the.lost.world-第17章

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down　to　the　bone。〃
　　　　Thorne　said；　〃You're　saying　the　animal　was　injured　by　another　dinosaur。
　　　　〃Yes。　Exactly。
　　　　They　drove　a　moment　in　silence。　〃Who　else　besides　us　knows　about　this　island？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃But　somebody's　trying　to　find　out。　My　office　was　broken　into　today；　and　photographed。〃
　　　　〃Great。〃　Thorne　sighed。　〃But　you　didn't　know　where　the　island　was；　did　you？〃
　　　　〃No。　I　hadn't　put　it　together　yet。〃
　　　　〃Do　you　think　anybody　else　has？〃
　　　　〃No；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃We　re　on　our　own。〃

Exploitation

Lewis　Dodgson　threw　open　the　door　marked　ANIMAL　QUARTERS；　and　immediately　all　the　dogs　began　barking。　Dodgson　walked　down　the　corridor　between　the　rows　of　cages；　stacked　ten　feet　high　on　both　sides。　The　building　was　large；　the　Biosyn　Corporation　of　Cupertino；　California；　required　an　extensive　animal…testing　facility。
　　　　Walking　alongside　him；　Rossiter；　the　head　of　the　pany；　gloomily　brushed　the　lapels　of　his　Italian　suit。　〃I　hate　this　fucking　place；〃　he　said。　〃Why　did　you　want　me　to　e　here？〃
　　　　〃Because；〃　Dodgson　said。　〃We　need　to　talk　about　the　future。〃
　　　　〃Stinks　in　here；〃　Rossiter　said。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Get　on　with　it；　Lew。〃
　　　　　〃We　can　talk　in　here。〃　Dodgson　led　him　to　a　glass…walled　superintendent's　booth；　in　the　center　of　the　building。　The　glass　cut　down　the　sound　of　the　barking。　But　through　the　windows；　thev　could　look　out　at　the　rows　of　animals。
　　　　〃It's　simple；〃　Dodgson　said；　starting　to　pace；　〃But　I　think　it's　important。〃
　　　　Lewis　Dodgson　was　forty…five　years　old；　bland…faced　and　balding。　His　features　were　youthful；　and　his　manner　was　mild。　But　appearances　were　deceiving　…　the　baby…faced　Dodgson　was　one　of　the　most　ruthless　and　aggressive　geneticists　of　his　generation。　Controversy　had　dogged　his　career：　as　a　graduate　student　at　Hopkins；　he　had　been　dismissed　for　planning　human　gene　therapy　without　FDA　permission。　Later；　after　joining　Biosyn；　he　had　conducted　a　controversial　rabies…vaccine　test　in　Chile　…　the　illiterate　farmers　who　were　the　subjects　were　never　informed　they　were　being　tested。
　　　　In　each　case；　Dodgson　explained　that　he　was　a　scientist　in　a　hurry；　and　could　not　be　held　back　by　regulations　drawn　up　for　lesser　souls。　He　called　himself　〃results…oriented；〃　which　really　meant　he　did　whatever　he　considered　necessary　to　achieve　his　goal。　He　was　also　a　tireless　self…promoter。　Within　the　pany；　Dodgson　presented　himself　as　a　researcher；　even　though　he　lacked　the　ability　to　do　original　research；　and　had　never　done　any。　His　intellect　was　fundamentally　derivative；　he　never　conceived　of　anything　until　someone　else　had　thought　of　it　first。
　　　　He　was　very　good　at　〃developing〃　research；　which　meant　stealing　someone　else's　work　at　an　early　stage。　In　this；　he　was　without　scruple　and　without　peer。　For　many　years　he　had　run　the　reverse…engineering　section　at　Biosyn；　which　in　theory　examined　petitors'　products　and　determined　how　they　were　made。　But　in　practice；　〃reverse　engineering〃　involved　a　great　deal　of　industrial　espionage。
　　　　Rossiter；　of　course；　had　no　illusions　about　Dodgson。　He　disliked　him；　and　avoided　him　as　much　as　possible。　Dodgson　was　always　taking　chances；　cutting　corners；　he　made　Rossiter　uneasy。　But　Rossiter　also　knew　that　modern　biotechnology　was　highly　petitive。　To　stay　petitive；　every　pany　needed　a　man　like　Dodgson。　And　Dodgson　was　very　good　at　what　he　did。
　　　　〃I'll　e　right　to　the　pint；〃　Dodgson　said；　turning　to　Rossiter。　〃If　we　act　quickly；　I　believe　we　have　an　opportunity　to　acquire　the　InGen　technology。〃
　　　　Rossiter　sighed。　〃Not　again。。。。〃
　　　　〃I　know；　Jeff。　I　know　how　you　feel。　I　admit；　there　is　some　history　here。〃
　　　　〃History？　The　only　history　is　you　failed　…　time　and　again。　We've　tried　this；　back　door　and　front　door。　Hell；　we　even　tried　to　buy　the　pany　when　it　was　in　Chapter　11；　because　you　told　us　it　would　be　available。　But　it　turned　out　it　wasn't。　The　Japanese　wouldn't　sell。〃
　　　　〃I　understand；　Jeff。　But　let's　not　forget　…　〃
