2010 B.C.: Chronicles of Courage

Contents

FOREWORD

Part One

Hec and the Caramel Factory

Chapter 2 Beware of the Hounderdog

Chapter 3 Look Before you Leap

Chapter 4 Like yeah - ‘Sup?

Chapter 5 Rubie the Robinobird

Chapter 6 Comin’ down

Chapter 7 Hec’s Epiphany

Part II

Trouble in Pecant Grove

Chapter 2 Getting your fill of Esquillafilla

Chapter 3 Planning and Manning

Chapter 4 The Forest of Futurepast

Chapter 5 It’s time to go

Chapter 6 – the Land of the

Lava Butte Mountains

Chapter 7 The Hiss talk

Chapter 8 Oooh Lizzie we miss you

Part III

The Maturity Mission

Chapter 2 In search of Elephonse

Chapter 3 Hec and Friends to the Rescue

CHAPTER 4 The Hisstalkers

Chapter 5 Rumbletalk

Chapter 6 Hombo to the Rescue

Chapter 7 The Bald Faced Hominids

Chapter 8 The ‘Daring’ Rescue

Chapter 9 Pop – Oh and Glorius

Epilogue

FOREWORD

I want to dedicate this book to my grandson, Jonathon Scheaffer, whose love of dinosaurs at such an early age inspired the writing of this book.

I would also like to thank my friend and partner Gloria Farmer. Without her I would still be telling myself You love to write. Why don’t you publish something? Gloria knows and loves my Fantosaurs almost as much as I do.

Part One

Hec and the Caramel Factory

This is the story of Hec the Hectorectoropitmus and his Fantosaur friends. Hec himself is about the size of an Arabian horse, in fact looked a lot like an Arabian horse except for his floopy mule-sized ears. Hec has a mottled coat in shades of green and brown that would be very fashionable today as camouflage and six-sided, leathery scales on its hindquarters which is from where the HectoRecto part of the name is derived. Hec fits in very well in his Pecant Grove where he spends most of his time because Pecants are Ninety percent of his diet.

Pecants are a juicy tomato like fruit that grow all over Ameritor wherever there is abundant fresh water. Most Hectorectoroptimi are very happy spending their whole lives in Pecant groves and grazing on Pecants. However Hec tasted caramels at a party given by some friends and now Hec has a problem. After tasting caramels at that party he now craves caramels.

A Rateuknow is a Cocker Spaniel sized beast with the all the distinguishing features of a rodent - small beady eyes, long pointed, whiskery snout and those big gapped front teeth that allow rodents types to chew through about anything. Our Rateuknow, named Ratso, was particularly good at annoying just about every creature that lived in Ameritor except one and we will meet him later.

Ratso wanted his fellow Fantosaurs to think he knew lots of things that he didn’t actually know. You know the kind. However Ratso did actually know how to make caramels and that’s why Hec and probably every other creature in Ameritor put up with Ratso even though they didn’t like him. This adventure is about Hec’s unhealthy desire for caramels and the fact that only Ratso the Rateuknow knew how to make them. The Chronicles of Courage begin …

One day after munching on some rather unripe Pecants Hec decided that he needed to get the sour taste of unripe Pecants out of his mouth. He also couldn’t get the sweet, sugary taste of caramels out of his young mind.

I need some caramels! Hec said out loud.

This inspired Hec to go find Ratso and see if he could get him to make some caramels even though he knew that Ratso would probably make him pay dearly. Hec gathered his Pecant supply bag full of travel Pecants took a big drink in the nearby stream and headed to the Steam Pits where Ratso made his home.

Hec hadn’t gone more than a mile when Owley the Fowley flew over and landed in the nearby Pineyfir tree. Owley had overheard Hec complaining to himself about eating nothing but sour Pecants and wishing for caramels

Owley spotted Hec’s travel bag of Pecants and asked Hec where are you going? Are you craving caramels? You know that nasty Rateuknow will just make you pay dearly and you will wish you had just stayed home.

Mind your own business Owley. You are just a nosey old Fowley and I’ll bet you have never ever even tasted a caramel. pouted Hec.

Oh oh hoo hoo - if you only knew. hooted the old Fowley. I was very attracted to caramels at one time and even taught other creatures how to make them until I one day I realized that everyone was fighting over caramels. That’s when I decided to quit eating caramels and stay away from the other creatures that did.

You’re just a lonely old Fowley. Leave me alone. I want some caramels Hec said a bit loudly trying to cover up the unsure feelings that old Owley had put into his mind.

Don’t tell me that I didn’t warn you, you silly minded Hectorectoroptimus hooted the wise old Owley as he flew back to the Pineyfir tree that he called home. Someday that nice Hec will understand but not now Owley hooted to himself.

Hec trotted onward toward the Steam Pits knowing that Owley was right but he didn’t care – he just wanted some caramels and he was going to get some caramels no matter what. Sometimes we do things we shouldn’t do because we think that we are strong enough to handle the consequences.

This was Hec’s attitude right now. I want some caramels. I know they aren’t good for me but I can stop eating them whenever I want.

Hec snorted in frustration and continued on his quest to find some caramels.

Hec entered a nice cool stand of Juneyfir trees after walking for several hours in the hot sun. He was beginning to wonder if this trip for caramels was really worth the effort. He thought of the cool stand of Pecant trees and the clear cold brook that watered them. Life was good there so why was he sweating and grunting on this long trip to the Steam Pits where the water was hot and everything smelled like dead fish - just to get some caramels?

PSSST Hec It was Andy the Anaconadon. What are you doing here? Are you after caramels again?

Oh hi Andy groaned Hec I’m not sure why I’m here. I guess I just got bored and wanted to travel around some. He lied.

