the.lost.world-第26章

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t　soon　saw　the　skull　of　a　large　animal；　some　of　the　flesh　and　green　skin　still　adhering　to　the　bone。　It；　too；　was　covered　with　flies。
　　　　Speaking　into　the　microphone；　he　said；　〃I'm　passing　some　partial　carcasses。。。。〃
　　　　The　radio　crackled。　Now　he　heard　Malcolm　say；　〃I　was　afraid　of　that。〃
　　　　〃Afraid　of　what？〃
　　　　〃There　may　be　a　nest；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃Did　you　notice　the　carcass　that　the　tyrannosaur　had　in　his　jaws？　It　was　scavenged；　but　he　hadn't　eaten　it。　'There's　a　good　chance　he　was　taking　the　food　home；　to　a　nest。〃
　　　　〃A　tyrannosaur　nest。。。〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃I'd　be　cautious；〃　Malcolm　said。
　　　　Thorne　slipped　the　bike　into　neutral；　and　rolled　the　rest　of　the　way　down　the　hill。　When　the　ground　leveled　out；　he　climbed　off　the　motorcycle。　He　could　feel　the　earth　vibrate　beneath　his　feet；　and　from　the　bushes　ahead；　he　heard　a　deep　rumbling　sound；　like　the　purr　of　a　large　jungle　cat。　Thorne　looked　around。　He　didn't　see　any　sign　of　Levine's　bicycle。
　　　　Thorne　unshouldered　the　rifle；　and　gripped　it　in　sweating　hands。　He　heard　the　purring　growl　again；　rising　and　falling。　There　was　something　odd　about　the　sound。　It　took　Thorne　a　moment　to　realize　what　it　was。
　　　　It　came　from　more　than　one　source：　more　than　one　big　animal；　purring　beyond　the　foliage　directly　ahead。
　　　　Thorne　bent　over；　picked　up　a　handful　of　grass；　and　released　it　in　the　air。　The　grass　blew　back　toward　his　legs：　he　was　downwind。　He　slipped　forward　through　the　foliage。
　　　　The　ferns　around　him　were　huge　and　dense；　but　up　ahead　he　could　see　sunlight　shining　through；　from　a　clearing　beyond。　The　sound　of　purring　was　very　loud　now。　There　was　another　sound　as　well…an　odd；　squeaking　sound。　It　was　high…pitched；　and　at　first　sounded　almost　mechanical；　like　a　squeaking　wheel。
　　　　Thorne　hesitated。　Then；　very　slowly；　he　lowered　a　frond。　And　he　stared。

