The Last Dinosaur

To Conchi Reyes, the first person to hear the story and helped me in its improvement. Thank you, always thank you.

Prologue: The news

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xcerpt from the article appeared in the newspaper La Nueva Información[1]of Granada, on February 6, 2008, written by Juan Carlos García:

Dinosaurs were not extinguished by a meteorite.

A new theory suggests that everything was caused by earthquakes.

JUAN CARLOS GARCÍA, Granada. Yesterday, February 6th, the second International Conference on Paleontology took place at the Congress Center of Granada. The so-called ICP, was attended by numerous paleontologists and scientists from various regions of the world, coinciding, at the same time, with the exhibition on dinosaurs that is on display this month in the Science Park of the city.

At the conference, new data on the world of dinosaurs have been released. Data that causes confusion.

Initially, it was assumed that these large reptiles had become extinct more than 65 million years ago due to a series of climatic changes that reduced their numbers and variety over a period of several million years, as credited by paleontologist James White. Also postulated was the possibility that a large asteroid had impacted the Earth’s surface in North and South America, causing a great flare of fire that burned millions of hectares and, in turn, a series of climatic changes that supposedly caused the extinction of both plants and these giants.

The gigantic asteroid originated intense acid rains that caused plants to stop growing and, therefore, there was no food for the herbivorous dinosaurs, and they died out. This led to the death of carnivores, since their only food was herbivores..., said Antonio Romero, paleontologist at the Faculty of Sciences of Granada.

In addition, the impact of the meteorite caused a dense cloud of dust to prevent sunlight from reaching plants and animals; the beginning of the great extinction that occurred between the Cretaceous period and the Tertiary Era.

Well, now the theory is different. The uncontrollable eruption of volcanoes caused the tectonic plates to move with such violence that the earth’s crust cracked at numerous points, thus creating large sinkholes through which both plants and dinosaurs fell.

This, however, shows a contradiction, as the Madrid paleontologist Andrés Martínez pointed out: We do not believe that all the dinosaurs or plants fell into these trenches. Many would be saved, but nothing would be the same. Food would be scarce and they would have to travel many kilometers to put something in their mouths, exposed to dangers and starvation, which would leave them totally exhausted and, finally, they would die.

The audience asked numerous questions, and all the answers were vague and meaningless. One, however, made the scientists nervous: How did you arrive at this hypothesis after so many years with a theory that was supposed to be irrefutable?

The answer was, amidst hesitation, that large numbers of dinosaur bones had been found in various parts of the world (and in great masses).

These excavations had shown that the Earth had cracked with unimaginable aggressiveness; the tectonic plates had moved and cracked the Earth’s crust, dragging the dinosaurs behind them.

In addition, they added that many of the bones found were completely broken in an atrocious way, only caused by a possible great fall.

In response to this, the Japanese Hiroto Dan said: We also hypothesize that these cracks would form caverns in the interior of the Earth in which there may be complete remains of these animals, and some of them may even be mummified. There is a possibility that there may even be nests with eggs! However, it is not something we can say for sure yet.

Finally, it should be added that the scientists themselves pointed out that this theory was yet to be developed and confirmed. Many years of research remain, noted Henry Black, an excellent New York paleontologist. These are just the chords of a song that is beginning to be forged.

Ultimately, will we ever know the true end of the dinosaurs? New contradictions arise every time, so it is very likely not.

1 Classroom project

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s usual, the alarm clock rang at twenty past seven in the morning. Emilius was soon on his feet, rubbing his eyes. He washed himself and dressed quickly. Before leaving the bathroom, he looked at himself in the mirror with a broad smile. The day had arrived! Could he be happier? Excitement shone in his blue eyes.

He returned to his room, made his bed as he had been taught as a child, and went over to his desk to once again contemplate the five magnificent dinosaur models he had been working on for days (even weeks) with his father’s help. They were replicas, as accurate as possible, of a Tyrannosaurus, a Triceratops, an Apatosaurus, an Iguanodon and a Corythosaurus. He knew they had their flaws, but he was proud of them.

He picked up his planner and looked to make sure once again: yes, the day had come, he was finally going to expose the work on dinosaurs!! He hoped that all the effort and desire he had put into it would bear fruit and, above all, that he would get a good grade in Biology and Geology, his favorite subject.

