the.lost.world-第20章

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ey　crossed；　passed　through　the　gap；　and　descended　down　the　hill；　disappearing　from　view。
　　　　Only　then　were　the　men　able　to　see　through　the　gap　itself。　Thorne　had　a　view　across　a　vast　marshy　plain；　with　a　broad　river　coursing　through　the　center。　On　either　side　of　the　river；　animals　grazed。　There　was　a　herd　of　perhaps　twenty　medium…sized；　dark…green　dinosaurs　to　the　south；　their　large　heads　intermittently　poking　up　above　the　grass　along　the　river。　Nearby；　Thorne　saw　eight　duck…billed　dinosaurs　with　large　tube…like　crests　rising　above　their　heads；　they　drank　and　lifted　their　heads；　honking　mournfully。　Directly　ahead；　he　saw　a　＇one　stegosaurus；　with　its　curved　back　and　its　vertical　rows　of　plates。　The　triceratops　herd　moved　slowly　past　the　stegosaur；　which　paid　no　attention　to　them。　And　to　the　west；　rising　above　a　clump　of　trees；　they　saw　a　dozen　long；　graceful　necks　of　apatosaurs；　their　bodies　hidden　by　the　foliage　that　they　lazily　ate。　It　was　a　tranquil　scene　…but　it　was　a　scene　from　another　world。
　　　　〃Doc？〃　Eddie　said。　〃What　is　this　place？〃

Site　B

Sitting　in　the　cars；　they　stared　out　over　the　plain。　They　watched　the　dinosaurs　move　slowly　through　the　deep　grass。　They　beard　the　soft　cry　of　the　duckbills。　The　separate　herds　moved　peacefully　beside　the　river。
　　　　Eddie　said；　〃So　what　are　we　saying；　this　is　a　place　that　got　bypassed　by　evolution？　One　of　those　places　where　time　stands　still？〃
　　　　〃Not　at　all；〃　Malcolm　said；　〃There's　a　perfectly　rational　explanation　for　what　you　are　seeing。　And　we　are　going　to　…　〃
　　　　From　the　dashboard；　there　was　a　high…pitched　beeping。　On　the　GPS　map；　a　blue　grid　was　overlaid；　with　a　flashing　triangular　point　marked　LEVN。
　　　　〃It's　him！〃　Eddie　said。　〃We　got　the　son　of　a　bitch！〃
　　　　〃You're　reading　that？〃　Thorne　said。　〃It's　pretty　weak。。。。〃
　　　　〃It's　fine　…　it's　got　enough　signal　strength　to　transmit　the　ID　tab。　That's　Levine；　all　right。　Looks　like　it　is　ing　from　the　valley　over　there。〃
　　　　He　started　the　Explorer；　and　it　lurched　forward　up　the　road。　〃Let's　go；〃　Eddie　said。　〃I　want　to　get　the　hell　out　of　here。〃
　　　　With　the　flick　of　a　switch；　Thorne　turned　on　the　electric　Motor　for　the　trailer；　and　beard　the　chug　of　the　vacuum　pump；　the　low　whine　of　the　automatic　transmission。　He　put　the　trailer　in　gear；　and　followed　behind。
　　　　The　impenetrable　jungle　closed　in　around　them　again；　close　and　hot。　The　trees　overhead　blocked　nearly　all　the　sunlight。　As　he　drove；　he　heard　the　beeping　bee　irregular。　He　glanced　at　the　monitor；　saw　the　flashing　triangle　was　disappearing；　then　ing　back　again。
　　　　〃Are　we　losing　him；　Eddie？〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃Doesn't　matter　if　we　do；〃　Eddie　said。　〃We've　got　a　location　on　him　now；　and　we　can　go　right　there。　In　fact；　it　should　be　just　down　this　road　here。　Right　past　this　guardhouse　or　whatever　it　is；　dead　ahead。〃
　　　　Thorne　looked　past　the　Explorer；　and　saw　a　concrete　structure　and　a　tilting　steel　road…barrier。　It　did　indeed　look　like　a　guardhouse。　It　was　in　disrepair；　and　overgrown　with　vines。　They　drove　on；　ing　onto　paved　road。　It　was　clear　the　foliage　on　either　side　had　once　been　cut　far　back；　fifty　feet　on　either　side。　Pretty　soon　they　came　to　a　second　guardhouse；　and　a　second　checkpoint。
　　　　They　continued　on　another　hundred　yards；　the　road　still　curving　slowly　along　the　ridge。　The　surrounding　foliage　became　sparser；　through　gaps　in　the　ferns　Thorne　could　see　wooden　outbuildings；　all　painted　identical　green。　They　seemed　to　be　utility　structures；　perhaps　sheds　for　equipment。　He　had　the　sense　of　entering　a　substantial　plex。
　　　　And　then；　suddenly；　they　rounded　a　curve；　and　saw　the　entire　plex　spread　out　below　them。　It　was　about　a　half…mile　away。
　　　　Eddie　said；　〃What　the　hell　is　that？〃

