Free Dinosaur Stakeout by Judith Silverthorne Page A

water. Quickly, he zipped them inside the front flap of his ­backpack.
    Once outside, he stared up at the bedroom windows, but couldn’t see anyone about. Dactyl appeared from under the step. He yawned and stretched, then padded over to ­Daniel.
    Already, Daniel had a problem. He’d forgotten about his dog. Dactyl wouldn’t stay behind, and locking his pet into the barn wouldn’t ­help – ­the dog would bark and wake everyone up. The only thing he could do was let him come, then hope to distract him with food temporarily when he made the leap into the ­past.
    Keeping in the shadows close to the buildings, Daniel made it across the farmyard to his mom’s garden shed. He had to make one fast stop. As gently as he could, he opened the squeaky door. He held his breath and looked again at the house, then slipped inside the gloomy ­darkness.
    Luckily, he knew approximately where the roll of plastic banding tape should be and was able to walk over to it. He couldn’t see much of anything, but used his hands to rummage through a couple of boxes. At last, he felt the roll. He grabbed it and slid it into a side pouch of his ­backpack.
    Warily, he slid back outside and pushed the workshop door closed as quietly as he could. Streaks of light radiated on the horizon, as he walked past the barn. Not long afterwards, Dactyl disappeared chasing some gophers. As quick as he could, Daniel covered the hills and descended to his ­hideout.
    He was just about to crawl inside, when he heard a voice that made him drop his ­backpack.
    “I knew you were up to something.” Mildred Roost came forward from the shadows on the side of the ­hideout.
    Daniel couldn’t speak. His heart felt like a bowling ball stuck in his ­throat.
    “So, young man, please tell me that you’re not doing what I think you’re doing.” Dr. Roost tilted her head and waited for Daniel to ­respond.
    He didn’t want to tell a lie and he couldn’t speak the ­truth.
    “There is no way you are going anywhere other than home, young man!” Dr. Roost insisted, guessing his ­intent.
    Daniel stood defiantly, facing ­her.
    “I have to go,” he said adamantly. “There’s only this one chance to prove a few things that are really important to Mr. Pederson and I.”
    “They may be important to Ole, but he would never want you to risk your life!” Mildred Roost ­countered.
    “But it’s my decision. Besides, I don’t plan on getting in any trouble!” Daniel ­declared.
    “I’d suggest you let me go instead,” suggested Dr. Roost. “It’s too dangerous for you, Daniel.”
    “Dangerous for you too,” he blurted ­out.
    “I’m an old lady,” she said. “I’ve lived my life, and haven’t much to lose now. You still have your whole life ahead of you.”
    “Aren’t you afraid of dying?” Daniel ­asked.
    Mildred Roost explained. “I don’t want to die, but I know it’s coming and I’m as prepared for it as I can be.”
    “No offence, but you’d never be able to get away from the dinosaurs in time,” Daniel said honestly, thinking about her age and her use of a ­cane.
    “I’m sure game to try,” she persisted. “Besides, it would be the most fantastic thing I could do in my whole life. What a glorious way to end it, if it came to that.”
    Daniel stared at her open-­mouthed.
    “If you think it’s safe enough for you, young man, it’ll be fine for me.”
    “But you might have to climb a tree,” Daniel pointed out as he tried to picture Mildred Roost climbing one of the huge trees. He’d have laughed if the situation wasn’t so serious. “There isn’t anywhere else to get away from them.”
    “I’m sure I have a few tricks up my sleeve,” she said confidently, patting her ­backpack.
    There was no way Daniel was letting her go without him after all his ­planning.
    “I’m not without experience in dangerous situations, you know,” she declared. “Just tell me how to get there, and I’ll be off.”
    Daniel shook his