the.lost.world-第46章

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at　there's　a　differential　death　rate　among　prey。　If　they　grow　very　fast；　or　die　young；　then　that　might　represent　a　larger　food　supply　than　expected。〃
　　　　Malcolm　said；　〃I've　noticed；　the　largest　animals　seem　small。　It's　as　if　they　don't　seem　to　reach　maturity。　Maybe　they're　being　killed　off　early。〃
　　　　〃Maybe；〃　she　said。　〃But　if　there's　a　differential　death　rate　large　enough　to　support　this　population；　you　should　see　evidence　of　carcasses；　and　lots　of　skeletons　of　dead　animals。　Have　you　seen　that？〃
　　　　Malcolm　shook　his　head。　〃No。　In　fact；　now　that　you　mention　it；　I　haven't　seen　any　skeletons　at　all。〃　　　
　　　　〃Me　neither。〃　She　pushed　the　light　away。　〃There's　something　funny　about　this　island；　Ian。〃
　　　　〃I　know；〃　Malcolm　said。
　　　　〃You　do？〃
　　　　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I've　suspected　it　from　the　beginning。〃

Thunder　rumbled。　From　the　high　hide；　the　plain　below　them　was　dark　and　silent；　except　for　the　distant　snarling　of　the　raptors。　〃Maybe　we　should　go　back；〃　Eddie　said　anxiously。
　　　　〃Why？〃　Levine　said。　Levine　had　switched　to　his　night…vision　glasses；　pleased　with　himself　that　he　had　thought　to　bring　them。　Through　the　goggles；　the　world　was　shades　of　pale　green。　He　clearly　saw　the　raptors　at　the　kill　site；　the　tall　grass　trampled　and　bloody　all　around。　The　carcass　was　long　since　finished；　though　they　could　still　hear　the　cracking　of　bones　as　the　animals　gnawed　on　them。
　　　　〃I　just　think；〃　Eddie　said；　〃that　now　that　it's　night；　we'd　be　safer　in　the　trailer。〃
　　　　〃Why？〃　Levine　said。
　　　　〃Well；　it's　reinforced；　it's　strong；　and　very　safe。　It　has　everything　that　we　need。　I　just　think　we　should　be　there。　I　mean；　you're　not　planning　on　staying　out　here　all　night；　are　you？〃
　　　　〃No；〃　Levine　said。　〃What　do　you　think　I　am；　a　fanatic？〃　Eddie　grunted。
　　　　〃But　let's　stay　for　a　while　longer；〃　Levine　said。
　　　　Eddie　turned　to　Thorne。　〃Doc？　What　do　you　say？　It's　going　to　start　raining　soon。
　　　　〃Just　a　little　longer；〃　Thorne　said。　〃And　then　we'll　all　go　back　together。〃

〃There　have　been　dinosaurs　on　this　island　for　five　years；　maybe　more；　〃　Malcolm　said；　〃but　none　have　appeared　elsewhere。　Suddenly；　in　the　last　year；　carcasses　of　dead　animals　are　showing　up　on　the　beaches　of　Costa　Rica；　and　according　to　reports；　on　islands　of　the　Pacific　as　well。〃
　　　　〃Carried　by　currents？〃
　　　　〃Presumably。　But　the　question　is；　why　now？　Why　all　of　a　sudden；　after　five　years？　Something　has　changed；　but　we　don't　know　…　wait　a　minute〃　He　moved　away　from　the　table；　over　to　the　puter　console。　He　turned　toward　the　screen。
　　　　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　she　said。
　　　　〃Arby　got　us　into　the　old　network；〃　he　said；　〃and　it　still　has　research　files　from　the　eighties。〃　He　moved　the　mouse　across　the　screen。　〃We　haven't　looked　at　them。。。。〃　He　saw　the　menu　e　up；　showing　work　files　and　research　files。　He　began　to　scroll　through　screens　of　text。
