the.lost.world-第36章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


y。〃

Parasaurs

Richard　Levine　gripped　the　railing　of　the　high　hide；　and　watched　tensely。　Directly　ahead；　ing　into　view　over　a　low　rise；　he　saw　the　magnificent　head　of　a　Parasaurolophus　walkeri。　The　duck…billed　hadrosaur's　skull　was　three　feet　long；　but　it　was　made　larger　by　a　long　horned　crest　that　extended　backward　high　in　the　air。
　　　　As　the　animal　approached；　Levine　could　see　the　green　mottling　on　the　head。　He　saw　the　long　powerful　neck；　the　heavy　body　with　its　light　green　underbelly。　The　parasaurolophus　was　twelve　feet　tall；　and　roughly　the　size　of　a　large　elephant。　Its　head　was　almost　as　high　as　the　floor　of　the　high　hide。　The　animal　moved　steadily　toward　him；　its　footsteps　thumping　on　the　ground。　Moments　later；　he　saw　a　second　head　appear　over　the　rise…then　a　third；　and　a　fourth。　The　animals　trumpeted；　and　walked　in　single　file　directly　toward　him。
　　　　Within　moments；　the　lead　animal　was　abreast　of　the　hide。　Levine　held　his　breath　as　it　passed。　The　animal　stared　at　him；　its　large　brown　eye　rolling　to　watch　him。　It　licked　its　lips　with　a　dark…purple　tongue。　The　hide　shook　with　its　footsteps。　And　then　it　had　passed；　continuing　on　toward　the　jungle　behind。　Soon　after；　the　second　animal　passed。
　　　　The　third　animal　brushed　against　the　structure；　rocking　it　slightly。　But　the　dinosaur　did　not　seem　to　notice；　it　continued　steadily　on。　So　did　the　others。　One　by　one；　they　disappeared；　into　the　dense　foliage　behind　the　high　hide。　The　earth　ceased　to　vibrate。　It　was　then　that　he　saw　the　game　trail；　running　past　the　high　hide　and　into　the　jungle。
　　　　Levine　sighed。
　　　　His　body　relaxed　slowly。　He　picked　up　his　binoculars　and　took　a　deep　breath；　calming　himself　His　panic　faded。　He　began　to　feel　better。
　　　　And　then　he　thought：　What　are　they　doing？　Where　are　they　going？　Because；　as　he　considered　it；　the　behavior　of　the　parasaurs　seemed　extremely　strange。　They　had　been　in　a　defensive　cluster　while　they　fed；　but　in　movement　they　had　shifted　to　single　file　which　broke　the　usual　clumped　herd　pattern；　and　made　every　animal　vulnerable　to　predation。　Yet　the　behavior　was　clearly　organized。　Moving　in　single　file　must　serve　some　purpose。
　　　　But　what？
　　　　Now　that　they　were　within　the　jungle；　the　animals　had　begun　making　low　trumpeting　sounds　of　short　duration。　Again；　he　had　the　sense　that　this　was　some　sort　of　vocalization　to　convey　position。　Perhaps　for　members　to　keep　track　of　each　other　while　they　moved　through　the　jungle；　while　they　changed　locations。
　　　　But　why　were　they　changing　locations？
　　　　Where　were　they　going？　What　were　they　doing？
　　　　He　certainly　couldn't　tell　here；　standing　up　in　the　high　hide。　He　hesitated；　listening　to　them。　Then；　in　a　decisive　moment；　he　swung　his　leg　over　the　railing　and　climbed　quickly　down　the　scaffolding。

