Cretaceous Sea

Dr. Brown also glanced at Tom's name tag and her reac-tion was one of surprise. It took a moment before she re- gained her composure. When she did, she blurted out, 'Are you related to Richard Clements?'

A look of sorrow passed over Tom's features. 'I had a brother by that name.'

'No, I mean Richard Clements, the ammonite collector.'

'I'm afraid not.'

'He's not famous, but he was a pioneer in the field. A contemporary of Marsh and Cope.'

'Nineteenth century?' said Tom. 'I fear my history's weak. Besides, I'm mostly interested in Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary mammals.'

'Richard Clements was way ahead of his time,' said Dr. Brown, waxing enthusiastic. 'His collection is extensive.'

'I've never heard of it,' said Tom.

'It's still in private hands, my aunt's actually. It was in-valuable in my research.' Tom tried to hurry Dr. Brown's banter to the point by asking the question he assumed she was hoping for. 'Is that your paper?'

Dr. Brown nodded and handed it to him. He read the title aloud. 'The Cladogenesis of Ammonites in the Pierre Sea-way.'

'I'm presenting it tomorrow,' said Dr. Brown proudly.

Tom smiled, remembering his first presentation. Definitely a new doctorate, he thought. 'So you spotted my name tag and thought I was related to your Richard Clements.'

'No and that's the strange thing,' said Dr. Brown. 'You look a lot like him.'

'Look like him?'

'See for yourself.' She opened her manuscript to a page with a photograph. It showed a man in antique clothing standing behind a fossil ammonite that almost reached his waist. Tom stared at the picture in amazement, for the man had his brother's face. The caption beneath the photograph read, 'R. Clements and Splendidodiscus tomatis.' Tom trans-lated the Latin in a soft voice. 'Tom's splendid disk.'

'The resemblance is remarkable,' said Dr. Brown. 'Did I say something wrong? You look upset.' Tom wiped his eyes. 'Where did you get that photo-graph?'

'It's a family heirloom,' said Dr. Brown. 'Paleontology runs in our family.'

'We've got to talk,' said Tom urgently.

'About what?'

'Richard Clements. I think I own the first ammonite he ever collected.' Dr. Brown looked at Tom quizzically. 'You just told me you had never heard of him.'

'Please don't think me forward, but could we have dinner? We could eat at my place. There are things there I need to show you.'

'What kind of things?' asked Dr. Brown.

'I have a hypothesis about your Richard Clements, a crazy, fantastic, wonderful hypothesis. Together we may be able to prove it. Bring your paper and whatever other material you have on him tonight.'

'I haven't agreed to come,' said Dr. Brown.

'Please say yes,' pleaded Tom. 'This is really important to me. If my theory's right, you'll be amazed.'

'Can't you explain it now?'

'It's too complicated and too fantastic even to consider without some hard evidence. You'll need to see it for your- self.'

Dr. Brown looked at Tom and tried to take his measure. There was a disarming sincerity about him that made her