　　　　〃Years　ago；　they　had　trouble　with　some　disease；〃　he　said。　〃There　were　a　lot　of　notes　about　it　in　the　laboratory。〃
　　　　〃What　kind　of　disease'？〃
　　　　〃They　didn't　know；〃　Malcolm　said。
　　　　〃In　the　wild；　there　are　some　very　slow…acting　illnesses；〃　she　said。　〃May　take　five　or　ten　years　to　show　up。　Caused　by　viruses；　or　prions。　You　know；　protein　fragments…like　scrapie　or　mad…cow　disease。〃
　　　　〃But；〃　Malcolm　said；　〃those　diseases　only　e　from　eating　contaminated　food。〃
　　　　There　was　a　silence。
　　　　〃What　do　you　suppose　they　fed　them；　back　then？〃　she　asked。　〃Because　if　I　was　growing　baby　dinosaurs；　I'd　wonder。　What　do　they　cat？　Milk；　I　suppose；　but　…　〃
　　　　〃Milk；　yes；〃　Malcolm　said；　reading　the　screens。　〃First　six　weeks；　goat's　milk。〃
　　　　〃That's　the　logical　choice；〃　she　said。　〃Goat's　milk　is　what　they　always　use　in　zoos；　because　it's　so　hypoallergenic。　But　what　about　later？〃
　　　　Give　me　a　minute　here；〃　Malcolm　said。
　　　　Harding　held　the　baby's　leg　in　her　hand；　waiting　for　the　resin　to　harden。　She　looked　at　the　cast；　sniffed　it。　It　was　still　strong…smelling。　〃I　hope　that's　all　right；〃　she　said。　〃Sometimes　if　there's　a　distinctive　smell；　the　animals　won't　allow　infants　to　return。　But　maybe　this　will　dissipate　after　the　pound　hardens。　How　long　has　it　been？〃
　　　　Malcolm　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Ten　minutes。　Another　ten　minutes　and　it'll　set。〃
　　　　She　said；　〃I'd　like　to　take　this　guy　back　to　the　nest。〃
　　　　Thunder　rumbled。　They　looked　out　the　window　at　the　black　night。
　　　　〃Probably　too　late　to　return　him　tonight；〃　Malcolm　said。　He　was　still　typing；　peering　at　the　screen。
　　　　〃So。。。what　did　they　feed　them？　Okay。　In　the　period　from　1988　to　1989。。。the　herbivores　got　a　macerated　plant　matter　on　a　feeding　schedule　three　times　a　day。。。and　the　carnivores　got。。。〃
　　　　He　stopped。
　　　　〃What'd　the　carnivores　get？〃
　　　　〃Looks　like　a　ground…up　extract　of　animal　protein。。。。〃
　　　　〃From　what？　The　usual　source　is　turkey　or　chicken；　with　some　antibiotics　added。〃
　　　　〃Sarah；〃　he　said。　〃They　used　sheep　extract。〃
　　　　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃They　wouldn't　do　that。〃
　　　　〃Yeah；　they　did。　Came　from　their　supplier；　who　used　ground…up　sheep。〃
　　　　〃You're　kidding；〃　she　said。
　　　　Malcolm　said；　〃I'm　afraid　so。　Now；　let　me　see　if　I　can　find　ou　…　〃
　　　　A　soft　alarm　sounded。　On　the　wall　panel　above　him；　a　red　light　began　to　flash。　A　moment　later；　the　exterior　lights　above　the　trailer　turned　on；　bathing　the　grassy　clearing　around　them　in　bright　halogen　glare。
　　　　〃What's　that？〃　Harding　said。
　　　　〃The　sensors　…　something　set　them　off。〃　Malcolm　moved　away　from　the　puter；　peered　out　the　window。　He　saw　nothing　but　tall　grass；　and　the　dark　trees　at　the　perimeter。　It　was　silent；　still。
　　　　Sarah；　still　intent　on　the　baby；　said；　〃What　happened？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know。　I　don't　see　anything。〃
