Dinosaur Blackout by Judith Silverthorne Page A

right if I take off for a while,” Daniel said to Pederson through his rolled-down window.
    “Already taken care of,” Dr. Roost said from the passenger side. “I told her we had important things to be done. And make no mistake, we do.”
    Later, seated around Pederson’s table, Dr. Roost spread out the map she’d drawn the night before. Daniel was surprised to see how detailed it was. As he made tea for them all from the thermos of hot water Mr. Pederson had brought from Daniel’s mom, the old couple worked away on the maps and examined the photographs with a magnifying glass. Daniel added his calculations from the jottings and diagrams he’d made in his notebook.
    “These documents are quite important to the study of geographical changes throughout the ages,” said Pederson, using a pencil to add specific features that would help them align the two.
    Dr. Roost nodded. “One of our maps represents the Cretaceous Period and the other represents our present time. In between these periods came the ice ages, the beginnings of the first human societies and all the rest of human history.”
    Daniel thought about the implications. “It’s incredible even to think about the spot right here where we’re sitting and how it used to be.” He pointed to the spots on the two maps.
    “It’s amazing, all right.” Ole Pederson sat back in a contemplative mood. “And going back to that time is the most profound thing I could do in my life. I could never have dreamed I’d be planning to see actual Cretaceous Period creatures. I’m still concerned about the dangers, but I can hardly wait to go.” He rubbed his hands gleefully.
    All at once, he went still. “Why don’t we go right now?”
    “Whew!” Dr. Roost chortled. “We’re hardly prepared.”
    Daniel looked up from the maps. “Are you serious?”
    “Why don’t we just pop in for a couple of minutes and let me get the feel of it? Then I’ll have a better idea of what I need to take,” Mr. Pederson said.
    “That would be crazy,” spluttered Mildred Roost. “What’s gotten into you, anyway? It’s one thing to get going on the planning, but quite another to go too hastily.”
    “I just want a quick glimpse, that’s all,” grumbled Pederson.
    “But it’s so unlike you not to want to be totally prepared,” Dr. Roost said.
    “I’ve been prepared all my life,” said Pederson, “and where has it got me? The greatest discovery I’ve ever made was stolen from me and I’m right back at square one. Except now I have a chance to do something truly spectacular and I want to experience it as soon as I can.”
    “Well, you don’t want to put yourself or us in danger while you’re satisfying some whim, you silly old fool,” Dr. Roost scolded.
    Daniel eyed her carefully. The idea wasn’t that crazy, but maybe she was scared to go. Even more than he was.
    “All I’m suggesting is a quick look,” Pederson said.
    “But I don’t have my good hiking boots on or my backpack with all my stuff,” she objected.
    Mr. Pederson guffawed. “Well, then how about Daniel and I just drop in for a minute? I want to see how this all works.”
    When he felt Ole Pederson’s eyes on him, Daniel felt his pulse increase along with his breathing. “I g-g-guess we could go right away,” he spluttered out.
    “All right, do you have that leaf we need or not?” Pederson demanded.
    “How did you know that’s what I had?” asked Daniel.
    “I didn’t for sure, but you’ve just confirmed it,” smiled Pederson. “I knew it had to be something flat to fit in your notebook. So did you bring it?”
    Daniel gulped. “Yeah, I did, but I didn’t really expect to be going today.”
    “Don’t tell me I have two chicken-hearted partners,” he said.
    “You won’t be calling us that when you’ve seen what we have!” Dr. Roost said indignantly.
    “So show me,” Pederson goaded them.
    “We’re not falling for that trick, Mr. Pederson,” said Daniel. “I’ve used that