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reservation。 They drove through arid lands； treeless and covered with sagebrush。 Small houses in poor repair sprinkled the low hills。 Barbed wire lined the road； the fence held up by a variety of wooden posts。 Most posts were well…weathered split rails； but a bewildering variety of replacement posts mingled with the originals。 Metal posts were most mon； but also axe handles； an oar； a two…by…four； some four…by…fours； and what looked to be the legs of chairs could be seen。 Horses gazed near some fences； but there were no cows or sheep。
The dirt road ended in a branch。 Dr。 Piltcher pointed left and they followed the ruts that led north。 Shortly； the road declined sharply； leading to a valley。 Dr。 Coombs braked to a jolting stop as their mouths fell open in surprise。
They had expected something to happen。 They had predicted it…Zorastrus had predicted it； but even he wasn't specific about what would happen。 The road zigzagged down the hill and then straight into the valley below； which was bisected by a green line。 On one side was the arid land they had been driving through。 On the other side was a lush green landscape； thick with bushes and undergrowth。 In the distance they could see a lake； and behind that a forest。 They sat in silence； trying to understand what they were seeing。 Only Colter seemed unimpressed。
〃Let's get going； it looks cool down there；〃 Colter said impatiently。
Dr。 Piltcher； sitting in the front passenger seat； turned to look at Colter； irritation in his voice。
〃Colter； doesn't it strike you as strange that this。 。 。 this tropical forest is sitting here in the middle of this desert？〃
〃I dunno。 Maybe they irrigate。〃
Dr。 Piltcher rolled his eyes and then turned back to face the front； speaking over his shoulder as he did。 〃They irrigate crops； not jungle。 Let's get closer； George。〃
Dr。 Coombs drove down the zigzag road toward the scene below； Petra and Colter bouncing from side to side in the back of the RV。 Suddenly Petra cried out。
〃Look！ There by the lake。 Something's moving out there。 Something big。〃 〃I don't see it； Petra。 Do you； George？〃
〃No； I'm watching the road。〃
〃I saw it； Dr。 Piltcher；〃 Colter cut in。
Dr。 Piltcher was exasperated。 〃And what did you see； Colter？〃
〃It was big； like Petra said。 I think it was a tractor。 Maybe this is an irrigated farm。〃
Dr。 Piltcher's only answer was a disgusted snort。 At the end of the ruts； they found themselves facing a small meadow against a wall of lush greenery seven to nine feet in height； concealing the lake and forest。 Dr。 Coombs slowly drove up onto the grass to park the RV。
〃Petra； try the radio again；〃 Dr。 Piltcher ordered。
As she began calling Mrs。 Wayne and Ernie； her voice was flat； devoid of hope。 She wasn't surprised that no one answered。
Now the others climbed out and walked into the meadow。 Dr。 Coombs and Dr。 Piltcher began examining the grasses and ferns。
〃Extraordinary；〃 Dr。 Piltcher muttered over and over。
〃Exactly so；〃 concurred Dr。 Coombs。
The noise of a stream distracted them and they turned to see Colter urinating into the grass。 Dr。 Piltcher began to stomp toward him； but Dr。 Coombs grabbed his arm and began pointing out more of his observations of the flora； temporarily subduing his friend。 Petra came out of the RV and shook her head before anyone could ask about contact。 Suddenly Colter yelled； 〃Hey you； e here！〃
The others turned to see Colter running in circles through the tall grass； yelling and chasing something through the meadow。 Occasionally he stopped abruptly and leaned down with his arms outstretched。 Petra began running toward him； though Dr。 Piltcher called after her to wait。 Dr。 Coombs trailed after her； his well…conditioned body carrying him like a younger man as Dr。 Piltcher stumbled along behind。 Colter bent down again； jerked up and sprinted ahead； and then he dove； disappearing in the grass as a pigtike squeal erupted。 Then Colter came up on one knee； and then stood holding a squirming animal none of them had ever seen before。
It was eighteen inches in length； its skin a bright green。 Colter held it by its thick tail…which was a third of its length…and its thick neck。 Its head was a little larger than the neck； and the face resembled a parrot； with a beak that curved over the lower jaw。 The eyes on either side of the head were covered with thick lids。 Its two oversized back legs contrasted with two thin front ones。 The animal was using its clawed front feet on Colter's hand； and from Colter's reaction the claws were sharp。
The others jogged up to Colter； staring openmouthed。
〃What is that？〃 Petra asked。
〃It's an omithopod；〃 said Dr。 Coombs； his voice bubbling with excitement。
〃Psittacosaurus； I believe；〃 Dr。 Pilteher added； just as excited。 〃But the color seems wrong。 I wouldn't have expected it to be this bright green。〃
〃Too bright by far； Chester；〃 Dr。 Coombs agreed。 〃But notice； the color is fading。 Like a chameleon perhaps？〃
〃I do believe you're right； George。 It seems to be adapting to the blue of Colter's shirt。〃
〃e on； you guys！〃 Colter hollered。 〃I can't hold this thing forever。 Do you want it or not？〃
〃Yes； of course we want to study it；〃 Dr。 Pilteher said。 〃But what do we do with it？〃
Without a better idea they led Colter to the RV； the creature struggling every step of the way。 Then they decided to put the psittacosaurus in the back； where the beds were； and block off the front。 They used the mattresses to create a wall； and then Colter leaned over and dropped the psittacosaurus on the other side。 As soon as it hit the floor it stopped squealing and came up running。 The little beast ran through the back of the RV on its two back legs； leaning forward with forelegs outstretched； looking for an escape route。 The only way out； however； was past the mattresses； and the four heads peering over them。 Still； the beast would not give up and its panic grew。
〃The poor thing's scared；〃 Petra said。 〃Maybe we better let it go。〃
〃No； not yet；〃 Dr。 Piltcher pleaded。 〃I want to study it。 Just for tonight。 We can let it go in the morning。〃
Petra's conscience pricked her because the little animal was suffering。 〃Maybe we should give it something to eat；〃 Petra suggested。
Dr。 Coombs suggested fruit or eggs； and Colter came up with a peach。 They rolled it across the floor to the psittacosaurus； but it ignored the fruit and continued to search for an escape route。
〃What did you call this thing again？〃 Colter asked。
〃Psittacosaurus；〃 Dr。 Coombs replied。
〃Let's just call it Sid；〃 Colter suggested。 〃How e I've never seen anything like Sid before？〃
〃Because；〃 Dr。 Piltcher began with forced slowness； 〃they've been extinct since the Cretaceous age；〃
〃Wasn't that prehistoric times？〃 Colter asked Dr。 Piltcher。 〃Then what's it doing here？〃
With that one question Colter cut right through the fog of excitement that had clouded their thinking。 What was it doing here？
Dr。 Coombs and Dr。 Piltcher retreated to the front of the RV and sat in the bucket seats。 Colter and Petra followed； Colter a little put out that they hadn't answered his question directly。 Despite his naivete； however； he had learned how to fit i