2 Stegosaurus rescue

Chapter Two STEGOSAURUS RESCUE. "This is unbelievable!" Cheng said. The pterosaur flew high above them, soaring on its gigantic wings. "We've gone back one hundred and fifty million years, Tamiko!" Around the edges of the swamp grew big plants called cycads, which looked a bit like palm trees with very thick trunks. Among them were tall, graceful ginkgo trees with

clusters of yellow fruit. There were conifers with dark, feathery branches, and bright green ferns with curling leaves. Strange dinosaur calls were coming from all around them. Tamiko listened excitedly to the faint croaks, deep grunts, and a big, booming cry. A clump of ferns rustled. Cheng clutched Tamiko's sleeve in surprise as a group of turkey-sized dinosaurs burst out and sprinted along the bank. They had long athletic legs and fluffy orange-pink bellies. "What are those?" he asked.

"Compsognathus," said Tamiko. "They must be hunting something! They're running really fast, aren't they?" As the Compsognathuses hurtled out of sight, the Beagle suddenly rocked from side to side. BEEP BRRRP BARPP! it squeaked in alarm. "Whoa!" cried Tamiko. Beside her, Cheng gripped the seat. Something was bumping against the Beagle. Something hidden in the swamp… Tamiko peered into the murky green water. She saw four huge flippers and a very long neck. The creature bumped into the side of the Beagle, and it rocked again.

"Is it a crocodile?" asked Cheng nervously. "A plesiosaur," Tamiko said. "Plesiosaurs lived in the seas and swamps. I think it's just checking us out." She laughed. "It's never seen a quad bike before!" The plesiosaur lifted its head from the water. Tamiko caught a flash of teeth in a huge, yawning mouth. This wasn't quite so funny anymore. "We should drive to the shore before it knocks us into the swamp," she said. "Come on!" She twisted the throttle on the Beagle's handlebars. The engine roared, and the

wheels started turning. They drove onto the shore and parked the Beagle beneath a large ginkgo tree. "We'd better start searching for that dinosaur egg," Cheng said as they climbed off the quad bike and hung their helmets on its handlebars. "But how will we know where to look?" Tamiko pictured the egg the Exploration Station had shown them. It had looked so delicate and vulnerable. "Let's go up onto higher ground," she suggested. "If we can see where we are, maybe we'll get a clue about where to start searching." They set off through the trees. Some way

in the distance, Tamiko saw a herd of quietly grazing Cetiosauruses. They reached up with their long necks to nibble at the tender leaves that hung from the trees. The Klobiodon they'd seen earlier was still wheeling through the sky. Tamiko couldn't help grinning. It was so amazing to see all these incredible animals she'd only ever read about, living and breathing and eating all around her. She couldn't quite believe she was really walking through the Jurassic! Suddenly there was a ferocious rumble. Tamiko spun around. A group of dinosaurs was prowling along the shore of the swamp. Unlike the four-legged