Nest

In　the　midmorning　light；　two　enormous　tyrannosaurs　…　each　twenty　feet　high　…　loomed　above　him。　Their　reddish　skin　had　a　leathery　appearance。　Their　huge　heads　were　fierce…looking；　with　heavy　jaws　and　large　sharp　teeth。　But　somehow　here　the　animals　conveyed　no　sense　of　menace　to　Thorne。　They　moved　slowly；　almost　gently；　bending　repeatedly　over　a　large　circular　rampart　of　dried　mud；　nearly　four　feet　high。　The　two　adults　held　bits　of　red　flesh　in　their　jaws　as　they　ducked　their　heads　below　the　mud　wall。　This　movement　was　greeted　by　a　frantic　high…pitched　squeaking　sound；　which　stopped　almost　immediately。　Then；　when　the　adults　lifted　their　heads　again；　the　flesh　was　gone。
　　　　There　was　no　question：　this　was　the　nest。　And　Malcolm　had　been　right：　one　tyrannosaur　was　noticeably　larger　than　the　other。
　　　　In　a　few　moments；　the　squeaking　resumed。　It　sounded　to　Thorne　like　baby　birds。　The　adults　continued　to　duck　their　heads；　feeding　the　unseen　babies。　A　bit　of　torn　flesh　landed　on　the　top　of　the　mud　mound。　As　he　watched；　Thorne　saw　an　infant　tyrannosaur　rise　into　view　above　the　rampart；　and　start　to　scramble　over　the　side。　The　infant　was　about　the　size　of　a　turkey；　with　a　large　head　and　very　large　eyes。　Its　body　was　covered　with　a　fluffy　red　down；　which　gave　it　a　scraggly　appearance。　A　ring　of　pale…white　down　circled　its　neck。　The　infant　squeaked　repeatedly　and　it　crawled　awkwardly　toward　the　meat；　using　its　weak　forearms。　But　when　it　finally　reached　the　carrion；　it　jabbed；　biting　the　flesh　decisively　with　tiny；　sharp　teeth。
　　　　It　was　busily　eating　the　food　when　it　screeched　in　alarm　and　started　to　slide　down　the　outer　wall　of　dried　mud。　Immediately；　the　mother　tyrannosaur　dropped　her　head　and　intercepted　the　baby's　fall；　then　gently　nudged　the　animal　back　inside　the　nest。　Thorne　was　impressed　by　the　delicacy　of　her　movements；　the　attentive　way　she　cared　for　her　young。　The　father；　meanwhile；　continued　to　tear　small　pieces　of　meat。　Both　animals　kept　up　a　continuous　purring　growl；　as　if　to　reassure　the　infants。
　　　　As　Thorne　watched；　he　shifted　his　position。　His　foot　stepped　on　a　branch：　there　was　a　sharp　crack。
　　　　Immediately；　both　adults　jerked　their　heads　up。
　　　　Thorne　froze；　he　held　his　breath。
　　　　The　tyrannosaurs　scanned　the　area　around　the　nest；　looking　intently　in　every　direction。　Their　bodies　were　tense；　their　heads　alert。　Their　eyes　flicked　back　and　forth；　acpanied　by　little　head　jerks。　After　a　moment；　they　seemed　to　relax　again。　They　bobbed　their　heads　up　and　down；　and　rubbed　their　snouts　against　each　other。　It　seemed　to　be　some　kind　of　ritual　movement；　almost　a　dance。　Only　then　did　they　resume　feeding　the　infants。
　　　　When　they　had　calmed　down；　Thorne　slipped　away；　moving　quietly　back　to　the　motorcycle。　Arby　whispered　over　the　headset；　〃Dr。　Thorne。　I　can't　see　you。〃
　　　　Thorne　didn't　answer。　He　tapped　the　microphone　with　his　finger；　to　signal　that　he　had　heard。　。
　　　　Arby　whispered；　〃I　think　I　know　where　Dr。　Levine　is。　He's　off　to　your　left。〃
　　　　Thorne　tapped　the　mike　again；　and　turned。
　　　　To　his　left；　among　ferns；　he　saw　a　rusted　bicycle。　It　said　〃Prop。　InGen　Corp。〃　It　was　leaning　against　a　tree。

