the.lost.world-第33章

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　following　the　edge　of　the　trees；　heading　up　into　the　hills。
　　　　〃Looks　like　you're　right；〃　Thorne　said。　〃The　tails　scared　them　off。〃
　　　　〃How　many　do　you　count？〃　Levine　said。
　　　　〃I　don't　know。　Ten。　No；　wait　…　fourteen。　Maybe　more。　I　might　have　missed　a　few。〃
　　　　〃Fourteen。〃　Malcolm　scribbled　in　his　notebook。
　　　　〃You　want　to　follow　them？〃　Levine　said。
　　　　〃Not　now。〃
　　　　〃We　could　take　the　Explorer。〃
　　　　〃Maybe　later；〃　Malcolm　said。
　　　　〃I　think　we　need　to　know　where　their　nest　is；〃　Levine　said。　〃It's　essential；　Ian；　if　we're　going　to　settle　predator…prey　relationships。　Nothing　is　more　important　than　that。　And　this　is　a　perfect　opportunity　to　follow　…　〃
　　　　〃Maybe　later；〃　Malcolm　said。　He　checked　his　watch　again。
　　　　〃That's　the　hundredth　time　you've　checked　your　watch　today；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　Malcolm　shrugged。　〃Getting　to　be　lunchtime；〃　he　said。　〃By　the　way；　what　about　Sarah？　Shouldn't　she　be　arriving　soon？〃
　　　　〃Yes。　I　imagine　she'll　show　up　any　time　now；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　Malcolm　wiped　his　forehead。　〃It's　hot　up　here。〃
　　　　〃Yes；　it's　hot。〃
　　　　They　listened　to　the　buzzing　of　insects　in　the　midday　sun；　and　watched　the　raptors　retreat。
　　　　〃You　know；　I'm　thinking；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃Maybe　we　ought　to　go　back。〃
　　　　〃Go　back？〃　Levine　said。　〃Now？　What　about　our　observations？　What　about　the　other　cameras　we　want　to　place　and　…　〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know；　maybe　it'd　be　good　to　take　a　break。〃
　　　　Levine　stared　at　him　in　disbelief。　He　said　nothing。
　　　　Thorne　and　the　kids　looked　at　Malcolm　silently。
　　　　〃Well；　it　seems　to　me；〃　Malcolm　said；　〃that　if　Sarah's　ing　all　the　way　from　Africa；　we　should　be　there　to　greet　her。〃　He　shrugged。　〃I　think　it's　simple　politeness。〃
　　　　Thorne　said；　〃I　didn't　realize　that；　uh。。。〃
　　　　〃No；　no；〃　Malcolm　said　quickly。　〃It's　nothing　like　that。　I　just；　uh。。。You　know；　maybe　she's　not　even　ing。〃　He　looked　suddenly　uncertain。　〃Did　she　say　she　was　ing？〃
　　　　〃She　said　she'd　think　about　it。〃
　　　　Malcolm　frowned。　〃Then　she's　ing。　If　Sarah　said　that　she's　corning。　I　know　her。　So。　What　do　you　say；　want　to　go　back？〃
　　　　〃Certainly　not；〃　Levine　said；　peering　through　binoculars。　〃I　wouldn't　dream　of　leaving　here　now。〃
　　　　Malcolm　turned。　〃Doc？　Want　to　go　back？〃
　　　　〃Sure；〃　Thorne　said；　wiping　his　forehead。　〃It's　hot。〃
　　　　〃If　I　know　Sarah；〃　Malcolm　said；　climbing　down　the　scaffolding；　she's　going　to　show　up　on　this　island　just　looking　great。〃

Cave
　　　　
She　struggled　upward；　and　her　head　broke　the　surface；　but　she　saw　only　water　…　great　swells　rising　fifteen　feet　above　her；　on　all　sides。　The　power　of　the　ocean　was　immense。　The　surge　dragged　her　forward；　then　back；　and　she　was　helpless　to　resist。　She　could　not　see　the　boat　anywhere；　only　foaming　sea；　on　all　sides。　She　could　not　see　the　island；　only　water。　Only　water。　She　fought　a　sense　of　overwhelming　panic。
