Battlesaurus by Brian Falkner

Author:Brian Falkner
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780374300760
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

BRUSSELS

“What is wrong?” Willem’s mother asks. She knows him well and although he has done his best to hide his distress, she can sense it.

The dismantling of the dinosaur carcass is finished and Willem has come home to try to wash the stink of blood and meat from his clothes and body.

His mother is baking. No baking was done the previous day, and the village needs its bread. Her hands are covered in flour and her apron is streaked with dough.

Willem stares at the floor.

“Jean and François have gone to tell the British about the dinosaur,” he says.

“At least someone in this village has a backbone,” his mother says.

“The mayor has found out. He will put the cousins on trial to convince Napoléon that the village had no part in it.”

“It will be a sham,” his mother says. “But do not concern yourself. The mayor is a fool. I will make him see reason.”

“He blames me for helping them,” Willem says. “I too will face trial.”

“Not when I have finished with him,” his mother says. “You are the hero of the village after last night. The people will not let you be put on trial.” She pauses, then smiles. “But if I ever see you approach a dinosaur like that again, I will kill you myself.”

“Yes, Mother,” Willem says. At that moment he hates himself. That his mother would use her relationship with the mayor to save him is bad enough. That he wants her to do it is much worse.

“Do not let this sham trial concern you,” she says. “There is something else I want to talk to you about.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“You know that Monsieur Delvaux is at Madame Gertruda’s while he recovers,” she says.

Willem nods.

“That leaves Cosette alone in her house,” she says. “It is not good for her to be on her own. She has suffered greatly in the last few weeks.”

“More than anyone should have to bear,” Willem says.

“Perhaps she would like to live with us for a while,” his mother says. “We have plenty of space, and ample food.”

Willem hesitates, wondering if his mother knows of his feelings for Cosette, and whether that would influence her thoughts.

“Something worries you?” she asks.

“I was just thinking about her father. He was terribly injured. I hope he is all right,” he says.

“Madame Gertruda will be doing everything she can,” she says.

“I will go to find Cosette,” Willem says.

She nods. He turns to go, but stops and turns back, sensing that she has more to say.

“You did a brave thing, facing that animal,” she says.

“So everyone tells me,” Willem says bitterly. “But I was not brave.”

“There is something you should know,” she says.

“What is it?”

“You know that your father fell out of favor with the emperor. But you do not know why.”

“He never spoke of it,” Willem says. “Nor did you.”

His mother acknowledges this with a short nod. “Napoléon was very taken with your father’s dancing saur. He felt that if a microsaurus could be trained, then so could raptors. He thought they could become weapons.

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