1“Annie, look at this!” Jack called. “Look what I found!” Annie had gone up to the hilltop.

2She was busy picking a flower from the magnolia tree.

3“Annie, look! A medallion!”

4But Annie wasn’t paying attention to Jack. She was staring at something on the other side of the hill.

5“Oh, wow!” she said.

6“Annie!”

7Clutching her magnolia flower, she took off down the hill.

8“Annie, come back!” Jack shouted.

9But Annie had disappeared.

10“I’m going to kill her,” Jack muttered.

11He stuffed the gold medallion into his jeans pocket.

12Then he heard Annie shriek.

13“Annie?”

14Jack heard another sound as well. A deep, bellowing sound. Like a tuba.

15“Jack! Come here!” Annie called.

16“Annie!”

17Jack grabbed his backpack and raced up the hill.

18When he got to the top, he gasped.

19The valley below was filled with nests. Big nests made out of mud. And the nests were filled with tiny dinosaurs!

20Annie was crouching next to one of the nests. And standing over her was a gigantic duck-billed dinosaur!

21“Don’t panic. Don’t move,” said Jack. He stepped slowly down the hill toward Annie.

22The huge dinosaur was towering above Annie. Waving her arms. Making her tuba sound.

23Jack stopped. He didn’t want to get too close.

24He knelt on the ground. “Okay. Move toward me. Slowly,” he said.

25Annie started to stand up.

26“Don’t stand. Crawl,” said Jack.

27Clutching her flower, Annie crawled toward Jack.

28The duck-billed dinosaur followed her. Still bellowing.

29Annie froze.

30“Keep going,” Jack said softly.

31Annie started crawling again.

32Jack inched farther down the hill. Until he was just an arm’s distance from Annie.

33He reached out—and grabbed her hand.

34He pulled Annie toward him.

35“Stay down,” he said. He crouched next to her. “Bow your head. Pretend to chew.”

36“Chew?”

37“Yes. I read that’s what you do if a mean dog comes at you.” “She’s no dog, Jack,” said Annie.

38“Just chew,” said Jack.

39Jack and Annie both bowed their heads. And pretended to chew.

40Soon the dinosaur grew quiet.

41Jack raised his head.

42“I don’t think she’s mad anymore,” he said.

43“Thanks, Jack, for saving me,” said Annie.

44“You have to use your brain,” said Jack. “You can’t just go running to a nest of babies. There’s always a mother nearby.” Annie stood up.

45“Annie!”

46Too late.

47Annie held out her magnolia flower to the dinosaur.

48“I’m sorry I made you worry about your babies,” she said.

49The dinosaur moved closer to Annie. She grabbed the flower from her. She reached for another.

50“No more,” said Annie.

51The dinosaur let out a sad tuba sound.

52“But there are more flowers up there,” Annie said. She pointed to the top of the hill. “I’ll get you some.”

53Annie hurried up the hill.

54The dinosaur waddled after her.

55Jack quickly examined the babies. Some were crawling out of their nests.

56Where were the other mothers?

57Jack took out the dinosaur book. He flipped through the pages.

58He found a picture of some duck-billed dinosaurs. He read the caption: The Anatosauruses lived in colonies. While a few mothers baby-sat the nests, others hunted for food.

59So there must be more mothers close by.

60“Hey, Jack!” Annie called.

61Jack looked up. Annie was at the top of the hill. Feeding magnolia flowers to the giant Anatosaurus!

62“She’s nice, too, Jack,” Annie said.

63But suddenly the Anatosaurus made her terrible tuba sound. Annie crouched down and started to chew.

64The dinosaur barged down the hill.

65She seemed afraid of something.

66Jack put the book down on top of his pack. He hurried up to Annie.

67“I wonder why she ran away,” said Annie. “We were starting to be friends.” Jack looked around. What he saw in the distance almost made him throw up.

68An enormous ugly monster was coming across the plain.

69He was walking on two big legs. And swinging a long, thick tail. And dangling two tiny arms.

70He had a huge head. And his jaws were wide open.

71Even from far away Jack could see his long, gleaming teeth.

72“Tyrannosaurus rex!” whispered Jack.