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