cc.themediterraneancaper2-第7章

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　Pitt　looked　down　at　the　drawings。　Most　of　them　were　different　artist's　　conceptions　of　the　same　fish；　and　yet　each　varied　in　details。　The　first　was　an　　ancient　Greek　illustration　on　the　side　of　a　vase。　Another　had　obviously　been　　part　of　a　Roman　fresco。　He　noted　that　two　of　them　were　more　modern。　stylized　　drawings；　depicting　the　fish　in　a　series　of　movements。　The　last　was　a　photograph　　of　a　fossil　imbedded　in　sandstone。　Pitt　looked　up　at　Gunn　questioningly。
　Gunn　handed　him　a　magnifying　glass。　〃Here；　take　a　closer　look　through　this。〃　Pitt　adjusted　the　height　of　the　thick　glass　and　scrutinized　each　picture。　At　　first　glance　the　fish　looked　similar　in　size　and　shape　to　the　Bluefin　Tuna；　but　　on　closer　inspection；　the　bottom　pelvic　fins　took　on　the　appearance　of　small　　jointed　webbed　feet。　There　were　two　more　identical　limbs　located　just　in　front　　of　the　dorsal　fin。
　He　whistled　softly。　〃This　is　a　weird　specimen；　Rudi。　What　do　you　call　it？〃　〃I　can't　pronounce　the　Latin　name；　but　the　scientists　aboard　the　First　Attempt　　have　affectionately　nicknamed　it　the　Teaser。〃
　〃Why　is　that？〃
　〃Because；　by　every　law　of　nature　that　fish　should　have　bee　extinct　over　two　　hundred　million　years　ago。　But　as　you　can　see　by　the　drawings。　men　still　claim　　they　have　seen　it。　Every　fifty　or　sixty　years　there's　a　rash　of　sightings；　but　　unfortunately　for　science；　a　Teaser　has　yet　to　be　caught。〃　Gunn　glanced　at　Pitt　　and　looked　away　again。　〃If　there　is　such　a　fish；　it　must　bear　a　charmed　life。　　There　are　literally　hundreds　of　accounts　of　fishermen　and　scientists　who　look　　you　in　the　eye　with　a　straight　face　and　say　they　had　a　Teaser　on　a　hook　or　in　a　　net；　but　before　the　fish　could　be　hauled　on　board　it　escaped。　Every　zoologist　in　　the　world　would　give　his　left　testicle　to　obtain　a　live；　or　even　dead　Teaser。〃
　Pitt　mashed　out　his　cigarette　in　an　ashtray。　〃What　makes　this　particular　fish　so　important？〃
　Gunn　held　up　the　drawings。　〃Notice　that　the　artists　couldn't　agree　on　the　outer　　layer　of　skin。　They　illustrate　tiny　scales；　smooth　porpoise…like　skin；　and　one　　even　brushed　in　a　kind　of　furry　hide　like　a　sea　lion。　Now；　if　you　take　the　　possibility　of　hairy　skin；　together　with　the　limb　extensions；　it　may　be　we　have　　the　dim　beginnings　of　the　first　mammal。〃
　〃True；　but　if　the　skin　were　smooth　you'd　have　nothing　more　than　an　early　　reptile。　The　earth　was　covered　with　them　back　in　those　days。〃
　Gunn's　eyes　mirrored　a　confident　look。　〃The　next　point　to　consider　is　that　the　　Teasers　lived　in　warm　shallow　water；　and　every　recorded　sighting　took　place　no　　more　than　three　miles　from　shore；　and　they　all　occurred　right　here　in　the　　eastern　Mediterranean　where　the　average　surface　temperature　seldom　drops　below　　sixty…two　degrees　Fahrenheit。〃
　〃So　what　does　that　prove？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃Nothing　solid；　but　since　primitive　mammal　life　survives　better　in　milder　　climates；　it　lends　a　little　support　to　the　possibility　that　they　might　have　　survived　to　the　present。〃
　Pitt　stared　at　Gunn　thoughtfully。　〃I'm　sorry；　Rudi。　You　still　haven't　sold　me。〃
　〃I　knew　you　were　a　hard　head；〃　said　Gunn。
　〃That's　why　I　left　the　most　interesting　part　till　last。〃　He　paused　and　removed　　his　glasses　and　rubbed　the　lenses　With　a　piece　of　Kleenex。　Then　he　replaced　the　　black　rims　over　his　hawkish　nose。　He　continued　speaking　as　if　lost　in　a　dream。　〃During　the　Triassic　Period　in　geological　time；　and　before　the　Himalayas　and　the　　Alps　rose；　a　great　sea　swept　over　what　is　now　Tibet　and　India。　It　also　extended　　over　Central　Europe　and　ended　in　the　North　Sea。　Geologists　call　this　once　great　　body　of　water；　the　Sea　of　Tethys。　All　that　remains　of　it　today　is　the　Black；　the　　Caspian　and　the　Mediterranean　Seas。〃
