Time Crunch Read online

  Chase knew the Mesozoic Era was also a time of fantastic marine life: plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, crocodiles, and alligators. Plesiosaurs were said to be the ancestors of the Lock Ness Monster, and some ichthyosaurs were believed to be more than seventy feet long.

  But whether a thing is seventy feet or a hundred probably doesn’t matter to a guy being swallowed like an old corn dog.

  Thinking about the exotic variety of water life—especially the crocodiles and alligators—made him wonder about the wisdom of swimming in the stream. The stream wasn’t big enough to hide a crocodile, of course. But there was no telling what smaller sharp-toothed fish might be swimming around.

  AS THEY NEARED the wide sauropod highway, they began hearing noises: snorts and snarls and growls, as well as wet tearing, chomping, chewing sounds.

  Zach held a finger to his lips, then crouched low to the ground as he crept forward. Chase followed, keeping a close eye on the surrounding trees, as well as the trail behind them.

  The snarls and growls increased, and Chase realized they were the sounds of feeding animals.

  Like feeding time at the zoo. But what—

  Zach hunched even lower, then finally dropped to all fours. Chase did the same, mindful of where he placed his hands and knees, creeping so carefully through the ferns and fronds he didn’t cause the slightest disturbance.

  No noise, he thought, lifting a dry leaf the size of a dinner plate and placing it gently to the side. Thing like that would crackle like dry corn flakes … warn every animal in the forest.

  He could see daylight ahead now, and knew they were nearing the edge of the trees. Zach lifted his head for a quick look around, then eased past a wide fan-like fern and stopped. Chase crept up beside him, pushing his nose through a tuft of high grass to see.

  Holy cow …

  Just a few yards away, something lay dead in the dusty swath, the carcass ripe and bloated and swarming with flies. Three theropods—nine-feet tall and twenty feet long—were feeding on the bloody remains, so close that when one turned, its tail swept the brush over Chase’s head.

  Standing a respectful distance away were a dozen or more turkey-sized animals—upright and inquisitive—obviously hoping for scraps but wary of their larger cousins. Chase couldn’t tell if the small animals were juveniles, or some different species.

  He looked back to the three larger predators. They had the classic T-rex shape—thick, powerful legs and sharply clawed hands—but were far smaller, and with longer, more pointed snouts.

  They also had a sharp, stubby horn growing like a spike from the end of the snout.

  Huh, Chase thought. It had been pretty dark and chaotic at the time so he wasn’t certain, but thought the ceratosaurs might have had a similar horn.

  The spike lizards were feeding ravenously, snorting and purring as they tore ragged chunks of bloody meat from the carcass, blood dripping from their jaws. One would occasionally lift its head as it chewed and swallowed, nipping or kicking at the smaller creatures when they crept a little too close.

  Looking at the carcass, Chase realized it was also a theropod, though much larger than the spike lizards.

  Something else must have killed it, he thought. Killed it and ate its fill before leaving the remains for these guys …

  Chase leaned close to Zach, close enough they were cheek to cheek, his mouth next to his friend’s ear. He kept his voice as low as he could.

  “What are they?”

  Zach turned his head, not speaking until his own mouth was beside Chase’s ear. “Not sure. They’ve got those horns, so they look like ceratosaurs: the things that attacked your camp? But ceratosaurs are usually night stalkers and have different stripes. So … I’m not sure.”

  Chase peered closely at the mangled carcass, taking in the shape, the lines, the gaping jaws. He had a thought. He turned to Zach and whispered, “Is that dead thing an allosaur?”

  “It’s so mangled it’s hard to tell. But kinda looks like one.”

  “But those spike-things couldn’t have killed it …”

  “Probably not. Might have been another allosaur, or—”

  “Something even bigger?”

  Zach nodded, and both boys peered carefully in all directions for signs of something big and mean enough to take out an allosaur.

  Chase turned back to the ravenous spike lizards. The animals fed by driving their teeth deep into a chunk of flesh, then shaking their head vigorously to tear it free.

