation doesn't kill them； the local ranchers will。〃
〃Well then；〃 Dr。 Coombs said。 〃Let's see what we're dealing with。〃
They loaded day packs with lunch and water and then spread out along the lush clearing； walking through the knee…high grass。 Sid and friends circled them； chasing ahead and then dropping behind and blending into the bright green of the grasses so quickly it was hard to spot them。 Dr； Piltcher's frustration grew with each fleeting glance of something disappearing into the grass； and he began whispering about setting snares and traps to get a better look at the fauna。 They were near the taller bushes when Colter dove into the grass again； wrestling with another animal。
〃Colter； the last thing we need is another psittacosaurus；〃 Df。 Piltcher warned while he stomped through the turf。
〃This one's different 。 。 。 bigger。 Hey； ow； ow； ow！ You little bastard。〃
〃Don't hurt it！〃 Petra shouted。
〃I'm the one getting hurt。 Now I've got you！〃
Colter struggled to his feet with something wriggling violently in his arms。 This time Colter stood holding an animal a foot longer than Sid。 The animal had a large bony collar around its neck and a head that was a third of its body size。 The parrotlike snout curved over the lower jaw； but the overhang was much less than Sid's。 The animal's short； stocky legs were all the same size； clearly indicating a quadriped。 Its body…bulky and ending in a thick tail…was covered with gray…green skin。
〃It looks like a baby stegosaurus；〃 Petra said；
〃I don't think so； wrong suborder。 More likely a ceratopsian；〃 Dr。 Coombs replied。 〃I believe this is full grown。〃 Dr。 Coombs paused； looking concerned。 〃We better hope so； I'd hate to be holding a baby if the mother showed up。〃
Colter glanced around quickly； and then looked as if he might put the dinosaur down。
〃Don't let it go just yet；〃 Dr。 Piltcher said。 〃It's beautiful。〃
〃It's heavy；〃 Colter responded。
〃It's not a baby stegosaur；〃 Dr。 Piltcher corrected。 〃I believe it is a microceratops。〃
〃This one's not much bigger than Sid；〃 Petra said。
〃It's heavy；〃 Colter reminded them。
〃Put it in the RV； Colter；〃 Dr。 Coombs said。 〃We'll look at it later。〃
As Colter walked off he shouted over his shoulder； 〃This time I'm putting down some papers。〃
When he was out of earshot Dr。 Piltcher turned to Dr。 Coombs and said in a low voice； 〃I bet he names it Mike。〃
Overhearing； Petra snickered and then walked off toward the hedge； Dr。 Coombs and Dr。 Piltcher following。 Creatures continued to dart through the grass； and soon Dr。 Piltcher's frustration returned。 Even though he didn't like Colter； he found himself envying him。 He was turning out to be a crackerjack dinosaur catcher； too dumb to know there was any danger。
The tall bushes were too dense to pass through； but soon they came to a narrow opening and prepared to walk through single file。 Petra was about to enter when Dr。 Coombs held her arm。
〃What do you think made this path？〃
As Petra looked she saw the branches of the bushes were broken and the grasses trampled。 Dr。 Piltcher knelt； studying the grass。 Then he looked up at the others。
〃Something bigger than Sid；〃 he said。
Their curiosity was greater than their fears and Dr。 Coombs led the way。 As the undergrowth thinned； the movements below ended； and they began to walk more casually。 The doctors paused occasionally； examining various bushes and arguing over classification。 Petra continued to be amazed by their range of knowledge but wondered if a real specialist would quickly spot holes in it。
Now they could see the lake shimmering in the distance。 They were about to move toward it when Dr。 Coombs motioned them into the shadows of an overhanging bush； where they squatted expectantly。 Something about six feet high was moving ahead of them； through the bush and across their path。 The animal was hard to see but it seemed to have a long thin neck and walked upright。 It moved slowly； apparently unaware of their presence。 As it drew close； the explorers involuntarily held their breaths； but it continued its easygoing stride。 It was just about out of sight when the bushes behind them parted and something came through。 They all jumped up； spinning to meet the threat…Colter。
Petra gasped； and then pounded her fists gently on his chest。 〃Don't do that；〃 she whispered。
Dr。 Piltcher and Dr。 Coombs were as relieved as Petra。
〃Is the microceratops secure？〃 Dr。 Piltcher asked。
〃Sarah is as secure as I could make her。 She may be slower than Sid； but she's a lot stronger。〃
〃You named the microceratops Sarah？ Not Mike？〃
〃You don't call a girl by a boy's name。〃
〃How do you know it's female？〃 Dr。 Piltcher asked。
〃Because when it peed all over the floor of the RV； it squatted。〃
Dr。 Piltcher shook his head at Colter's logic； but didn't argue。
〃Did you give the poor thing something to eat？〃 Petra asked。
〃Two apples； and a pile of Ritz crackers。 I gave Moose some…〃 Colter paused； looking over their shoulders。 〃And who's this？〃
The others spun around to see a six…foot dinosaur standing thirty yards away。 It wasn't anything like the other dinosaurs they had seen。 Much larger； it had a huge head that was nearly all mouth。 Two small black eyes were set on。 either side of its face and large nostril holes tipped its protruding snout。 It stood on two large back legs； leaning forward with its thick tail trailing out behind。 Two thinner forelegs ended in three…fingered hands。 The body was covered with loose； wrinkled； gray…green skin； and the most noticeable feature was the wicked…looking curved claws on each finger and toe。 Colter leaned over Dr。 Piltcher's shoulder and whispered in his ear； 〃If you want me to wrestle this one to the ground； forget it。〃
Suddenly the dinosaur cocked its head to the side； as if it was listening。 The group froze； angry at Colter； while the dinosaur stared at them curiously。 There was no menace in its eyes； only interest。 Then it turned； leaned forward and trotted off through the brush； its long tail held straight out behind it。 It stopped once to look back over its shoulder。 The others remained silent until the dinosaur was out of sight。
〃Maybe we better rethink this； Chester；〃 Dr。 Coombs said。 〃That was a deinonychus。〃
〃No； I don't think so；〃 Dr。 Piltcher said too quickly。 〃More likely a stenonychosaurus；〃 He didn't say it with any conviction。
〃What aren't you telling us？〃 Petra asked。
Dr。 Coombs finally spoke reluctantly。
〃Deinonychus is a carnosaur。〃
Petra fell silent trying to think through the implications； but Colter spoke up。
〃What the hell's a carnosaur？〃
The others remained silent； so Petra turned to Colter。
〃It's a meat eater。〃
〃So？ I mean you guys didn't expect them all to be like Moose or Sid； did you？〃
Colter seemed unconcerned by their close encounter with t