jurassic.park-第65章

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r　to　receptivity；　causing　her　finally　to　lift　her　tail　and　allow　him；　as　he　lay　beside　her；　to　insert　his　penis。　By　the　time　the　female　built　her　nest；　two　months　later；　the　male　was　long　gone。　And　although　the　female　guarded　her　cone…shaped；　three…foot…high　mud　nest　ferociously；　her　attention　seemed　to　wane　with　time；　and　she　generally　abandoned　her　eggs　by　the　time　the　hatchlings　began　to　squeak　and　emerge　from　their　shells。　Thus；　in　the　wild；　a　baby　alligator　began　its　life　entirely　on　its　own；　and　for　that　reason　its　belly　was　stuffed　with　egg　yolk　for　nourishment　in　its　early　days。
　　　　〃So　the　adult　alligators　don't　protect　the　young？〃
　　　　〃Not　as　we　imagine　it；〃　Grant　said。　〃The　biological　parents　both　abandon　the　offspring。　But　there　is　a　kind　of　group　protection。　Young　alligators　have　a　very　distinctive　distress　cry；　and　it　brings　any　adult　who　hears　it…parent　or　not…to　their　assistance　with　a　full…fledged；　violent　attack。　Not　a　threat　display。　A　full…on　attack。〃
　　　　〃Oh。〃　Gennaro　fell　silent。
　　　　〃But　that's　in　all　respects　a　distinctly　reptile　pattern；〃　Grant　continued。　〃For　example；　the　alligator's　biggest　problem　is　to　keep　the　eggs　cool。　The　nests　are　always　located　in　the　shade。　A　temperature　of　ninety…eigbt　point　six　degrees　will　kill　an　alligator　egg；　so　the　mother　mostly　guards　her　eggs　to　keep　them　cool。〃
　　　　〃And　dinos　aren't　reptiles；〃　Muldoon　said　laconically。
　　　　〃Exactly。　The　dinosaur　nesting　pattern　could　be　much　more　closely　related　to　that　of　any　of　a　variety　of　birds…〃
　　　　〃So　you　actually　mean　you　don't　know；〃　Gennaro　said；　getting　annoyed。　〃You　don't　know　what　the　nest　is　like？〃
　　　　〃No；〃　Grant　said。　〃I　don't。〃
　　　　〃Well；〃　Gennaro　said。　〃So　much　for　the　damn　experts。〃
　　　　Grant　ignored　him。　Already　he　could　smell　the　sulfur。　And　up　ahead　he　saw　the　rising　steam　of　the　volcanic　fields。

The　ground　was　hot；　Gennaro　thought；　as　he　walked　forward。　It　was　actually　hot。　And　here　and　there　mud　bubbled　and　spat　up　from　the　ground。　And　the　reeking；　sulfurous　steam　hissed　in　great　shoulder…high　plumes。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　walking　through　hell。
　　　　He　looked　at　Grant；　walking　along　with　the　headset　on；　listening　to　the　beeps。　Grant　in　his　cowboy　boots　and　his　jeans　and　his　Hawaiian　shirt；　apparently　very　cool。　Gennaro　didn't　feel　cool。　He　was　frightened　to　be　in　this　stinking；　hellish　place；　with　the　velociraptors　somewhere　around。　He　didn't　understand　how　Grant　could　be　so　calm　about　it。
　　　　Or　the　woman。　Sattler。　She　was　walking　along；　too；　just　looking　calmly　around。
　　　　〃Doesn't　this　bother　you？〃　Gennaro　said。　〃I　mean；　worry　you？〃
　　　　〃We've　got　to　do　it；〃　Grant　said。　He　didn't　say　anything　else。
　　　　They　all　walked　forward；　among　the　bubbling　steam　vents。　Gennaro　fingered　the　gas　grenades　that　he　had　clipped　to　his　belt。　He　turned　to　Ellie。　〃Why　isn't　he　worried　about　it？〃
　　　　〃Maybe　he　is；〃　she　said。　〃But　he's　also　thought　about　this　for　his　whole　life。〃
　　　　Gennaro　nodded；　and　wondered　what　that　would　be　like。　Whether　there　was　anything　he　had　waited　his　whole　life　for。　He　decided　there　wasn't　anything。