Heat
　　　　
She　felt　heat；　and　wet。　Something　rough　scraped　along　her　face；　like　sandpaper。　It　happened　again；　this　roughness　on　her　cheek。　Sarah　Harding　coughed。　Something　dripped　on　her　neck。　She　smelled　an　odd；　sweetish　odor；　like　fermenting　African　beer。　There　was　a　deep　hissing　sound。　Then　the　rough　scraping　again；　starting　at　her　neck；　moving　up　her　cheek。
　　　　Slowly；　she　opened　her　eyes　and　stared　up　into　the　face　of　a　horse。　The　big；　dull　eye　of　the　horse　peered　down　at　her；　with　soft　eyelashes。　The　horse　was　licking　her　with　its　tongue。　It　was　almost　pleasant；　she　thought；　almost　reassuring。　Lying　on　her　back　in　the　mud；　with　a　horse　…
　　　　It　wasn't　a　horse。
　　　　The　head　was　too　narrow；　she　suddenly　saw；　the　snout　too　tapered；　the　proportions　all　wrong。　She　turned　to　look　and　saw　that　it　was　a　small　head；　leading　to　a　surprisingly　thick　neck；　and　a　heavy　body　…　
　　　　She　jumped　up；　scrambling　to　her　knees。　〃Oh　my　God！〃
　　　　Her　sudden　movement　startled　the　big　animal；　which　snorted　in　alarm；　and　moved　slowly　away。　It　walked　a　few　steps　down　the　muddy　shore　and　then　turned　back；　looking　at　her　reproachfully。
　　　　But　she　could　see　it　now：　small　head；　thick　neck；　huge　lumbering　body；　with　a　double　row　of　pentagonal　plates　running　along　the　crest　of　the　back。　A　dragging　tail；　with　spikes　in　it。
　　　　Harding　blinked。
　　　　It　couldn't　be。
　　　　Confused　and　dazed；　her　brain　fumbled　for　the　name　of　this　creature；　and　it　came　back　to　her；　all　the　way　from　childhood。
　　　　Stegosaurus。
　　　　It　was　a　God　damn　stegosaurus。
　　　　In　her　astonishment；　her　mind　went　back　to　the　glaring　white　hospital　room；　when　she　had　visited　Ian　Malcolm　in　his　delirium；　when　he　mumbled　the　names　of　several　dinosaurs。　She　had　always　had　her　suspicions。　But　even　now；　confronted　by　a　living　stegosaur；　her　immediate　reaction　was　that　it　must　be　some　kind　of　a　trick。　Sarah　squinted　at　the　animal；　looking　for　the　seam　in　the　costume；　the　mechanical　joints　beneath　the　skin。　But　the　skin　was　seamless；　and　the　animal　moved　in　an　integrated；　organic　way。　The　eyes　blinked　again；　slowly。　Then　the　stegosaurus　turned　away　from　her；　moved　to　the　water's　edge；　and　lapped　it　with　its　large　rough　tongue。
　　　　The　tongue　was　dark　blue。
　　　　How　could　that　be？　Dark　blue　from　venous　blood？　Was　it　coldblooded？　No。　This　animal　moved　much　too　smoothly；　it　had　the　assurance　…　and　indifference　…　of　a　warm…blooded　creature。　Lizards　and　reptiles　always　seemed　to　be　paying　attention　to　the　temperature　of　their　surroundings。　This　creature　didn't　behave　that　way　at　all。　It　stood　in　the　shade；　and　lapped　up　the　cold　water；　indifferent　to　it　all。
　　　　She　looked　down　at　her　shirt；　saw　the　foamy　spittle　running　down　from　her　neck。　It　had　drooled　on　her。　She　touched　it　with　her　fingers。　It　was　warm。
　　　　It　was　warm…blooded；　all　right。
　　　　A　stegosaurus。
　　　　She　stared。
　　　　The　stegosaurus's　skin　had　a　pebbled　texture；　but　it　was　not　scaly；　like　a　reptile's。　It　was　more　like　the　skin　of　a　rhino；　she　thought。　Or　of　a　warthog。　Except　it　was　entirely　hairless；　without　the　bristles　of　a　pig。
　　　　The　stegosaurus　moved　slowly。　It　had　a　peaceful；　rather　stupid　air。　And　it　probably　was　stupid；　she　thought；　looking　again　at　the　head。　The　braincase　was　much　smaller　than　that　of　a　horse。　Very　small　for　the　body　weight。
　　　　She　got　to　her　feet；　and　groaned。　Her　body　ached。　Every　limb　and　muscle　was　sore。　Her　legs　trembled。　She　took　a　breath。
　　　　A　few　yards　away；　the　stegosaurus　paused；　glanced　at　her；　taking　in　her　new　upright　appearance。　When　she　did　not　move；　it　became　indifferent　once　again；　and　returned　to　drinking　from　the　river。
　　　　〃I'll　be　damned；〃　she　said。
　　　　She　looked　at　her　watch。　It　was　one…thirty　in　the　afternoon；　the　sun　still　high　overhead。　She　couldn't　use　the　sun　to　navigate；　and　the　afternoon　was　very　hot。　She　decided　she　had　better　start　walking；　and　try　and　find　Malcolm　and　Thorne。　Barefooted；　moving　stiffly；　her　muscles　aching；　she　headed　into　the　jungle；　away　from　the　river。

