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Literature Text
“And here we have the newest addition to my collection,” Baxter announced, pulling down the sheet with an overdramatic flourish.
His comrades oohed and ahhed at the large slab of rock, or, more precisely, at the ancient, polished dark gray bones encased within it. The skeleton was a miracle, by archaeologist standards; not a single bone was missing, out of place, or even damaged. Such a complete specimen was nigh on impossible, and yet there is was, looming above the small groups of aristocrats.
“Magnificent, isn’t it?” Baxter remarked, thoroughly enjoying the slack jaws and wide eyes of his companions. “Dug up by a bunch of archeology blokes just three weeks ago. According to the auctioneer selling it off, they believe it could be a new species! How grand, don’t you think? A brand new type of dinosaur, and the first fossil discovered is sitting in my artifact collection! Although…” He paused, taking in the lacquered wood and ornate carpets. “It doesn’t really match the room all that much, what with the dull grays against all the golds and browns and reds. Makes it look a little unsettling, actually. Now, that is a problem…”
Rutherford spoke up. “It seems a bit peculiar that something so impressive would just be up an auctioned like that. Wouldn’t the scientists be better off keeping it? You know, for research and all that?”
“I’m sure they have plenty of other bones to fuss about with,” Baxter answered with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Besides, how else are those hole-diggers going to get paid? Beg the rocks for money? Though I’ll admit, it did cost me a pretty penny at the auction house. The competition for this beauty was the fiercest I’d ever seen!”
“I bet it still wasn’t as fierce as the lizard itself,” Walter piped. “Just imagine what it would be like it those bloody things were still alive and roaming the streets!”
“Yes,” a voice growled, deep and dangerous, “imagine that.”
The light mood of the room faltered at the crunching of cracking stone. The group put their full attention on the skeleton and gaped as it twitched, then trembled, then rattled, then finally broke free of its sedimentary casing, sending bits of rock scattering across the carpet. The beast glowered down at the shaking men through eyes that no longer existed.
“Imagine that chance had never allowed you filthy mammals to lay claim to this world.” The dinosaur stepped forward, sending the aristocrats scrambling back. “Imagine your kind didn’t lay waste to the forests, the rivers, the air, the ground, to my very bones, all for the sake of your so-called progress.”
The group was now pushed against the wall, cowering before the creature. It leaned down, causing the floorboards to squeal in defiance. They could smell its breath, the foul, musty breath of something that should be very long dead. “Imagine that I didn’t have to watch and feel your effect on this land as you reaped it without regard for the consequences.
“Imagine that you never set foot on this Earth in the first place.”
Several houses away, a child sprinted to her mother, insisting that she’d heard the bellow of a rampaging dinosaur.
His comrades oohed and ahhed at the large slab of rock, or, more precisely, at the ancient, polished dark gray bones encased within it. The skeleton was a miracle, by archaeologist standards; not a single bone was missing, out of place, or even damaged. Such a complete specimen was nigh on impossible, and yet there is was, looming above the small groups of aristocrats.
“Magnificent, isn’t it?” Baxter remarked, thoroughly enjoying the slack jaws and wide eyes of his companions. “Dug up by a bunch of archeology blokes just three weeks ago. According to the auctioneer selling it off, they believe it could be a new species! How grand, don’t you think? A brand new type of dinosaur, and the first fossil discovered is sitting in my artifact collection! Although…” He paused, taking in the lacquered wood and ornate carpets. “It doesn’t really match the room all that much, what with the dull grays against all the golds and browns and reds. Makes it look a little unsettling, actually. Now, that is a problem…”
Rutherford spoke up. “It seems a bit peculiar that something so impressive would just be up an auctioned like that. Wouldn’t the scientists be better off keeping it? You know, for research and all that?”
“I’m sure they have plenty of other bones to fuss about with,” Baxter answered with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Besides, how else are those hole-diggers going to get paid? Beg the rocks for money? Though I’ll admit, it did cost me a pretty penny at the auction house. The competition for this beauty was the fiercest I’d ever seen!”