Grant　squinted　in　the　sunlight。　Ahead；　through　veils　of　steam；　an　animal　crouched；　looking　at　them。　Then　it　scampered　away。
　　　　〃Was　that　the　raptor？〃　Ellie　said。
　　　　〃I　think　so。　Or　another　one。　juvenile；　anyway。〃
　　　　She　said；　〃Leading　us　on？〃　　　　
　　　　〃Maybe。〃　Ellie　had　told　him　how　the　raptors　had　played　at　the　fence　to　keep　her　attention　while　another　climbed　onto　the　roof。　If　true；　such　behavior　implied　a　mental　capacity　that　was　beyond　nearly　all　forms　of　life　on　earth。　Classically；　the　ability　to　invent　and　execute　plans　was　believed　to　be　limited　to　only　three　species：　chimpanzees；　gorillas；　and　human　beings。　Now　there　was　the　possibility　that　a　dinosaur　might　be　able　to　do　such　a　thing；　too。
　　　　The　raptor　appeared　again；　darting　into　the　light；　then　jumping　away　with　a　squeak。　It　really　did　seem　to　be　leading　them　on。
　　　　Gennaro　frowned。　〃How　smart　are　they？〃　he　said。
　　　　〃If　you　think　of　them　as　birds；〃　Grant　said；　〃then　you　have　to　wonder。　Some　new　studies　show　the　gray　parrot　has　as　much　symbolic　intelligence　as　a　chimpanzee。　And　chimpanzees　can　definitely　use　language。　Now　researchers　are　finding　that　parrots　have　the　emotional　development　of　a　three…year…old　child；　but　their　intelligence　is　unquestioned。　Parrots　can　definitely　reason　symbolically。〃
　　　　〃But　I've　never　heard　of　anybody　killed　by　a　parrot；〃　Gennaro　grumbled。

