The Berenstain Bears Chapter Book: The G-Rex Bones Read Free Page B

site to examine the bones, which Ralph and Sandcrab had stored in a big tent. Actual Factual had announced that the fossil bones belonged to a new species of meat-eater similar to Tyrannosaurus rex . When the whole skeleton was finally put together and displayed in the rotunda of the Hall of Dinosaurs, he predicted, it would stand fully twice as tall as a T-rex . Not just the science world but all Bear Country was abuzz about the spectacular new find.
    “Well, let’s start the meeting,” said Cousin Fred when the cubs’ milk shakes had been served.
    “Let’s wait for Ferdy,” said Brother. “I invited him to join us because of his knowledge of fossils and dinosaurs.” Ferdy Factual, cub genius, was Actual Factual’s nephew.
    “You did?” said Fred. He looked hurt. “But I know a lot about fossils and dinosaurs …”
    “No offense, Fred,” said Brother. “But your knowledge is all from books. Ferdy has worked with his uncle in the Bearsonian fossil lab. Real hands-on experience.”
    “Well, okay,” said Fred. “Just so long as he keeps his hands off my Bear Detective spot.”
    Brother assured Fred that no one wanted to replace him as a permanent Bear Detective. Ferdy would only be sworn in as a temporary Bear Detective.
    Moments later, Ferdy arrived. He was late because he’d come directly from the Bearsonian, where he’d had trouble getting through the crush of media bears camped outside the entrance. Brother swore him in and told him about what the cubs had seen in the desert during the school field trip.

    Ferdy stroked his chin as he listened. Then he said, “That is a very suspicious story, indeed. Ralph Ripoff and four other bears with shovels. On the day before Sandcrab Jones is supposed to have found the fossils. But we don’t know for sure if Sandcrab was one of those bears with Ralph, or even if it was the same spot where the fossils were found.”
    “That’s right,” said Lizzy. “Maybe Ralph was out there looking for fossils in some other spot.”
    “That’s not quite what I had in mind,” said Ferdy. “It is highly unlikely that a small-time crook and swindler would become an amateur fossil hunter overnight. I was merely suggesting that before we develop any theories about what Ralph is up to, we should make sure that he was actually seen at the site of the discovery.”
    The cubs agreed with Ferdy and made plans to check it out. Brother thought he could find the mesa from which they’d spied Ralph. And Fred had a big map of Great Grizzly Desert to help them. Sister thought Papa would agree to drive them out there if they told him the truth about their investigation. After all, if there was something fishy about the new fossils, it wasn’t just a Bear Detective problem. It was a Bear Country problem.

    Ferdy insisted they go the very next day, which was Saturday. There was no telling, he said, where the investigation would lead or how long it would take. Actual Factual and Ralph had already made plans to sign the bill of sale in the rotunda at the Bearsonian the following Saturday, right beside the newly put together dinosaur skeleton. So the Bear Detectives had to act fast.
    “The only thing that might cause a delay in the signing,” said Ferdy, “is some problem with the tests in the Bearsonian chemistry lab.”
    “What tests?” asked Brother.
    “Uncle Actual brought a fossil toe bone back from the desert to run chemical tests on,” said Ferdy. “To make sure it’s a real fossil.”
    “You mean somebody might have made fake dinosaur fossils?” said Lizzy.
    “And buried them in the desert?” said Sister.
    “Well, it’s highly unlikely,” said Ferdy. “Not even Ralph’s involvement leads me to think so. No doubt, if Ralph is involved, it’s only to swindle Sandcrab Jones out of a lot of money. So the chemical tests on the G-rex bone are really just a precaution.”
    “Did you say G-rex bone?” asked Brother.
    Ferdy blushed and put his hand to his mouth. “It