　　　　〃But　something　triggered　the　sensors？〃
　　　　〃I　guess。〃
　　　　〃Wind？〃
　　　　〃There's　no　wind；〃　he　said。

In　the　high　hide；　Kelly　said；〃Hey；　look！〃
　　　　Thorne　turned。　From　their　location　in　the　valley；　they　could　look　north　to　the　high　cliff　behind　them　and　the　two　trailers　above；　in　the　grassy　clearing。
　　　　The　exterior　lights　on　the　trailers　had　e　on。
　　　　Thorne　unclipped　the　radio　at　his　belt。　〃Ian？　Are　you　there？〃
　　　　A　momentary　crackle：　〃I'm　here；　Doc。〃
　　　　〃What's　happening？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Malcolm　said。
　　　　〃The　perimeter　lights　just　turned　on。　I　think　the　sensor　was　activated。　But　we　don't　see　anything　out　there。〃
　　　　Eddie　said；　〃Air's　cooling　off　fast　now。　Might　have　been　convection　currents；　set　it　off。〃
　　　　Thorne　said；　〃Ian？　Everything　okay？〃
　　　　〃Yes。　Fine。　Don't　worry。〃
　　　　Eddie　said；　〃I　always　figured　we　set　the　sensitivity　too　high。　That's　all　it　is。
　　　　Levine　frowned；　and　said　nothing。

Sarah　finished　with　the　baby；　and　wrapped　him　in　a　blanket；　and　gently　strapped　him　down　to　the　table　with　cloth　restraint　straps。　She　came　over　and　stood　beside　Malcolm。　She　looked　out　the　window。
　　　　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　　　　Malcolm　shrugged。　〃Eddie　says　the　system's　too　sensitive。〃
　　　　〃Is　it？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know。　It's　never　been　tested　before。〃　He　scanned　the　trees　at　the　edge　of　the　clearing；　looking　for　any　movement。　Then　he　thought　he　heard　a　snorting　sound；　almost　a　growl。　It　seemed　like　it　was　answered　from　somewhere　behind　him。　He　went　to　look　out　the　other　side　of　the　trailer；　at　the　trees　on　the　other　side。
　　　　Malcolm　and　Harding　looked　out；　straining　to　see　something　in　the　night。　Malcolm　held　his　breath；　tensely。　After　a　moment；　Harding　sighed。　〃I　don't　see　anything；　Ian。〃
　　　　〃No。　Me　neither。〃
　　　　'Must　be　a　false　alarm。〃
　　　　Then　he　felt　the　vibration；　a　deep　resonant　thumping　in　the　ground；　that　was　carried　to　them　through　the　floor　of　the　trailer。　He　glanced　at　Sarah。　Her　eyes　widened。
　　　　Malcolm　knew　what　it　was。　The　vibration　came　again；　unmistakably　this　time。
　　　　Sarah　stared　out　the　window。　She　whispered；　〃Ian：　I　see　it。〃
　　　　Malcolm　turned；　and　joined　her。　She　was　pointing　out　the　window　toward　the　nearest　trees。
　　　　〃What？〃
　　　　And　then　he　saw　the　big　head　emerge　from　the　foliage　midway　u　one　tree。　The　head　turned　slowly　from　side　to　side；　as　if　listening。　It　was　an　adult　Tyrannosaurus　rex。
　　　　〃Ian；〃　she　whispered。　〃Look　…　there　are　two　of　them。〃
　　　　Over　to　the　right；　he　saw　a　second　animal　step　from　behind　the　trees。　It　was　larger；　the　female　of　the　pair。　The　animals　growled；　a　deep　rumble　in　the　night。　They　emerged　slowly　from　the　cover　of　the　trees；　stepping　into　the　clearing。　They　blinked　in　the　harsh　light。
　　　　〃Are　those　the　parents？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know。　I　think　so。〃
