the.lost.world-第42章

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nextricably　mixed　up　in　the　results　observed。
　　　　But　in　the　twentieth　century；　that　difference　had　vanished。　Scientific　objectivity　was　gone；　even　at　the　most　fundamental　levels。　Physicists　now　knew　you　couldn't　even　measure　a　single　subatomic　particle　without　affecting　it　totally。　If　you　stuck　your　Instruments　in　to　measure　a　particle's　position；　you　changed　its　velocity。　If　you　measured　its　velocity；　you　changed　its　position。　That　basic　truth　became　the　Heisenberg　uncertainty　principle：　that　whatever　you　studied　you　also　changed。　In　the　end；　it　became　clear　that　all　scientists　were　participants　in　a　participatory　universe　which　did　not　allow　anyone　to　be　a　mere　observer。
　　　　〃I　know　objectivity　is　impossible；〃　Malcolm　said　impatiently。　〃I'm　not　concerned　about　that。〃
　　　　〃Then　what　are　you　concerned　about？〃
　　　　〃I'm　concerned　about　the　Gambler's　Ruin；〃　Malcolm　said；　staring　at　the　monitor。

Gambler's　Ruin　was　a　notorious　and　much…debated　statistical　phenomenon　that　had　major　consequences　both　for　evolution；　and　for　everyday　life。　〃Let's　say　you're　a　gambler；〃　he　said。　〃And　you're　playing　a　coin…toss　game。　Every　time　the　coin　es　up　heads；　you　win　a　dollar。　Every　time　it　es　up　tails；　you　lose　a　dollar。〃
　　　　〃Okay。〃
　　　　〃What　happens　over　time？〃
　　　　Harding　shrugged。　〃The　chances　of　getting　either　heads　or　tails　is　even。　So　maybe　you　win；　maybe　you　lose。　But　in　the　end；　you'll　e　out　at　zero。〃
　　　　〃Unfortunately；　you　don't；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃If　you　gamble　long　enough；　you'll　always　lose　…　the　gambler　is　always　ruined。　That's　why　casinos　stay　in　business。　But　the　question　is；　what　happens　over　time？　What　happens　in　the　period　before　the　gambler　is　finally　ruined？〃
　　　　〃Okay；〃　she　said。　〃What　happens？〃
　　　　〃If　you　chart　the　gambler's　fortunes　over　time；　what　you　find　is　the　gambler　wins　for　a　period；　or　loses　for　a　period。　In　other　words；　everything　in　the　world　goes　in　streaks。　It's　a　real　phenomenon；　and　you　see　it　everywhere：　in　weather；　in　river　flooding；　in　baseball；　in　heart　rhythms；　in　stock　markets。　Once　things　go　bad；　they　tend　to　stay　bad。　Like　the　old　folk　saying　that　bad　things　e　in　threes。　plexity　theory　tells　us　the　folk　wisdom　is　right。　Bad　things　cluster。　Things　go　to　hell　together。　That's　the　real　world。〃
　　　　〃So　what　are　you　saying？　That　things　are　going　to　hell　now？〃
　　　　〃They　could　be；　thanks　to　Dodgson；〃　Malcolm　said；　frowning　at　the　monitor。　〃What　happened　to　those　bastards；　anyway？〃