　　　　She　tried　to　kick　against　the　current；　but　her　boots　were　leaden。　She　sank　down　again；　and　struggled　back；　gasping　for　air。　She　had　to　get　her　boots　off；　somehow。　She　gulped　a　breath　and　ducked　her　head　under　the　water；　and　tried　to　unlace　the　boots。　Her　lungs　burned　as　she　fumbled　with　the　knots。　The　ocean　swept　her　back　and　forth；　ceaselessly
　　　　She　got　one　boot　off；　gulped　air；　and　ducked　down　again。　Her　fingers　were　stiff　with　cold　and　fright；　as　she　worked　on　the　other　boot。　It　seemed　to　take　hours。　Finally　her　legs　were　free；　light；　and　she　dogpaddled；　catching　her　breath。　The　surge　lifted　her　high；　dropped　her　again。　She　could　not　see　the　island。　She　felt　panic　again。　She　turned；　and　felt　the　surge　lift　once　more。　And　then　she　saw　the　island
　　　　The　sheer　cliffs　were　close；　frighteningly　close。　The　waves　boomed　as　they　smashed　against　the　rocks。　She　was　no　more　than　fifty　yards　offshore；　being　swept　inexorably　toward　the　crashing　surf　On　the　next　crest；　she　saw　the　cave；　a　hundred　yards　to　her　right。　She　tried　to　swim　toward　it；　but　it　was　hopeless。　She　had　no　power　at　all　to　move　in　this　gigantic　surf。　She　felt　only　the　strength　of　the　sea；　sweeping　her　to　the　Cliffs。
　　　　Panic　made　her　heart　race。　She　knew　she　would　be　instantly　killed。　A　wave　crested　over　her；　she　gulped　sea　water；　and　coughed。　Her　eyes　blurred。　She　felt　nausea　and　deep；　deep　terror。
　　　　She　put　her　head　down　and　began　to　swim；　arm　over　arm；　kicking　as　hard　as　she　could。　She　had　no　sense　of　movement；　only　the　sideways　pull　of　the　surge。　She　dared　not　look　up。　She　kicked　harder。　When　she　raised　her　head　for　another　breath；　she　saw　she　had　moved　a　little　…　not　much；　but　a　little　…　to　the　north。　She　was　a　little　nearer　to　the　cave。
　　　　She　was　encouraged；　but　she　was　terrified。　She　had　so　little　strength！　Her　arms　and　legs　ached　with　her　effort。　Her　lungs　burned。　Her　breath　came　in　short　ragged　heaving　gasps。　She　coughed　again；　grabbed　another　breath；　put　her　head　down　and　kicked　onward。
　　　　Even　with　her　head　in　the　water；　she　heard　the　deep　boom　of　the　surf　against　the　cliffs。　She　kicked　with　all　her　might。　The　currents　and　surge　moved　her　left　and　right；　forward　and　back。　It　was　hopeless。　But　still　she　tried。
　　　　Gradually；　the　ache　in　her　muscles　became　a　steady　drill　pain。　She　felt　she　had　lived　with　this　pain　all　her　life。　She　did　not　notice　it　any　more。　She　kicked　on；　oblivious。
　　　　When　she　felt　the　surge　lift　her　up　again；　she　raised　her　head　for　a　breath。　She　was　startled　to　see　that　the　cave　was　very　close。　A　few　more　strokes　and　she　would　be　swept　inside　it。　She　had　thought　the　current　might　be　less　severe　around　the　cave。　But　it　wasn't；　on　either　side　of　the　opening；　the　waves　crashed　high；　climbing　the　cliff　walls；　and　then　falling　back。　The　boat　was　nowhere　in　sight。
