the.lost.world-第52章

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。　Thirty　people；　and　nothing　happens。　Thirty　million；　it　bees　impossible。　That's　the　effect　of　mass　media　…　it　keeps　anything　from　happening。　Mass　media　swamps　diversity。　It　makes　every　place　the　same。　Bangkok　or　Tokyo　or　London：　there's　a　McDonald's　on　one　corner；　a　Benneton　on　another；　a　Gap　across　the　street。　Regional　differences　vanish。　All　differences　vanish。　In　a　mass…media　world；　there's　less　of　everything　except　the　top　ten　books；　records；　movies；　ideas。　People　worry　about　losing　species　diversity　in　the　rain　forest。　But　what　about　intellectual　diversity　…　our　most　necessary　resource？　That's　disappearing　faster　than　trees。　But　we　haven't　figured　that　out；　so　now　we're　planning　to　put　five　billion　people　together　in　cyberspace。　And　it'll　freeze　the　entire　species。　Everything　will　stop　dead　in　its　tracks。　Everyone　will　think　the　same　thing　at　the　same　time。　Global　uniformity。　Oh；　that　hurts。　Are　you　done？〃
　　　　〃Almost；〃　Harding　said。　〃Hang　on。〃
　　　　〃And　believe　me；　it'll　be　fast。　If　you　map　plex　systems　on　a　fitness　landscape；　you　find　the　behavior　can　move　so　fast　that　fitness　can　drop　precipitously。　It　doesn't　require　asteroids　or　diseases　or　anything　else。　It's　just　behavior　that　suddenly　emerges；　and　turns　out　to　be　fatal　to　the　creatures　that　do　it。　My　idea　was　that　dinosaurs　…　being　plex　creatures　…　might　have　undergone　some　of　these　behavioral　changes。　And　that　led　to　their　extinction。〃
　　　　〃What；　all　of　them？〃
　　　　〃It　just　takes　a　few；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃Some　dinosaur　roots　in　the　swamps　around　the　inland　sea；　changes　the　water　circulation；　and　destroys　the　plant　ecology　that　twenty　other　species　depend　on。　Bang！　They're　gone。　That　causes　still　more　dislocations。　A　predator　dies　off；　and　its　prey　grow　unchecked。　The　ecosystem　bees　unbalanced。　More　things　go　wrong。　More　species　die。　And　suddenly　it's　over。　It　could　have　happened　that　way。〃
　　　　〃Just　behavior。。。〃
　　　　〃Yes；〃　Malcolm　said。　〃Anyway；　that　was　the　idea。　And　I　had　this　nice　thought　that　we　might　prove　it。。。。But　now　it's　finished。　We　have　to　get　out　of　here。　You　better　tell　the　others。〃
　　　　Thorne　clicked　on　the　radio。　〃Eddie？　It's　Doc。〃
　　　　There　was　no　answer。
　　　　〃Eddie？〃
　　　　The　radio　crackled。　And　then　they　heard　a　noise　that　at　first　sounded　like　static。　It　was　a　moment　before　they　realized　it　was　a　high…pitched　human　scream。