King

There　was　a　buzzing；　like　the　sound　of　a　distant　bee。　Howard　King　was　dimly　aware　of　it；　as　he　came　slowly　back　to　consciousness。　He　opened　his　eyes；　and　saw　the　windshield　of　a　car；　and　the　branches　of　trees　beyond。
　　　　The　buzzing　was　louder。
　　　　King　didn't　know　where　he　was。　He　couldn't　remember　how　he　got　here；　what　had　happened。　He　felt　pain　in　his　shoulders；　and　at　his　hips。　His　forehead　throbbed。　He　tried　to　remember　but　the　pain　distracted　him；　prevented　him　from　thinking　clearly。　The　last　thing　he　remembered　was　the　tyrannosaur　in　front　of　him　on　the　road。　That　was　the　last　thing。　Then　Dodgson　had　looked　back　and　…
　　　　King　turned　his　head；　and　cried　out　as　sudden；　sharp　pain　ran　up　his　neck　to　his　skull。　The　pain　made　him　gasp；　took　his　breath　away。　He　closed　his　eyes；　wincing。　Then　he　slowly　opened　them　again。
　　　　Dodgson　was　not　in　the　car。　The　driver's　door　hung　wide　open；　a　dappled　shadow　across　the　door　panel。　The　keys　were　still　in　the　ignition。
　　　　Dodgson　was　gone。
　　　　There　was　a　streak　of　blood　across　the　top　of　the　steering　wheel。　The　black　box　was　on　the　floor　by　the　gearshift。　The　open　driver's　door　creaked　a　little；　moved　a　little。
　　　　In　the　distance；　King　heard　the　buzzing　again；　like　a　giant　bee。　It　was　a　mechanical　sound；　he　now　realized。　Something　mechanical。
　　　　It　made　him　think　of　the　boat。　How　long　would　the　boat　wait　at　the　river？　What　time　was　it；　anyway？　He　looked　at　his　watch。　The　crystal　was　smashed；　the　hands　fixed　at　1：54。
　　　　He　heard　the　buzzing　again。　It　was　ing　closer。
　　　　With　an　effort；　King　pushed　himself　away　from　the　seat；　toward　the　dashboard。　Streaks　of　electric　pain　shot　up　his　spine；　but　quickly　subsided。　He　took　a　deep　breath。
　　　　I'm　all　right；　he　thought。　At　least；　I'm　still　here。
　　　　King　looked　at　the　open　driver's　door；　in　the　sunlight。　The　sun　was　still　high。　It　must　still　be　sometime　in　the　afternoon。　When　was　the　boat　leaving？　Four　o'clock？　Five　o'clock？　He　couldn't　remember　any　more。　But　he　was　certain　that　those　Spanish　fishermen　wouldn't　hang　around　once　it　started　to　get　dark。　They'd　leave　the　island。
　　　　And　Howard　King　wanted　to　be　on　the　boat　when　they　did。　It　was　the　only　thing　he　wanted　in　the　world。　Wincing；　he　raised　himself　up；　and　painfully　slid　over　to　the　driver's　seat。　He　settled　himself　in；　took　a　deep　breath；　and　then　leaned　over；　and　looked　out　the　open　door。
　　　　The　car　was　hanging　over　empty　space；　supported　by　trees。　He　saw　a　steep　jungle　hillside；　falling　away　beneath　him。　It　was　dark　beneath　the　canopy　of　trees。　He　felt　dizzy；　just　looking　down。　The　ground　must　be　twenty　or　thirty　feet　below　him。　He　saw　scattered　green　ferns；　and　a　few　dark　boulders。　He　twisted　his　body　to　look　more。
　　　　And　then　he　saw　him。
　　　　Dodgson　lay　on　his　back；　head　downward；　on　the　slope　of　the　hill。　His　body　was　crumpled；　arms　and　legs　thrown　out　in　awkward　positions。　He　was　not　moving。　King　couldn't　see　him　very　well；　in　the　dense　foliage　on　the　hillside；　but　Dodgson　looked　dead。
　　　　The　buzzing　was　suddenly　very　loud；　building　rapidly；　and　King　looked　forward　and　saw；　through　the　foliage　that　blocked　the　windshield；　a　car　driving　by；　not　ten　yards　away。　A　car！
　　　　And　then　the　car　was　gone。　From　the　sound　of　it；　he　thought；　it　was　an　electric　car。　So　it　must　be　Malcolm。
　　　　Howard　King　was　somehow　encouraged　by　the　thought　that　other　people　were　on　this　island。　He　felt　new　strength；　despite　the　pain　in　his　body。　He　reached　forward；　and　turned　the　key　in　the　ignition。　The　engine　rumbled。
　　　　He　put　the　car　in　gear；　and　gently　stepped　on　the　accelerator。
　　　　The　rear　wheels　spun。　He　engaged　the　front…wheel　drive。　At　once；　the　Jeep　rumbled　forward；　lurching　through　the　branches。　A　moment　later；　he　was　out　on　the　road。
　　　　He　remembered　this　road　now。　To　the　right；　it　led　down　to　the　tyrannosaurus　nest。　Malcolm's　car　had　gone　to　the　left。
　　　　
　　　　King　turned　left；　and　headed　up　the　road。　He　was　trying　to　remember　how　to　get　back　to　the　river；　back　to　the　boat。　He　vaguely　recalled　that　there　was　a　Y…fork　in　the　road　at　the　top　of　the　hill。　He　would　take　that　fork；　he　decided；　drive　down　the　hill；　and　get　the　hell　off　this　island。
　　　　That　was　his　only　goal。
　　　　To　get　off　this　island；　before　it　was　too　late。

