the.lost.world-第44章

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k　is　downwind；　so　the　trikes　can't　smell　them。〃　He　raised　the　binoculars　to　his　eyes　again。　〃I　think；〃　he　said；　〃that　we're　about　to　see　a　kill。〃
　　　　They　watched　as　the　raptors　closed　in　around　the　herd。　And　then　suddenly；　lightning　cracked　on　the　island　rim；　brilliantly　lighting　the　valley　floor。　One　of　the　stalking　raptors　stood　up　in　surprise。　Its　head　was　briefly　visible　above　the　grass。
　　　　Immediately；　the　triceratops　herd　wheeled　again；　regrouping　to　face　the　new　menace。　All　the　raptors　stopped；　as　if　to　reconsider　their　plan。
　　　　〃What　happened？〃　Arby　said。　〃Why　are　they　stopping？〃
　　　　〃They're　in　trouble。〃
　　　　〃Why？〃
　　　　〃Look　at　them。　The　main　pack　is　still　across　the　river。　They're　too　far　away　to　mount　an　attack。〃
　　　　〃You　mean　they're　giving　up？　Already？〃
　　　　〃Looks　like　it；〃　Levine　said。
　　　　One　by　one；　the　raptors　in　the　grass　raised　their　heads；　making　their　positions　known；　As　each　new　predator　appeared；　the　triceratops　barked　loudly。　The　raptors　seemed　to　know　the　situation　was　hopeless。　They　slunk　away；　moving　back　toward　the　trees。　Seeing　them　retreat；　the　triceratops　barked　even　louder。
　　　　And　then　the　single　raptor　by　the　water's　edge　charged。　It　moved　incredibly　fast　…　astonishingly　fast　…　streaking　like　a　cheetah　across　the　fifty　yards　that　separated　it　from　the　herd。　The　adult　triceratops　had　no　time　to　re…form。　The　baby　was　exposed。　It　squealed　in　fright　as　it　saw　the　approaching　animal。
　　　　The　velociraptor　leapt　into　the　air；　raising　both　its　hind　legs。　Lightning　cracked　again；　and　in　the　brilliant　light　they　saw　the　twin　curved　claws　high　in　the　air。　At　the　last　moment；　the　nearest　adult　turned；　swiveling　its　big　horned　head　with　the　wide　bony　crest；　and　it　knocked　the　raptor　a　glancing　blow；　sending　the　animal　sprawling　on　the　muddy　bank。　Immediately　the　adult　triceratops　charged　forward；　its　head　high。　When　it　reached　the　raptor　it　stopped　abruptly　and　swung　its　big　head　down；　lowering　its　horns　toward　the　fallen　animal。　But　the　raptor　was　quick；　hissing；　it　leapt　to　its　feet；　and　the　triceratotops　horns　slashed　harmlessly　into　the　mud。　The　raptor　spun　sideways；　and　kicked　the　adult　on　the　snout；　drawing　blood　with　its　big　curved　claw。　The　adult　bellowed；　but　by　then　two　other　adults　were　charging　forward；　while　the　others　remained　behind　with　the　baby。　The　raptor　scrambled　away；　back　into　the　grass。
　　　　〃Wow；〃　Arby　said。　〃That　was　something！〃

The　Herd

King　gave　a　long　sigh　of　relief　as　he　came　to　the　Y…fork　in　the　road；　and　drove　the　red　Jeep　left；　ing　onto　a　wide　dirt　road。　He　recognized　it　at　once：　this　was　the　ridge　road　that　led　back　to　the　boat。　As　he　looked　off　to　his　left；　he　could　see　down　across　the　east　valley。　The　boat　was　still　there！　All　right！　He　gave　a　shout　and　accelerated　sharply；　relief　flooding　through　him。　On　the　deck；　he　could　see　the　Spanish　fishermen；　staring　up　at　the　sky。　Despite　the　threatening　storm；　they　didn't　seem　to　be　preparing　to　leave。　Probably　they　were　waiting　for　Dodgson。
　　　　Well；　he　thought；　that　was　fine。　King　would　be　there　in　a　few　minutes。　After　working　his　wav　through　dense　jungle；　he　could　finally　see　exactly　where　he　was。　The　ridge　road　was　high；　following　the　crest　of　one　of　the　volcanic　spines。　There　was　almost　no　foliage　up　here；　and　as　the　road　twisted　and　turned；　he　had　views　across　the　entire　island。　To　the　east；　he　could　look　down　into　the　ravine；　and　the　boat　at　the　shore。　To　the　west；　he　could　look　straight　across　at　the　laboratory；　and　Malcolm's　twin　trailers　parked　near　the　far　edge　of　the　clearing。
　　　　They　never　did　find　out　what　the　hell　Malcolm　was　doing　here；　he　thought。　Not　that　it　mattered　now。　King　was　getting　off　the　island。　That　was　the　only　thing　that　mattered。　He　could　almost　feel　the　deck　beneath　his　feet。　Maybe　one　of　the　fishermen　would　even　have　a　beer。　A　nice　cold　beer；　while　they　chugged　down　the　river；　and　pulled　out　of　this　damned　island。　He'd　toast　Dodgson；　is　what　he'd　do。
　　　　Maybe；　he　thought；　I'll　have　two　beers。