　〃You'll　have　to　pardon　my　ignorance　of　geological　time　eras；〃　Pitt　interrupted；　　〃but　when　did　the　Triassic　Period　take　place？〃
　〃Between　one　hundred　eighty　and　two　hundred　thirty　million　years　ago；〃　replied　　Gunn。　〃During　this　time　an　important　evolutionary　advance　occurred　in　the　　vertebrate　animals　as　the　reptiles　demonstrated　a　great　leap　over　their　more　　primitive　ancestors。　Some　of　the　marine　reptiles　attained　a　length　of　　twenty…three　feet　and　were　very　tough　customers。　The　most　noteworthy　event　was　　the　introduction　of　the　first　true　dinosaurs；　who　even　learned　to　walk　on　their　　hind　legs　and　use　their　tails　for　a　kind　of　cane。〃
　Pitt　leaned　back　and　stretched　his　legs。　〃I　thought　that　the　era　of　the　　dinosaurs　occurred　much　later。〃
　Gunn　laughed。　〃You've　seen　too　many　old　movies。　You're　undoubtedly　thinking　of　　the　behemoths　that　were　always　portrayed　in　the　early　science　fiction　films；　　menacing　a　tribe　of　hairy　cavemen。　They　never　failed　to　have　a　forty　ton　　Brontosaurus　or　a　ferocious　Tyrannosaurus　or　a　flying　Pteranodon　chasing　a　　half…nude；　big…fitted　heroine　through　a　primeval　jungle。　Actually　these　more　　monly　known　dinosaurs　roamed　the　earth　and　became　extinct　sixty　million　years　　before　man　appeared。〃
　〃Where　does　your　freak　fish　fit　into　the　picture？〃
　〃Imagine；　if　you　will；　a　three　foot　Teaser　fish　who　lived；　cavorted；　made　love　　and　finally　died　somewhere　in　the　Sea　of　Tethys。　Nothing　and　no　one　took　notice　　as　this　obscure　creature's　body　slowly　sank　to　the　red　mud　of　the　seabed。　The　　unmarked　grave　was　covered　over　with　sediments　which　hardened　into　sandstone　and　　left　a　thin　film　of　carbon。　It　was　this　trace　of　carbon　that　etched　and　outlined　　the　Teaser's　tissue　and　bone　structure　into　the　surrounding　strata。〃　The　years　　passed　and　turned　into　millenniums。　And　the　millenniums　became　eons；　until　one　　warm　spring　day；　two　hundred　million　years　later；　a　farmer　in　the　Austrian　town　　of　Neunkirchen　struck　his　plow　against　a　hard　surface。　And　presto；　our　Teaser　　fish；　though　now　a　near　perfect　fossilized　version；　once　again　returned　to　the　　light。〃　Gunn　hesitated　and　ran　his　hand　through　a　head　of　thinning　hair。　His　　face　looked　drawn　and　tired；　but　his　eyes　burned　with　excitement　as　he　spoke　of　　the　Teaser。　〃One　vital　element　you　must　remember；　when　the　Teaser　died　there　　were　no　birds　and　bees；　no　hair　bearing　mammals；　no　delicate　butterflies；　even　　flowers　had　not　yet　appeared　on　the　earth。〃
　Pitt　studied　the　photograph　of　the　fossil　again。　〃It　doesn't　seem　possible　that　　any　living　thing　could　survive　this　long　without　going　through　drastic　　evolutionary　changes。〃
　〃Incredible？　Yes；　but　it　has　happened　before。　The　shark　has　been　with　us　for　　three　hundred　and　fifty　million　years。　The　Horseshoe　Crab　has　existed　virtually　　unchanged　over　two　hundred　million　years。　Then；　of　course；　we　have　the　classic　　example；　the　Coelacanth。〃
　〃Yes；　I　heard　of　it；〃　said　Pitt。　〃That　was　the　fish　believed　extinct　for　seventy　　million　years　until　they　began　to　be　found　off　the　coast　of　east　Africa。〃
　Gunn　nodded。　〃The　Coelacanth　was　a　sensational　and　important　find　at　the　time；　　but　nothing　pared　to　what　the　scientific　world　would　gain　if　we　could　drop　a　　Teaser　in　its　lap。〃　Gunn　paused　for　a　moment　to　light　another　cigarette。　His　　eyes　betrayed　the　gleam　of　total　absorption。　〃The　whole　thing　boils　down　to　　this；　the　Teaser　could　be　an　early　link　in　the　evolution　of　mammals；　and　that　　Includes　man。　What　I　didn't　tell　you　was　that　the　fossil　found　in　Austria　shows　　definite　mammal　characteristics　in　its　anatomy。　The　protruding　limbs　and　other　　features　of　its　internal　organs；　place　it　in　a　perfect　evolutionary　line　to　　advance　in　a　general　pattern　toward　the　development　of　humans　and　animals。〃
