the.lost.world-第58章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


oratory。　They　hadn't　followed　the　vehicles　down；　even　now。　Why　not？　he　wondered。　The　question　was　wele　in　his　mind。　Calming；　almost　soothing。　A　question　to　answer。　Why　had　the　raptors　stayed　up　at　the　laboratory？
　　　　All　kinds　of　explanations　occurred　to　him。　The　raptors　had　an　atavistic　fear　of　the　laboratory；　the　place　of　their　birth。　They　remembered　the　cages　and　didn't　want　to　be　captured　again。　But　he　suspected　the　most　likely　explanation　was　also　the　simplest　…　that　the　area　around　the　laboratory　was　some　other　animal's　territory；　it　was　scent…marked　and　demarcated　and　defended；　and　the　raptors　were　reluctant　to　enter　it。　Even　the　tyrannosaur；　he　remembered　now；　had　gone　through　the　territory　quickly；　without　stopping。
　　　　But　whose　territory？
　　　　Levine　stared　out　the　window　impatiently；　as　he　waited。
　　　　〃What　about　the　lights？〃　Sarah　called；　from　across　the　room。　〃I　need　light　here。〃
　　　　〃In　a　minute〃　Levine　said。

At　the　entrance　to　the　shed；　Thorne　stood　silently；　listening。
　　　　He　heard　Soft；　snorting　exhalations；　like　a　quiet　horse。　A　large　animal；　waiting。　The　sound　was　ing　from　somewhere　to　his　right。　Thorne　looked　over；　slowly。
　　　　He　saw　nothing　at　all。　Moonlight　shone　brightly　over　the　worker　village。　He　saw　the　store；　the　gas　pumps；　the　dark　shape　of　the　Jeep。　Looking　to　his　right；　he　saw　an　open　space；　and　clijmps　of　rhododendron　bushes。　The　tennis　court　beyond。
　　　　Nothing　else。
　　　　He　stared；　listening　hard。
　　　　The　soft　snorting　continued。　Hardly　louder　than　a　faint　breeze。　But　there　was　no　breeze：　the　trees　and　bushes　were　not　moving。
　　　　Or　were　they？
　　　　Thorne　had　the　sense　that　something　was　wrong。　Something　right　before　his　eyes；　something　that　he　could　see　but　couldn't　see。　With　the　effort　of　staring；　he　began　to　think　his　eyes　were　playing　tricks　on　him。　He　thought　he　detected　a　slight　movement　in　the　bushes　to　the　Tight。　The　pattern　of　the　leaves　seemed　to　shift　in　the　moonlight。　Shift；　and　stabilize　again。
　　　　But　he　wasn't　sure。
　　　　Thorne　stared　forward；　straining。　And　as　he　looked　he　began　to　think　that　it　wasn't　the　bushes　that　had　caught　his　eye；　but　rather　the　chain…link　fence。　For　most　of　its　length；　the　fence　was　overgrown　with　an　irregular　tangle　of　vines；　but　in　a　few　places　the　regular　diamond　pattern　of　links　was　visible。　And　there　was　something　strange　about　that　pattern。　The　fence　seemed　to　be　moving；　rippling。
　　　　Thorne　watched　carefully。　Maybe　it　is　moving；　he　thought。　Maybe　there's　an　animal　inside　the　fence；　pushing　against　it；　making　it　move。　But　that　didn't　seem　quite　right。
　　　　It　was　something　else。。。。
　　　　Suddenly；　lights　came　on　inside　the　store。　They　shone　through　the　barred　windows；　casting　a　geometric　pattern　of　dark　shadows　across　the　open　clearing；　and　onto　the　bushes　by　the　tennis　court。　And　for　a　moment　…　just　a　rnoment　…　Thorne　saw　that　the　bushes　beside　the　tennis　court　were　oddly　shaped；　and　that　they　were　actually　two　dinosaurs；　seven　feet　tall；　standing　side　by　side；　staring　right　at　him。
　　　　Their　bodies　seemed　to　be　covered　in　a　patchwork　pattern　of　light　and　dark　that　made　them　blend　in　perfectly　with　leaves　behind　them；　and　ith　the　fence　of　the　tennis　court。　Thorne　was　confused。　Their　concealment　had　been　perfect　…　too　perfect　…　until　the　lights　from　the　store　windows　had　shone　out　and　caught　them　in　the　sudden　bright　glare。
　　　　Thorne　watched；　holding　his　breath。　And　then　he　realized　that　the　leafy　light…and…dark　pattern　went　only　partway　up　their　bodies；　to　mid…thorax。　Above　that；　the　animals　had　a　kind　of　diamond…shaped　crisscross　pattern　that　matched　the　fence。
　　　　And　as　Thorne　stared；　the　plex　patterns　on　their　bodies　faded；　the　animals　turned　a　chalky　white；　and　then　a　series　of　vertical　striped　shadows　began　to　appear；　which　exactly　matched　the　shadows　cast　by　the　windows。
