the.lost.world-第37章

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s　Injury　seldom　occurred。　There　were　exceptions；　of　course。　When　male　hippos　fought　to　take　over　a　harem；　they　often　severely　wounded　other　males。　But　in　any　case；　nothing　matched　what　she　saw　now。
　　　　As　she　watched；　the　wounded　animal　at　the　edge　of　the　kill　slunk　forward　and　bit　another　adult；　which　snarled　and　leapt　at　it；　slashing　with　its　long　toe…claw。　In　a　flash；　the　injured　predator　was　eviscerated；　coils　of　pale　intestine　slipping　out　through　a　wide　gash。　The　animal　fell　howling　to　the　ground；　and　immediately　three　adults　turned　away　from　the　kill　and　jumped　onto　its　newly　fallen　body；　and　began　to　tear　the　animal's　flesh　with　rapacious　intensity。
　　　　Harding　closed　her　eyes；　and　turned　away。　This　was　a　different　world；　and　one　she　did　not　understand　at　all。　In　a　daze；　she　headed　back　down　the　bill；　moving　quietly；　carefully　away　from　the　kill。

Noise

The　Ford　Explorer　glided　quietly　forward　along　the　jungle　path。　They　were　following　a　game　trail　on　the　ridge　above　the　valley；　heading　down　toward　the　high　hide；　in　the　valley　below。
　　　　Thorne　drove。　He　said　to　Malcolm；　〃You　were　saying　earlier　that　you　knew　why　the　dinosaurs　became　extinct。。。。〃
　　　　〃Well；　I'm　pretty　sure　I　do；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃The　basic　situation　is　simple　enough。〃　He　shifted　in　his　seat。　〃Dinosaurs　arose　in　the　Triassic；　about　two　hundred　million　years　ago。　They　proliferated　throughout　the　Jurassic　and　the　Cretaceous　periods　that　followed。　They　were　the　dominant　life　form　on　this　planet　for　about　a　hundred　and　fifty　million　years　…　which　is　a　very　long　time。〃
　　　　〃Considering　we've　been　here　for　only　three　million；〃　Eddie　said。
　　　　〃Let's　not　put　on　airs；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃Some　puny　apes　have　been　here　for　three　miIlion　years。　We　haven't。　Recognizable　human　beings　have　only　been　on　this　planet　for　thirty…five　thousand　years；〃　he　said。　〃That's　how　long　it's　been　since　our　ancestors　painted　caves　in　France　and　Spain；　drawing　pictures　of　game　to　invoke　success　in　the　hunt。　Thirty…five　thousand　years。　In　the　history　of　the　earth；　that's　nothing　at　all。　We've　just　arrived。〃
　　　　〃Okay。。。〃
　　　　〃And　of　course　even　thirty…five　thousand　years　ago；　we　were　already　making　species　extinct。　Cavemen　killed　so　much　game　that　animals　became　extinct　on　several　continents。　There　used　to　be　lions　and　tigers　in　Europe。　There　used　to　be　giraffes　and　rhinos　in　Los　Angeles。　Hell；　ten　thousand　years　ago；　the　ancestors　of　Native　Americans　hunted　the　woolly　mammoth　to　extinction。　This　is　nothing　new；　this　human　tendency　…　〃
　　　　〃Ian。'
　　　　〃Well；　it's　a　fact；　although　your　modern　airheads　think　it's　all　so　brand…new　…　〃
　　　　〃Ian。　You　were　talking　about　dinosaurs。〃
　　　　〃Right。　Dinosaurs。　Anyway；　during　a　hundred　and　fifty　million　years　on　this　planet；　dinosaurs　were　so　successful　that　by　the　Cretaceous　there　were　twenty…one　major　groups　of　them。　A　few　groups；　like　the　camarasaurs　and　fabrosaurs；　had　died　out。　But　the　overwhelming　majority　of　dinosaur　groups　were　still　active　throughout　the　Cretaceous。　And　then；　suddenly；　about　sixty…five　million　years　ago；　every　single　group　became　extinct。　And　only　the　birds　remained。　So。　The　question　is　…　What　was　that？〃
　　　　〃I　thought　you　knew；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃No。　I　mean；　what　was　that　sound？　Did　you　hear　something？〃　〃No；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃Stop　the　car；〃　Malcolm　said。
　　　　Thorne　stopped　the　car；　and　clicked　off　the　engine。　They　rolled　down　the　windows　and　felt　the　still；　midday　heat。　There　was　almost　no　breeze。　They　listened　for　a　while。
　　　　Thorne　shrugged。　〃I　don't　hear　anything。　What　did　you　think　you　…　〃
　　　　〃Sssh；〃　Malcolm　said。　He　cupped　his　hand　to　his　ear　and　put　his　head　out　the　window；　listening　intently。　After　a　moment；　he　came　back　in。　〃I　could　have　sworn　I　heard　an　engine。〃
　　　　〃An　engine？　You　mean　an　internal…bustion　engine？〃
　　　　〃Right。〃　He　pointed　to　the　east。　〃It　sounded　like　it　was　ing　from　over　there。〃
　　　　They　listened　again；　and　heard　nothing。
　　　　Thorne　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't　imagine　a　gas　engine　here；　Ian。　There's　no　gas　to　run　one。〃
　　　　The　radio　clicked。　〃Dr。　Malcolm？〃　It　was　Arby；　in　the　trailer。
　　　　〃　Yes；　Arby。〃
　　　　〃Who　else　is　here？　On　the　island？〃
　　　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　　　　〃Turn　on　your　monitor。〃
　　　　Thorne　flicked　on　the　dashboard　monitor。　They　saw　a　view　from　one　of　the　security　cameras。　The　view　looked　down　into　the　narrow；　steep　east　valley。　They　saw　the　slope　of　a　hillside；　dark　beneath　the　trees。　A　tree　branch　blocked　much　of　the　frame。　But　the　view　was　still；　silent。　There　was　no　sign　of　activity。
　　　　〃What　did　you　see；　Arby？〃
　　　　〃Just　watch。〃
　　　　Through　the　leaves；　Thorne　saw　a　flash　of　khaki；　then　another。　He　realized　it　was　a　person；　half…walking；　half…sliding；　down　the　steep　jungle　slope　toward　the　floor　below。　Small　pact　frame；　short　dark　hair。
　　　　〃I'll　be　damned；〃　Malcolm　said；　smiling。
　　　　〃You　know　who　that　is？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　of　course。　It's　Sarah。〃

