Chapter 3: Student Debating

May 24, 1991 - Friday

Sleeping very soundly, Ellie slowly began to distinguish the sound of the alarm going off. She opened her eyes and searched for the clock. Things were still unfamiliar to her in this new apartment, but in seconds she spotted it and turned it off, revealing the time to be 5:30am. She really didn't need to get up that early, but she wanted to make sure there was enough time to eat breakfast. Allison had been the one to point out that eating something in the morning was how she would have enough energy in the day to stay focused. Ellie briefly wondered how such an easy concept escaped her.

She took a quick shower, got dressed, and then headed straight for the kitchen. She turned on the coffee pot, and then made herself some French Toast. During the quick meal, she spent some time looking at her local map of Montana, trying to find different routes to the dig site. After two cups of coffee and an empty plate, she decided to get a move on. She walked into the living room area and put on her work boots.

Glancing at the top of the television, she noticed a piece of paper. The same paper that she placed on the television every night since she had been there. It was Alan's phone number. She hadn't called him yet, thinking that would be very awkward, so she just kept it, hoping the timing would be right at some point.

She tucked the piece of paper in a pocket and headed for the front door. The plan was to meet Allison and Logan at the dig site at 6:30am, and then go on from there. She and Allison had taken a liking to the young Logan and his endless enthusiasm. The three of them had been sticking together for the whole week and had planned on doing the same thing today.

The afternoon sun was blazing down upon the hard-working people, prompting Alan to call for a break in the action. The students and volunteers were starting to work very well together, now that it was the end of the first week. Everyone was getting to know each other and various friendships were being made.

In order to let people rest, Alan had led everyone under a tent and had initiated a conversation. At first, Alan and Dr. Harper were at the center of attention, talking mostly with the students, trying to get their minds working. It was one of many talks about different view points of what the study of paleontology meant. At this moment in time, the students were having a debate of their own. To Alan's happiness, Ellie was right in the middle of it. She was a very intelligent person and was very knowledgeable in a great many things.

"Well, cold-blooded crocodiles, raised under very warm conditions, also show rapid bone growth. Dinosaur growth may have had more to do with climate, than with internal thermal regulation," Ellie countered.

The two students were debating a topic that had been debated for years and years. Endothermy vs. ectothermy; warm-blooded vs. cold-blooded dinosaurs. Ellie was coming down on the cold-blooded side of the issue. The student debating with her was none other than Greg Diamond. Alan didn't like the kid very much for various reasons, and he was secretly hoping that Ellie would be able to shut him up. The debate went on.

"How can you explain the vertical triangular plates on the Stegosaurus? Or the sail-like fins on the Dimetrodon or the Spinosaurus? These things were used to radiate away excess body heat, which suggests warm-bloodedness," Greg challenged.

"They could have been used for mating and dominance rituals. Maybe even protection and/or interspecies rivalry. The fact is, we just don't know what these plates and fins were used for," Ellie stated.

All eyes fell on Greg, who was getting tired of being upstaged by a female. She continued to provide solid counterpoints every time, without hesitation.

"Well, what about the fossils that have been found in the Arctic and Antarctic regions? Cold-blooded creatures, such as crocodiles, could not cope with such low temperatures today. The polar dinosaurs had to be warm-blooded to endure the challenging climate," Greg retaliated.

"I never said there wasn't proof of some warm-blooded creatures," Ellie pointed out.

"Well, there's absolutely no proof that they were cold-blooded," Greg said in a confident manner, "All of the evidence points to warm-bloodedness."

Alan stepped in, to offer some of his own final thoughts before lunch, "Perhaps both cold- and warm-blooded dinosaurs existed. Or maybe they were intermediate between the cold- and warm-blooded extremes. The large dinosaurs may also have maintained a nearly constant body temperature by mass or inertia homeothermy. In this view, their bulk provided a large reservoir of heat. In other words, they may have kept warm simply by being large," he explained.

Greg didn't like the fact that he seemed to be siding with the female, who obviously knew nothing. "Name a species as a proving point," he challenged.

"Large saltwater crocodiles of northern Australia. Although cold-blooded, their internal temperature has been measured to stay within a two-degree Celsius range, day or night."

Greg was about to try and protest by saying just about anything at this point. He hated to be out-debated.

But Dr. Harper interrupted, "Okay, I think we've had enough discussion for now. Let's get back to digging and exploring, shall we?"

"Actually, Dr. Harper, I think it's time for lunch," Rob spoke up.

"Very well, then. Carry on," Harper said.

Alan and Harper stayed behind, watching everybody leave. When most of them were gone, Harper looked at him, "What's that young man's name? The one debating with Ms. Sattler?"

"Oh, that one. That's Greg Diamond. His personality hasn't developed past elementary school yet."

"I will have to agree with that statement. He's not very likable."

Frederick Harper was a 67-year-old man who had spent most of his adult life in various universities around the country. He was retired from teaching now, but still insisted on fulfilling his position at the dig site during the summer months. He was clean shaven and his hair was almost completely gray, with a few darker strands here and there. Alan actually had the opportunity to take a paleobotany course with him, years before. When he was looking for intelligent and qualified people to help out in Montana, Dr. Harper was the first person he had asked.

"Well, it's just for the summer. Hopefully, we can put up with him for that short amount of time and then he'll move on."

"Like most of them do," Harper added.

"Yes, they do come and go rather quickly," Alan agreed.

Harper looked around to make sure everyone was gone now. "Did Mr. Hammond's check come?"

"Yes. Yes, it did," Alan quickly answered, "This morning. I was getting worried myself."

"It's certainly not like him to wait this long, that's for sure."

John Hammond was a couple of years younger than Dr. Harper and was Alan's main investor. The Hammond Foundation had been sending him a check for thirty thousand dollars a year for the last two years, with an increase to fifty thousand in the last year. Alan had never gotten the chance to meet Hammond in person, but he had talked with him on the phone on several occasions. Hammond seemed nice enough, appearing to just have a boy's fascination with dinosaurs. Alan never questioned too closely why Hammond chose to fund his digs. He just really appreciated the funding, so he was very pleasant with Hammond during each phone conversation, answering his every question patiently. A few years back, on the insistence of Kathryn, Alan had agreed to write a paper for Hammond on the dietary habits of juvenile dinosaurs for a hefty fee. At least it was hefty in Alan and Kathryn's point of view; fifty thousand dollars. After Hammond's lawyer continued to hound him on the phone at all hours of the night and day, Alan had called the deal off. After a quick negotiation, he had settled for twelve thousand and the promise of no more phone calls. Now things were more peaceful and he was allowed to go about the business of digging up dinosaurs for a living without distractions.

"He didn't even send the traditional letter, wishing us success and good fortune," Alan said.

"He must be a very busy man," Harper guessed.

Alan nodded in agreement, and then thought of something else to ask his associate. "Did we get a delivery date on that hauler?"

"I'm not for certain. You'll have to ask Rob about that."

"Okay. Well, I'm going to get something to eat. I'll talk to you later."

"I'm going to begin cataloging some of the more significant finds that we've had so far."

Alan had already turned toward his trailer. When Harper had mentioned something about significant finds, he turned around again, "You've already collected some good stuff?"

"Yeah. A few things, here and there. Some of the students have been finding things on the East Hill, Horizon 1," Harper said, smiling.

"That's great, Fred."

"With some luck and good timing, I'm hoping to surpass last year's collection of discoveries," Harper commented.