jurassic.park-第34章

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sperately　to　remain　motionless；　to　make　no　sound。
　　　　The　tyrannosaur　bellowed　in　the　night　air。
　　　　But　by　now　Grant　was　beginning　to　understand。　The　animal　couldn't　see　him；　but　it　suspected　he　was　there；　somewhere；　and　was　trying　with　its　bellowing　to　frighten　Grant　into　some　revealing　movement。　So　long　as　he　stood　his　ground；　Grant　realized；　he　was　invisible。
　　　　In　a　final　gesture　of　frustration；　the　big　hind　leg　lifted　up　and　kicked　the　Land　Cruiser　over；　and　Grant　felt　searing　pain　and　the　surprising　sensation　of　his　own　body　flying　through　the　air。　It　seemed　to　be　happening　very　slowly；　and　he　had　plenty　of　time　to　feel　the　world　turn　colder；　and　watch　the　ground　rush　up　to　strike　him　in　the　face。

Return

〃Oh　damn；〃　Harding　said。　〃Will　you　look　at　that。〃
　　　　They　were　sitting　in　Harding's　gasoline…powered　Jeep；　staring　forward　past　the　flick　flick　of　the　windshield　wipers。　In　the　yellow　flare　of　the　headlamps；　a　big　fallen　tree　blocked　the　road。
　　　　〃Must　have　been　the　lightning；〃　Gennaro　said。　〃Hell　of　a　tree。〃
　　　　〃We　can't　get　past　it；〃　Harding　said。　〃I　better　tell　Arnold　in　control。〃　He　picked　up　the　radio　and　twisted　the　channel　dial。　〃Hello；　John。　Are　you　there；　John？〃
　　　　There　was　nothing　but　steady　hissing　static。　〃I　don't　understand；〃　he　said。　〃The　radio　lines　seem　to　be　down。〃
　　　　〃It　must　be　the　storm；〃　Gennaro　said。
　　　　〃I　suppose；〃　Harding　said。
　　　　〃Try　the　Land　Cruisers；〃　Ellie　said。
　　　　Harding　opened　the　other　channels；　but　there　was　no　answer。
　　　　〃Nothing；〃　he　said。　〃They're　probably　back　to　camp　by　now；　and　outside　the　range　of　our　little　set。　In　any　case；　I　don't　think　we　should　stay　here。　It'll　be　hours　before　Maintenance　gets　a　crew　out　here　to　move　that　tree。〃
　　　　He　turned　the　radio　off；　and　put　the　Jeep　into　reverse。
　　　　〃Wbat're　you　going　to　do？〃　Ellie　said。
　　　　〃Go　back　to　the　turnout；　and　get　onto　the　maintenance　road。　Fortunately　there's　a　second　road　system；〃　Harding　explained。　〃We　have　one　road　for　visitors；　and　a　second　road　for　animal　handlers　and　feed　trucks　and　so　on。　We'll　drive　back　on　that　maintenance　road。　It's　a　little　longer。　And　not　so　scenic。　But　you　may　find　it　interesting。　If　the　rain　lets　up；　we'll　get　a　glimpse　of　some　of　the　animals　at　night。　We　should　be　back　in　thirty；　forty　minutes；〃　Harding　said。　〃If　I　don't　get　lost。〃
　　　　He　turned　the　Jeep　around　in　the　night；　and　headed　south　again。

Lightning　flashed；　and　every　monitor　in　the　control　room　went　black。
　　　　Arnold　sat　forward；　his　body　rigid　and　tense。　Jesus；　not　now。　Not　now。　That　was　all　he　needed…to　have　everything　go　out　now　in　the　storm。　All　the　main　power　circuits　were　surge…protected；　of　course；　but　Arnold　wasn't　sure　about　the　modems　Nedry　was　using　for　his　data　transmission。　Most　people　didn't　know　it　was　possible　to　blow　an　entire　system　through　a　modem…the　lightning　pulse　climbed　back　into　the　puter　through　the　telephone　line；　and…bang！…no　more　motherboard。　No　more　RAM。　No　more　file　server。　No　more　puter。
　　　　The　screens　flickered。　And　then；　one　by　one；　they　came　back　on。
　　　　Arnold　sighed；　and　collapsed　back　in　his　chair。
　　　　He　wondered　again　where　Nedry　had　gone。　Five　minutes　ago；　he'd　sent　guards　to　search　the　building　for　him。　The　fat　bastard　was　probably　in　the　bathroom　reading　a　ic　book。　But　the　guards　hadn't　e　back；　and　they　hadn't　called　in。
　　　　Five　minutes。　If　Nedry　was　in　the　building；　they　should　have　found　him　by　now。
　　　　〃Somebody　took　the　damned　Jeep；〃　Muldoon　said　as　he　came　back　in　the　room。　〃Have　you　talked　to　the　Land　Cruisers　yet？〃
　　　　〃Can't　raise　them　on　the　radio；〃　Arnold　said。　〃I　have　to　use　this；　because　the　main　board　is　down。　It's　weak；　but　it　ought　to　work。　I've　tried　on　all　six　channels。　I　know　they　have　radios　in　the　cars；　but　they're　not　answering。〃
　　　　〃That's　not　good；〃　Muldoon　said。
　　　　〃If　you　want　to　go　out　there；　take　one　of　the　maintenance　vehicles。〃
　　　　〃I　would；〃　Muldoon　said；　〃but　they're　all　in　the　east　garage；　more　than　a　mile　from　here。　Where's　Harding？〃
　　　　〃I　assume　he's　on　his　way　back。〃
　　　　〃Then　he'll　pick　up　the　people　in　the　Land　Cruisers　on　his　way。〃
　　　　〃I　assume　so。〃
　　　　〃Anybody　tell　Hammond　the　kids　aren't　back　yet？〃
　　　　〃Hell　no；〃　Arnold　said。　〃I　don't　want　that　son　of　a　bitch　running　around　here；　screaming　at　me。　Everytbing's　all　right；　for　the　moment。　The　Land　Cruisers　are　just　stuck　in　the　rain。　They　can　sit　a　while；　until　Harding　brings　them　back。　Or　until　we　find　Nedry；　and　make　that　little　bastard　turn　the　systems　back　on。〃
　　　　〃You　can't　get　them　back　on？〃　Muldoon　said。
　　　　Arnold　shook　his　head。　〃I've　been　trying。　But　Nedry's　done　something　to　the　system。　I　can't　figure　out　what；　but　if　I　have　to　go　into　the　code　itself；　that'll　take　hours。　We　need　Nedry。　We've　got　to　find　the　son　of　a　bitch　right　away。〃

