The Genial Dinosaur. John Russell Fearn
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BORGO PRESS BOOKS BY JOHN RUSSELL FEARN
1,000-Year Voyage: A Science Fiction Novel
Anjani the Mighty: A Lost Race Novel (Anjani #2)
Black Maria, M.A.: A Classic Crime Novel (Black Maria #1)
The Crimson Rambler: A Crime Novel
Don’t Touch Me: A Crime Novel
Dynasty of the Small: Classic Science Fiction Stories
The Empty Coffins: A Mystery of Horror
The Fourth Door: A Mystery Novel
From Afar: A Science Fiction Mystery
Fugitive of Time: A Classic Science Fiction Novel
The G-Bomb: A Science Fiction Novel
The Genial Dinosaur (Herbert the Dinosaur #2)
The Gold of Akada: A Jungle Adventure Novel (Anjani #1)
Here and Now: A Science Fiction Novel
Into the Unknown: A Science Fiction Tale
Last Conflict: Classic Science Fiction Stories
Legacy from Sirius: A Classic Science Fiction Novel
The Man from Hell: Classic Science Fiction Stories
The Man Who Was Not: A Crime Novel
Manton’s World: A Classic Science Fiction Novel
Moon Magic: A Novel of Romance (as Elizabeth Rutland)
The Murdered Schoolgirl: A Classic Crime Novel (Black Maria #2)
One Remained Seated: A Classic Crime Novel (Black Maria #3)
One Way Out: A Crime Novel (with Philip Harbottle)
Pattern of Murder: A Classic Crime Novel
Reflected Glory: A Dr. Castle Classic Crime Novel
Robbery Without Violence: Two Science Fiction Crime Stories
Rule of the Brains: Classic Science Fiction Stories
Shattering Glass: A Crime Novel
The Silvered Cage: A Scientific Murder Mystery
Slaves of Ijax: A Science Fiction Novel
Something from Mercury: Classic Science Fiction Stories
The Space Warp: A Science Fiction Novel
A Thing of the Past (Herbert the Dinosaur #1)
Thy Arm Alone: A Classic Crime Novel (Black Maria #4)
The Time Trap: A Science Fiction Novel
Vision Sinister: A Scientific Detective Thriller
Voice of the Conqueror: A Classic Science Fiction Novel
What Happened to Hammond? A Scientific Mystery
Within That Room!: A Classic Crime Novel
THE GOLDEN AMAZON SAGA
1. World Beneath Ice
2. Lord of Atlantis
3. Triangle of Power
4. The Amethyst City
5. Daughter of the Amazon
6. Quorne Returns
7. The Central Intelligence
8. The Cosmic Crusaders
9. Parasite Planet
10. World Out of Step
11. The Shadow People
12. Kingpin Planet
13. World in Reverse
14. Dwellers in Darkness
15. World in Duplicate
16. Lords of Creation
17. Duel with Colossus
18. Standstill Planet
19. Ghost World
20. Earth Divided
21. Chameleon Planet (with Philip Harbottle)
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Copyright © 1953 by John Russell Fearn
Copyright © 2012 by Philip Harbottle
Published by Wildside Press LLC
www.wildsidebooks.com
DEDICATION
For Eleanor Rose King
CHAPTER ONE
RETURN OF A MONSTER
Clifford Brooks, the rangy mining engineer with a thirst for adventure, had definitely made history when, in blowing up the base of a basalt area, he had accidentally loosed upon the world the monsters of the Jurassic Age. But now that was over. It had happened two years ago, and the last monster had been eliminated. Indeed, even more than this, the dangerous nitrogene gas escaping from inside the earth and threatening the destruction of humanity and perpetuation of the monsters had been sealed off. Yes, everything was very peaceful.
Well, almost. There was, of course, the usual daily talk of governmental and international upheavals; of the creation of new and deadlier weapons with which to destroy your next-door neighbour—and above all, there was the constant threat of alien invasion. The latter menace, though, was probably more the imagination of news writers who ought to have known better than a business to be taken seriously.
Proof of this invasion? Only strange flashes seen at intervals on the surface of Mars, and there was their possible tie-up with unusual objects glimpsed at times in the Earthly skies. These objects had nothing to do with flying saucers, and anyway they were differently shaped. Nothing like a saucer: wedge-shaped and moving at something like 18,000 miles an hour. The flying saucers of many years past had ceased to interest the public. Eminent high-ups had definitely proved them to be natural phenomena or the repercussions of indigestion, and that had to suffice. So, of course, this new business of wedge-shaped spots before the eyes moving at 18,000 m.p.h. provided something new for bored Mr. and Mrs. Everyman to talk about.
Not that Cliff Brooks was bored—hell, no. From being a first-rate mining engineer, he had graduated to that of chief consultant on mining and geology to the government’s South Regional Division. It carried a thumping salary, a stupendous amount of work, and absolute promise of a nervous breakdown. Actually, Cliff Brooks had only himself to blame. With his wife Joan, and, several other engineers—who had lost their lives in the process—he had descended a thousand miles into the Earth. Therefore, he alone possessed the valuable knowledge that geologists were constantly requiring in collusion with the mining companies. And in these days, when man was having to dive ever deeper for his raw resources in the nature of oil, coal, and mineral ores, the knowledge was worth a king’s ransom.
“Just the same,” Joan said one evening, when Cliff came home looking as though he had been through an atomic washing machine, “you ought to take things a bit easier, Cliff. What’s going to happen if you crack up?”
“I shan’t,” Cliff grinned. “I’m only young yet—far as vitality goes—and anyhow, I’d sooner risk cracking up and be worth a fortune than penniless and disgustingly healthy.”
Joan was silent. There was something in what he said, of course. His money in the past two years had enabled them to own a delightful detached home outside London, had provided them with every necessity life could offer.
“Yet sometimes,” Joan said, reflecting, “I rather sigh for the days we used to know. The little villa, you coming in full of bursting energy, me with the electric stove.… Remember the day you brought home the egg?”
Cliff did not answer for the moment. The mention of the dinosaur’s