　　　　And　before　his　eyes；　the　two　dinosaurs　disappeared　from　view　again。　Squinting；　with　concentrated　effort；　he　could　just　barely　distinguish　the　outlines　of　their　bodies。　He　would　never　have　been　able　to　see　them　at　all；　had　he　not　already　known　they　were　there。
　　　　They　were　chameleons。　But　with　a　power　of　mimicry　unlike　any　chameleon　Thorne　had　ever　seen。
　　　　Slowly；　he　backed　away　into　the　shed；　moving　deeper　into　darkness。

〃My　God！〃　Levine　exclaimed；　staring　out　the　window。
　　　　〃Sorry；〃　Harding　said　〃But　I　had　to　turn　on　the　lights。　That　boy　needs　help。　I　can't　do　it　in　the　dark。〃
　　　　Levine　did　not　answer　her。　He　was　staring　out　the　window；　trying　to　prehend　what　he　had　just　seen。　He　now　realized　what　he　had　glimpsed　the　day　Diego　was　killed。　That　brief　momentary　sense　that　something　was　wrong。　Levine　now　knew　what　it　was。　But　it　was　quite　beyond　anything　that　was　known　among　terrestrial　animals　and　…
　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　she　said；　standing　alongside　him　at　the　window。　〃Is　it　Thorne？〃
　　　　〃Look；〃　Levine　said。
　　　　She　stared　out　through　the　bars。　〃At　the　bushes？　What7　What　am　I　supposed　to　…　〃
　　　　Look；〃　he　said。
　　　　She　watched　for　a　moment　longer；　then　shook　her　head。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　　　　〃Start　at　the　bottom　of　the　bushes；〃　Levine　told　her。　〃Then　let　your　eyes　move　up　very　slowly。。。。Just　look。。。and　you'll　see　the　outline。〃
　　　　He　heard　her　sigh。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　　　　〃Then　turn　out　the　lights　again；〃　he　said。　〃And　you'll　see；〃
　　　　She　turned　the　lights　out；　and　for　a　moment　Levine　saw　the　two　animals　in　sharp　relief；　their　bodies　pale　white　with　vertical　stripes　in　the　moonlight。　Almost　immediately；　the　pattern　started　to　fade。
　　　　Harding　came　back；　pushed　in　alongside　him；　and　this　time　she　saw　the　animals　instantly。　Just　as　Levine　knew　she　would。
　　　　〃No　shit；〃　she　said。　〃There　are　two　of　them？〃
　　　　〃Yes。　Side　by　side。〃
　　　　〃And。。。is　the　pattern　fading？〃
　　　　〃Yes。　It's　fading。〃　As　they　watched；　the　striped　pattern　on　their　skins　was　replaced　by　the　leafy　pattern　of　the　rhododendrons　behind　them。　Once　again；　the　two　dinosaurs　blended　into　invisibility。　But　such　plex　patterning　implied　that　their　epidermal　layers　were　arranged　in　a　manner　similar　to　the　chromatophores　of　marine　invertebrates。　The　subtlety　of　shading；　the　rapidity　of　the　changes　all　suggested　…　
　　　　Harding　frowned。　〃What　are　they？〃　she　asked。
　　　　〃Chameleons　of　unparalleled　skill；　obviously。　Although　I'm　not　sure　one　is　entirely　justified　in　referring　to　them　as　chameleons；　since　technically　chameleons　have　only　the　ability　…　〃
　　　　〃What　are　they？〃　Sarah　said　impatiently。
　　　　〃Actually；　I'd　say　they're　Carnotaurus　sastrei。　Type　specimen's　from　Patagonia。　Two　meters　in　height；　with　distinctive　heads　…　you　notice　the　short；　bulldog　snouts；　and　the　pair　of　large　horns　above　the　eyes？　Almost　like　wings　…　〃
　　　　〃They're　carnivores？〃
　　　　〃Yes；　of　course；　they　have　the　…　〃
　　　　〃Where's　Thorne？〃
　　　　〃He　went　into　that　clump　of　bushes　to　the　right；　some　time　ago。　I　haven't　seen　him；　but　…　〃
　　　　〃What　do　we　do？〃　she　said。
　　　　〃Do？〃　Levine　said。　〃I'm　not　sure　I　follow　you。〃
　　　　〃We　have　to　do　something；〃　she　said；　speaking　slowly；　as　if　he　were　a　child。　〃We　have　to　help　Thorne　get　back。〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know　how；〃　Levine　said。　〃Those　animals　must　weigh　five　hundred　pounds　each。　And　there　are　two　of　them。　I　told　him　not　to　go　out　in　the　first　place。　But　now。。。〃
　　　　Harding　frowned。　Staring　out；　she　said；　〃Go　turn　the　lights　back　on。〃
　　　　〃I'd　prefer　to　…　〃
　　　　〃Go　turn　the　lights　back　on！〃