Bad　News

The　Explorer　came　to　the　top　of　the　hill；　and　Thorne　drove　onto　the　ridge　road。　The　road　curved　back　and　forth；　cut　into　the　rock　face　of　the　cliff。　In　many　places；　the　dropoff　was　precipitous；　but　they　had　views　over　the　entire　island。　Eventually　they　came　to　a　place　where　they　could　look　over　the　valley。　They　could　see　the　high　hide　off　to　the　left；　and　closer　by；　the　clearing　with　the　two　trailers。　Off　to　the　right　was　the　laboratory　plex；　and　the　worker　plex　beyond。
　　　　〃I　don't　see　Dodgson　anywhere；〃　Malcolm　said　unhappily。　〃Where　could　he　have　gone？〃
　　　　Thorne　pushed　the　radio　button。　〃Arby？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　Doc。〃
　　　　〃Do　you　see　them？〃
　　　　〃No；　but。。。〃　He　hesitated。
　　　　〃What？〃
　　　　〃Don't　you　want　to　e　back　here　now？　It's　pretty　amazing。〃
　　　　〃What　is？〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃Eddie；〃　Arby　said。　〃He　just　got　back。　And　he　brought　the　baby　with
　　　　him。〃
　　　　Malcolm　leaned　forward。　〃He　did　what？〃

