While trying to drift off to sleep that evening, I couldn’t help but reflect upon my life. Ever since a dolphin bucked me onto Dinotopia, I’ve been railing against everything. What has my life of nonstop rebellion done for me? I haven’t a friend among the scalies or the skinnies. My only happiness has been the illusion of escape. I wanted freedom, yet my plans led to house arrest or worse. Now that I’m here, it’s time for a choice. Better to learn to live with this world than to fight against it. It’s a lot of change for an old man like me, and it won’t be easy. But I might as well try.
The very next day, I awoke with enthusiasm – thinking, “Here’s my chance to make my new career a success. And Heraclio’s right – these accommodations are quite comfortable, much better than in Volcaneum.” I met him in the staff diner, where breakfast awaits. The were serving hot quinoa cakes and fresh fruit. “Not bad,” I said. Heraclio replied, "Thanks. I cook the staff breakfast each day. And we have fish with lunch.” After each day’s breakfast he teaches me footprint. “Today we practice reading the ingredient names – Fish (of course), salt, parsley, hot peppers, thyme… Easy, isn’t it? Yet, for you to make progress, you must study each evening, using this book.” He handed me a copy of Footprint for Beginners. “Keep at it, and you’ll be up to speed in no time.”
Our next stop is the dock, where a fishing boat just arrived. I said, “Here, let me help you unload the catch.” “That’s fine! Bring one of the empty carts over here.” I saluted Bryon and Hunter, who were already loading the fish into another cart. We loaded three carts – one each for Heraclio, Bryon, and Hunter – and rolled them to the prep area. Then we brought more carts for another trip. I asked Heraclio, “How many dinosaurs here speak English?” “A few know some basic phrases. Yet in the long run, you’ll do well to learn some Saurian to gain their friendship. Later, I can help you study the language books in our library. For now, just learning written footprint is good enough.”
With the unloading done, we moved to the prep area, where the three of them cleaned the fish. Heraclio explained how they work: “Hunter and Byron each have their own station. I help out at this, the third station – yet they do most of the work. Watch these two go at it.” I looked on as each Deinonychus clamps a fish by its tail in their custom-made jig. Then, with a few swipes of their foot claws, they gut and debone the fish, leaving a fresh-cut filet which they place in the tub, ready for cooking. “I never seen anything like it!” Meanwhile, Heraclio works on his own fish with a knife, the usual way. “You can try one after you’ve seen me do it a few times.”
I followed Heraclio to the main kitchen. “While they finish with the prep, we’ll start on the cooking. For today I’ve picked the easiest recipe: Stewed Fish.” Heraclio pulled out the appropriate scroll, handing it to me. “See if you can recognize any of it.” “Here’s the word for ‘fish’, but I don’t recognize the letters before it.” “That’s OK, we haven’t done numbers yet. It says, '16 tubs of fish.' “How many hot peppers?” I asked. “One tub, and one measure of salt. Finally, 10 tubs of water. Let’s put in the water, then start a fire under the pot.” With the pot boiling, we added the ingredients. “Time the cooking with this hourglass.” “How do we serve this to the Acrocanthosaurs?” “We use these serving carts – one for each. Byron, Hunter, and I each make two trips to serve six of the warrior-monks. Then the two raptors bring a cart for the seventh as well as one for themselves. The Acrocanthosaurs enjoy their company. And they would be pleased to meet you. How would you feel about accompanying us while we serve them?”
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