Nedry

The　sign　said　ELECTRIFIED　FENCE　10；000　VOLTS　DO　NOT　TOUCH；　but　Nedry　opened　it　with　his　bare　band；　and　unlocked　the　gate；　swinging　it　wide。　He　went　back　to　the　Jeep；　drove　through　the　gate；　and　then　walked　back　to　close　it　behind　him。
　　　　Now　he　was　inside　the　park　itself；　no　more　than　a　mile　from　the　east　dock。　He　stepped　on　the　accelerator　and　bunched　forward　over　the　steering　wheel；　peering　through　the　rain…slashed　windshield　as　he　drove　the　Jeep　down　the　narrow　road。　He　was　driving　fast…too　fast…but　he　had　to　keep　to　his　timetable。　He　was　surrounded　on　all　sides　by　black　jungle；　but　soon　he　should　be　able　to　see　the　beach　and　the　ocean　off　to　his　left。
　　　　This　damned　storm；　he　thought。　It　might　screw　up　everything。　Because　if　Dodgson's　boat　wasn't　waiting　for　him　at　the　east　dock　when　Nedry　got　there；　the　whole　plan　would　be　ruined。　Nedry　couldn't　wait　very　long；　or　he　would　be　missed　back　at　the　control　room。　The　whole　idea　behind　the　plan　was　that　he　could　drive　to　the　east　dock；　drop　off　the　embryos；　and　be　back　in　a　few　minutes；　before　anyone　noticed。　It　was　a　good　plan；　a　clever　plan。　Nedry'd　worked　on　it　carefully；　refining　every　detail。　This　plan　was　going　to　make　him　a　million　and　a　half　dollars；　one　point　five　meg。　That　was　ten　years　of　ine　in　a　single　tax…free　shot；　and　it　was　going　to　change　his　life。　Nedry'd　been　damned　careful；　even　to　the　point　of　making　Dodgson　meet　him　in　the　San　Francisco　airport　at　the　last　minute　with　an　excuse　about　wanting　to　see　the　money；　Actually；　Nedry　wanted　to　record　his　conversation　with　Dodgson；　and　mention　him　by　name　on　the　tape。　Just　so　that　Dodgson　wouldn't　forget　he　owed　the　rest　of　the　money；　Nedry　was　including　a　copy　of　the　tape　with　the　embryos。　In　short；　Nedry　had　thought　of　everything。
　　　　Except　this　damned　storm。
　　　　Something　dashed　across　the　road；　a　white　flash　in　his　headlights。　It　looked　like　a　large　rat。　It　scurried　into　the　underbrush；　dragging　a　fat　tail。　Possum。　Amazing　that　a　possum　could　survive　here。　You'd　think　the　dinosaurs　would　get　an　animal　like　that。
　　　　Where　was　the　damned　dock？
　　　　He　was　driving　fast；　and　he'd　already　been　gone　five　minutes。　He　should　have　reached　the　east　dock　by　now。　Had　he　taken　a　wrong　turn？　He　didn't　think　so。　He　hadn't　seen　any　forks　in　the　road　at　all。
　　　　Then　where　was　the　dock？
　　　　It　was　a　shock　when　he　came　around　a　corner　and　saw　that　the　road　terminated　in　a　gray　concrete　barrier；　six　feet　tall　and　streaked　dark　with　rain。　He　slammed　on　the　brakes；　and　the　Jeep　fishtailed；　losing　traction　in　an　end…to…end　spin；　and　for　a　horrified　moment　he　thought　he　was　going　to　smash　into　the　barrier…he　knew　he　was　going　to　smash…and　he　spun　the　wheel　frantically；　and　the　Jeep　slid　to　a　stop；　the　headlamps　just　a　foot　from　the　concrete　wall。
　　　　He　paused　there；　listening　to　the　rhythmic　flick　of　the　wipers。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　exhaled　slowly。　He　looked　back　down　the　road。　He'd　obviously　taken　a　wrong　turn　somewhere。　He　could　retrace　his　steps；　but　that　would　take　too　long。
　　　　He'd　better　try　and　find　out　where　the　hell　he　was。
