the.lost.world-第30章

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　　　　〃But　what　about　the　helicopter　that　took　the　men　earlier？〃
　　　　〃There　is　a　helicopter；　yes。〃
　　　　〃Where　is　it？〃
　　　　〃The　helicopter　is　not　here。〃
　　　　〃I　can　see　that。　But　where　is　it？〃
　　　　Rodríguez　spread　his　hands。　〃It　has　gone　to　San　Cristóbal。〃
　　　　〃When　will　it　be　back？〃
　　　　〃I　do　not　know。　I　think　tomorrow；　or　perhaps　the　day　after。〃
　　　　〃Se？or　Rodríguez；〃　she　said　firmly；　〃I　must　get　to　that　island　today。〃
　　　　〃I　understand　your　wish；〃　Rodríguez　said。　〃But　I　cannot　do　anything　to　help　this。〃
　　　　〃What　do　you　suggest？〃
　　　　Rodríguez　shrugged。　〃I　could　not　make　a　suggestion。〃
　　　　〃Is　there　a　boat　that　will　take　me？〃
　　　　〃I　do　not　know　of　a　boat。〃
　　　　〃This　is　a　harbor；〃　Harding　said。　She　pointed　out　the　window。　〃I　see　all　sorts　of　boats　out　there。〃
　　　　〃I　know。　But　I　do　not　believe　one　will　go　to　the　islands。　The　weather　is　not　so　favorable。〃
　　　　〃But　if　I　were　to　go　down　to　…　〃
　　　　〃Yes；　of　course。〃　Rodríguez　sighed。　〃Of　course　you　may　ask。〃
　　　　Which　was　how　she　found　herself；　shortly　after　eleven　o'clock　on　a　rainy　morning；　walking　down　the　rickety　wooden　dock；　with　her　backpack　on　her　shoulder。　Four　boats　were　tied　up　to　the　dock；　which　smelled　strongly　of　fish。　But　all　the　boats　seemed　to　be　deserted。　All　the　activity　was　at　the　far　end　of　the　dock；　where　a　much　larger　boat　was　tied　up。　Beside　the　boat；　a　red　Jeep　Wrangler　was　being　strapped　for　loading；　along　with　several　large　steel　drums　and　wooden　crates　of　supplies。　She　admired　the　car　in　passing；　it　had　been　specially　modified；　enlarged　to　the　size　of　the　Land　Rover　Defender；　the　most　desirable　of　all　field　vehicles。　Changing　this　Jeep　must　have　been　an　expensive　alteration；　she　thought：　only　for　researchers　with　lots　of　money。
　　　　Standing　on　the　dock；　a　pair　of　Americans　in　wide…brimmed　sun　hats　were　shouting　and　pointing　as　the　Jeep　lifted　lopsidedly　into　the　air；　and　was　swung　onto　the　deck　of　the　boat　with　an　ancient　crane。　She　heard　one　of　the　men　shout　〃Careful！　Careful！〃　as　the　Jeep　thudded　down　hard　on　the　wooden　deck。　〃Damn　it；　be　careful！〃　Several　workmen　began　to　carry　the　boxes　onto　the　ship。　The　crane　swung　back　to　pick　up　the　steel　drums。
　　　　Harding　went　over　to　the　nearest　man　and　said　politely；　〃Excuse　me；　but　I　wonder　if　you　could　help　me。〃
　　　　The　man　glanced　at　her。　He　was　medium　height；　with　reddish　skin　and　bland　features；　he　looked　awkward　in　new　khaki　safari　clothes。　His　manner　was　preoccupied　and　tense。　〃I'm　busy　now；〃　he　said；　and　turned　away。　〃Manuel！　Watch　it；　that's　sensitive　equipment！〃
　　　　〃I'm　sorry　to　bother　you；〃　she　continued；　〃but　my　name　is　Sarah　Harding；　and　I'm　trying　…　〃
　　　　〃I　don't　care　if　you're　Sarah　Bernhardt；　the　…　Manuel！　Damn　it！〃　The　man　waved　his　arms。　〃You　there！　Yes；　you！　Hold　that　box　upright！〃