Thorne　stared；　astonished。　In　the　center　of　the　clearing　he　saw　the　flat　roof　of　an　enormous　building。　It　covered　several　acres；　stretching　away　into　the　distance。　It　was　the　size　of　two　football　fields。　Beyond　the　vast　roof　was　a　large　blocky　building　with　a　metal　roof；　which　had　the　functional　look　of　a　power　plant；　But　if　so；　it　was　as　big　as　the　power　plant　for　a　small　town。
　　　　At　the　far　end　of　the　main　building；　Thorne　saw　loading　docks；　and　turnarounds　for　trucks。　Over　to　the　right；　partially　hidden　in　foliage；　there　were　a　series　of　small　structures　that　looked　like　cottages。　But　from　a　distance　it　was　hard　to　be　sure。
　　　　Taken　together；　the　whole　plex　had　a　utilitarian　quality　that　reminded　Thorne　of　an　industrial　site；　or　a　fabrication　plant。　He　frowned；　trying　to　put　it　together。
　　　　〃Do　you　know　what　this　is？〃　Thorne　said　to　Malcolm。
　　　　〃Yes；〃　Malcolm　said；　nodding　slowly。　〃It's　what　I　suspected　for　some　time　now。〃
　　　　〃Yes？〃
　　　　〃It's　a　manufacturing　plant；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃It's　a　kind　of　factory。〃
　　　　〃But　it's　huge；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃Yes；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃It　had　to　be。〃
　　　　Over　the　radio；　Eddie　said；　〃I'm　still　getting　a　reading　from　Levine。　And　guess　what？　It　seems　to　be　ing　from　that　building。〃

They　drove　past　the　covered　front　entrance　to　the　main　building；　beneath　the　sagging　portico。　The　building　was　of　modern　design；　concrete　and　glass；　but　the　jungle　had　long　ago　grown　up　around　it。　Vines　hung　from　the　roof　Panes　of　glass　were　broken；　ferns　sprouted　between　cracks　in　the　concrete。　　　　
　　　　Thorne　said；　〃Eddie？　Got　a　reading？〃
　　　　Eddie　said；　〃Yeah。　Inside。　What　do　you　want　to　do？〃
　　　　〃Set　up　base　camp　in　that　field　over　there；〃　Thorne　said；　pointing　a　half…mile　to　the　left；　where　once；　it　seemed；　there　had　been　an　extensive　lawn。　It　was　still　an　open　clearing　in　the　jungle；　there　would　be　sunlight　for　the　photovoltaics。　〃Then　we'll　have　a　look　around。〃
　　　　Eddie　parked　his　Explorer；　turning　it　around　to　face　back　the　way　they　had　e。　Thorne　maneuvered　the　trailers　alongside　the　car；　and　cut　the　engine。　He　climbed　out　into　the　still；　hot　morning　air。　Malcolm　got　out　and　stood　with　him。　Here　in　the　center　of　the　island；　it　was　pletely　silent；　except　for　the　buzz　of　insects。
　　　　Eddie　came　over；　slapping　himself。　〃Great　place；　huh？　No　shortage　of　mosquitoes。　You　want　to　go　get　the　son　of　a　bitch　now？〃　Eddie　unclipped　a　receiver　from　his　belt；　and　cupped　his　hand　over　the　display；　trying　to　see　it　in　the　sunlight。　〃Still　right　over　there。〃　He　pointed　to　the　main　building。　〃What　do　you　say？〃
　　　　〃Let's　go　get　him；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　The　three　men　turned；　climbed　into　the　Explorer；　and；　leaving　the　trailers　behind；　drove　in　hot　sunlight　toward　the　giant；　ruined　building。

