Читать книгу Twelve Upon A Time... - Edward Galluzzi - Страница 12

The girls were first to reach the group of trees near the lake. The herbivorous dinosaurs ravished some of the trees. The family reached the lake with no sign of other living things. They filled what Amanda and Donja had in their backpacks that could hold water. For food, they would have to go beyond the tree line and hope they did not encounter other creatures of the earth.

Don and Jane led the way into the small forest. As hoped, they encountered various berry bushes and fruit trees. They picked what they could and what their daughters’ backpacks would hold. The noises of the forest grew louder and the earth shook under their feet. Friend or foe they did not know. Nobody had to tell anybody that it was time to retreat to the safety of the cave. Amanda, Donja and their parents ran back to the safety of the cave.

As Donja’s parents put away the collected supplies, her sister and she sat at the cave entrance. The unknown noises in the distance were both scary and intriguing. Reading about things present and past in textbooks is one thing. Living and interacting with the experience is quite another.

As Amanda and Donja talked at the cavern entrance, they spotted Bronto in the distance heading toward them. They yelled, “Mom! Dad! Bronto is here!” The girls ran out of the cave to meet Bronto. Bronto stopped short of the girls not wanting to frightened them. After a moment, it extended its neck down as far as it would stretch. The girls patted Bronto’s head as they had done before. A bonding of sorts between past and present was developing, a bonding between the herbivorous and the girls.

Their parents looked on believing that their daughters could tame just about anything. As that thought hung in the air, a loud, angry, screeching cry was heard coming from the lake by the trees. Even Bronto appeared unnerved by the wail. Amanda, Donja and their parents headed toward the safety of the cave.

Once in the cave, Amanda and her family peered out of the opening. Although the screeching cries grew louder, they did not see anything. They expected that something quite large was heading their way. Yet, they heard everything and saw nothing.