　　　　〃I'm　trying　to　get　to　Isla　Sorna；〃　she　said；　finishing。
　　　　At　this；　the　man's　entire　demeanor　changed。　He　turned　back　to　her　slowly。　〃Isla　Sorna？〃　he　said。　〃You're　not　associated　with　Dr。　Levine　by　any　chance；　are　you？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　I　am。〃
　　　　〃Well；　I'll　be　damned；〃　be　said；　suddenly　breaking　into　a　warm　smile。　〃What　do　you　know！〃　He　extended　his　hand。　〃I'm　Lew　Dodgson；　from　the　Biosyn　Corporation；　back　in　Cupertino。　This　is　my　associate；　Howard　King。〃
　　　　〃Hi；〃　the　other　man　said；　nodding。　Howard　King　was　younger　and　taller　than　Dodgson；　and　he　was　handsome　in　a　clean…cut　California　way。　Sarah　recognized　his　type：　a　classic　beta　male　animal；　subservient　to　the　core。　And　there　was　something　odd　about　his　behavior　toward　her：　he　moved　a　little　away；　and　seemed　as　unfortable　around　her　as　Dodgson　now　seemed　friendly。
　　　　〃And　up　there；〃　Dodgson　continued；　pointing　onto　the　deck；　〃is　our　third；　George　Baselton。〃
　　　　Harding　saw　a　heavyset　man　on　the　deck；　bent　over　the　boxes　as　they　came　on　board。　His　shirtsleeves　were　soaked　in　sweat。　She　said；　〃Are　you　all　friends　of　Richard？〃
　　　　〃We're　on　our　way　over　to　see　him　right　now；〃　Dodgson　said；　〃to　help　him　out。〃　He　hesitated；　frowning　at　her。　〃But；　uh；　he　didn't　tell　us　about　you。。。。〃
　　　　She　was　suddenly　aware　then　of　how　she　must　appear　to　him：　a　short　woman　in　her　thirties；　wearing　a　rumpled　shirt；　khaki　shorts；　and　heavy　boots。　Her　clothes　dirty；　her　hair　unkempt　after　all　the　flights。
　　　　She　said；　〃I　know　Richard　through　Ian　Malcolm。　Ian　and　I　are　old　friends。〃
　　　　I　see。。。〃　He　continued　to　stare　at　her；　as　if　he　was　unsure　of　her　in　some　way。
　　　　She　felt　pelled　to　explain。　〃I've　been　in　Africa。　I　decided　to　e　here　at　the　last　minute；〃　she　said。　〃Doc　THorne　called　me。〃
　　　　〃Oh；　of　course。　Doc。〃　The　man　nodded；　and　seemed　to　relax；　as　if　everything　now　made　sense　to　him。
　　　　She　said；　〃Is　Richard　all　right？〃
　　　　〃Well；　I　certainly　hope　so。　Because　we're　taking　all　this　equipment　to　him。〃
　　　　〃You're　going　to　Sorna　now？〃
　　　　〃We　are；　if　this　weather　holds；〃　Dodgson　said；　glancing　at　the　sky。　〃We　should　be　ready　to　go　in　five　or　ten　minutes。　You　know；　you're　wele　to　join　us；　if　you　need　a　ride；〃　he　said　cheerfully。　〃We　could　use　the　pany。　Where's　your　stuff？〃
　　　　〃I've　only　got　this；〃　she　said；　lifting　her　small　backpack。
　　　　〃Traveling　light；　eh？　Well；　good；　Ms。　Harding。　Wele　to　the　party。〃
　　　　He　seemed　entirely　open　and　friendly　now。　It　was　such　a　marked　change　from　his　earlier　behavior。　But　she　noticed　that　the　handsome　man；　King；　remained　distinctly　uneasy。　King　turned　his　back　to　her；　and　acted　very　busy；　shouting　at　the　workmen　to　be　careful　with　the　last　of　the　wooden　crates；　which　were　marked　〃Biosyn　Corporation〃　in　stenciled　lettering。　She　had　the　impression　he　was　avoiding　looking　at　her。　And　she　still　hadn't　gotten　a　good　look　at　the　third　man；　on　deck。　It　　made　her　hesitate。