Trailer

Inside　the　trailer；　the　sound　of　the　car　engine　faded　away；　and　there…was　silence。　The　dashboard　glowed；　the　GPS　map　remained　visible　on　the　monitor；　the　flashing　X　marking　their　position。　A　small　window　in　the　monitor；　titled　〃Active　Systems；〃　indicated　the　battery　charge；　photovoltaic　efficiency；　and　usage　over　the　past　twelve　hours。　The　electronic　readouts　all　glowed　bright　green。
　　　　In　the　living　section；　where　the　kitchen　and　beds　were　located；　the　recirculating　water　supply　in　the　sink　gurgled　softly。　Then　there　was　a　thumping　sound；　ing　from　the　upper　storage　partment；　located　near　the　ceiling。　The　thumping　was　repeated；　and　then　there　was　silence。
　　　　After　a　moment；　a　credit　card　appeared　through　the　crack　of　the　partment　door。　The　card　slid　upward；　lifting　the　panel　latch；　unhooking　it。　The　door　swung　open；　and　a　white　bundle　of　padding　fell　Out；　landing　with　a　dull　thud　on　the　floor。　The　padding　unrolled；　and　Arby　Benton　groaned；　stretching　his　small　body。
　　　　〃If　I　don't　pee；　I'm　going　to　scream；〃　he　said；　and　he　hurried　on　shaky　legs　into　the　tiny　bathroom。
　　　　He　sighed　in　relief。　It　had　been　Kelly's　idea　for　them　to　go；　but　she　left　it　to　Arby　to　figure　out　the　details。　And　he　had　figured　everything　out　perfectly；　he　thought　…　at　least；　almost　everything。　Arby　had　correctly　anticipated　it　would　be　freezing　cold　in　the　cargo　plane；　and　that　they　would　have　to　bundle　up；　he'd　stuffed　their　partments　with　every　blanket　and　sheet　in　the　trailer。　He'd　anticipated　they　would　be　there　at　least　twelve　hours；　and　he　put　aside　some　cookies　and　bottles　of　water。　In　fact；　he'd　anticipated　everything　except　the　fact　that；　at　the　last　minute；　Eddie　Carr　would　go　through　the　trailer　and　latch　all　the　storage　partments　from　the　outside。　Locking　them　in；　so　that；　for　the　next　twelve　hours；　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　go　to　the　bathroom。　For　twelve　hours！
　　　　He　sighed　again；　his　body　relaxing。　A　steady　stream　of　urine　still　flowed　into　the　basin。　No　wonder！　Agony！　And　he'd　still　be　locked　in　there；　he　thought；　if　he　hadn't　finally　figured　out　…
　　　　Behind　him；　he　heard　muffled　shouts。　He　flushed　the　toilet　and　went　back；　crouching　down　by　the　storage　partment　beneath　the　bed。　He　quickly　unlatched　it；　another　padded　bundle　unrolled；　and　Kelly　appeared　beside　him。
　　　　〃Hey；　Kel；〃　he　said　proudly。　〃We　made　it！〃
　　　　〃I　have　to　go；〃　she　said；　dashing。　She　pulled　the　door　shut　behind　her。
　　　　Arby　said；　〃We　did　it！　We're　here！〃
　　　　〃Just　a　minute；　Arb。　Okay？〃
　　　　For　the　first　time；　he　looked　out　the　window　of　the　trailer。　All　around　them　was　a　grassy　clearing；　and　beyond　that；　the　ferns　and　high　trees　of　the　jungle。　And　high　above　the　tops　of　the　trees；　he　saw　the　curving　black　rock　of　the　volcanic　rim。
　　　　So　this　was　Isla　Sorna；　all　right。
　　　　All　right！
　　　　Kelly　came　out　of　the　bathroom。　〃Ohhh。　I　thought　I　was　going　to　die！〃　She　looked　at　him；　gave　him　high　five。　〃By　the　way；　how'd　you　get　your　door　unlatched？〃
　　　　〃Credit　card；〃　he　said。
　　　　She　frowned。　〃You　have　a　credit　card？〃
　　　　〃My　parents　gave　it　to　me；　for　emergencies；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　figured　this　was　an　emergency。〃　He　tried　to　make　a　joke　out　of　it；　to　treat　it　lightly。　Arby　knew　Kelly　was　sensitive　about　anything　to　do　with　money。　She　was　always　making　ments　about　his　clothes　and　things　like　that。　Arid　how　he　always　had　money　for　a　taxi　or　a　Coke　at　Larson's　Deli　after　school；　or　whatever。　Once　he　said　to　her　that　he　didn't　think　money　was　so　important；　and　she　said；　〃Why　would　you？〃　in　a　funny　voice。　Arid　ever　since　then　he　had　tried　to　avoid　the　subject。
　　　　Arby　wasn't　always　clear　about　the　right　thing　to　do　around　people。　Everyone　treated　him　so　weird；　anyway。　Because　he　was　younger；　of　course。　And　because　he　was　black。　Arid　because　he　was　what　the　other　kids　called　a　brainer。　He　found　himself　engaged　in　a　constant　effort　to　be　accepted；　to　blend　in。　Except　he　couldn't。　He　wasn't　white；　he　wasn't　big；　he　wasn't　good　at　sports；　and　he　wasn't　dumb。　Most　of　his　classes　at　school　were　so　boring　Arby　could　hardly　stay　awake　in　them。　His　teachers　sometimes　got　annoyed　with　him；　but　what　could　he　do？　School　was　like　a　video　played　at　super…slow　speed。　You　could　glance　at　it　once　an　hour　and　not　miss　anything。　And　when　he　was　around　the　other　kids；　how　could　he　be　expected　to　show　interest　in　TV　shows　like　〃Melrose　Place；〃　or　the　San　Francisco　49ers；　or　the　Shaq's　new　mercial。　He　couldn't。　That　stuff　wasn't　important。
　　　　But　Arby　had　long　ago　discovered　it　was　unpopular　to　say　so。　It　was　better　to　keep　your　mouth　shut。　Because　nobody　understood　him；　except　Kelly。　She　seemed　to　know　what　he　was　talking　about；　most　of　the　time。
　　　　And　Dr。　Levine。　At　least　the　school　had　an　advanced…placement　track；　which　was　moderately　interesting　to　Arby。　Not　very　interesting；　of　course；　but　better　than　the　other