  Just look at the size of the chunks they’re swallowing!

  He glanced again at the mangled, bloody carcass—

  He sucked in his breath so quickly that Zach turned to look, wondering what was wrong.

  Chase pointed and mouthed: That’s an allosaur!

  Zach shrugged: Yeah? So?

  Chase opened his mouth and tapped a tooth, then pointed: It’s got teeth! And claws!

  Zach wrinkled his nose, not getting it. And then—

  Zach’s eyes widened and he stared at Chase as if thinking the fire ferns had broiled his brain. His expression was as easy to read as Harry Potter.

  Noooo …

  And then: Are you crazy?

  Chase took another look at the carcass, then leaned close to his friend. “When are we ever gonna get another chance like this? There’s a dead allosaur right there! With a mouthful of teeth just begging to be taken!”

  “You forgetting the three meat chompers standing guard?” Zach was so close Chase could feel his lips brushing against his ear. “You think they’re just gonna let us wander in and pull teeth like a couple of creepy Callovian dentists?”

  Chase thought about it, then said: “You could go down the trail and create a diversion. Make some noise. And when they go after you, I’ll run in and grab a couple of teeth. One for me and one for you.”

  Zach’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “You actually want me to let those things chase me?”

  “Just ’til I can pull a couple teeth.”

  Zach shook his head. “I know you haven’t been here as long as I have. But when those things catch you, they don’t just slap you on the butt and say, ‘Tag, you’re it!’ ”

  “Zach, it’ll work. I know it will. And then we’ll both have a couple of awesome souvenirs. And hey—who knows?—maybe it’ll help you get another A in biology.”

  The last claim stopped Zach in mid-protest. He actually pursed his lips in thought, but then shook his head.

  “It’s a bad idea, man,” he whispered. “A really, really bad idea.”

  17 Callovian Dentist

  “IT’LL WORK,” Chase insisted, whispering as softly as he could: the closest spike lizard had its butt up in the air toward them as it ripped off a huge chunk of allosaur: its tail lashed the leaves over their heads. “Just hike down the trail a bit.”

  He pointed out a likely spot.

  “Then get their attention. Make some noise. Get them to come after you.”

  He glanced back over his shoulder.

  “But first, you know, find some place to hide when they come.” He thought for a moment. “And if we get separated and can’t find each other later, head back to the campsite. We’ll meet back there.”

  “If we make it …”

  “Well, yeah.”

  Zach made a sound like a growl: he was obviously worried. “You make it sound like it’s going to be easy.”

  “Piece a cake,” Chase said. “What could go wrong?”

  ZACH BACKED SLOWLY away, not making a sound as he crept through the brush. Chase kept his eyes on the voracious spike lizards, which were still chomping noisily away.

  Things are pigs, he thought as one of the dinosaurs ripped a thick allosaur steak from the carcass. The spike-thing lifted its head high in the air as it chewed, as if using gravity to help swallow the sour meat.

  The dinosaurs showed no sign of being satisfied.

  Chase looked past the feeding frenzy toward the small, bright-green animals waiting their turn at the bloody carcass. He re
alized the creatures weren’t simply smaller versions of the spike lizards. They lacked the spike, for one thing, though they had similar bumps like rounded horns above their eyes.

  Still got teeth, though, Chase thought, knowing he couldn’t ignore them. He didn’t know how aggressive the little horned lizards were, but realized that even a quick nip could incapacitate him.

  And probably give me an infection no modern medicine could cure …

  He glanced down the swath to where he thought Zach was heading.

  Been gone … what? Ten minutes? Fifteen?

  He wasn’t sure, but figured Zach had to be getting close.

  He reached for the tactical knife strapped to his belt, then thought: No! The multitool!

  He reached down to his left for the multitool. He pulled it from its sheath, opened it, and inspected the pliers.

  Okay, yeah. Might not be the first choice of a real dentist, but they’ll work …

  One thing about dinosaur teeth, he knew, was that fossilized teeth were often easier to find than claws, or bones. One reason was that teeth were made of tough material. And unlike people—who’s adult teeth were meant to last—dinosaurs were constantly losing them. Actually went through thousands of them in a lifetime.