Distantly；　they　could　bear　the　sound　of　the　surf　on　the　island　shore。　The　volcanic　fields　were　behind　them　now；　and　they　faced　a　field　of　boulders。　The　little　raptor　climbed　up　onto　one　rock；　and　then　abruptly　disappeared。
　　　　〃Where'd　it　go？〃　Ellie　said。
　　　　Grant　was　listening　to　the　earphones。　The　beeping　stopped。　〃He's　gone。〃
　　　　They　hurried　forward；　and　found　in　the　midst　of　the　rocks　a　small　bole；　like　a　rabbit　hole。　It　was　perhaps　two　feet　in　diameter。　As　they　watched；　the　juvenile　raptor　reappeared；　blinking　in　the　light。　Then　it　scampered　away。
　　　　〃No　way；〃　Gennaro　said。　〃No　way　I'm　going　down　there。〃
　　　　Grant　said　nothing。　He　and　Ellie　began　to　plug　in　equipment。　Soon　he　had　a　small　video　camera　attached　to　a　hand…held　monitor。　He　tied　the　camera　to　a　rope；　turned　it　on；　and　lowered　it　down　the　hole。
　　　　〃You　can't　see　anything　that　way；〃　Gennaro　said。
　　　　〃Let　it　adjust；〃　Grant　said。　There　was　enough　light　along　the　upper　tunnel　for　them　to　see　smooth　dirt　walls；　and　then　the　tunnel　opened　out…suddenly；　abruptly。　Over　the　microphone；　they　heard　a　squeaking　sound。　Then　a　lower；　trumpeting　sound。　More　noises；　ing　from　many　animals。
　　　　〃Sounds　like　the　nest；　all　right；〃　Ellie　said。
　　　　〃But　you　can't　see　anything；〃　Gennaro　said。　He　wiped　the　sweat　off　his　forehead。
　　　　〃No；〃　Grant　said。　〃But　I　can　hear。　〃　He　listened　for　a　while　longer；　and　then　hauled　the　camera　out；　and　set　it　on　the　ground。　〃Let's　get　started。〃　He　climbed　up　toward　the　bole。　Ellie　went　to　get　a　flashlight　and　a　shock　stick。　Grant　pulled　the　gas　mask　on　over　his　face；　and　crouched　down　awkwardly；　extending　his　legs　backward。
　　　　〃You　can't　be　serious　about　going　down　there；〃　Gennaro　said。
　　　　Grant　nodded。　〃It　doesn't　thrill　me。　I'll　go　first；　then　Ellie；　then　you　e　after。〃
　　　　〃Now；　wait　a　minute；〃　Gennaro　said；　in　sudden　alarm。　〃Why　don't　we　drop　these　nerve…gas　grenades　down　the　hole；　then　go　down　afterward？　Doesn't　that　make　more　sense？〃
　　　　〃Ellie；　you　got　the　flashlight？〃
　　　　She　handed　the　flashlight　to　Grant。
　　　　〃What　about　it？〃　Gennaro　said。　〃What　do　you　say？〃
　　　　〃I'd　like　nothing　better；〃　Grant　said。　He　backed　down　toward　the　hole。　〃You　ever　seen　anything　die　from　poison　gas？〃
　　　　〃No　。　。　。〃
　　　　〃It　generally　causes　convulsions。　Bad　convulsions。〃
　　　　〃Well；　I'm　sorry　if　it's　unpleasant；　but…〃
　　　　〃Look；〃　Grant　said。　〃We're　going　into　this　nest　to　find　out　how　many　animals　have　hatched。　If　you　kill　the　animals　first；　and　some　of　them　fall　on　the　nests　in　their　spasms；　that　will　ruin　our　ability　to　see　what　was　there。　So　we　can't　do　that；〃
　　　　〃But…〃
　　　　〃You　made　these　animals；　Mr。　Gennaro。〃
　　　　〃I　didn't。〃
　　　　〃Your　money　did。　Your　efforts　did。　You　helped　create　them。　They're　your　creation。　And　you　can't　just　kill　them　because　you　feel　a　little　nervous　now。〃
　　　　〃I'm　not　a　little　nervous；〃　Gennaro　said。　〃I'm　scared　shi…〃
　　　　〃Follow　me；〃　Grant　said。　Ellie　handed　him　a　shock　stick。　He　pushed　backward　through　the　hole；　and　grunted。　〃Tight　fit。〃
　　　　Grant　exhaled；　and　extended　his　arms　forward　in　front　of　him；　and　there　was　a　kind　of　whoosh；　and　he　was　gone。
　　　　The　bole　gaped；　empty　and　black。

〃What　happened　to　him？〃　Gennaro　said；　alarmed。
　　　　Ellie　stepped　forward　and　leaned　close　to　the　hole；　listening　at　the　opening。　She　clicked　the　radio；　said　softly；　〃Alan？〃
　　　　There　was　a　long　silence。　Then　they　heard　faintly：　〃I'm　here。〃
　　　　〃Is　everything　all　right；　Alan？〃
　　　　Another　long　silence。　When　Grant　finally　spoke；　his　voice　sounded　distinctly　odd；　almost　awestruck。
　　　　〃Everything's　fine；〃　he　said。