　　　　She　ducked　her　head　down　again；　kicked　forward；　using　the　last　of　her　strength。　She　could　feel　her　entire　body　weakening。　She　could　not　last　much　longer。　She　knew　she　was　being　carried　toward　the　cliffs。　She　heard　the　boom　of　the　surf　louder　now；　and　she　kicked　again；　and　suddenly　a　huge　swell　swept　her　up；　lifting　her；　carrying　her　toward　the　cliffs。　She　was　powerless　to　resist　it。　She　raised　her　head　to　look；　and　saw　darkness；　inky　darkness。
　　　　In　her　exhaustion　and　pain；　she　realized　that　she　was　inside　the　cave。　She　had　been　swept　into　the　cave！　The　booming　sound　was　hollow；　reverberating。　It　was　too　dark　to　see　the　walls　on　either　side。　The　current　was　intense；　sweeping　her　ever　deeper。　She　gasped　for　breath　and　paddled　ineffectually。　Her　body　scraped　against　rock；　she　felt　a　moment　of　searing　pain；　and　then　she　was　swept　farther　into　the　depths　of　the　cave。　But　now　there　was　a　difference。　She　saw　faint　light　on　the　ceiling；　and　the　water　around　her　seemed　to　glow。　The　surge　lessened。　She　found　it　easier　to　keep　her　head　above　water。　She　saw　hot　light　ahead；　brilliantly　hot　…　the　end　of　the　cave。
　　　　And　suddenly；　astonishingly；　she　was　carried　through；　and　burst　into　sunlight　and　open　air。　She　found　herself　in　the　middle　of　a　broad　muddy　river；　surrounded　by　dense　green　foliage。　The　air　was　hot　and　still；　she　heard　the　distant　cries　of　jungle　birds。
　　　　Up　ahead；　around　a　bend　in　the　river；　she　saw　the　stern　of　Dodgson's　boat；　already　tied　up　to　the　shore。　She　could　not　see　any　of　the　people；　and　she　didn't　want　to　see　them。
　　　　Summoning　her　remaining　strength；　she　kicked　toward　shore；　and　clutched　at　a　stand　of　mangroves；　growing　thickly　along　the　water's　edge。　Too　weak　to　hold　on；　she　hooked　her　arm　around　a　root；　and　lay　on　her　back　in　the　gentle　current；　looking　up　at　the　sky；　gasping　for　breath。　She　did　not　know　how　much　time　passed；　but　finally　she　felt　strong　enough　to　haul　herself　arm　over　arm　along　the　mangrove　roots　at　the　water's　edge；　until　she　came　to　a　narrow　break　in　the　foliage；　leading　to　a　patch　of　muddy　shore　beyond。　As　she　dragged　herself　out　of　the　water；　and　up　on　the　slippery　bank；　she　noticed　several　rather　large　animal　footprints　in　the　mud。　They　were　curious；　three…toed　footprints；　with　each　toe　ending　in　a　large　claw。。。
　　　　She　bent　to　examine　them　more　closely；　and　then　she　felt　the　earth　vibrating；　trembling　beneath　her　hands。　A　large　shadow　fell　over　her　and　she　looked　up　in　astonishment　at　the　leathery；　pale　underbelly　of　an　enormous　animal。　She　was　too　weak　to　react；　even　to　raise　her　head。
　　　　The　last　thing　she　saw　was　a　huge　leathery　foot　landing　beside　her；　shushing　in　the　mud；　and　a　soft　snorting　sound。　And　then　suddenly；　abruptly；　exhaustion　overtook　her；　and　Sarah　Harding　collapsed；　and　fell　onto　her　back。　Her　eyes　rolled　up　into　her　head；　and　she　lost　consciousness。

