Chapter 3: Waterfall City and Troubling News
It was once again a bright sunny and cloudy day on Dinotopia. The convoy of Brachiosaurs and guards were being escorted by Skybax patrols. They were again crossing a huge grass field and passing mountains occasionally.
Riding on the back of there Brachiosaurs again, David was resting while Jake was watching the landscape pass by as they traveled. Karl however, was in deep conversation with Marion.
"So what's the best way too fight those things," he eagerly asked. He didn't want to freeze up again, like he did when Jake was fighting that T-Rex.
"We don't approve of violence in Dinotopia" Marion stated. Shocked at this, Karl nodded back at where they came from.
"Even when it saves your life, that T-Rex almost killed us back there," he argued. "Our lives are no more precious then that of a Tyrannosaurs" Marion said cheerfully.
Unable to believe this, Karl scoffed "C'mon Marion eat or be eaten, kill or be killed, that's the law of the jungle". Sitting back into his seat he then added, "Were human beings, that means were at the top of the food chain.
Calmly, Marion then spoke "We are recent guest on this planet, the dinosaurs have been here for over a hundred and sixty million years, mammals like us could only-". "Hey I like my dog back home, but he's not getting a drivers silence, know what I'm saying" interrupted Karl.
"You feel superior to him," she stated. "Well yeah, you bet I do," said Karl.
"But your not" argued Marion. "Karl feel's superior to everything" said the now awakened David. "That's just who he is" added Jake.
Ignoring his half brothers, Karl then demanded, "If dinosaurs are so superior then how come there doing all the manual labor". "Dinosaurs take pride in their strength" Marion said.
"Oh yeah, well their still carrying us around on their backs" Karl scoffed. "Theirs many things you could learn from a Brachiosaurs," challenged Marion. "Oh yeah, like what" Karl challenged back.
"Like humility" she said. "Oh you got burned Karl," laughed Jake, ignoring the glare Karl was giving him.
The rest of the trip was in silence as the boys had a lot to think about. Like what would happen when they reached waterfall city.
Who would they meet there? And could they get help to find their missing father, if he was still alive?
Jake averted his eyes up as their convoy passed a mountain. What he saw next amazed him beyond anything he had every laid his eyes on.
"Welcome to waterfall city" Marion announced warmly. "When she said Waterfall city, she meant it" though Jake.
The city itself seemed to be surround entirely by water. The architecture was in Jakes opinion Mayan looking.
Coming out of most of the high towers were waterfalls. It was as if the city had been built on top of a huge waterfall itself.
"I've never seen anything like it" David said grinning. "Niagara falls has got nothing on this" Jake laughed.
As they're convoy crossed a bridge that connected the land too the city over the waterfalls, David awed the city. "It's incredible, it's like something out of a fairy tale," he said.
Glancing up, the Jake and David noticed a model of the planet earth towering over the entrance to the city. "Umm Marion, your world map is a little bit off, America is joined to Europe" he informed her.
"At the beginning of the Triassic period, all the continents were joined together in one huge super continent called Pangea" she said.
"I'm surprised nether of you two knew that," laughed Karl as his half-brother gave him an angry glare. As they enter the city, the citizens who also were dressed like they were from the 1700 or 1800's cheered and waved at the boys.
The three grinned at all the attention and waved back at the citizens. "Look more dinosaurs" Jake pointed.
His brothers followed where he was pointing at and indeed there were other dinosaurs. There were Triceratops, Brachiosaurs and mostly Stenonychosaurus's.
"Why are they all looking at us" asked David. "There havent been any newcomers in many years, your celebrities" Marion laughed.
"Celebrities huh, I like the sound of that" Jake laughed as they slowly approached the city square. In the middle of the square was a giant fountain and a huge stone slab with those unknown markings on them.
"This is the palace" Marion informed the three as they came to a halt. Climbing down from there "bus" they were greeted with thunderous cheers and trumpet's announcing there arrival.
Escorted by two royal guards, the three boys, along with Marion aprroached the palace. A crowd of people had already formed as they watched silently neared the palace.
The doors to the palce opened reaveling a lone man exiting it. He was in his early to late fourties, was dressed like the citizens, except he had multiple colorfull robes on.
He had pecuilat looking hair, an odd looking hat and a warm smile on his face.
"Whose that guy" David wondered. "Look's like a clown with all those robes on" grinned Karl.
"Hello father" Marion said cheerfully. David and Jake had to hold back a audible laughter as Karl had a look of embrassment on his face.
Kissing her father of the cheak, the man spoke "I heard all about the Tyrannasarus attack, I've been so worried".
"I'm fine, theres nothing to be frightened of, but I would like to adress the Sentate of what I saw" Marion asked. "Yes of coures plenty of time for that, dinners at eight o clock, quarter to nine by the time the speech has dragged on" joked Marions father.
"Oh well" he said as he noticed the boys for the first time. "On behalf of the people of Waterfall city, I Waldo Syvill, the 207th mayor of Waterfalll city and speaker of the dinotopian sentate, extend to you are warmest welcome and hospitality" he greeted.