　　　　〃You're　sure　it's　all　right。。。。〃
　　　　〃Of　course　it's　all　right！　We'd　be　delighted！〃　Dodgson　said。　〃Besides；　how　else　are　you　going　to　get　there？　There's　no　planes；　the　helicopter　is　gone。
　　　　〃I　know；　I　checked。。。。〃
　　　　〃Well；　then；　you　know。　If　you　want　to　get　to　the　island；　you'd　better　go　with　us。〃
　　　　
　　　　She　looked　at　the　jeep　on　the　boat；　and　said；　〃I　think　Doc　must　already　be　there；　with　his　equipment。〃
　　　　At　the　mention　of　that；　the　second　man；　King；　snapped　his　head　around　in　alarm。　But　Dodgson　just　nodded　calmly　and　said；　〃Yes；　I　think　so。　He　left　last　night；　I　believe。〃
　　　　〃That's　what　he　said　to　me。〃
　　　　〃Right。〃　Dodgson　nodded。　〃So　he's　already　there。　At　least；　I　hope　he　is。〃
　　　　From　on　deck；　there　were　shouts　in　Spanish；　and　a　captain　in　greasy　overalls　came　and　looked　over　the　side。　〃Se？or　Dodgson；　we　are　ready。〃
　　　　〃Good；〃　Dodgson　said。　〃Excellent。　Climb　aboard；　Ms。　Harding。　Let's　get　going！〃

King

Spewing　black　smoke；　the　fishing　boat　chugged　out　of　the　harbor；　heading　toward　open　sea。　Howard　King　felt　the　rumble　of　the　ship's　engines　beneath　his　feet；　heard　the　creak　of　the　wood。　He　listened　to　the　shouts　of　the　crewmen　in　Spanish。　King　looked　back　at　the　little　town　of　Puerto　Cortés；　a　jumble　of　little　houses　clustered　around　the　water's　edge。　He　hoped　this　damn　boat　was　seaworthy　…　because　they　were　out　in　the　middle　of　nowhere。
　　　　And　Dodgson　was　cutting　corners。　Taking　chances　again。
　　　　It　was　the　situation　King　feared　most。
　　　　Howard　King　had　known　Lewis　Dodgson　for　almost　ten　years；　ever　since　he　had　joined　Biosyn　as　a　young　Berkeley　Ph。D。；　a　promising　researcher　with　the　energy　to　conquer　the　world。　King　had　done　his　doctoral　thesis　on　blood…coagulation　factors。　He　had　joined　Biosyn　at　a　time　of　intense　interest　in　those　factors；　which　seemed　to　hold　the　key　to　dissolving　clots　in　patients　with　heart　attacks。　There　was　a　race　among　biotech　panies　to　develop　a　new　drug　that　would　save　lives；　and　make　a　fortune　as　well。
　　　　Initially；　King　worked　on　a　promising　substance　called　Hemaggluttin　V…5；　or　HGV…5。　In　early　tests　it　dissolved　platelet　aggregation　to　an　astonishing　degree。　King　became　the　most　promising　young　researcher　at　Biosyn。　His　picture　was　prominently　featured　in　the　annual　report。　He　had　his　own　lab；　and　an　operating　budget　of　nearly　half　a　million　dollars。
　　　　And　then；　without　warning；　the　bottom　fell　out。　In　preliminary　tests　on　human　subjects；　HGV…5　failed　to　dissolve　clots　in　either　myocardial　infarctions　or　pulmonary　embolisms。　Worse；　it　produced　severe　side　effects：　gastrointestinal　bleeding；　skin　rashes；　neurological　problems。　After　one　patient　died　from　convulsions；　the　pany　halted　further　testing。　Within　weeks；　King　lost　his　lab。　A　newly　arrived　Danish　researcher　took　it　over；　he　was　developing　an　extract　from　the　saliva　of　the　Sumatran　yellow　leech；　which　showed　more　promise。