　　　　He　got　out　of　the　Jeep；　feeling　heavy　raindrops　spatter　his　head。　It　was　a　real　tropical　storm；　raining　so　hard　that　it　hurt。　He　glanced　at　his　watch；　pushing　the　button　to　illuminate　the　digital　dial。　Six　minutes　gone。　Where　the　hell　was　he？　He　walked　around　the　concrete　barrier　and　on　the　other　side；　along　with　the　rain；　he　heard　the　sound　of　gurgling　water。　Could　it　be　the　ocean？　Nedry　hurried　forward；　his　eyes　adjusting　to　the　darkness　as　he　went。　Dense　jungle　on　all　sides。　Raindrops　slapping　on　the　leaves。
　　　　The　gurgling　sound　became　louder；　drawing　him　forward；　and　suddenly　he　came　out　of　the　foliage　and　felt　his　feet　sink　into　soft　earth　and　saw　the　dark　currents　of　the　river。　The　river！　He　was　at　the　jungle　river！
　　　　Damn；　he　thought。　At　the　river　where？　The　river　ran　for　miles　through　the　island。　He　looked　at　his　watch　again。　Seven　minutes　gone。　〃You　have　a　problem；　Dennis；〃　he　said　aloud。
　　　　As　if　in　reply；　there　was　a　soft　hooting　cry　of　an　owl　in　the　forest。
　　　　Nedry　hardly　noticed；　he　was　worrying　about　his　plan。　The　plain　fact　was　that　time　had　run　out。　There　wasn't　a　choice　any　more。　He　had　to　abandon　his　original　plan。　All　he　could　do　was　go　back　to　the　control　room；　restore　the　puter；　and　somehow　try　to　contact　Dodgson；　to　set　up　the　drop　at　the　east　dock　for　the　following　night。　Nedry　would　have　to　scramble　to　make　that　work；　but　he　thought　he　could　pull　it　off。　The　puter　automatically　logged　all　calls；　after　Nedry　got　through　to　Dodgson；　he'd　have　to　go　back　into　the　puter　and　erase　the　record　of　the　call。　But　one　thing　was　sure…he　couldn't　stay　out　in　the　park　any　longer；　or　his　absence　would　be　noticed。
　　　　Nedry　started　back；　heading　toward　the　glow　of　the　car's　headlights。　He　was　drenched　and　miserable。　He　heard　the　soft　booting　cry　once　more；　and　this　time　he　paused。　That　hadn't　really　sounded　like　an　owl。　And　it　seemed　to　be　close　by；　in　the　jungle　somewhere　off　to　his　right。
　　　　As　he　listened；　he　heard　a　crashing　sound　in　the　underbrush。　Then　silence。　He　waited；　and　heard　it　again。　It　sounded　distinctly　like　something　big；　moving　slowly　through　the　jungle　toward　him。
　　　　Something　big。　Something　near。　A　big　dinosaur。
　　　　Get　out　of　here。
　　　　Nedry　began　to　run。　He　made　a　lot　of　noise　as　he　ran；　but　even　so　he　could　hear　the　animal　crashing　through　the　foliage。　And　hooting。
　　　　It　was　ing　closer。
　　　　Stumbling　over　tree　roots　in　the　darkness；　clawing　his　way　past　dripping　branches；　he　saw　the　Jeep　ahead；　and　the　lights　shining　around　the　vertical　wall　of　the　barrier　made　him　feel　better。　In　a　moment　he'd　be　in　the　car　and　then　he'd　get　the　hell　out　of　here。　He　scrambled　around　the　barrier　and　then　he　froze。
　　　　The　animal　was　already　there。
　　　　But　it　wasn't　close。　The　dinosaur　stood　forty　feet　away；　at　the　edge　of　the　illumination　from　the　headlamps。　Nedry　hadn't　taken　the　tour；　so　he　hadn't　seen　the　different　types　of　dinosaurs；　but　this　one　was　strange…looking。　The　ten…foot…tall　body　was　yellow　with　black　spots；　and　along　the　head　ran　a　pair　of　red　V…shaped　crests。　The　dinosaur　didn't　move；　but　again　gave　its　soft　hooting　cry。
　　　　Nedry　waited　to　see　if　it　would　attack。　It　didn't。　Perhaps　the　headlights　from　the　Jeep　frightened　it；　forcing　it　to　keep　its　distance；　like　a　fire。
　　　　The　dinosaur　stared　at　him　and　then　snapped　its　head　in　a　single　swift　motion。　Nedry　felt　something　smack　wetly　against　his　chest。　He　l