　　　　〃What　I　can't　forget；〃　Rossiter　said；　〃is　that　we　paid　seven　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　dollars　to　your　friend　Nedry；　and　have　nothing　to　show　for　it。〃
　　　　〃But　Jeff　…　〃
　　　　〃Then　we　paid　five　hundred　thousand　to　that　Dai…Ichl　marriage　broker。　Nothing　to　show　for　that；　either。　Our　attempts　to　acquire　InGen　technology　have　been　a　plete　fucking　failure。　That's　what　I　can't　forget。〃
　　　　〃But　the　point；〃　Dodgson　said；　〃is　that　we　kept　trying　for　a　good　reason。　This　technology　is　vital　to　the　future　of　the　pany。〃
　　　　〃So　you　say。〃
　　　　〃The　world　is　changing；　Jeff。　I'm　talking　about　solving　one　of　the　major　problems　this　pany　faces　in　the　twenty…first　century。〃
　　　　〃Which　is？〃
　　　　Dodgson　pointed　out　the　window；　at　the　barking　dogs。　〃Animal　testing。　Let's　face　it；　Jeff。　every　year；　we　get　more　pressure　not　to　use　animals　for　testing　and　research。　Every　year；　more　demonstrations；　more　break…ins；　more　bad　press。　First　it　was　just　simple…minded　zealots　and　Hollywood　celebrities。　But　now　it's　a　bandwagon：　even　university　philosophers　are　beginning　to　argue　that　it's　unethical　for　monkeys；　and　dogs；　and　even　rats　to　be　subjected　to　the　indignities　of　laboratory　research。　We've　even　had　some　protests　about　our　'exploitation'　of　squid；　even　though　they're　on　dinner　tables　all　over　the　world。　I'm　telling　you；　Jeff；　there's　no　end　to　this　trend。　Eventually；　somebody's　going　to　say　we　can't　even　exploit　bacteria　to　make　genetic　products。〃
　　　　〃　Oh；　e　on。〃
　　　　〃Just　wait。　It'll　happen。　And　it'll　shut　us　down。　Unless　we　have　a　genuinely　created　animal。　Consider　…　an　animal　that　is　extinct；　and　is　brought　back　to　life；　is　for　all　practical　purposes　not　an　animal　at　all。　It　can't　have　any　rights。　It's　already　extinct。　So　if　it　exists；　it　can　only　be　something　we　have　made。　We　made　it；　we　patent　it；　we　own　it。　And　it　is　a　perfect　research　testbed。　And　we　believe　that　the　enzyme　and　hormoiie　systems　of　dinosaurs　are　identical　to　mammalian　systems。　In　the　future；　drugs　can　be　tested　on　small　dinosaurs　as　successfully　as　they　are　now　tested　on　dogs　and　rats…with　much　less　risk　of　legal　challenge。〃
　　　　Rossiter　was　shaking　his　head。　〃You　think。〃
　　　　〃I　know。　They're　basically　big　lizards；　Jeff。　And　nobody　loves　a　lizard。　They're　not　like　these　cute　doggies　that　lick　your　hand　and　break　your　heart。　Lizards　have　no　personality。　They're　snakes　with　legs。〃
　　　　Rossiter　sighed。
　　　　〃Jeff。　We're　talking　about　real　freedom；　here。　Because；　at　the　moment；　everything　to　do　with　living　animals　is　tied　up　in　legal　and　moral　knots。　Big…game　hunters　can't　shoot　a　lion　or　an　elephant　…　the　same　animals　their　fathers　and　grandfathers　used　to　shoot；　and　then　pose　proudly　for　a　photo。　Now　there　are　forms；　licenses；　expenses　…　and　plenty　of　guilt。　These　days；　you　don't　dare　shoot　a　tiger　and　admit　it　afterward。　In　the　modern　world；　it's　a　much　more　serious　transgression　to　shoot　a　tiger　than　to　shoot　your　parents。　Tigers　have　advocates。　But　now　imagine：　a　specially　stocked　hunting　preserve；　maybe　somewhere　in　Asia；　where　individuals　of　wealth　and　importance　could　hunt　tyrannosaurs　and　triceratops　in　a　natural　setting。　It　would　be　an　incredibly　desirable　attraction。　How　many　hunters　have　a　stuffed　elk　head　on　their　wall？　The　world's　full　of　them。　But　how　many　can　claim　to　have　a　snarling　tyranosaurus　head；　hanging　above　the　wet　bar？〃
　　　　〃You're　not　serious。〃
　　　　〃I'm　trying　to　make　a　point　here；　Jeff：　these　animals　are　totally　exploitable。　We　can　do　anything　we　want　with　them。〃
　　　　Rossiter　stood　up　from　the　table；　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets。　He　sighed；　then　looked　up　at　Dodgson。
　　　　〃The　animals　still　exist？〃
　　　　Dodgson　nodded　slowly。
　　　　〃And　you　know　where　they　are？〃
　　　　Dodgson　nodded。
　　　　〃Okay；〃　Rossiter　said。　〃Do　it。〃
　　　　He　turned　toward　the　door；　then　paused；　looked　back。　〃But；　Lew；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　be　clear。　This　is　it。　This　is　absolutely　the　last　time。　Either　you　get　the　animals　now；　or　it's　over。　This　is　the　last　time。　Got　it？〃
　　　　〃Don't　worry；〃　Dodgson　said。　〃This　time；　I'll　get　them。〃