　　　　King　moved　to　a　smaller　lab；　decided　he　was　tired　of　blood　factors；　and　turned　his　attention　to　painkillers。　He　had　an　interesting　pound；　the　L…isomer　of　a　protein　from　the　African　horny　toad；　which　seemed　to　have　narcotic　effects。　But　he　had　lost　his　former　confidence；　and　when　the　pany　reviewed　his　work；　they　concluded　that　his　research　was　insufficiently　documented　to　warrant　seeking　FDA　approvals　for　testing。　His　horny…toad　project　was　summarily　canceled。
　　　　King　was　then　thirty…five；　and　twice　a　failure。　His　picture　no　longer　graced　the　annual　report。　It　was　rumored　that　the　pany　would　probably　let　him　go　at　the　next　review　period。　When　he　proposed　a　new　research　project；　it　was　rejected　at　once。　It　was　a　dark　time　in　his　life。
　　　　Then　Lewis　Dodgson　suggested　they　have　lunch。

Dodgson　had　an　unsavory　reputation　among　the　researchers；　he　was　known　as　〃The　Undertaker；〃　because　of　the　way　he　took　over　the　work　of　others；　and　prettied　it　up　as　his　own。　In　earlier　years；　King　never　would　have　been　seen　with　him。　But　now　he　allowed　Dodgson　to　take　him　to　an　expensive　seafood　restaurant　in　San　Francisco。
　　　　〃Research　is　hard；〃　Dodgson　said；　sympathetically。
　　　　〃You　can　say　that　again；〃　King　said。
　　　　〃Hard；　and　risky；〃　Dodgson　said。　〃The　fact　is；　innovative　research　rarely　pans　out。　But　does　management　understand？　No。　If　the　research　fails；　you're　the　one　who's　blamed。　It's　not　fair。〃
　　　　〃Tell　me；〃　King　said。
　　　　〃But　that's　the　name　of　the　game。〃　Dodgson　shrugged；　and　speared　a　leg　of　soft…shell　crab。
　　　　King　said　nothing。
　　　　〃Personally；　I　don't　like　risk；〃　Dodgson　continued。　〃And　original　work　is　risky。　Most　new　ideas　are　bad；　and　most　original　work　fails。　That's　the　reality。　If　you　feel　pelled　to　do　original　research；　you　can　expect　to　fail。　That's　all　right　if　you　work　in　a　university；　where　failure　is　praised　and　success　leads　to　Ostracism。　But　in　industry。。。no；　no。　Original　work　in　industry　is　not　a　wise　career　choice。　It's　only　going　to　get　you　into　trouble。　Which　is　where　you　are　right　now；　my　friend。〃
　　　　〃What　can　I　do？　〃　King　said。
　　　　〃Well；〃　Dodgson　said。　〃I　have　my　I　own　version　of　the　scientific　method。　I　call　it　focused　research　development。　If　only　a　few　ideas　are　going　to　be　good；　why　try　to　find　them　yourself？　It's　too　hard。　Let　other　people　find　them　…　let　them　take　the　risk　…　let　them　go　for　the　so…called　glory。　I'd　rather　wait；　and　develop　ideas　that　already　show　promise。　Take　what's　good；　and　make　it　better。　Or　at　least；　make　it　different　enough　so　that　I　can　patent　it。　And　then　I　own　it。　Then；　it's　mine。〃
　　　　King　was　amazed　at　the　straightforward　way　that　Dodgson　admitted　he　was　a　thief。　He　didn't　seem　in　the　least　embarrassed。　King　poked　at　his　sal