Footprints of Thunder (74 page)

“Look,” Colter shouted.

Petra followed his point to see something moving along the ocean shore. Colter broke into a run and Petra followed down the path to the wire fence along the edge of the bluff. To the north was a point of land that blocked the view farther up the coast. Coming around that point was the biggest dinosaur they had seen yet. It walked on all four legs and had a long snaking head and dragged a long tail. It was a brontosaurus, except they remembered it was technically an apatosaurus. Everyone was quickly becoming a dinosaur expert.

The apatosaurus walked purposefully along the beach, its head held high, its gait slow but steady. When it cleared the point coming fully into view, another appeared behind the first. The second was only a little smaller and walked with the same steady pace. Petra and Colter watched in awe as the majestic monsters moved down the beach toward them, the sun setting into the sea behind, creating an orange backdrop. A third apatosaurus appeared behind the second, and then more, each descending in size, all following the mighty beast in the lead.

“It looks like a bizarre circus parade,” Petra said.

“Where do you think they’re going?” Colter asked.

“South, I guess. Instinctively heading for the warm weather.”

“Should we go too?”

“No, Colter. Let’s watch for a while.”

Colter put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. They stood like that until dark, watching the new world go by.