“I bet it still wasn’t as fierce as the lizard itself,” Walter piped. “Just imagine what it would be like it those bloody things were still alive and roaming the streets!”
“Yes,” a voice growled, deep and dangerous, “imagine that.”
The light mood of the room faltered at the crunching of cracking stone. The group put their full attention on the skeleton and gaped as it twitched, then trembled, then rattled, then finally broke free of its sedimentary casing, sending bits of rock scattering across the carpet. The beast glowered down at the shaking men through eyes that no longer existed.
“Imagine that chance had never allowed you filthy mammals to lay claim to this world.” The dinosaur stepped forward, sending the aristocrats scrambling back. “Imagine your kind didn’t lay waste to the forests, the rivers, the air, the ground, to my very bones, all for the sake of your so-called progress.”
The group was now pushed against the wall, cowering before the creature. It leaned down, causing the floorboards to squeal in defiance. They could smell its breath, the foul, musty breath of something that should be very long dead. “Imagine that I didn’t have to watch and feel your effect on this land as you reaped it without regard for the consequences.
“Imagine that you never set foot on this Earth in the first place.”
Several houses away, a child sprinted to her mother, insisting that she’d heard the bellow of a rampaging dinosaur.
No but the real reason they died was because they don't know the difference between an archaeologist and a paleontologist. That's a serious problem. Learn your facts.
Well, this was fun! I'm a huge science fan, both of real life and fiction, and dinosaurs are definitely among my favorite subjects within it. I even have dinosaur characters (albeit dated ones: fav.me/d90w4rh).
Challenge Requirements:
-Paleontology: the study of ancient life, normally though fossils. (Frick yeah, dinosaurs are amazing. Did you know that we might soon have living dinosaurs created by genetically manipulating chickens? I'm serious. And I want one. I'd regret having one, but I still want one.)
-Skeletons normally don't normally rise from the dead and berate humanity on its general failure to be nice to the planet. The societal commentary is pretty on-the-nose, but what can I say? Symbolism isn't really my thing.
-Well, didn't I go way into researching this! The Victorian era (based on my very limited understanding of it) featured a lot of fancy architecture and decor, at least as far as rich people went. The fossil is probably Allosaurus, which was discovered in 1877. Dinosaurs in general became a big deal in the 19th century as well, enough that they could've been sold at auctions. I was cutting it a little close with the "scientists not making money" thing, since science began receiving recognition and being treated as a true career somewhere in the 1800s, but oh well.
Word Count: 536.
Well, this was fun! I'm a huge science fan, both of real life and fiction, and dinosaurs are definitely among my favorite subjects within it. I even have dinosaur characters (albeit dated ones: fav.me/d90w4rh).
Challenge Requirements:
-Paleontology: the study of ancient life, normally though fossils. (Frick yeah, dinosaurs are amazing. Did you know that we might soon have living dinosaurs created by genetically manipulating chickens? I'm serious. And I want one. I'd regret having one, but I still want one.)
-Skeletons normally don't normally rise from the dead and berate humanity on its general failure to be nice to the planet. The societal commentary is pretty on-the-nose, but what can I say? Symbolism isn't really my thing.
-Well, didn't I go way into researching this! The Victorian era (based on my very limited understanding of it) featured a lot of fancy architecture and decor, at least as far as rich people went. The fossil is probably Allosaurus, which was discovered in 1877. Dinosaurs in general became a big deal in the 19th century as well, enough that they could've been sold at auctions. I was cutting it a little close with the "scientists not making money" thing, since science began receiving recognition and being treated as a true career somewhere in the 1800s, but oh well.
Word Count: 536.
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This is hilarious! Reading through, I didn't realize it was the challenge, until I read your comments and saw how well you met the challenge requirements. Well-researched, hilarious, and I freaking love the dialogue. Just ALL of it. So good.