After　walking　half　an　hour；　she　was　very　thirsty；　but　she　had　trained　herself　to　go　without　water　for　long　periods　in　the　African　savannah。　She　continued　on；　indifferent　to　her　own　disfort。　As　she　approached　the　top　of　a　ridge；　she　came　to　a　game　trail；　a　wide　muddy　track　through　the　jungle。　It　was　easier　walking　along　the　trail；　and　she　had　been　following　it　for　about　fifteen　minutes　when　she　heard　an　excited　yelping　from　somewhere　ahead。　It　reminded　her　of　dogs；　and　she　proceeded　cautiously。
　　　　Moments　later；　there　was　a　crashing　sound　in　the　underbrush；　corning　from　several　directions　at　once；　and　suddenly　a　dark…green；　lizard…like　animal　about　four　feet　high　burst　through　the　foliage　at　terrific　speed；　shrieked；　and　leapt　over　her。　She　ducked　instinctively；　and　hardly　had　time　to　recover　before　a　second　animal　appeared　and　raced　past　her。　Within　instants；　a　whole　herd　of　animals　was　running　past　her　on　all　sides；　yelping　in　fear；　and　then　the　next　one　brushed　against　her　and　knocked　her　over。　She　fell　in　the　mud　as　other　animals　leapt　and　crashed　around　her。
　　　　A　few　feet　ahead　on　the　trail　she　saw　a　large　tree　with　low…hanging　branches。　She　acted　without　thinking；　jumping　to　her　feet；　grabbing　the　branch；　and　swinging　up。　She　reached　safety　just　as　a　new　dinosaur；　with　sharp…clawed　feet；　rushed　through　the　maid　beneath　her；　and　chased　after　the　fleeing　green　creatures。　As　this　animal　went　away　from　her；　she　glimpsed　a　dark　body；　six　feet　tall；　with　reddish　stripes　like　a　tiger。　Soon　after；　a　second　striped　animal　appeared；　then　a　third　…　a　pack　of　predators；　hissing　and　snarling；　as　they　pursued　the　green　dinosaurs。
　　　　From　her　years　in　the　field；　she　found　herself　automatically　counting　the　animals　that　rushed　past　her。　By　her　count；　there　were　ten　striped　predators；　and　that　immediately　piqued　her　interest。　It　made　no　sense；　she　thought。　As　soon　as　the　last　of　the　predators　was　gone；　she　dropped　down　to　the　ground　arid　hurried　to　follow　them。　It　occurred　to　hey　that　it　might　be　foolish　to　do　so；　but　her　curiosity　overcame　her。
　　　　She　chased　the　tiger…dinosaurs　up　a　hill；　but　even　before　she　reached　the　crest　she　could　tell　from　the　snarls　and　growls　that　they　had　already　brought　an　animal　down。　At　the　crest；　she　looked　down　on　their　kill。
　　　　But　it　was　like　no　kill　she　had　ever　seen　in　Africa。　On　the　Seronera　plain；　a　kill　site　had　its　own　organization　which　was　quite　predictable；　and　in　a　way　was　almost　stately。　The　biggest　predators；　lions　or　hyenas；　were　closest　to　the　carcass；　feeding　with　their　young。　Farther　out；　waiting　their　turn；　were　the　vultures　and　marabou　storks；　and　still　farther　out；　the　jackals　and　other　small　scavengers　circled　warily。　After　the　big　predators　finished；　the　smaller　animals　moved　in。　Different　animals　ate　different　parts　of　the　bodies：　the　hyenas　and　vultures　ate　bones；　the　jackals　nibbled　the　carcass　clean。　This　was　the　pattern　at　any　kill；　and　as　a　result　there　was　very　little　squabbling　or　fighting　around　the　food。
　　　　But　here；　she　saw　pandemonium　…　a　feeding　frenzy。　The　fallen　animal　was　thickly　covered　with　striped　predators；　all　furiously　ripping　the　flesh　of　the　carcass；　with　frequent　pauses　to　snarl　and　fight　with　each　other。　Their　fights　were　openly　vicious　…　one　predator　bit　the　adjacent　animal；　inflicting　a　deep　flank　wound。　Immediately；　several　other　predators　snapped　at　the　same　animal；　which　limped　away；　hissing　and　bleeding；　badly　wounded。　Once　at　the　periphery；　the　wounded　animal　retaliated　by　biting　the　tail　of　another　creature；　again　causing　a　serious　wound。
　　　　A　young　juvenile；　about　half　the　size　of　the　others；　kept　pushing　forward；　trying　to　get　at　a　bit　of　the　carcass；　but　the　adults　did　not　make　room　for　it。　Instead；　they　snarled　and　snapped　in　fury。　The　youngster　was　frequently　obliged　to　hop　back　nimbly；　keeping　its　distance　from　the　razor…sharp　fangs　of　the　grownups。　Harding　saw　no　infants　at　all。　This　was　a　society　of　vicious　adults。
　　　　As　she　watched　the　big　predators；　their　heads　and　bodies　smeared　in　blood；　she　noticed　the　crisscross　pattern　of　healed　scars　on　their　flanks　and　necks。　These　were　obviously　quick；　intelligent　animals；　yet　they　fought　continually。　Was　that　the　way　their　social　organization　had　evolved？　If　so；　it　was　a　rare　event。
　　　　Animals　of　many　species　fought　for　food；　territory；　and　sex；　but　these　fights　most　often　involved　display　and　ritual　aggression；　serious　Injury　seldom　occurred。　There　were　exceptions；　of　course。　When　male　hippos　fought　to　take　over　a　h