Waldo, Marion and the crowd then clapped for the arrival of newcomers. As they started to lead the boys to the palace, Karl quickly asked "Excuse me Mr. Mayor".
"Our plane crashed into the sea, David, Jake and I escaped, but our father was trapped in it" Karl said quickly. "What we need is a search party" David asked.
"Now don't worry dear boys, the senate awaits you and we wil adress all your concerns" Waldo smiled as he continued walking towards the palace. The boy's exchanged a look of nervousness before following.
Inside the palace they arrived at what appeared to be both a confernce and court room. People were already sitting in the seats, while above in the baclonys were various type of dinosaurs.
As the both came to the front of the room, they could see Waldo waiting for them as well as Marion. Waldo then pointed to a huge opened scroll that was attached to the wall that had various names and dates.
"Recorded on this scroll, you can see the names of those shipwrecked souls whom destiny has delivered to our lands, they number thousands, from all corners of the earth, from every centuriy, those poor unfortunates, cast away on the winds of misfortune, only to find a better life here on the shores of Dinotopia, and we are their descendants…welcome" announced Waldo as the citizens ad dinosaurs cheered once more.
Grinning ear to ear, the boys walkd up to a desk which had a scroll all set up and ready for them. "Please sign here" Waldo asked. "David nodded as dipped his feather he received in ink and wrote his name.
Waldo looked at the name to see DAVID SCOTT –2002. "Welcome to waterfall city, David Scott" announced Waldo.
Everyone cheered again as Karl then wrote his name. "And a very warm welcome to you, Karl Scott" Waldo announced.
Another applause from the citizens of Dinotopia. Jake grinned as he wrote his name. "It's a pleasure to have you among us, Jake Scott" Waldo announced for the last time, another applause from the citizens.
"Now we would like to formally accept you into the Waterfall city academy to being your trainning an given the chance to become full dinotopian citizens and to find your Saurian life partner" Waldo explained.
"Saurian" asked David. "You mean one of those scalies" asked Karl.
"Don't use that ugly term here, but yes you will be paired with a Dinosaur" Waldo explained. This shocked the boys, as they never agreed to this, they just wanted to go home.
"Theres a cermony and you take a vow, it's like a marriage" Marion said kindly. "Well thank's for the offer but we have to get home" David said nervously.
"Our dad's still out there, there's no way we can stay here" Karl argued. "We understand that you three must be upset, many dinotopians have lsot there friends and family in the shipwrecks that brought them here, but I'm afarid your past lives are gone" Waldo said.
"This must be a big shock for you but, once you understand the truly wonderful life here you'll" Marion started. "Hold on a second, I never said anything about wanting to becoming a citizen or having a saurian life partner" Jake said suddenly angry.
"You think it's that simple, we just lost our father, and will never see our friends and family again and your saying forget about them" Jake demanded. "Marion, we have to get off this island" agreed Karl.
Marion stared at the three sadley not understanding why they would'nt want to stay. "I'm afarid that's imossible" Waldo quipped in.
"Over the centuries a few have tried bu they've all perished on the Razor Reef" informed Waldo. "Well wait a mintue, how do you know no ones ever made it" David questioned.
"Have you ever heard of Dinotopia before you arrived" Waldo asked. "No" said David. "Exactly" Waldo said.
Excited again, Waldo beckoned David to approach the podium in front of everyone. "Now you can't imagine how exciting this is for us, you're the first newcomers for many a long time, and were all eager to hear about the changes in your world, come along" Waldo said as he led the boys up some stair.
"Our last off worlder was shipwrecked in ninteen fourty four, so what been the principal changes in your society since then" asked Waldo as David stood in front of everyone.
"What" asked Waldo as one of the Triceratops asked Waldo something. "Oh yes, yes are you still at war with the germans" he asked.
The three boys had to keep themselves from laughing at the ridiculous question. "No, no we won that one" David said smiling.
"Well done" Waldo said as everyone applaused. "SO do tell us about the historical significant events that followed" Waldo asked kindly.
"Uhh significant events lets see" David said nervously as the crowd of people and dinosaurs eyed him. "There was the war in Vietnam, and uhh Watergate, the Gulf war, the Cold war and that's when they knocked down the Berlin wall" he said.
"They knocked down a wall" asked Waldo. "Yeah" David said. "Was there something wrong with it" asked Waldo.
"Uhh that's a little hard to explain" David said. "Lets see what else, oh the space program, Apallo eleveen, that's when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon" David continued.
At this point the crowd started mumering amongst each other at to what David was talking about. Oblivious to this, David said "Technology is very advanced today, we all have mobile phones, DVD's and laptops, everyones on the internet" David said.
"I'm sorry I think all of us are a little confused, I thought you said someone walked on the moon" asked Waldo. "Uhh David, I don't think these people understand half the things you just said" Jake said.
Karl then took the stand and grunted "The most significant event in my history, is falling out of the sky and to watch my father get swept away to drown". "He looked at the crowd of citizens who had quieted down before sarcastically adding "Welcome to Dinotopia".