Not　bad；　Arby　thought；　sitting　in　the　trailer　and　watching　the　remote　videos　as　he　clicked　on　them。　He　now　had　the　monitor　divided　into　quarters；　it　was　a　good　promise　between　lots　of　views；　and　images　large　enough　to　see。
　　　　One　of　the　views　looked　down　from　above　on　the　two　tyrannosaurs　in　the　secluded　clearing。　It　was　midmorning；　the　sun　shone　brightly　on　the　muddy；　trampled　grass　of　the　clearing。　In　the　center　he　saw　a　round　steep…walled　nest　of　mud。　Inside　the　nest　were　four　mottled　white　eggs；　about　the　size　of　footballs。　There　were　also　some　broken　egg　fragments；　and　two　baby　tyrannosaurs；　looking　exactly　like　featherless；　squeaking　birds；　They　sat　in　the　nest　with　their　heads　turned　up　like　baby　birds；　mouths　gaping　wide；　waiting　to　be　fed。
　　　　Kelly　watched　the　screen　and　said；　〃Look　how　cute　they　are。〃　And　then　she　added；　〃We　should　be　out　there。〃
　　　　Arby　didn't　answer　her。　He　was　not　at　all　sure　he　wanted　to　be　any　closer。　The　adults　were　being　very　cool　about　it；　but　Arby　found　the　idea　of　these　dinosaurs　very　unnerving　in　some　deep　way　that　he　couldn't　analyze。　Arby　had　always　found　it　reassuring　to　organize；　to　create　order　in　his　life　…　even　arranging　the　images　neatly　on　the　puter　monitor　was　calmlng　to　him。　But　this　island　was　a　place　where　everything　was　unknown　and　unexpected。　Where　you　didn't　know　what　would　happen。　He　found　that　troubling。
　　　　On　the　other　hand；　Kelly　was　excited。　She　kept　making　ments　about　the　tyrannosaurs；　how　big　they　were；　the　size　of　their　teeth。　She　seemed　entirely　enthusiastic；　without　any　fear　at　all。
　　　　Arby　felt　annoyed　with　her。
　　　　〃Anyway；〃　she　said；　〃what　makes　you　think　you　know　where　Dr。　Levine　is？〃
　　　　Arbv　pointed　to　the　image　of　the　nest；　on　the　monitor。　〃Watch。〃
　　　　〃I　see　it。〃
　　　　〃No。　Watch；　Kel。〃
　　　　As　they　stared　at　the　screen；　the　image　moved　slightly。　It　panned　to　the　left；　then　centered　again。　〃See　that？〃　Arby　said。
　　　　〃So　what？　Maybe　the　wind　is　blowing　the　carMera　or　something。〃
　　　　Arby　shook　his　head。　〃No；　Kel。　He's　up　in　the　tree。　Levine's　moving　the　camera。〃
　　　　〃Oh。〃　A　pause。　She　watched　again。　〃You　might　be　right。〃
　　　　Arby　grinned。　That　was　about　all　he　could　expect　to　get　from　Kelly。　〃Yeah；　I　think　so。〃
　　　　〃But　what's　Dr。　Levine　doing　in　the　tree？〃
　　　　〃Maybe　he's　adjusting　the　camera。〃
　　　　They　listened　to　Thorne's　breathing　over　the　radio。
　　　　Kelly　stared　at　the　four　video　images；　each　showing　a　different　view　of　the　island。　She　sighed。　〃I　can't　wait　to　get　out　there；〃　she　said。
　　　　〃Yeah；　me　too；〃　Arby　said。　But　he　didn't　mean　it。　He　glanced　out　the　window　of　the　trailer　and　saw　the　Explorer　ing　back；　with　Eddie　and　Malcolm。　Secretly；　he　was　glad　to　see　them　return。

Thorne　stood　at　the　base　of　the　tree；　looking　up。　He　couldn't　see　Levine　through　the　leaves；　but　he　knew　he　must　be　somewhere　up　above；　because　he　was　making　what　seemed　to　Thorne　like　a　lot　of　noise。　Thorne　glanced　nervously　back　at　the　clearing；　screened　by　intervening　foliage。　He　could　still　hear　the　purring；　it　remained　steady；　uninterrupted。
　　　　Thorne　waited。　What　the　hell　was　Levine　doing　up　in　a　tree；　anyway？　He　heard　rustling　in　the　branches　above；　and　then　silence。　A　grunt。　Then　more　rustling。
　　　　And　then　Levine　said　　aloud；　〃Oh；　shit！〃　Then　a　loud　crashing　sound；　the　crack　of　branches；　and　a　howl　of　pain。　And　then　Levine　crashed　down　on　the　ground　in　front　of　Thorne；　landing　hard　on　his　back。　He　rolled　over；　clutching　his　shoulder。
　　　　〃Damn！〃　he　said。
　　　　Levine　wore　muddy　khakis　that　were　torn　in　several　places。　Behind　a　three…day　growth　of　beard；　his　face　was　haggard　and　spattered　with　mud。　He　looked　up　as　Thorne　moved　toward　him；　and　grinned。
　　　　〃You're　the　last　person　I　expected　to　see；　Doc；〃　Levine　said。　〃But　your　timing　is　flawless。〃
　　　　Thorne　extended　his　hand；　and　Levine　started　to　reach　for　it；　when；　from　the　clearing　behind　them；　the　tyrannosaurs　gave　a　deafening　roar。