　Pitt　idly　glanced　at　the　pictures　again。　〃If　this　so　called　living　fossil　is　　still　floating　around　in　its　original　form；　how　could　it　evolve　into　an　advanced　　stage？〃
　〃Any　plant　or　animal　species　is　like　a　related　family；〃　Gunn　replied。　〃One　　branch　may　produce　offspring　who　are　uniform　in　size　and　shape；　while　the　　cousins　over　on　the　other　side　of　the　mountain　produce　a　race　of　giants　with　two　　heads　and　four　arms。〃
　Pitt　was　getting　restless。　He　opened　the　door　and　walked　out　onto　the　deck。　The　　hot　air　struck　him　like　a　cloud　of　steam　and　he　winced。　All　this　expense　and　all　　these　men　sweating　their　asses　off　to　catch　a　stinking　fish；　he　thought。　Who　the　　hell　cares　if　our　ancestors　were　apes　or　fish…what　difference　did　it　make？　At　　the　rate　mankind　was　racing　toward　self…destruction；　it　would　probably　be　　extinct　in　another　thousand　years　or　less　anyway。　He　turned　back　to　the　darkened　　doorway　and　faced　Gunn。
　〃Ok；〃　Pitt　said　slowly。　〃I　know　what　you　and　your　boatload　of　academic　brains　　are　searching　for。　Now　the　only　question　in　my　mind　is　where　do　I　e　in？　If　　you're　having　trouble　with　broken　cables；　faulty　generators　or　missing　tools；　　you　don't　need　me；　you　need　a　good　mechanic　who　knows　how　to　take　care　of　his　　equipment。〃
　Gunn's　face　looked　puzzled　for　a　moment；　then　he　grinned。　〃I　see　that　you've　　been　pumping　information　out　of　Dr。　Knight。〃
　〃Dr。　Knight？〃
　〃Yes；　Ken　Knight；　the　young　fellow　who　picked　you　up　in　the　whaleboat　this　　morning。　He's　quite　a　brilliant　marine　geophysicist。〃
　〃That's　an　impressive　description；〃　said　Pitt。　〃He　seemed　friendly　enough　during　　the　boat　ride；　but　he　hardly　struck　me　as　brilliant。〃
　The　heat　outside　was　being　unbearable　and　the　metal　railing　gleamed　　ominously。　Pitt。　not　thinking；　put　his　hand　on　the　metal　and　instantly　cursed　as　　a　burning　sting　etched　his　palm。　Suddenly　the　pain　set　off　an　immense　feeling　of　　irritation　Within　him　and　he　returned　to　the　cabin；　slamming　the　door。　〃Let's　skip　all　this　crap；〃　Pitt　snapped　sharply。　〃Just　tell　me　what　miracle　I'm　　supposed　to　perform　that　puts　a　Teaser　over　your　fireplace　and　I'll　get　to　　work。〃　He　stretched　out　in　Gunn's　bunk　and　took　a　deep　breath　and　relaxed　as　the　　coolness　of　the　stateroom　calmed　him　once　more。　He　glanced　across　the　room　at　　Gunn。　Gunn's　face　was　expressionless；　but　Pitt　knew　him　well　enough　to　perceive　his　disfort。　Pitt　smiled　and　reached　over　and　gripped　Gunn　on　the　shoulder。　〃I　don't　wish　to　appear　mercenary。　but　if　you　want　me　to　join　your　little　crew　　of　scientific　pirates　it's　going　to　cost　you　a　drink。　All　this　talk　makes　a　man　　pretty　damn　thirsty。〃
　Gunn　laughed　with　relief　and　called　over　his　inter　for　some　ice　from　the　　ship's　galley。　Then　he　produced　a　bottle　of　Chivac　Regal　and　two　glasses　from　　his　bottom　desk　drawer。　'While　we're　waiting　for　the　ice；　you　might　scan　this　　report　I　wrote　concerning　our　equipment　malfunctions。〃　He　passed　a　yellow　folder　　to　Pitt。　〃I've　covered　every　incident　in　detail　and　chronological　order。　In　the　　beginning　I　thought　it　was　merely　accidents　or　bad　luck；　but　now　it's　gone　far　　beyond　the　realm　of　mere　coincidence。〃
　〃Have　you　any　proof　of　tampering　or　sabotage？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃None　whatsoever。〃
　〃The　broken　cable　that　Knight　mentioned；　was　it　cut？〃Gunn　shrugged。　〃No；　the　ends　were　frayed；　but　that's　another　mystery。　I'll　　explain　it　to　you。〃　Gunn　paused　and　flicked　an　ash　from　his　cigarette。　〃We　work　　with　a　safety　margin　of　five…to…one。　For　example；　if　the　specifications　of　a　　cable　state　there　is　a　danger　of　breakage　with　a　stress　of　twenty…five　thousand　　pounds　or　above；　we　will　never　place　a　stress　on　it　higher　than　five　thousand　　pounds。　Because　of　this　large　safety　factor　NUMA　has　yet　to　have　a　single　　fatality　on　a　project。
　Lives　are　more　important　to　us　than　scientific　discove