King　came　around　a　curve；　and　saw　a　herd　of　animals　standing　thickly　in　the　road。　They　were　some　kind　of　green　dinosaurs；　about　four　feet　tall；　with　big　domed　heads　and　a　bunch　of　little　horns。　They　reminded　him　of　green　water　buffalo。　But　there　were　a　lot　of　them。　He　braked　sharply；　the　car　swerved　to　a　stop。
　　　　The　green　dinosaurs　looked　at　his　car；　but　they　did　not　move。　The　herd　just　stood　there　in　a　lazy；　contented　way。　King　waited；　drumming　his　fingers　on　the　steering　wheel。　When　nothing　happened；　he　honked　the　horn；　and　flashed　his　headlights。
　　　　The　animals　just　stared。
　　　　They　were　funny…looking　creatures；　with　that　smooth　bulging　curve　on　the　forehead　and　all　those　little　horns　around　it。　They　just　stared　at　him；　with　a　stupid　cow…like　look。　He　slipped　the　car　into　gear　and　edged　it　forward　slowly；　expecting　that　he　could　push　his　way　through　the　animals。　They　didn't　move　aside。　Finally　his　front　bumper　nudged　the　nearest　animal；　which　grunted；　took　a　couple　of　steps　back；　lowered　its　head；　and　butted　the　front　of　the　car；　hard；　with　a　metallic　clang！
　　　　Christ；　he　thought。　It　could　puncture　the　radiator；　if　he　wasn't　careful。　He　stopped　the　car　again　and　waited；　the　motor　idling。　The　animals　settled　down　again。
　　　　Several　of　them　lay　down　on　the　road。　He　couldn't　drive　over　them。　He　looked　ahead　toward　the　river　and　saw　the　boat；　not　more　than　a　quarter　of　a　mile　away。　He　hadn't　realized　it　was　so　near。　As　he　watched；　he　realized　that　the　fishermen　were　very　busy　on　the　deck。　They　were　swinging　the　crane　back；　lashing　it　down。　They　were　getting　ready　to　leave！
　　　　The　hell　with　waiting；　he　thought。　He　opened　the　door；　and　climbed　out；　leaving　the　car　in　the　center　of　the　road。　Immediately；　the　animals　jumped　to　their　feet；　and　the　nearest　one　charged　him。　He　had　the　door　open；　the　animal　smashed　into　it；　slamming　it　shut；　leaving　a　deep　dent　in　the　metal。　King　scrambled　toward　the　edge　of　the　hill；　only　to　find　he　was　at　the　top　of　a　steep　vertical　descent　of　more　than　a　hundred　feet。　He'd　never　make　it　down；　at　least　not　here。　Farther　along；　the　slope　was　not　so　steep。　But　now　more　animals　were　charging　him。　He　had　no　choice。　He　ran　around　the　back　of　the　car；　just　as　another　animal　smashed　into　the　rear　taillight；　shattering　the　plastic。
　　　　A　third　animal　charged　the　back　of　the　car　directly。　King　scrambled　up　onto　the　spare　tire；　as　the　animal　slammed　into　the　bumper。　The　jolt　knocked　him　off；　and　he　fell　to　the　ground；　rolling；　while　the　buffaloes　snorted　all　around　him。　He　got　to　his　feet　and　ran　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　Toad；　where　there　was　a　slight　rise；　he　scrambled　up　it；　moving　into　foliage。　The　animals　did　not　pursue　him。　Not　that　it　did　him　any　good…now　he　was　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　road！
　　　　Somehow　he　had　to　get　back　to　the　other　side。
　　　　He　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　rise　and　started　down；　swearing　to　himself。　He　decided　to　work　his　way　forward　a　hundred　yards　or　so；　until　he　was　beyond　the　butting　animals；　and　then　cross　the　road。　If　he　could　do　that；　then　he　could　get　to　the　boat。
　　　　Almost　immediately；　he　was　surrounded　by　dense　jungle。　He　tripped；　tumbled　down　a　muddy　slope；　and　when　he　got　to　his　feet　was　no　longer　sure　which　way　to　go。　He　was　at　the　bottom　of　a　ravine；　and　the　palm　trees　were　ten　feet　tall；　and　very　thick。　He　couldn't　see　more　than　a　few　feet　in　any　direction。　In　a　moment　of　panic；　he　realized　he　didn't　know　which　way　to　go。　He　pushed　forward　through　the　wet　leaves；　hoping　to　get　his　bearings　back。