〃Oh；　not〃　Kelly　said。　On　the　monitor；　the　tyrannosaurs　were　agitated；　moving　swiftly　in　circles；　raising　their　heads　and　bellowing。
　　　　〃Dr。　Thorne！　What's　happening？〃　Arby　said。
　　　　They　heard　Levine's　voice；　tinny　and　scratchy　on　the　radio；　but　they　couldn't　make　out　the　words。　Eddie　and　Malcolm　came　into　the　trailer。　Malcolm　took　one　look　at　the　monitor　and　said；　〃Tell　them　to　get　out　of　there　right　now！〃
　　　　On　the　monitor；　the　two　tyrannosaurs　had　turned　their　backs　to　each　other；　so　they　were　facing　outward　in　a　posture　of　defense。　The　babies　were　protected　in　the　center。　The　adults　swung　their　heavy　tails　back　and　forth　over　the　nest；　above　the　babies'　heads。　But　the　tension　was　palpable。
　　　　And　then　one　of　the　adults　bellowed；　and　charged　out　of　the　clearing。　〃Dr。　Thorne！　Dr。　Levine！　Get　out　of　there！〃

Thorne　swung　his　leg　over　the　bike　and　gripped　the　rubber　handles。　Levine　jumped　on　behind；　clutched　him　around　the　waist。　Thorne　heard　a　chilling　roar；　and　looked　back　to　see　one　of　the　tyrannosaurs　crash　through　the　foliage　and　charge　them。　The　animal　was　running　at　full　speed…head　low；　jaws　open；　in　an　unmistakable　posture　of　attack。。
　　　　Thorne　twisted　the　throttle。　The　electric　motor　whirred；　the　back　wheel　spun　in　the　mud；　not　moving。
　　　　〃Go！〃　Levine　shouted。　〃Go！〃
　　　　The　tyrannosaur　rushed　toward　them；　roaring。　Thorne　could　feel　the　ground　shake。　The　roar　was　so　loud　it　hurt　his　ears。　The　tyrannosaur　was　nearly　on　them；　the　big　head　lunging　forward；　jaws　wide　open　Thorne　kicked　back　with　his　heels；　pushing　the　bike　forward。　Suddenly　the　rear　wheel　caught；　throwing　up　a　plume　of　mud；　and　the　bike　roared　up　the　muddy　track。　He　accelerated　fast。　The　motorcycle　fished　and　swerved　treacherously　on　the　trail。
　　　　Behind　him　Levine　was　shouting　something；　but　Thorne　didn't　listen。　His　heart　was　pounding。　The　bike　jumped　across　a　rut　in　the　path　and　they　almost　lost　their　balance；　then　regained　it；　accelerating　again。　Thorne　did　not　dare　look　back。　He　could　smell　the　odor　of　rotten　flesh；　could　hear　the　rasping　breath　of　the　giant　animal　in　pursuit。。。。
　　　　〃Doc！　Take　it　easy！〃　Levine　shouted。
　　　　Thorne　ignored　him。　The　bike　roared　up　the　hill。　The　foliage　slapped　at　them；　mud　spit　up　on　their　faces　and　chests。　He　was　pulled　over　into　a　rut；　then　brought　the　bike　back　to　the　center　of　the　trail。　He　heard　another　roar；　and