Almost　Paradigm

In　the　lodge；　John　Hammond　paced　back　and　forth　in　Malcolm's　room。　Hammond　was　impatient　and　unfortable。　Since　marshaling　the　effort　for　his　last　outburst；　Malcolm　had　slipped　into　a　a；　and　now　it　appeared　to　Hammond　that　he　might　actually　die。　Of　course　a　helicopter　had　been　sent　for；　but　God　knows　when　it　would　arrive。　The　thought　that　Malcolm　might　die　in　the　meantime　filled　Hammond　with　anxiety　and　dread。
　　　　And；　paradoxically；　Hammond　found　it　all　much　worse　because　he　disliked　the　mathematician　so　much。　It　was　worse　than　if　the　man　were　his　friend。　Hammond　felt　that　Malcolm's　death；　should　it　occur；　would　be　the　final　rebuke；　and　that　was　more　than　Hammond　could　bear。
　　　　In　any　case；　the　smell　in　the　room　was　quite　ghastly。　Quite　ghastly。　The　rotten　decay　of　human　flesh。
　　　　〃Everything　。　。　。　parad　。　。　。〃　Malcolm　said；　tossing　on　the　pillow。
　　　　〃Is　he　waking　up？〃　Hammond　said。
　　　　Harding　shook　his　head。
　　　　〃What　did　he　say？　Something　about　paradise？〃
　　　　〃I　didn't　catch　it；〃　Harding　said。
　　　　Hammond　paced　some　more。　He　pushed　the　window　wider；　trying　to　get　some　fresh　air。　Finally；　when　he　couldn't　stand　it；　he　said；　〃Is　there　any　problem　about　going　outside？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　think　so；　no；〃　Harding　said。　〃I　think　this　area　is　all　right。〃
　　　　〃Well；　look；　I'm　going　outside　for　a　bit。〃
　　　　〃All　right；〃　Harding　said。　He　adjusted　the　flow　on　the　intravenous　antibiotics。
　　　　〃I'll　be　back　soon。〃
　　　　〃All　right。〃
　　　　Hammond　left；　stepping　out　into　the　daylight；　wondering　why　he　had　bothered　to　justify　himself　to　Harding。　After　all；　the　man　was　his　employee。　Hammond　had　no　need　to　explain　himself。
　　　　He　went　through　the　gates　of　the　fence；　looking　around　the　park。　It　was　late　afternoon；　the　time　when　the　blowing　mist　was　thinned；　and　the　sun　sometimes　came　out。　The　sun　was　out　now；　and　Hammond　took　it　as　an　omen。　Say　what　they　would；　he　knew　that　his　park　had　promise。　And　even　if　that　impetuous　fool　Gennaro　decided　to　burn　it　to　the　ground；　it　would　not　make　much　difference。
　　　　Hammond　knew　that　in　two　separate　vaults　at　InGen　headquarters　in　Palo　Alto　were　dozens　of　frozen　embryos。　It　would　not　be　a　problem　to　grow　them　again；　on　another　island；　elsewhere　in　the　world。　And　if　there　had　been　problems　here；　then　the　next　time　they　would　solve　those　problems。　That　was　how　progress　occurred。　By　solving　problems。
　　　　As　he　thought　about　it；　he　concluded　that　Wu　had　not　really　been　the　man　for　the　job。　Wu　had　obviously　been　sloppy；　too　casual　with　his　great　undertaking。　And　Wu　had　been　too　preoccupied　with　the　idea　of　making　improvements。　Instead　of　making　dinosaurs；　he　had　wanted　to　improve　on　them。　Hammond　suspected　darkly　that　was　the　reason　for　the　downfall　of　the　park。
　　　　Wu　was　the　reason。
　　　　Also；　he　had　to　admit　that　John　Arnold　was　ill　suited　for　the　job　of　chief　engineer。　Arnold　had　impressive　credentials；　but　at　this　point　in　his　career　he　was　tired；　and　he　was　a　fretful　worrier。　He　hadn't　been　organized；　and　he　had　missed　things。　Important　things。
　　　　In　truth；　neither　Wu　nor　Arnold　had　had　the　most　important　characteristic；　Hammond　decided。　The　characteristic　of　vision。　That　great　sweeping　act　of　imagination　which　evoked　a　marvelous　park；　where　children　pressed　against　the　fe