Emilius was not a bad student, far from it, sometimes just a bit lazy in some subjects. Normally, he got good grades by doing his best, especially when it was a subject he was passionate about, such as dinosaurs, a subject that he had been amazed by since he was a child.

Ever since his parents took him to see the great dinosaur exhibition at the city’s Science Park, these great reptiles became his greatest hobby, and he was amazed by everything he saw there.

There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t dream of becoming a great paleontologist and making the greatest of discoveries. It was something that was still a long way off, but he was determined to do it.

The boy assembled the folded box he had left behind the bedroom door the night before, lined the inside with bubble wrap and carefully stored the models inside. He put protective plastic back over the top and, with duct tape, closed the box.

He checked in his backpack that his speech was stowed and, with it on his back and the box in his arms, went downstairs to the second floor. From the kitchen came a sweet aroma of coffee and toast; his father was already eating breakfast.

Emilius left the backpack and the box in the hallway and ran into the kitchen, feeling his guts roar.

Good morning, Dad! he greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. How did you sleep?

Good morning, son. How frantic you look! laughed his father. He took the last sip of coffee. Emilius shrugged his shoulders; he felt the same as always. No, don’t prepare anything; you have breakfast ready on the table.

Oh, thanks, Dad! Emilius sat down and began to devour the buttered toast quickly.

Son, be careful! We’re not in a hurry, not too much. You won’t choke, he warned him, sitting down across from him. Well, tell me: why are you so happy?

The little boy swallowed the last piece of toast and took a sip of milk before answering:

Hector... Dad, he corrected at once. His father hated it when he called him by his first name, but Emilius couldn’t help that it often escaped him because at the age of four he had picked up the ugly habit of calling him by his first name, "I thought you already knew that. Today I am exhibiting the work on dinosaurs that I have been preparing since Christmas. You even helped me do the Tyrannosaurus because, well..., it got complicated. Heh, heh."

Ah, right, right. Sorry, son. One has too many things on one’s mind. Yes, we did a good job. Too bad the sound failed us and we couldn’t include it.

I’ll roar for it, Emilius commented and they both laughed.

You’ll see that you’ll do very well. Don’t be nervous.

Nervous? Why should I be? It’s classwork like any other, Dad.

Hector raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Oh, Dad! Okay, don’t look at me like that. Yes, my stomach is a little tingly. I’m really looking forward to this job... I’ve worked too hard on everything and I don’t want it to go wrong.

His father took his hand.

Come on, Emilius, nothing is going to go wrong! Don’t worry, that’s how you have to be. That way you’ll speak fluently and enjoy yourself. And if your eyelashes tremble, it doesn’t matter. He winked at him.

Emilius blushed. His father hadn’t wanted to qualify it, but he knew where he was going. He didn’t like to speak in public. When he had to do it in class he got so nervous that sometimes he either didn’t get the words out or he stuttered. He hoped that this time everything would go smoothly.

Dad, I’ll be fine. By the way, what time is it? He abruptly changed the subject, It’s so late, we have to go!

Hector looked at the clock on the wall.

It’s about eight o’clock. He got up. He grabbed a bag with a sandwich wrapped in aluminum foil from a countertop. I’m going to get the car out of the garage. Don’t be long. I’ll put your snack in the backpack and I’ll get the model box, he added at the kitchen door. For your safety.

Emilius drained the last sip of milk, put the glass and plate in the dishwasher, grabbed a napkin to wipe himself with, and ran out. He snatched up his backpack and looked at the photo of his mother on the hallway cabinet. He smiled. That picture of his mother always cheered him up, but it also pinched his heart. He missed her very much. It had been five years since cancer had separated them. It was a huge blow for Emilius, but thanks to his friends, his father, his grandparents, and by keeping busy, he managed to get over it, partly because he knew he would never get over his loss.

When he went to sleep, he couldn’t help but shed a tear or two, missing her ‘good nights’, kisses and hugs, and all the things they would never get to do together. They had both dreamed of the day Emilius would make his First Communion. His mother wanted to see him dressed in a blue sailor suit. And that was all it was, a dream, because when the time came, Emilius refused. It made no sense to do anything without her.