  They’re not attached real well, Chase remember reading. They often lose them while eating—or fighting—and simply grow new ones. So they might not be hard to pull out. And even if they are—

  He patted the sheath on his right.

  —I’ve got a good, sharp knife.

  He didn’t think getting one of the allosaur’s claws—either from the small forearms or the massive feet—would be as easy as extracting a tooth. And he didn’t like the idea of slicing up some animal … even if it was dead and half-eaten.

  Be worth it, though, he thought, picturing himself showing off a sharp, serrated allosaur tooth to his friends. ’Specially since it came fresh from the dinosaur …

  He’d never sell such a thing, of course. But he knew that fossilized dinosaur teeth and claws often sold for thousands of dollars.

  So one that’s new, and not fossilized …

  He couldn’t even imagine how much a thing like that might be worth. He wondered—

  “Hey, Spikehead!”

  Chase jumped in surprise, startled by Zach’s outburst. He jerked his head and gaped in astonishment.

  Zach was standing in the middle of the swath, waving his hands for attention.

  “Yeah, you!” he shouted at the spike lizards. “You wanna stick with that piece of roadkill or you wanna try something with a little more attitude?”

  The spike lizards snapped to attention. Chase could hear growls as the dinosaurs stared, one with a ragged chunk of meat dangling from its jaws.

  “C’mon, Spikehead! What’cha waitin’ for? You gonna just stand there? C’mon! Come get me!”

  The pack of horned lizards initially scattered at Zach’s appearance but were back now, bobbing their heads, looking back and forth between Zach and the snarling spike lizards as if eager for a confrontation.

  “Come on, you ugly bone crunchers! What’cha waitin’ for? Here I am! Come on! Let’s see how fast you run!”

  The spike lizards were growling, snarling, eyes focused on Zach like laser beams, one still with meat dangling from its teeth.

  What are they waiting for? Chase wondered. He’d risen so he was crouched on the balls of his feet, multitool in hand, ready to sprint for the allosaur carcass.

  But the spike lizards were just standing there, snarling, obviously yearning for a go at the goofy kid down the trail … but oddly hesitant.

  C’mon, Chase thought, willing the dinosaurs to attack. Go get him—

  Something moved, and Chase’s eyes snapped to a spot in the trees behind Zach. The trees were rustling as if blown by the wind … but there was no wind: the rest of the forest was still. But the rustling continued, advancing closer and closer toward the swath. And then a massive head emerged from the foliage, followed by an enormous body.

  Chase felt his blood freeze, his whole body suddenly shaking.

  The dinosaur was the size of a house, far larger than an allosaur, reddish with dark stripes and a gray underbelly. Its jaws were open in an unearthly grin, rows of teeth the size and color of ripe bananas glinting in the sun.

  “C’mon, Spikehead!” Zach shouted, waving his arms over his head. “Come and get me! Just try—”

  The red dinosaur lowered its head and bellowed—roaring with astonishing heat and rage—the noise so loud Chase cringed in the brush.

  Zach whirled around, the sight of the dinosaur so startling he lost his balance and fell onto his butt. He screamed—

  “Aaaaaaiighhh!”

  —but then was up on his feet and bolting for the trees.

  The dinosaur took another step, bellowing furiously … and then charged after him.

  Chase jumped to his feet—completely forgetting the spike lizards—watching in horror. Zach raced across the swath, leaping a pile of decaying dung like an Olympic hurdler, and shot between two massive trees.

  The dinosaur was a step behind him, its head low to the ground, its jaws open and ready. The monster slammed into the trees—

  Chase heard a crack! as the trees snapped.

  —then blasted through a tangle of branches with the power of a locomotive.

  C’mon, Zach, Chase thought, his heart pounding. Go, go, go!

  He knew the trees slowed the dinosaur, but didn’t know if it would be enough for Zach to escape.