〃Well；　we　better　go　get　her。〃　Thorne　reached　for　the　radio；　pressed　the　button。　〃Richard；〃　he　said。
　　　　There　was　no　answer。
　　　　〃Richard？　Are　you　reading？〃
　　　　There　was　no　answer。
　　　　Malcolm　sighed。　〃Great。　He's　not　answering。　Probably　decided　to　go　for　a　walk。　Pursuing　his　research。。。〃
　　　　〃That's　what　I'm　afraid　of；〃　Thorne　said。　〃Eddie；　unhook　the　motorcycle　and　go　see　what　Levine's　doing　now。　Take　a　Lindstradt　with　you。　We'll　go　pick　up　Sarah。〃

Trail
　　　　
Levine　followed　the　game　trail；　moving　deeper　into　the　darkness　of　the　jungle。　The　parasaurs　were　somewhere　up　ahead；　making　a　lot　of　noise　as　they　crashed　through　the　ferns　and　palms　on　the　jungle　floor。　At　least　now　he　understood　why　they　had　formed　into　a　single　file：　there　was　no　other　practical　way　to　move　through　the　dense　growth　of　the　rain　forest。
　　　　Their　vocalizations　had　never　stopped；　but　Levine　noticed　they　were　taking　on　a　different　character　…　more　high…pitched；　more　excited。　He　hurried　forward；　pushing　past　wet　palm　fronds　taller　than　he　was；　following　the　beaten　trail。　As　he　listened　to　the　cries　of　the　animals　ahead；　he　also　began　to　notice　a　distinctive　odor；　pungent　and　sweet…sour。　He　had　the　feeling　the　odor　was　growing　stronger。
　　　　But　up　ahead；　something　was　happening；　there　was　no　doubt　about　it。　The　parasaur　vocalizations　were　now　clipped；　almost　barking　sounds。　He　sensed　in　them　an　agitated　quality。　But　what　could　agitate　an　animal　twelve　feet　high　and　thirty　feet　long？
　　　　His　curiosity　overwhelmed　him。　Levine　began　to　run　through　the　jungle；　shoving　aside　palms；　leaping　over　fallen　trees。　In　the　foliage　ahead；　he　heard　a　hissing　sound；　a　sort　of　spattering；　and　then　one　of　the　parasaurs　gave　a　long；　low　trumpeting　cry。

Eddie　Carr　drove　the　motorcycle　up　to　the　high　hide；　and　stopped。　Levine　was　gone。　He　looked　at　the　ground　around　the　hide；　and　saw　many　deep　animal　footprints　in　the　ground。　The　prints　were　large；　about　two　feet　in　diameter；　and　they　seemed　to　be　going　off　into　the　jungle　behind　the　hide。
　　　　He　scanned　the　ground；　and　saw　fresh　bootmarks　as　well。　They　had　an　Asolo　tread；　he　recognized　them　as　Levine's。　In　some　places　the　bootmarks　disrupted　the　edge　of　the　animal　footprints；　which　meant　that　they　had　been　made　afterward。　The　bootmarks　also　led　into　the　forest。
　　　　Eddie　Carr　swore。　The　last　thing　he　wanted　to　do　was　to　go　into　that　jungle。　The　very　idea　gave　him　the　creeps。　But　what　choice　was　there？
　　　　He　had　to　get　Levine　back。　That　guy；　he　thought；　was　getting　to　be　a　real　problem。　Eddie　unshouldered　the　rifle；　and　set　it　laterally　across　the　handlebars　of　the　motorcycle。　Then　he　twisted　the　grips；　and　silently；　the　bike　moved　forward；　into　darkness。