Whatever hissed the big Anaconadon remember I know all about temptation? My family has been tempting animals for years. That’s how we live. Hey Hec. Do you want to come to my place for a little – ah – meal? Asked the Anaconadon looking hungrily at Hec as he slithered ever closer to the resting Hectorectortimus.

Suddenly Hec realized how close the big Anaconadon had come. He jumped up and ran out of the shady Juneyfir trees. No thanks Andy he hollered back find someone else to eat - with. I’m going after some caramels. Suddenly Hec had plenty of energy as he sped northeast to the Steam Pits.

Hec trotted hard for four or five miles when he spotted a little grove of Pecant trees. Suddenly he was very hungry – for real food and not just caramels. Hungry and thirsty. As Hec entered the Pecant grove he knew he would find some clear cold water because Pecants won’t grow without it. Sure enough. In the corner was a deep pool of clear fresh water. Hec shoved his soft hairy snout into the water and drank deeply. After drinking his fill Hec lifted his snout and snorted cold water and snot everywhere as he neighed and kicked his hind feet in the air out of sheer orneriness

Wa-a-ay Cool chirped Robbie the Robinobird who had landed on a nearby rock With a hose like that you could irrigate a garden.

Hec just laughed and sneezed out another double nostril full blowing blossoms off the nearby Aplet tree making blossoms fly everywhere like a little snowstorm.

Wa-a-a-a-y Cool. Wa-a-a-a-y cool cooed the Robinobird as it flew off to an old Pineyfir tree on the hill. Hec could still hear the Robinobird singing Wa-a-a-ay Co-o-o-l Wa-a-a-ay Co-o-o-l as he trotted up the steepening path to the smelly Steam Pits. Even at this distance Hec’s sharp sense of smell could pick up traces of rotting fish and vegetation. The stink made him trot even faster as he knew he was getting ever closer.

Chapter 2 Beware of the Hounderdog

After a couple of hours of serious trotting (Hectorrectoroptimi are able to travel many miles at the trot in search of Pecant groves with good ripe food on the ground) Hec’s sharp nose told him he was getting very near the Steam Pits. In the distance he could see Steam rising in the cool air of the early evening.

Let me think a minute Hec said to himself that foul Ratso used to live in a dark cave up a small hill from big old dead Pineyfir tree. Wait there is the tree and the hill Hec slowed to a walk. He didn’t want to barge in on the old Rateuknow because you could never tell what kind of no-good he was up to.

Hec walked as quietly as he could up the small hill. He was just about at the entrance of the cave. He crept closer and closer to sneak a peek into the entrance.

What are you doing here? barked Homer the Hounderdog.

Hec jumped straight into the air and hit the ground running. When he reached the bottom of the hill he stopped to look back up the hill. What he saw made him breathe a sigh of relief. Homer was tied with a length of reedrope. Hec was safe enough if he didn’t get too close. He trotted slowly back up the hill and stopped a safe distance from the very big and very mean-looking saber-toothed Hounderdog.

I’m looking for Ratso Hec said timidly.

He ain’t here growled Homer

Isn’t offered Hec

Isn’t what? asked the dim-witted Hounderdog

Never Mind replied Hector where is Ratso?

Ain’t telling! get lost!

You aren’t telling offered Hec again

Who says I aren’t? He’s down at the south pit making a batch of caramels. There, see I tole’ I wouldn’t tell ya and I won’t so don’t try to trick me barked Homer obviously feeling very full of himself.

You laughed Hec are just one big windbag of tricks and trotted down the hill to the South Steampit road. He turned around to see the big scary saber-tooth Hounderdog chewing at his reedrope in a fit of anger. I’d better get along before he gets that reedrope chewed in twain thought Hec and galloped down the South Steampit road in haste. Fortunately Hec had gained the safety of the Steam Pits which covered his scent because Homer the Hounderdog had chewed through his reedrope and was in hot pursuit.

As Hec grew near the pointy end of the South Steampit he could see activity. It was Ratso the Rateuknow making a large pot of stew. Not wanting to deal with Ratso unless he had to Hec walked in the soft mud alongside the path at this spot. Finding a nice stand of canes of some kind Hec stopped and peered through a small opening. There was Ratso stirring his large pot and singing loudly off key. A quiet breeze blew the stew smell around the little cove until some of it reached Hec’s powerful nose.

That doesn’t smell like stew thought Hec it smells sweet like sugar, no it’s stronger than that. Could it be? – yes it is – caramels. Hec’s heart skipped a few beats as he drooled over the thought of his beloved caramels just a few tempting yards from his waiting lips. Oooh he groaned uncontrollably. Caramels. I love caramels.

As Hec stood there drooling he became fascinated in the whole caramel-making process. Ratso gnawed down a bunch of the same type of canes in which Hec was hiding. Then he broke them into manageable sized pieces. With a large rock Ratso pounded on the canes until they were nothing but a warm, wet pulp. Then he put a large mouthful of the pulp into a large, hollowed out cinder rock. Cinder rocks have irregular surfaces with indentations that make for good stewing and stand up well under the heat of the steam pits. Cinder is also easy to find a volcanic area. Ratso then added a generous amount of water to the cane pulp. The hollowed-out cinder rock heated the brew as a result of the large fire that Ratso had built around the rock. As the brew boiled and thickened Ratso skimmed off the crud until all that was left was a sweet goo that got thicker and darker until all of a sudden – caramels!!!!

That’s all there is to making caramels? Hec asked to himself. Even I could do that.

Suddenly Hec had what he thought was a great idea. With a wistful look back at Ratso and his wonderful batch of caramels Hec turned to go back to Small Hill so he could take the road to the North Steam Pit hoping he could find a way to cross the Freedom River which divided the North and South