The　High　Hide

The　first　of　the　raptors　hissed　as　it　began　jumping　up；　clattering　against　the　high　hide　shaking　the　structure。　Its　claws　raked　against　the　metal；　and　it　fell　down　again。　Eddie　was　astonished　at　how　high　it　jumped　…　the　animal　could　leap　eight　feet　straight　up；　again　and　again；　without　apparent　effort。　Its　jumps　attracted　the　other　animals；　which　slowly　came　back　to　circle　the　hide。
　　　　Soon　the　hide　was　surrounded　by　leaping；　snarling　raptors。　It　swayed　back　and　forth　as　the　animals　slammed　into　it；　clawed　for　purchase；　and　fell　back　again。　But　more　ominously；　Levine　saw；　they　were　learning。　Already；　some　of　them　had　begun　to　use　their　clawed　forearms　to　grip　the　structure；　holding　on　while　their　legs　got　footing。　One　of　the　raptors　came　within　a　few　feet　of　their　little　shelter　before　finally　falling　back。　The　falls　never　seemed　to　hurt　the　animals。　They　immediately　leapt　up；　and　jumped　again。
　　　　Eddie　and　the　kids　scrambled　to　their　feet。　Levine　said；　〃Get　back！　Don't　look　out；〃　and　he　pushed　the　kids　into　the　center　of　the　shelter。
　　　　Eddie　was　bent　over　his　knapsack；　and　held　up　an　incandescent　flare。　He　poppcd　it　and　flung　it　over　the　side；　two　of　the　raptors　fell　away。　The　flare　sputtered　an　the　wet　ground；　casting　harsh　red　shadows。　But　the　raptors　kept　ing。　Eddie　pulled　up　one　of　the　aluminum　bars　from　the　floor；　leaned　over　the　side　railing　brandishing　the　bar　like　a　club。
　　　　One　of　the　raptors　had　already　climbed　high　enough　to　dart　forward；　jaws　gaping；　at　Eddie's　neck。　Surprised；　Eddie　shouted　and　jerked　his　head　back；　the　raptor　narrowly　missed　him；　but　its　jaws　closed　on　his　shirt。　Then　the　raptor　fell　back；　jaws　clenched　tight；　and　its　weight　pulled　Eddie　forward　over　the　failing。
　　　　He　yelled　〃Help　me！　Help！〃　as　he　started　to　topple　over　the　side；　Levine　threw　his　arms　around　him；　dragging　him　back。　Levine　looked　past　Eddie's　shoulder　at　the　raptor；　which　was　now　dangling　in　space；　hissing　furiously；　still　gripping　the　shirt。　Eddie　pounded　the　raptor　on　the　snout　with　his　bar。　But　the　raptor　held　on　like　a　bulldog。　Eddie　was　bent　precariously　over　the　railing；　he　might　fall　at　any　moment。
　　　　He　jabbed　the　bar　into　the　animal's　eye；　and　abruptly　the　raptor　released　its　grip。　The　two　men　fell　back　into　the　shelter。　When　they　got　to　their　feet；　they　saw　raptors　climbing　up　the　sides　of　the　hide。　As　they　appeared　at　the　rail；　Eddie　swung　at　them　with　the　strut；　knocking　them　back。
　　　　〃Quick！〃　he　shouted　to　the　kids。　〃Up　on　the　roof！　Quick！〃　Kelly　started　climbing　one　of　the　struts；　then　pushed　herself　easily　up　onto　the　roof。　Arby　stood　there；　his　expression　blank。　She　looked　back　down　and　said；　〃e　on；　Arb！〃
　　　　The　boy　was　frozen；　his　eyes　wide　with　fear。　Levine　ran　to　help　him；　lifted　him　up。　Eddie　was　swinging　the　strut　in　wide　arcs；　the　metal　smacking　against　the　raptors。
　　　　One　of　the　raptors　caught　the　strut　in　its　jaws　and　jerked　it　hard。　Eddie　lost　his　balance；　twisted；　and　fell　backward；　toppling　over　the　side。　He　cried　〃Nooo！〃　as　he　fell。　Immediately　all　the　animals　dropped　down　to　the　ground。　They　heard　Eddie　screaming　in　the　night。　The　raptors　snarled。
　　　　Levine　was　terrified。　He　was　still　holding　Arby　in　his　arms；　Pushing　him　up　to　the　roof　〃Go　on；〃　he　kept　saying。　〃Go　on。　Go　on。〃
　　　　From　the　roof；　Kelly　was　saying；　〃You　can　do　it；　Arb。〃
　　　　The　boy　gripped　the　roof；　pulling　himself　up；　his　legs　churning　in　panic。　He　kicked　Levine　hard　in　the　mouth　and　Levine　dropped　him。　He　saw　the　boy　slide　away；　and　drop　backward　to　the　ground。
　　　　〃Oh　Christ；〃　Levine　said。　〃Oh　Christ。〃

Thorne　was　underneath　the　trailer；　unhooking　the　cable。　He　released　it；　crawled　out；　and　sprinted　for　the　Jeep。　He　heard　the　whirr　of　a　motor　and　saw　that　Sarah　had　gotten　onto　the　motorbike；　and　was　already　racing　off；　a　Lindstradt　rifle　slung　across　her　shoulder。
　　　　He　got　behind　the　wheel；　turned　on　the　engine；　and　waited　impatiently　while　the　cable　winched　in；　the　hook　sliding　across　the　grass。　It　seemed　to　take　forever。　Now　the　cable　was　snaking　around　the　tree。　He　waited。　He　looked　over　and　saw　the　light　from　Sarah's　bike　moving　off　through　the　foliage；　heading　down　toward　the　high　hide。
　　　　At　last　the　winch　motor　stopped。　Thorne　threw　the　car　in　gear；　and　roared　away　from　the　clearing。　The　radio　clicked。　〃Ian；〃　he　said。
　　　　〃　Don't　worry　about　me；〃　Malcolm　said；　in　a　dreamy　voice。　〃I'm　just　fine。〃

Kelly　was　lying　flat　on　the　angled　roof　of　the　shed；　looking　down　over　the　side。　She　saw　Arby　hit　the　ground；　on　the　other　side　of　the　structure　from　Eddie。　He　seemed　to　hit　hard。　But　she　didn't　know　what　happened　to　him；　because　she　had　turned　away　to　grip　the　wet　roof；　and　when　she　looked　back　down　again；　Arby　was　gone。
　　　　Gone。

Sarah　Harding　drove　fast　on　the　muddy　jungle　road。　She　wasn't　sure　where　she　was；　but　she　thought　by　following　the　terrain　downward　she　would　eventually　e　out　onto　the　plain。　At　least　that　was　her　hope。
　　　　She　accelerated；　came　around　a　curve；　and　suddenly　saw　a　big　tree　blocking　the　road。　She　braked　to　a　stop；　spun　the　bike　around；　and　headed　back　again。　Farther　up　the　road；　she　saw　Thorne's　twin　headlights；　turning　off　to　the　right。　She　followed　his　Jeep；　racing　her　engine　in　the　night。

