michael crichton.congo-第24章

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　〃They　want　their　right　to　hunt；〃　Munro　said。　〃Despite　the　Kinshasa　bureaucrats。〃
　
　In　the　early　afternoon；　the　expedition　mounted　a　hill　from　which　they　could　overlook　the　valleys　behind　them　to　the　south。　In　the　distance　they　saw　great　billowing　clouds　of　smoke　and　licking　flames；　there　were　the　muffled　explosions　of　air…to…ground　rockets；　and　the　helicopters　wheeling　like　mechanical　vultures　over　a　kill。
　〃Those　are　Kigani　villages；〃　Munro　said；　looking　back；　shaking　his　head。　〃They　haven't　a　prayer；　especially　since　the　men　in　those　helicopters　and　the　troops　on　the　ground　are　all　from　the　Abawe　tribe；　the　traditional　enemy　of　the　Kigani。〃
　The　twentieth…century　world　did　not　acmodate　man…eating　beliefs；　indeed；　the　government　in　Kinshasa；　two　thousand　miles　away；　had　already　decided　to　〃expunge　the　embarrassment〃　of　cannibals　within　its　borders。　In　June；　the　Zaire　government　dispatched　five　thousand　armed　troops；　six　rocket…armed　American　UH…2　helicopters；　and　ten　armored　personnel　carriers　to　put　down　the　Kigani　rebellion。　The　military　leader　in　charge；　General　Ngo　Muguru；　had　no　illusions　about　his　directive。　Muguru　knew　that　Kinshasa　wanted　him　to　eliminate　the　Kigani　as　a　tribe。　And　he　intended　to　do　exactly　that。
　
　During　the　rest　of　the　day；　they　heard　distant　explosions　of　mortar　and　rockets。　It　was　impossible　not　to　contrast　the　modernity　of　this　equipment　with　the　bows　and　arrows　of　the　Kigani　they　had　seen。　Ross　said　it　was　sad；　but　Munro　replied　that　it　was　inevitable。
　〃The　purpose　of　life；〃　Munro　said；　〃is　to　stay　alive。　Watch　any　animal　in　nature…all　it　tries　to　do　is　stay　alive；　it　doesn't　care　about　beliefs　or　philosophy。　Whenever　any　animal's　behavior　puts　it　out　of　touch　with　the　realities　of　its　existence；　it　bees　extinct。　The　Kigani　haven't　seen　that　times　have　changed　and　their　beliefs　don't　work。　And　they're　going　to　be　extinct。〃
　〃Maybe　there　is　a　higher　truth　than　merely　staying　alive；〃　Ross　said。
　〃There　isn't；〃　Munro　said。
　They　saw　several　other　parties　of　Kigani；　usually　from　a　distance　of　many　miles。　At　the　end　of　the　day；　after　they　had　crossed　the　swaying　wooden　bridge　over　the　Moruti　Gorge；　Munro　announced　that　they　were　now　beyond　the　Kigani　territory　and；　at　least　for　the　time　being；　safe。
　
　3。 Moruti　Camp
　
　IN　A　HIGH　CLEARING　ABOVE　MORUTI；　THE　〃PLACE　of　soft　winds；〃　Munro　shouted　Swahili　instructions　and　Kahega's　porters　began　to　unpack　their　loads。　Karen　Ross　looked　at　her　watch。　〃Are　we　stopping？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Munro　said。
　〃But　it's　only　five　o'clock。　There's　still　two　hours　of　light　left。〃
　〃We　stop　here；〃　Munro　said。　Moruti　was　located　at　1；500　feet；　another　two　hours'　walking　would　put　them　down　in　the　rain　forest　below。　〃It's　much　cooler　and　more　pleasant　here。〃
　Ross　said　that　she　did　not　care　about　pleasantness。
　〃You　will；〃　Munro　said。
　To　make　the　best　time；　Munro　intended　to　keep　out　of　the　rain　forest　wherever　possible。　Progress　in　the　jungle　was　slow　and　unfortable；　they　would　have　more　than　enough　experience　with　mud　and　leeches　and　fevers。
　Kahega　called　to　him　in　Swahili；　Munro　turned　to　Ross　and　said；　〃Kahega　wants　to　know　how　to　pitch　the　tents。〃
　Kahega　was　holding　a　crumpled　silver　ball　of　fabric　in　his　outstretched　hand；　the　other　porters　were　just　as　confused；　rummaging　through　their　loads；　looking　for　familiar　tent　poles　or　stakes；　finding　none。
　The　ERTS　camp　had　been　designed　under　contract　by　a　NASA　team　in　1977；　based　on　the　recognition　that　wilderness　expedition　equipment　was　fundamentally　unchanged　since　the　eighteenth　century。　〃Designs　for　modern　exploration　are　long　overdue；〃　ERTS　said；　and　asked　for　state…of　the…an　improvements　in　lightness；　fort；　and　efficiency　of　expedition　gear。　NASA　had　redesigned　everything；　from　clothing　and　boots　to　tents　and　cooking　gear；　food　and　menus；　first…aid　kits；　and　munications　systems　for　ERTS　wilderness　parties。
　The　redesigned　tents　were　typical　of　the'　NASA　approach。　NASA　had　determined　that　tent　weight　consisted　chiefly　of　the　structural　supports。　In　addition；　single…ply　tents　were　poorly　insulated。　If　tents　could　be　properly　insulated；　clothing　and　sleeping…bag　weight　could　be　reduced；　as　could　the　daily　caloric　requirements　of　expedition　members。　Since　air　was　an　excellent　insulator；　the　obvious　solution　was　an　unsupported；　pneumatic　tent：　NASA　designed　one　that　weighed　six　ounces。