THIRD　CONFIGURATION

〃In　the　intermediate　phase；　swiftly　developing　plexity
within　the　system　hides　the　risk　of　imminent　chaos。　But　the　risk　is　there。〃
　　　　
IAN　MALCOLM

Costa　Rica

There　was　a　drenching　downpour　in　Puerto　Cortés。　Rain　drummed　on　the　roof　of　the　little　metal　shed　beside　the　airfield。　Dripping　wet；　Thorne　stood　and　waited　while　the　Costa　Rican　official　went　over　the　papers；　again　and　again。　Rodríguez　was　his　name；　and　he　was　just　a　kid　in　his　twenties；　wearing　an　ill…fitting　uniform；　terrified　of　making　a　mistake。
　　　　Thorne　looked　out　at　the　runway；　where；　in　the　soft　dawn　light；　the　cargo　containers　were　being　clamped　to　the　bellies　of　two　big　Huey　helicopters。　Eddie　Carr　was　out　there　in　the　rain　with　Malcolm；　shouting　as　the　workmen　secured　the　clamps。
　　　　Rodríguez　shuffled　the　papers。　〃Now；　Se？or　Thorne；　according　to　this；　your　destination　is　Isla　Sorna。。。〃
　　　　〃That's　right。〃
　　　　〃And　your　containers　have　only　vehicles？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　that's　right。　Research　vehicles。〃
　　　　〃Sorna　is　a　primitive　place。　There　is　no　petrol；　no　supplies；　not　even　any　roads　to　speak　of。。。。〃
　　　　〃Have　you　been　there'？〃
　　　　〃Myself；　no。　People　here　have　no　interest　in　this　island。　It　is　a　wild　spot；　rock　and　jungle。　And　there　is　no　place　for　a　boat　to　land；　except　in　very　special　weather　conditions。　For　example；　today　one　cannot　go　there。
　　　　〃I　understand；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃I　just　wish　that　you　will　be　prepared；〃　Rodríguez　said；　〃for　the　difficulties　you　will　find　there。
　　　　〃I　think　we're　prepared。〃
　　　　〃You　are　taking　adequate　petrol　for　your　vehicles？〃
　　　　〃Thorne　sighed。　Why　bother　to　explain？　〃Yes；　we　are。〃
　　　　〃And　there　are　just　three　of　you；　Dr。　Malcolm；　yourself；　and　your　assistant；　Se？or　Carr？〃
　　　　〃Correct。〃
　　　　〃And　your　intended　stay　is　less　than　one　week？〃
　　　　〃That's　correct。　More　like　two　days：　with　anv　luck；　we　expect　to　be　off　the　island　sometime　tomorrow。〃
　　　　Rodríguez　shuffled　the　papers　again；　as　if　looking　for　a　hidden　cule。　〃Well。。。〃
　　　　〃Is　there　a　problem？〃　Thorne　said；　glancing　at　his　watch。
　　　　〃No　problem；　se？or。　Your　permits　are　signed　by　the　Director　General　of　the　Biological　Preserves。　They　are　in　order。。。。　〃　Rodríguez　hesitated。　〃But　it　is　very　unusual；　that　such　a　permit　would　be　granted　at　all。〃
　　　　〃Why　is　that？〃
　　　　〃I　do　not　know　the　details；　but　there　was　some　trouble　on　one　of　the　islands　a　few　years　ago；　and　since　then　the　Department　of　Biological　Preserves　has　closed　all　the　Pacific　islands　to　tourists。〃
　　　　〃We're　not　tourists；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃I　understand　that；　Se？or　Thorne。〃　More　shuffling　of　papers。
　　　　Thorne　waited。
　　　　Out　on　the　runway；　the　container　clamps　locked　in　place；　and　the　containers　lifted　off　the　ground。
　　　　〃Very　well；　Se？or　Thorne；〃　Rodríguez　said　finally；　stamping　the　papers。　〃I　wish　you　good　luck。〃
　　　　〃Thank　you；〃　Thorne　said。　He　tucked　the　papers　in　his　pocket；　ducked　his　head　against　the　rain；　and　ran　back　out　on　the　runway。

Three　miles　offshore；　the　helicopters　broke　through　the　coastal　cloud　layer；　into　early…morning　sunlight。　From　the　cockpit　of　the　lead　Huey；　Thorne　could　look　up　and　down　the　coast。　He　saw　five　islands　at　various　distances　offshore　…　harsh　rocky　pinnacles；　rising　out　of　rough　blue　sea。　The　islands　were　each