He kissed the image, took the keys and went out into the street, closing the door.

Emilius, put on your seat belt, his father ordered him as soon as he closed the car door.

Dad, I always do. Why do you keep telling me that? grumbled the boy.

It’s routine... And for your own good. Sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry. He ruffled his hair with one hand. When you have a son, you’ll be the same way.

Please, dad! I hate it when you do that, Emilius growled, putting his hair back in place. And I’m not a kid anymore! I’m eleven, and in six months I’ll be twelve. I used to like it when you did that to me, but not anymore.

Hector laughed with a nostalgic gleam in his eye.

Relax, boys and girls will still like you if that’s what bothers you.

With a sidelong glance, Emilius snorted. He folded his arms and stared straight ahead. He was sick and tired of his father bringing up the same subject every now and then: that he would like girls, or boys, the same way, even if he did make a fuss. One thing had nothing to do with the other. His father would never change.

They left the village of Alfacar and took the road towards Jun, leaving on the right a large gas station crowded with cars waiting to refuel. Emilius looked out the window and saw two old men filling up, something that reminded him...

Dad, what time do you get off work today?

At seven o’clock. I’m leaving later today because we have a meeting with the director. Why?

And who will pick me up after school? Or should I take the bus?

Right, right! I forgot. Grandpa told me he’ll pick you up. He’ll take you home. At half past two he’ll be there waiting for you. Anyway, I’ll call him as soon as I get to work to remind him, okay?

Emilius nodded, smiling mischievously.

And tell him to bring Camillus with him. I... I’d like to have him home again, if you’ll give me permission. It’s been two weeks since you took him to Grandpa and I miss him, he commented. He keeps me a lot of company. I know that to you...

It’s not that I don’t like dogs, it’s just that their fur sometimes gives me a rash... He began to scratch his hands just thinking about it.

Emilius looked down, resigned.

What if we buy a small doghouse and put it in the yard? That way he’ll be inside the house for as little time as possible. He didn’t like having to leave his dog outside, but once he was home he would find a way to get his father to change his mind and keep him inside.

His father merely pursed his lips. He shifted the car into gear and turned left.

Emilius, I’ll think about it, but I’m not promising anything, he finally said. And for the love of God, don’t bother me about it, okay? I know you well and now that you’ve brought it up...

Emilius blushed with a nervous laugh.

I won’t, I promise. And as he said it, he crossed his fingers. Until he got Camillus home, he wouldn’t stop.

It wasn’t long before Hector stopped the car in front of the school. Emilius got out quickly, slung his backpack over his shoulder and opened the trunk. His father helped him take out the box containing the models.

Well, I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you, but I don’t need it. He winked.

But he was going to need it. So far he had been calm, but as soon as he got out of the car his heart rate had started to rise.

It was only recently that he had moved from school to high school. It was his first year. And that building was still awe-inspiring; he still wasn’t used to the change.

I’m leaving now so I don’t catch too much traffic. I’ll call Grandpa and tell him to wait for you here when you leave, okay? His father gave him two kisses on the cheeks before getting back in the car and driving away.

Emilius took a breath and looked at the building with trembling hands. The box was shaking violently in them. He swallowed saliva. He still had a long hour until he had to expose the work, and he didn’t know what was best, whether to have more time to get more nervous, or to relax.

He crossed the entrance gate amid the hustle and bustle of students arriving at the same time. As soon as he stepped onto the porch steps his name was called out. His five friends waved as he walked toward him, smiling. Thomas, Marcos, Noelia, Damaris and Alejandra lived in the same village as Emilius, although they used to take the bus to school. They had known each other since kindergarten and the six of them had been lucky enough to be in the same school group every year.

Damaris put an arm around his neck.

Emilius, Emilius, Emilius, why this mania that nobody takes away from you? You have to learn that it is better to always present any class work first.

That’s according to one’s point of view, isn’t it? So don’t ever change, he laughed. For the record, I like to be the last to do my best. And I always repeat it! And changing the subject, I see you coming, when are we going on a fossil hunting trip? He lowered his voice, urging his friends to make a circle. "I’ve heard that in a particular spot where we haven’t