The　kids　were　still　peering　over　the　railing；　looking　at　the　departing　raptors。　Thorne　pulled　Levine　to　one　side；　and　said　quietly；　〃Why　did　you　want　us　to　e　here？〃
　　　　〃Just　a　precaution；〃　Levine　said。　〃Bringing　the　infant　to　the　trailer　is　asking　for　trouble。〃
　　　　〃What　sort　of　trouble？〃
　　　　Levine　shrugged。　〃We　don't　know；　is　the　point。　But　in　general；　parents　don't　like　it　when　their　babies　are　taken　away。　And　that　baby　has　some　very　big　parents。〃
　　　　From　the　other　side　of　the　shelter　Arby　said；　〃Look！　Look！〃
　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　Levine　said。
　　　　〃It's　a　man。〃
　　　　Gasping　for　breath；　King　emerged　from　the　jungle　and　walked　out　onto　the　plain。　At　last　he　could　see　where　he　was！　He　paused；　soaked　and　muddy；　to　get　his　bearings。
　　　　He　was　disappointed　to　find　that　he　was　nowhere　near　the　boat。　In　fact；　he　still　seemed　to　be　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　road。　He　was　facing　a　broad　grassy　plain；　with　a　river　coursing　through　it。　The　plain　was　mostly　deserted；　although　there　were　several　dinosaurs　farther　down　the　banks。　They　were　the　horned　ones：　triceratops。　And　they　looked　a　little　agitated。　The　big　adults　were　raising　their　heads　up　and　down；　making　barking　sounds。
　　　　Obviously；　he　would　have　to　follow　the　river；　until　it　brought　him　to　the　boat。　But　he'd　have　to　be　careful　getting　past　these　triceratops。　He　reached　in　his　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　candy　bar。　He　ripped　the　wrapping　while　he　watched　the　triceratops；　wishing　they　would　go　away。　How　long　would　it　take　him　to　reach　the　boat？　That　was　the　only　question　on　his　mind。　He　decided　to　move；　triceratops　or　not。　He　began　walking　through　the　tall　grass。
　　　　Then　he　heard　a　reptilian　hiss。　It　was　ing　from　the　grass；　somewhere　to　his　left。　And　he　noticed　a　smell；　a　peculiar　rotten　smell。　He　paused；　waiting。　The　candy　bar　didn't　taste　so　good；　any　more。
　　　　Then；　behind　him；　he　heard　splashing。　It　was　ing　from　the　river。
　　　　King　turned　to　look。

〃It's　one　of　those　men　from　the　jeep；〃　Arby　said；　standing　in　the　high　hide。　〃But　why　is　he　waiting？〃
　　　　From　their　vantage　point；　they　could　see　the　dark　shapes　of　the　raptors；　moving　through　the　grass　on　the　other　side　of　the　river。　Now　two　of　the　raptors　came　forward；　splashing　in　the　water。　Moving　toward　the　man。
　　　　〃Oh　no；〃　Arby　said。
　　　　　　　　
King　saw　two　dark；　striped　lizards　moving　across　the　river。　They　walked　on　their　hind　legs；　with　a　sort　of　hopping　motion。　Their　bodies　were　reflected　in　the　flowing　water　of　the　river。　They　snapped　their　long　jaws；　and　hissed　menacingly　at　King。
　　　　He　glanced　upstream；　and　saw　another　lizard　crossing；　and　another　beyond　that。　Those　other　animals　were　already　deep　in　the　water；　and　had　begun　to　swim。
　　　　Howard　King　backed　away　from　the　river；　moving　deeper　into　the　tall　grass。　Then　he　turned；　and　ran。　He　was　chest…deep　in　grass　and　running　hard；　gasping　for　breath；　when　suddenly　another　lizard　head　rose　up　in　front　of　him；　hissing　and　snarling。　He　dodged；　changed　direction；　but　suddenly　the　nearest　lizard　leapt　in　the　air。　It　jumped　so　high　its　body　cleared　the　grass…；　he　could　see　the　entire　animal　flying　through　the　air；　its　two　hind　legs　raised　to　pounce。　He　glimpsed　curved；　dagger…like　claws。
　　　　King　turned　again　and　the　lizard　shrieked　as　it　landed　on　the　ground　behind　him；　and　tumbled　away　in　the　grass。　King　ran　on。　He　was　energized　by　pure　fear。　Behind　him　he　heard　the　lizard　snarling。　He　ran　hard：　ahead　was　another　twenty　yards　of　grassy　clearing；　and　then　the　jungle　began　again。　He　saw　trees　…　big　trees。　He　could　climb　one　and　get　away。
　　　　Off　to　the　left；　he　saw　another　lizard　moving　diagonally　across　the　clearing　toward　him。　King　could　only　see　the　head　above　the　grass。　The　lizard　seemed　to　be　moving　incredibly　fast。　He　thought：　I'm　not　going　to　make　it。
　　　　Bu