2025-09-25, 04:47 PM
Part 1
It was like any other normal day. Dan was out in the field with a group of students after receiving news of a recent landslip on the coast, and a new strange configuration could be seen in the soil of the cliff. It was an ideal opportunity for the rising geologists to try their newly learnt skills from the classroom and apply them practically.
As you may have guessed, Dan helped teach A Level geology to 18/19 year olds, with aspirations of becoming a teacher in the subject. He was quite well respected among the younger ones; being considerably younger at 27, than his current peers in the subject. He also took risks that were not considered acceptable by the school. One of these being unofficial field trips without the backing of the school or the consent of parents, but he always did his research and made sure everyone was safe while having fun. And besides, they were old enough to make their own choices now.
So there they were, stood at the base of a sandy cliff on a crisp grey morning in the east of England, clad in their wet weather gear and hard hats with books out and already making notes on the location, weather, etc. The area of interest was just out of site and Dan wanted to surprise his students. He double checked the tide times.
"Right then, guys," Dan called to the rabble, "high tide was forty minutes ago, so we'll have a good few hours to look at this slip."
There was a general murmur of excitement as they made our way to the site, and on rounding the corner, as the site came in to view, even Dan's breath was taken away. Before them was a 25ft sand cliff with a huge pile of spoil at its Base, but that wasn't what drew his attention. Within the newly exposed soil, a large number of fossil-like specimens could be seen clear as day. A black network of what looked like a root system within which were what appeared to be the remains of squid like animals. The preservation of which was perfect. He couldn't count them, there seemed that many. They all appeared to be of a similar shape, with an average length of 8 to 9 inches.
Reluctant to turn away, he addressed his students and asked questions on their observations and what possible scenarios caused this type of sedimentary feature. Once satisfied they had made enough 'bigger picture' observations, Dan allowed them to approach the cliff for closer inspection, mindful of potential secondary slips.
"They look like something from independence day", Claire, one of his most obvious pupils stated.
"Thank you Claire for that factual observation", he replied good heartedly. Among all the sniggering he then asked, "Do you think they have a resemblance to any living creature?"
"A cuttle fish", she replied at once.
"Very good", Dan said, and went on to explaining the tentacle like features at the front and large body behind.
"You sure it's not a chipmunk", Joe, a cocky lad with black curly hair and freckles, piped up.
The group roared with laughter.
"For that Joe, you get to remove the first specimen. And by the way you will be marked on how you do it."
Wiping the grin from his face, Joe approached the cliff face and tested the sand. Doing this would determine what sort of tools and methods should be applied when removing the fossil. "Uh... sir?" he asked with apprehension, "Are you sure these are fossils?"
Dan was about to reply, but when he saw Joe had one of the tentacle arms on his finger, and it was pliable, he couldn't speak. The slight movement of Joe's finger was seen to be making the tentacle move. He didn't know what to say.
It was then that things started to get strange. The other tentacles moved of their own volition, seeming to wrap around Joes finger and drawing it nearer to whatever was within. At the same time, it also seemed to be pulling itself out from the sand.
There was a collective gasp from the assembled students as they watched the creature free itself and hang from the finger before using its suckers to pull itself in to Joe's outstretched hand. All of them daren't breathe. They watched in amazement as the creature seemed to blur at the edges and shrink. It was growing fur while the tentacles receded and limbs appeared along its body. In no time at all, a chipmunk was now sitting in Joe's hand.
It was like any other normal day. Dan was out in the field with a group of students after receiving news of a recent landslip on the coast, and a new strange configuration could be seen in the soil of the cliff. It was an ideal opportunity for the rising geologists to try their newly learnt skills from the classroom and apply them practically.
As you may have guessed, Dan helped teach A Level geology to 18/19 year olds, with aspirations of becoming a teacher in the subject. He was quite well respected among the younger ones; being considerably younger at 27, than his current peers in the subject. He also took risks that were not considered acceptable by the school. One of these being unofficial field trips without the backing of the school or the consent of parents, but he always did his research and made sure everyone was safe while having fun. And besides, they were old enough to make their own choices now.
So there they were, stood at the base of a sandy cliff on a crisp grey morning in the east of England, clad in their wet weather gear and hard hats with books out and already making notes on the location, weather, etc. The area of interest was just out of site and Dan wanted to surprise his students. He double checked the tide times.
"Right then, guys," Dan called to the rabble, "high tide was forty minutes ago, so we'll have a good few hours to look at this slip."
There was a general murmur of excitement as they made our way to the site, and on rounding the corner, as the site came in to view, even Dan's breath was taken away. Before them was a 25ft sand cliff with a huge pile of spoil at its Base, but that wasn't what drew his attention. Within the newly exposed soil, a large number of fossil-like specimens could be seen clear as day. A black network of what looked like a root system within which were what appeared to be the remains of squid like animals. The preservation of which was perfect. He couldn't count them, there seemed that many. They all appeared to be of a similar shape, with an average length of 8 to 9 inches.
Reluctant to turn away, he addressed his students and asked questions on their observations and what possible scenarios caused this type of sedimentary feature. Once satisfied they had made enough 'bigger picture' observations, Dan allowed them to approach the cliff for closer inspection, mindful of potential secondary slips.
"They look like something from independence day", Claire, one of his most obvious pupils stated.
"Thank you Claire for that factual observation", he replied good heartedly. Among all the sniggering he then asked, "Do you think they have a resemblance to any living creature?"
"A cuttle fish", she replied at once.
"Very good", Dan said, and went on to explaining the tentacle like features at the front and large body behind.
"You sure it's not a chipmunk", Joe, a cocky lad with black curly hair and freckles, piped up.
The group roared with laughter.
"For that Joe, you get to remove the first specimen. And by the way you will be marked on how you do it."
Wiping the grin from his face, Joe approached the cliff face and tested the sand. Doing this would determine what sort of tools and methods should be applied when removing the fossil. "Uh... sir?" he asked with apprehension, "Are you sure these are fossils?"
Dan was about to reply, but when he saw Joe had one of the tentacle arms on his finger, and it was pliable, he couldn't speak. The slight movement of Joe's finger was seen to be making the tentacle move. He didn't know what to say.
It was then that things started to get strange. The other tentacles moved of their own volition, seeming to wrap around Joes finger and drawing it nearer to whatever was within. At the same time, it also seemed to be pulling itself out from the sand.
There was a collective gasp from the assembled students as they watched the creature free itself and hang from the finger before using its suckers to pull itself in to Joe's outstretched hand. All of them daren't breathe. They watched in amazement as the creature seemed to blur at the edges and shrink. It was growing fur while the tentacles receded and limbs appeared along its body. In no time at all, a chipmunk was now sitting in Joe's hand.