  The spike lizards were now racing down the swath, apparently thinking there would soon be another kill to feed on. They reached the spot where the red dinosaur crashed into the trees and sped after it.

  Chase was chuffing for breath. He could hear ear-splitting snaps, cracks, and crashes as the big dinosaur smashed through the forest, still bellowing as it chased its prey.

  Jeeze, Louise, Chase thought. He could feel his heart pounding, could hear the breaths rasping from his throat.

  C’mon, Zach … run! Run!

  He took a step in Zach’s direction, but—

  He looked back toward the allosaur carcass.

  Oh, Jeez!

  He was suddenly torn, split between running after Zach … and sticking to the plan to get a few allosaur teeth.

  Aaaahhhh!

  The indecision paralyzed him, kept him from doing either. He ground his teeth together, thinking: WhadoIdo? WhadoIdo? WhadoIdo?

  Aaaahhhh!

  But then he was running.

  Running for the allosaur.

  HE BURST FROM the trees, sprinting for the rotting carcass.

  The small horned lizards had scampered over, taking advantage of the distraction to steal as much meat as they could before something bigger chased them away again.

  Chase yelled—

  “Aaaahhhh!”

  —as he ran, waving his hands and scattering the small scavengers.

  He raced up to the carcass and dropped to his knees beside the gaping jaws. The stench was overpowering, nauseating, and Chase felt the bile rise in his throat. He squinted, as if that might somehow hold back the smell, and breathed in through his mouth, instantly sucking in a fly that had zoomed over for a look.

  He gagged—nearly threw up—but spit out the bug and peered down at the grisly jaws.

  Oh, yuck!

  He was instantly thinking no allosaur tooth could be worth this, but—

  He looked up and waved at one of the horned lizards that had crept a little too close, scaring the scavenger into a hasty retreat, then bent again over the allosaur.

  Jeez, Louise!

  He grasped one of the serrated teeth with his pliers and began rocking it back and forth. At first the tooth didn’t move—held in place by tough reptilian tendons—but Chase tried a little harder and finally felt it give. He held the pliers with both hands and rocked the tooth back and forth, more and more, farther and farther—

  The tooth abruptly popped loose with a sha
rp snap!

  Chase didn’t waste a second, quickly dropping the tooth into a pocket before attacking a second one.

  C’mon, c’mon, c’mon—

  Something scurried close and he shouted—

  “Hey!”

  —sending another pesky horned lizard scurrying away. He knew that while the small scavengers weren’t as terrifying as their larger cousins, it would only take a single nip to pass along some disgusting dino disease that might rot his brain or eat his flesh and actually be worse than being bitten in half.

  The second tooth came free—

  Chase realized the pack of little horned lizards had abruptly vanished. He looked over his shoulder to see one of the spike lizards sprinting down the swath toward him, it’s jaws open and arms outstretched.

  Chase leaped to his feet and turned for the trees, but—

  The tooth!

  He whirled around but slipped on something wet and slimy and fell to his knees. He was wasting time, but …

  Get the tooth!

  He dove like a linebacker after a fumbled football, grabbed the tooth, and was back on his feet, sprinting for the trees. He could hear the spike lizard snarling—could hear the clawed feet chewing up the dirt as it ran—but didn’t look back. He lowered his head, leaning forward and running as hard as he could.

  He reached the trees and jumped over a tangle of roots, then bolted past a gnarled pine. The spike-thing was close behind, snapping limbs and branches as it barreled through the brush.

  There was a tall, bushy pine just ahead. Chase ran straight for it, waiting until the last second before diving beneath the sweeping boughs. He scrambled through the branches, kicking up cones and rocks and dirt, reaching the trunk just as the dinosaur ran into the wall of springy limbs. Chase jumped for a branch, began climbing furiously as the dinosaur’s jaws clashed together, snapping at the spot Chase had been just seconds earlier.

  The dinosaur lunged, struggling against the thick evergreen branches. Chase felt something swipe against his leg—might have been one of the dinosaur’s claws—but climbed like a monkey, hands and feet reaching, grabbing, clawing, kicking—