　　　　Levine　got　up　irritably。　He　had　been　relishing　his　remarkable　discovery；　a　truly　unanticipated　feature　of　dinosaurs　…　although　not；　of　course；　entirely　without　precedent　among　related　vertebrates　…　and　now　this　little　muscle…bound　female　was　barking　orders　at　him。　Levine　was　offended。　After　all；　she　was　riot　much　of　a　scientist。　She　was　a　naturalist。　A　field　devoid　of　theory。　One　of　those　people　who　poked　around　in　animal　crap　and　imagined　they　were　doing　original　research。　A　nice　outdoor　life；　is　all　it　amounted　to。　It　wasn't　science　by　any　stretch　…
　　　　〃On！〃　Harding　shouted；　looking　out　the　window。
　　　　He　flicked　the　lights　on；　and　started　to　head　back　to　the　window。
　　　　Hastily；　he　went　back　and　turned　them　off。
　　　　〃On！〃
　　　　He　turned　them　on　again。
　　　　She　got　up　from　the　window；　and　crossed　the　room。　；They　didn　t　like　that；〃　she　said。　〃It　bothered　them。〃
　　　　〃Well；　there's　probably　a　refractory　period　…　〃
　　　　〃Yeah；　I　think　so。　Here。　Open　these。〃　She　scooped　up　a　handful　of　flashlights　from　one　of　the　shelves；　handed　them　to　him；　then　went　and　got　batteries　from　an　adjacent　wire　rack。　〃I　hope　these　still　work。〃
　　　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　Levine　said。
　　　　〃We；〃　she　said；　grimly。　〃We。〃

Thorne　stood　in　the　darkness　of　the　shed；　staring　outward　through　the　open　doors。　Someone　had　been　turning　the　lights　on　and　off　inside　the　store。　Then；　for　a　while　they　remained　on。　But　now　suddenly　they　went　off　again。　The　area　in　front　of　the　shed　was　lit　only　by　moonlight。
　　　　He　heard　movement；　a　soft　rustling。　He　heard　the　breathing　again。　And　then　he　saw　the　two　dinosaurs；　walking　upright　with　stiff　tails。　Their　skin　patterns　seemed　to　shift　as　they　walked；　and　it　was　difficult　to　follow　them；　but　they　were　moving　toward　the　shed。
　　　　They　arrived　at　the　entrance；　their　bodies　silhouetted　against　the　moonlight　beyond；　their　outlines　finally　clear。　They　looked　like　small　tyrannosaurs；　except　they　had　protuberances　above　the　eyes；　and　they　had　very　small；　stubby　forelimbs。　The　carnivores　ducked　their　squarish　heads　down；　and　looked　into　the　shed　cautiously。　Snorting；　sniffing。　Their　tails　swinging　slowly　behind　them。
　　　　They　were　really　too　big　to　e　inside；　and　for　a　moment　he　hoped　that　they　would　not。　Then　the　first　of　them　lowered　its　head；　growled；　and　stepped　through　the　entrance。
　　　　Thorne　held　his　breath。　He　was　trying　to　think　what　to　do；　but　he　couldn't　think　of　anything　at　all。　The　animals　were　methodical；　the　first　one　moving　aside　so　the　second　could　enter　as　well；
　　　　Suddenly；　from　along　the　side　of　the　store；　a　half…dozen　glaring　lights　shone　out　in　bright　beams。　The　lights　moved；　splashed　on　the　dinosaurs'　bodies。　The　beams　began　to　move　back　and　forth　in　slow；　erratic　patterns；　like　searchlights。
　　　　The　dinosaurs　were　clearly　visible；　and　they　didn't　like　it。　They　growled　and　tried　to　step　away　from　the　lights；　but　the　beams　moved　continuously；　searching　them　out；　crisscrossing　over　their　bodies。　As　the　lights　passed　over　their　torsos；　the　skin　paled　in　response；　reproducing　the　movement　of　the　beams；　after　the　lights　had　moved　on。　Their　bodies　streaking　white；　fading　to　dark；　streaking　white　again。
　　　　The　lights　never　stopped　moving；　except　when　they　shone　into　the　faces　of　the　dinosaurs；　and　into　their　eyes。　The　big　eyes　blinked　beneath　their　hooded　wings；　the　animals　twitched　their　heads　and　ducked　away；　as　if　annoyed　by　flies。
　　　　The　dinosaurs　became　agitated。　They　turned；　backing　out　of　the　shed；　and　bellowed　loudly　at　the　moving　lights。
　　　　Still　the　lights　moved；　relentlessly　swinging　back　and　forth　in　the　night。　The　pattern　of　movement　was　plex；　confusing。　The　dinosaurs　bellowed　again；　and　took　a　menacing　step　toward　the　lights。　But　it　was　half…hearted。　They　clearly　didn't　like　being　around　these　moving　sources。　After　a　moment；　they　shuffled　off；　the　lights　following　them；　driving　them　away　past　the　tennis　courts。
　　　　Thorne　moved　forward。
　　　　He　hear