FIFTH　CONFIGURATION

〃At　the　edge　of　chaos；　unexpected　outes　occur。　The　risk　to　survival　is　severe。〃

IAN　MALCOLM

Baby

In　the　trailer；　they　were　clustered　around　the　table　where　the　baby　Tyrannosaurus　rex　now　lay　unconscious　on　a　stainless…steel　pan；　his　large　eyes　closed；　his　snout　pushed　into　the　clear　plastic　oval　of　an　oxygen　mask。　The　mask　almost　fitted　the　baby's　blunt　snout。　The　oxygen　hissed　softly。
　　　　〃I　couldn't　just　leave　him；〃　Eddie　said。　〃And　I　figured　we　can　fix　his　leg。。。〃
　　　　〃But　Eddie；〃　Malcolm　said；　shaking　his　head。
　　　　〃So　I　shot　him　full　of　morphine　from　the　first…aid　kit；　and　brought　him　back。　You　see？　The　oxygen　mask　almost　fits　him。〃
　　　　〃Eddie；〃　Malcolm　said；　〃this　was　the　wrong　thing　to　do。〃
　　　　〃Why？　He's　okay。　We　just　fix　him　and　take　him　back。〃
　　　　〃But　you're　interfering　with　the　system；〃　Malcolm　said。
　　　　The　radio　clicked。　〃This　is　extremely　unwise；〃　Levine　said；　over　the　radio。　〃Extremely。〃
　　　　〃Thank　you；　Richard；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃I　am　entirely　opposed　to　bringing　any　animal　back　to　the　trailer。〃
　　　　〃Too　late　to　worry　about　that　now；〃　Sarah　Harding　said。　She　had　moved　forward　alongside　the　baby；　and　began　strapping　cardiac　leads　to　the　animal's　chest；　they　heard　the　thump　of　the　heartbeat。　It　was　very　fast；　over　a　hundred　and　fifty　beats　a　minute。　〃How　much　morphine　did　you　give　him？〃
　　　　〃Gee；〃　Eddie　said。　〃I　just。。。you　know。　The　whole　syringe。〃
　　　　〃What　is　that？　Ten　cc's？〃
　　　　〃I　think。　Maybe　twenty。〃
　　　　Malcolm　looked　at　Harding。　〃How　long　before　it　wears　off？〃
　　　　〃I　have　no　idea；〃　she　said。　〃I've　sedated　lions　and　jackals　in　the　field；　when　I　tagged　them。　With　those　animals；　there's　a　rough　correlation　between　dose　and　body　weight。　But　with　young　animals；　it's　unpredictable。　Maybe　a　few　minutes；　maybe　a　few　hours。　And　I　don't　know　a　thing　about　baby　tyrannosaurs。　Basically；　it's　a　function　of　metabolism；　and　this　one　seems　to　be　rapid；　bird…like。　The　heart's　pumping　very　fast。　All　I　can　say　is；　let's　get　him　out　of　here　as　quickly　as　possible。〃
　　　　Harding　picked　up　the　small　ultrasound　transducer　and　held　it　to　the　baby's　leg。　She　looked　over　her　shoulder　at　the　monitor。　Kelly　and　Arby　were　blocking　the　view。　〃Please；　give　us　a　little　room　here；〃　she　said；　and　they　moved　away。　〃We　don't　have　much　time。　Please。〃
　　　　As　they　moved　away；　Sarah　saw　the　green…and…white　outlines　of　the　leg　and　its　bones。　Surprisingly　like　a　large　bird；　she　thought。　A　vulture　or　a　stork。　She　moved　the　transducer。　〃Okay。。。there's　the　metatarsals。。。and　there's　the　tibia　and　fibula；　the　two　bones　of　the　lower　leg。。。。〃
　　　　Arby　said；　〃Why　are　the　bones　different　shades　like　that？〃　The　legs　had　some　dense　white　sections　within　paler…green　outlines。
　　　　〃Because　it's　an　infant；〃　Harding　said。　〃His　legs　are　still　mostly　cartilage；　with　very　little　calcified　bone。　I'd　guess　this　baby　probably　can't　walk　yet　…　at　least；　not　very　well。　There。　Look　at　the　patella。。。。You　can　see　the　blood　supply　to　the　joint　capsule。。。。〃
　　　　〃How　e　you　know　all　this　anatomy？〃　Kelly　said。
　　　　〃I　have　to。　I　spend　a　lot　of　time　looking　through　the　seat　of　predators；　she　said。　〃Examining　pieces　of　bones　that　are　left　behind；　and　figuring　out　which　animals　have　been　eaten。　To　do　that；　you　have　to　know　parative　anatomy　very　well。〃　She　moved　the　transducer　along　the　baby's　leg。　〃And　my　father　was　a　vet。〃
　　　　Malcolm　looked　up　sharply。　〃Your　father　was　a　vet？〃
　　　　〃Yes。　At　the　San　Diego　Zoo。　He　was　a　bird　specialist。　But　I　don't　see。。。Can　you　magnify　this？〃
　　　　Arby　flicked　a　switch。　The　image　doubled　in　size。
　　　　〃Ah。　Okay。　All　right。　There　it　is。　You　see　it？〃
　　　　〃No。〃
　　　　〃It's　mid…fibula。　See　i