Read Online Dinosaur Stakeout by Judith Silverthorne - Free Book Online
Authors: Judith Silverthorne
Tags: Time travel, Dinosaurs, Paleontologists, Glossary, T-Rex, Brontosaurus, Edmontosaurus, Tryceratops, Old Friends
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stuff. He slid open his closet door and laid them out on the bottom shelf. Mom wouldn’t be doing laundry for a while, so no one should see his stash.
From his computer desk, he retrieved pencils, pens, sketching paper, and a notebook. As he collected all the items on the list, he ticked them off. When he’d done what he could in his room, Daniel headed to the kitchen. He rummaged around for some waterproof matches and grabbed a stash of granola bars. They would be light and easy to pack. He’d need something more substantial, but he could easily find something when he was ready to leave. Mom was used to him loading up and going out to the excavation site or his hideout. And really, this wouldn’t be any different, except he’d be going to visit the dinosaurs live!
In the porch, he grabbed a couple of plastic garbage bags. The tools he wanted to take were at his hideout, and that was where he’d leave from. He thought again about using Dr. Roost’s digital camera instead of his own regular film one. A video camera would be even better, but no one he knew had one. Dr. Roost’s would do nicely. He just had to think of a way of asking for it without raising any suspicions.
Daniel returned to his closet and lined everything up according to survival, research, and personal items. He felt his pulse race as he thought of his expedition. Maybe he should go tonight? No, being in prehistoric time in the dark was probably not the smartest thing to do. He’d noticed that no one was booked for a tour until eleven tomorrow. Maybe he could go after morning chores? He could go even earlier, if he could get the Nelwins to cover his barn chores for him.
Excitedly, Daniel plotted his trip. He was positive he’d end up in the same prehistoric period, because he had the pine cone from that time. And he felt reasonably sure that he’d end up in the general vicinity of where he’d been three times before. As soon as he arrived, though, he’d have to be prepared to find cover quickly. He would be in constant danger, but he’d just have to be smarter than the dinosaurs!
Speaking of which, he’d need to get some strong rope and plastic tape for marking his trail. There was some of it around from the dig site, because they used it to indicate potential find sites and for cordoning off areas, but he wasn’t sure there was enough left. Instead, he’d take his mom’s narrower green plant tape that she used to tie up her sweetpeas and other trailing vegetation. She wouldn’t be looking for it yet. He’d get those items later.
With nothing left to do immediately for the trip, Daniel joined the others outside where they waited for the first afternoon tour to assemble. Soon they were back in the rhythm of taking tourists on tours and trails. Daniel took their guests on the horse trails, and the afternoon flew swiftly by.
In the early evening, Daniel approached the Nelwins while they were outside feeding the stock in the pasture. Todd looked up when he approached. Craig was on the other side of the cattle, pouring chop into another trough.
“How’s it going?” Daniel asked, trying to be casual.
“Okay, I guess,” Todd looked at him guardedly.
“Look, I was, uh, wondering, if maybe, uh, I could ask you to do me a small favour?” Daniel stumbled through his request. He’d have to do better than that if he didn’t want them guessing the importance of what he was up to.
“I don’t know,” said Todd. “What is it?”
“Well, I sort of have something really important I need to do early tomorrow morning,” Daniel leaned casually against a fence post. “I was just wondering if you’d consider taking care of all of my chores – you know, do the milking, and separating, and all?”
Todd grimaced. “I suppose. We still owe you.” He called over to Craig, “Daniel wants us to do his chores tomorrow.”
“Shhhh!” Daniel said, noticing that Mildred Roost had come out of nowhere and was crossing
From his computer desk, he retrieved pencils, pens, sketching paper, and a notebook. As he collected all the items on the list, he ticked them off. When he’d done what he could in his room, Daniel headed to the kitchen. He rummaged around for some waterproof matches and grabbed a stash of granola bars. They would be light and easy to pack. He’d need something more substantial, but he could easily find something when he was ready to leave. Mom was used to him loading up and going out to the excavation site or his hideout. And really, this wouldn’t be any different, except he’d be going to visit the dinosaurs live!
In the porch, he grabbed a couple of plastic garbage bags. The tools he wanted to take were at his hideout, and that was where he’d leave from. He thought again about using Dr. Roost’s digital camera instead of his own regular film one. A video camera would be even better, but no one he knew had one. Dr. Roost’s would do nicely. He just had to think of a way of asking for it without raising any suspicions.
Daniel returned to his closet and lined everything up according to survival, research, and personal items. He felt his pulse race as he thought of his expedition. Maybe he should go tonight? No, being in prehistoric time in the dark was probably not the smartest thing to do. He’d noticed that no one was booked for a tour until eleven tomorrow. Maybe he could go after morning chores? He could go even earlier, if he could get the Nelwins to cover his barn chores for him.
Excitedly, Daniel plotted his trip. He was positive he’d end up in the same prehistoric period, because he had the pine cone from that time. And he felt reasonably sure that he’d end up in the general vicinity of where he’d been three times before. As soon as he arrived, though, he’d have to be prepared to find cover quickly. He would be in constant danger, but he’d just have to be smarter than the dinosaurs!
Speaking of which, he’d need to get some strong rope and plastic tape for marking his trail. There was some of it around from the dig site, because they used it to indicate potential find sites and for cordoning off areas, but he wasn’t sure there was enough left. Instead, he’d take his mom’s narrower green plant tape that she used to tie up her sweetpeas and other trailing vegetation. She wouldn’t be looking for it yet. He’d get those items later.
With nothing left to do immediately for the trip, Daniel joined the others outside where they waited for the first afternoon tour to assemble. Soon they were back in the rhythm of taking tourists on tours and trails. Daniel took their guests on the horse trails, and the afternoon flew swiftly by.
In the early evening, Daniel approached the Nelwins while they were outside feeding the stock in the pasture. Todd looked up when he approached. Craig was on the other side of the cattle, pouring chop into another trough.
“How’s it going?” Daniel asked, trying to be casual.
“Okay, I guess,” Todd looked at him guardedly.
“Look, I was, uh, wondering, if maybe, uh, I could ask you to do me a small favour?” Daniel stumbled through his request. He’d have to do better than that if he didn’t want them guessing the importance of what he was up to.
“I don’t know,” said Todd. “What is it?”
“Well, I sort of have something really important I need to do early tomorrow morning,” Daniel leaned casually against a fence post. “I was just wondering if you’d consider taking care of all of my chores – you know, do the milking, and separating, and all?”
Todd grimaced. “I suppose. We still owe you.” He called over to Craig, “Daniel wants us to do his chores tomorrow.”
“Shhhh!” Daniel said, noticing that Mildred Roost had come out of nowhere and was crossing
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