Heart　pounding　with　excitement；　Levine　pushed　past　the　last　of　the　big　palms。　He　stopped　abruptly。　Directly　ahead　of　him；　the　tall　of　a　parasaur　swung　back　and　forth　above　his　head。　The　animal's　hindquarters　were　turned　toward　him。　And　a　thick　stream　of　urine　gushed　from　the　poste…rior　pubis；　spattering　on　the　ground　below。　Levine　jumped　back；　avoiding　the　stream。　Beyond　the　nearest　animal；　he　saw　a　clearing　in　the　jungle；　trampled　flat　by　countless　animal　feet。　The　parasaurs　had　located　themselves　at　various　positions　within　this　clearing；　and　they　were　all　urinating　together。
　　　　So　they　were　latrine　animals；　he　thought。　That　was　fascinating；　and　totally　unexpected。
　　　　Many　contemporary　animals；　including　rhinos　and　deer；　preferred　to　relieve　themselves　at　particular　spots。　And　many　times；　the　behavior　of　herds　was　coordinated。　Latrine　behavior　was　generally　considered　to　be　a　method　of　marking　territory。　But　whatever　the　reason；　no　one　had　ever　suspected　that　dinosaurs　acted　in　this　way。
　　　　As　Levine　watched；　the　parasaurs　finished　urinating；　and　each　moved　a　few　feet　to　the　side。　Then　they　defecated；　again　in　unison。　Each　parasaur　produced　a　large　mound　of　straw…colored　spoor。　This　was　acpanied　by　low　trumpeting　from　each　animal　in　the　herd　…　along　with　an　enormous　quantity　of　expelled　flatus；　redolent　of　methane。
　　　　Behind　him；　a　voice　whispered；　〃Very　nice。〃
　　　　He　turned；　and　saw　Eddie　Carr　sitting　on　the　motorcycle。　He　was　waving　his　hand　in　front　of　his　face。　〃Dino　farts；〃　he　said。　〃Better　not　light　a　match　around　here；　you'll　blow　the　place　up。。。。〃
　　　　〃Ssssh；〃　Levine　hissed　angrily；　shaking　his　head。　He　turned　back　to　the　parasaurs。　This　was　no　time　to　be　interrupted　by　a　vulgar　young　fool。　Several　of　the　animals　bent　their　heads　down；　and　began　to　lick　the　puddles　of　urine。　No　doubt　they　wanted　to　recover　lost　nutrients；　he　thought。　Perhaps　salt。　Or　perhaps　hormones。　Or　perhaps　it　was　something　seasonal。　Or　perhaps　…
　　　　Levine　edged　forward。
　　　　They　knew　so　little　about　these　creatures。　They　didn't　even　know　the　most　basic　facts　about　their　lives　…　how　they　ate；　how　they　eliminated；　how　they　slept　and　bred。　A　whole　world　of　intricate；　interlocking　behaviors　had　evolved　in　these　long…vanished　animals。　Understanding　them　now　could　be　the　work　of　a　lifetime　for　dozens　of　scientists。　But　that　would　probably　never　happen。　All　he　could　hope　to　do　was　make　a　few　conjectures；　a　few　simple　deductions　that　skimmed　the　surface　of　the　plexity　of　their　lives。
　　　　The　parasaurs　trumpeted；　and　headed　deeper　into　the　forest。　Levine　moved　forward　to　follow　them。
　　　　〃Dr。　Levine；〃　Eddie　said　quietly。　〃Get　on　the　bike。　Now。〃
　　　　Levine　ignored　him；　but　as　the　big　animals　departed；　he　saw　dozens　of　tiny　green　dinosaurs　leap　chattering　out　into　the　clearing。　He　realized　at　once　what　they　were：　Propsognathus　triassicus。　Small　scavenger；　found　by　Fraas　in　1913；　in　Bavaria。　Levine　stared；　fascinated。　Of　course　he　knew　the　animal　well；　but　only　from　reconstructions；　because　there　were　no　plete　skeletons　of　Propsognathus　anywhere　in　the　world。　Ostrom　had　done　the　most　plete　studies；　but　he　had　to　work　with　a　skeleton　that　was　badly　crushed；　and　fragmentary。　The　tall；　neck；　and　arms　were　all　missing　from　the　animals　Ostrom　described。　Yet　here　the　propsognathids　were；　fully　formed　and　active；　hopping　around　I　Ike　so　many　chickens。　As　he　watched；　the　pys　began　to　eat　the　fresh　dung；　and　drink　what　was　left　of　the　urine。　Levine　frowned。　Was　that　part　of　ordinary　scavenger　behavior？
　　　　Levine　wasn't　sure。。。。
　　　　He　edged　forward；　to　look　at　them　more　closely。
　　　　〃Dr。　Levine！〃　Eddie　whispered。
　　　　It　was　interesting　that　the　pys　only　ate　fresh　dung