The Island Where Dinosaurs Roamed by David Blakesley & David Dean

Author:David Blakesley & David Dean [Blakesley, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skirinish Publishing
Published: 2022-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Dugie drove straight home, whilst the others returned to the cottages.

Caitlin had already phoned ahead and waiting for them was a lovely cooked breakfast, courtesy of Eilidh.

‘You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble,’ protested Sam’s mum, as they tucked in heartily to their sausage and eggs.

‘I think she should,’ replied Catlin. ‘It’s delicious!’

‘Well thank you, Caitlin,’ said Eilidh, laughing. ‘You all need something inside you after your early morning exertion.’

She listened as the children recounted their gripping story and was keen to see for herself what all the fuss had been about. Later that morning they all returned to the museum to give Eilidh the opportunity to admire the fossils.

Sam rushed into the museum, half expecting to see the fossils in one of Dugie’s glass cabinets with his and Caitlin’s names inscribed on the label as the finders. But they were nowhere to be seen. Dugie was explaining one of the footprints to some visitors and waved to them. After a few minutes he walked over.

‘Good morning, Eilidh. Good morning all. Have you come to see the fossils? They’re still in the van, I’ll go and get them.’

A few moments later the jawbone and the loose tooth were being displayed on his desk.

‘Wow! That’s absolutely… stunning. When I looked at the photo, I had no idea that it was this big. It’s incredible. What is it Dugie?’ Eilidh was clearly impressed.

Sam and Caitlin were beaming.

‘That, is a very good question. I’ve been thinking about it all morning. There is a distinct possibility that it is a theropod, but I think we can’t completely rule out ichthyosaur.’

He turned to Sam and Caitlin. ‘This is such a fine specimen. It is going to be very important, whatever its final identification. For Scotland as well as for Skye.’

‘Dinosaur or sea dragon,’ he added.

‘What will happen to it now?’ asked Sam.

‘Well, I will send some photos to my colleagues who are experts in the field, and hopefully we will get some idea of what type of animal it came from before you go home. Then it will probably go to Edinburgh to be properly prepared and studied.’

‘Will it go on display in your museum?’ asked Caitlin.

‘I certainly hope so,’ Dugie replied. ‘I need a dramatic new story to tell the visitors!’ he laughed.

‘Does anyone fancy a coffee over the road?’ asked Eilidh.

‘That would be very welcome,’ replied Mum.

‘Sam, have you been to Kilt Rock yet?’ asked Caitlin.

‘No.’ He shook his head.

‘That’s a good idea Caitlin, why don’t you walk down the road with Sam,’ said Eilidh.

It was a short walk to Kilt Rock. They passed a small pool where people were kayaking, but what surprised Sam was the large number of cars and camper vans that were parked along the track into the small car park at Kilt Rock.

‘It attracts a lot of tourists I’m afraid,’ said Caitlin. ‘They come for the view. You can stand almost on the edge of the cliff.’

This was a side of Skye that Sam had not really experienced yet.

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