Dodgson
　　　　
A　few　yards　up　from　the　shore　of　the　river；　Lewis　Dodgson　climbed　into　the　custom…made　jeep　Wrangler　and　slammed　the　door　shut。　Beside　him　in　the　passenger　seat；　Howard　King　was　wringing　his　hands。　He　said；　〃How　could　you　have　done　that　to　her？〃
　　　　〃Done　what？〃　George　Baselton　said；　from　the　back　seat。
　　　　Dodgson　did　not　reply。　He　turned　the　key　in　the　ignition。　The　engine　rumbled　to　life。　He　popped　the　four…wheel　drive　into　gear　and　headed　up　the　hill　into　the　jungle；　away　from　the　boat　at　the　shore。
　　　　〃How　could　you？〃　King　said　again；　agitated。　〃I　mean；　Jesus。〃
　　　　〃What　happened　was　an　accident；〃　Dodgson　said。
　　　　〃An　accident？　An　accident？〃
　　　　〃That's　right；　an　accident；〃　Dodgson　said　calmly。　〃She　fell　overboard。〃
　　　　〃I　didn't　see　anything；〃　Baselton　said。
　　　　King　was　shaking　his　head。　〃Jesus；　what　if　somebody　es　to　investigate　and　…　〃
　　　　〃What　if　they　do？〃　Dodgson　said；　interrupting　him。　〃We　were　in　rough　seas；　she　was　standing　at　the　bow；　a　big　wave　hit　us　and　she　was　washed　overboard。　She　couldn't　swim　very　well。　We　circled　and　looked　for　her；　but　there　was　no　hope。　A　very　unfortunate　accident。　So　what　are　you　concerned　about？〃
　　　　〃What　am　I　concerned　about？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　Howard。　Exactly　what　the　fuck　are　you　concerned　about？〃
　　　　〃I　saw　it；　for　Christ's　sake　…　〃
　　　　〃No；　you　didn't；〃　Dodgson　said。
　　　　〃I　didn't　see　anything；〃　Baselton　said。　〃I　was　down　below；　the　whole　time。〃
　　　　〃That's　fine　for　you；〃　Howard　King　said。　〃But　what　if　there's　an　investigation？〃
　　　　The　Jeep　bounced　up　the　dirt　track；　moving　deeper　into　the　jungle。　〃There　won't　be；〃　Dodgson　said。　〃She　left　Africa　in　a　hurry；　and　she　didn't　tell　anybody　where　she　was　going。〃
　　　　〃How　do　you　know？〃　King　whined。
　　　　〃Because　she　told　me；　Howard。　That's　how　I　know。　Now　get　the　map　out　and　stop　moaning。　You　knew　the　deal　when　you　joined　me。〃
　　　　〃I　didn't　know　you　were　going　to　kill　somebody；　for　Christ's　sake。〃
　　　　〃Howard；〃　Dodgson　said；　with　a　sigh。　〃Nothing's　going　to　happen。　Get　the　map　out。〃
　　　　〃How　do　you　know？〃　King　said。
　　　　〃Because　I　know　what　I'm　doing；〃　Dodgson　said。　〃That's　why。　Unlike　Malcolm　and　Thorne；　who　are　somewhere　on　this　island；　screwing　around；　doing　fuck　knows　what　in　this　damned　jungle。〃
　　　　Mention　of　the　others　caused　a　new　worry。　Fretting；　King　said；　〃Maybe　we'll　run　into　them。。。。〃
　　　　〃No；　Howard；　we　won't。　They'll　never　even　know　we're　here。　We're　only　going　to　be　on　this　island　for　four　hours；　remember？　Land　at　one。　Back　on　the　boat　by　five。　Back　at　the　port　by　seven。　Back　in　San　Francisco　by　midnight。　Bang。　Done。　Finito。　And　finally；　after　all　these　years；　I'll　have　what　I　should　have　had　long　ago。〃
　　　　〃Dinosaur　embryos；〃　Baselton　said。
　　　　〃Embryos？〃　King　asked；　surprised。
　　　　〃Oh；　I'm　not　interested　in　embryos　any　more；〃