　　　　He　glanced　over　at　the　baby。　It　was　still　unconscious；　breathing　steadily；　the　blanket　rising　and　falling　regularly。
　　　　〃What　are　they　doing　here？〃　she　said。
　　　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　　　The　animals　were　still　standing　at　the　edge　of　the　clearing；　near　the　cover　of　the　trees。　They　seemed　hesitant；　waiting。
　　　　〃Are　they　looking　for　the　baby？〃　she　said。
　　　　〃Sarah；　please。〃
　　　　〃I'm　serious。〃
　　　　〃That's　ridiculous。〃
　　　　〃Why？　They　must　have　tracked　it　here。〃
　　　　The　tyrannosaurs　raised　their　heads；　lifting　their　jaws。　Then　they　turned　their　heads　left　and　right；　in　slow　arcs。　They　repeated　the　movement；　then　took　a　step　forward；　toward　the　trailer。
　　　　〃Sarah；〃　he　said。　〃We're　miles　from　the　nest。　There　isn't　any　way　for　them　to　track　it。〃
　　　　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　　　　〃Sarah　…　〃
　　　　〃You　said　yourself；　we　don't　know　anything　about　these　animals。　We　don't　know　anything　about　their　physiology；　their　biochemistry；　their　nervous　systems；　their　behavior。　And　we　don't　know　anything　about　their　sensory　equipment；　either。〃
　　　　〃Yes；　but　…　〃
　　　　〃They're　predators；　Ian。　Good　sense　of　vision；　good　sense　of　hearing　and　smell。〃
　　　　〃I　assume　so；　yes。〃
　　　　〃But　we　don't　know　what　else；〃　Sarah　said。
　　　　〃What　else？〃　Malcolm　said。
　　　　〃Ian。　There　are　other　sensory　modalities。　Snakes　sense　infrared。　Bats　have　echolocation。　Birds　and　turtles　have　magnetosensors　…　they　can　detect　the　earth's　magnetic　field；　which　is　how　they　migrate。　Dinosaurs　may　have　other　sensory　modalities　that　we　can't　imagine。〃
　　　　〃Sarah；　this　is　ridiculous。〃
　　　　〃Is　it？　Then　you　tell　me。　What　are　they　doing　out　there？〃
　　　　Outside；　near　the　trees；　the　tyrannosaurs　had　bee　silent。　They　were　no　longer　growling；　but　they　were　still　moving　their　heads　back　and　forth　in　slow　arcs；　turning　left　and　right。
　　　　Malcolm　frowned。　〃It　looks　like。。。they're　looking　around。。。。〃
　　　　〃Straight　into　bright　lights？　No；　Ian。　They're　blinded。〃
　　　　As　soon　as　she　said　it；　he　realized　she　was　right。　But　the　heads　were　turning　back　and　forth　in　that　regular　way。　〃Then　what　are　they　doing？　Smelling？〃
　　　　〃No。　Heads　are　high。　Nostrils　aren't　moving。〃
　　　　〃Listening？〃
　　　　She　nodded。　〃Possibly。〃
　　　　〃Listening　to　what？〃
　　　　〃Maybe　to　the　baby。〃
　　　　He　glanced　over　again。　〃Sarah。　The　baby　is　out　cold。〃
　　　　〃I　know。〃
　　　　〃It　isn't　making　any　noise。〃
　　　　〃None　that　we　can　hear。〃　She　stared　at　the　tyrannosaurs。　〃But　they're　doing　something；　Ian。　That　behavior　we're　seeing　has　meaning。　We　just　don't　know　what　it　is。〃

From　the　high　hide；　Levine　stared　through　his　night…vision　glasses　at　the　clearing。　He　saw　the　two　tyrannosaurs　standing　at　the　edge　of　the　forest。　They　were　moving　their　heads　in　an　odd；　synchronized　way。
　　　　They　took　a　few　hesitant　steps　toward　the　trailer；　lifted　their　heads；　turned　right　and　left；　and　then　seemed　finally　to　make　up　their　minds。　The　animals　moved　quickly；　almo