Levine　stood　in　the　center　of　the　high　hide；　frozen　with　terror。　The　raptors　were　no　longer　jumping；　no　longer　trying　to　climb　the　structure。　He　heard　them　down　on　the　ground；　snarling。　He　heard　the　sharp　crunch　of　bones。　The　boy　had　never　made　a　sound。
　　　　Cold　sweat　broke　out　all　over　his　body。
　　　　Then　he　heard　Arby　shout；　〃Back！　Get　back！〃

Up　on　the　roof；　Kelly　twisted　around；　trying　to　see　down　on　the　other　side。　In　the　dying　light　of　the　flare；　she　saw　that　Arby　was　inside　the　cage。　He　had　managed　to　close　the　door；　and　was　reaching　his　hand　back　through　the　bars；　to　turn　the　key　in　the　lock。　There　were　three　raptors　near　him；　they　leapt　forward　when　they　saw　his　hand；　and　he　pulled　it　back　quickly。　He　shouted；　〃Get　back！〃　The　raptors　began　to　bite　the　cage；　turning　their　heads　sideways　to　gnaw　the　bars。　One　of　the　animals　got　its　lower　jaw　tangled　up　in　the　looped　elastic　band　that　hung　from　the　key。　The　raptor　pulled　its　head　away；　stretching　the　elastic；　and　suddenly　the　key　snapped　out　of　the　lock；　smacking　against　its　neck。
　　　　The　raptor　squealed　in　surprise　and　stepped　backward。　The　elastic　was　now　looped　tight　around　the　lower　jaw；　the　key　glinting　in　the　light。　The　raptor　scratched　at　it　with　its　forearms；　trying　to　pull　the　elastic　loop　off；　but　it　was　caught　around　the　curved　back　teeth；　and　the　animal's　efforts　just　made　the　elastic　snap　on　the　skin。　Soon　it　gave　up；　and　began　rubbing　its　snout　in　the　dirt；　trying　to　get　the　key　off。
　　　　Meanwhile　the　other　raptors　managed　to　pull　the　cage　free　from　the　superstructure；　and　knock　it　over　onto　the　ground。　They　ducked　their　heads；　slashing　Arby　behind　the　bars。　When　they　realized　that　wouldn't　work；　they　kicked　and　stomped　the　cage　repeatedly。　More　animals　joined　them。　Soon　seven　raptors　were　clustered　over　the　cage。　They　kicked　it　and　it　rolled　away　from　the　hide。　Their　bodies　blocked　her　view　of　Arby。
　　　　She　heard　a　faint　sound；　and　looked　up　to　see　two　headlights　in　the　distance。　It　was　a　car。
　　　　Someone　was　ing。

Arb　was　in　hell。　Inside　the　cage；　he　was　surrounded　by　black　snarling　shapes。　The　raptors　couldn't　get　their　jaws　through　the　spaces　in　the　bars；　but　their　hot　saliva　dripped　down　on　him；　and　when　they　kicked　their　claws　came　through；　slashing　his　arms　and　shoulders　as　he　rolled。　His　body　was　bruised。　His　head　hurt　from　banging　against　the　bars。　His　world　was　swirling；　terrifying　pandemonium。　He　knew　only　one　thing　with　certainty。
　　　　The　raptors　were　rolling　him　away　from　the　hide。

As　the　car　came　closer；　Levine　went　to　the　railing　and　looked　down。　In　the　light　of　the　red　flare；　he　saw　three　raptors　dragging　what　remained　of　Eddie's　body　toward　the　jungle。　They　paused　frequently　to　fight　over　it；　snapping　at　each　other；　but　they　still　managed　to　haul　it　away。
　　　　Then　he　saw　that　another　group　of　raptors　were　kicking　and　pushing　the　cage。　They　rolled　it　down　the　game　trail；　and　into　the　forest。
　　　　Now　he　could　hear　the　rumble　of　the　jeep　engine；　as　the　car　came　closer。　He　saw　Thorne's　silhouette　behind　the　wheel。
　　　　He　hoped　he　had　a　gun。　Levine　wanted　to　kill　every　one　of　these　damned　animals。　He　wanted　to　kill　them　all。

Up　on　the　roof；　Kelly　watched　the　raptors　kicking　the　cage；　rolling　it　away。　One　raptor　remained　behind；　turning　around　and　around　in　circles；　like　a　frustrated　dog。　Then　she　saw　it　was　the　raptor　that　had　caught　its　jaw　in　the　elastic　loop。　The　key　still　dangled　along　its　check；　glinting　in　the　red　light。　The　raptor　jerked　its　head　up　and　down；　trying　to　get　free。
　　　　The　Jeep　came　roaring　forward；　and　the　raptor　seemed　confused　by　the　sudden　bright　lights。　Thorne　accelerated；　trying　to　hit　it　with　his　car。　The　raptor　turned　and　ran　off；　out　into　the