　Using　a　little　hissing　foot　pump；　Ross　inflated　the　first　tent。　It　was　made　from　double…layer　silvered　Mylar；　and　looked　like　a　gleaming　ribbed　Quonset　hut。　The　porters　clapped　their　hands　with　delight；　Munro　shook　his　head；　amused；　Kahega　produced　a　small　silver　unit；　the　size　of　a　shoebox。　〃And　this；　Doctor？　What　is　this？〃
　〃We　won't　need　that　tonight。　That's　an　air　conditioner；〃　Ross　said。
　〃Never　go　anywhere　without　one；〃　Munro　said；　still　amused。
　Ross　glared　at　him。　〃Studies　show；〃　she　said；　〃that　the　single　greatest　factor　limiting　work　efficiency　is　ambient　temperature；　with　sleep　deprivation　as　the　second　factor。〃
　〃Really。〃
　Munro　laughed　and　looked　to　Elliot；　but　Elliot　was　studiously　examining　the　view　of　the　rain　forest　in　the　evening　sun。　Amy　came　up　and　tugged　at　his　sleeve。
　Woman　and　nosehair　man　fight；　she　signed。
　Amy　had　liked　Munro　from　the　beginning；　and　the　feeling　was　mutual。　Instead　of　patting　her　on　the　head　and　treating　her　like　a　child；　as　most　people　did；　Munro　instinctively　treated　her　like　a　female。　Then；　too；　he　had　been　around　enough　gorillas　to　have　a　feeling　for　their　behavior。　Although　he　didn't　know　ASL；　when　Amy　raised　her　arms；　he　understood　that　she　wanted　to　be　tickled；　and　would　oblige　her　for　a　few　moments；　while　she　rolled　grunting　with　pleasure　on　the　ground。
　But　Amy　was　always　distressed　by　conflict；　and　she　was　frowning　now。　〃They're　just　talking；〃　Elliot　assured　her。
　She　signed；　Amy　want　eat。
　〃In　a　minute。〃　Turning　back；　he　saw　Ross　setting　up　the　transmitting　equipment；　this　would　be　a　daily　ritual　during　the　rest　of　the　expedition；　and　one　which　never　failed　to　fascinate　Amy。　Altogether；　the　equipment　to　send　a　transmission　ten　thousand　miles　by　satellite　weighed　six　pounds；　and　the　electronic　countermeasures；　or　ECM　devices；　weighed　an　additional　three　pounds。
　First；　Ross　popped　open　the　collapsed　umbrella　of　the　silver　dish　antenna；　five　feet　in　diameter。　（Amy　particularly　liked　this；　as　each　day　progressed；　she　would　ask　Ross　when　she　would　〃open　metal　flower。〃）　Then　Ross　attached　the　transmitter　box；　plugging　in　the　krylon…cadmium　fuel　cells。　Next　she　linked　the　anti…jamming　modules；　and　finally　she　hooked　up　the　miniaturized　puter　terminal　with　its　tiny　keyboard　and　three…inch　video　screen。
　This　miniature　equipment　was　highly　sophisticated。　Ross's　puter　had　a　189K　memory　and　all　circuitry　was　redundant；　housings　were　hermetically　sealed　and　shockproof；　even　the　keyboard　was　impedance…operated；　so　there　were　no　moving　parts　to　get　gummed　up；　or　admit　water　or　dust。
　And　it　was　incredibly　rugged。　Ross　remembered　their　〃field　tests。〃　In　the　ERTS　parking　lot；　technicians　would　throw　new　equipment　against　the　wall；　kick　it　across　the　concrete；　and　leave　it　in　a　bucket　of　muddy　water　overnight。　Anything　found　working　the　next　day　was　certified　as　field…worthy。
　Now；　in　the　sunset　at　Moruti；　she　punched　in　code　coordinates　to　lock　the　transmission　to　Houston；　checked　signal　strength；　and　waited　the　six　minutes　until　the　transponders　matched　up。　But　the　little　screen　continued　to　show　only　gray　static；　with　intermittent　pulses　of　color。　That　meant　someone　was　jamming　them　with　a　〃symphony。〃
　In　ERTS　slang；　the　simplest　level　of　electronic　jamming　was　called　〃tuba。〃　Like　a　kid　next　door　practicing　his　tuba；　this　jamming　was　merely　annoying；　it　occurred　within　limited　frequencies；　and　was　often　random　or　accidental；　but　transmissions　could　generally　pass　through　it。　At　the　next　level　was　〃string　quartet；〃　where　multiple　frequencies　were　jammed　in　an　orderly　fashion；　next　was　〃big　band；〃　where　the　electronic　music　covered　a　wider　frequency　range；　and　finally　〃symphony；〃　where　virtually　the　full　transmission　range　was　blocked。
　Ross　was　now　getting　hit　by　a　〃symphony。〃　To　break　through　demanded　coordination　with　Houston…which　she　was　unable　to　arrange…but　ERTS　had　several　prearranged　routines。　She　tried　them　one　after　another　and　finally　broke　the　jamming　with　a　technique　called　interstitial　coding。　（Interstitial　coding　utilized　the　fact　that　even　dense　music　had　periods　of　silence；　or　interstices；　lasting　microseconds。　It　was　possible　to　monitor　the　jamming　signals；　identify　regularities　in　the　interstices；　and　then　transmit　in　bursts　during　the　silences。）
　Ross　was　gratified　to　see　the　little　screen　glow　in　a　multicolored　image…a　map　of　their　position　in　the　Congo。　She　punched　in　the　field　position　lock；　and　a　light　blinked　on　the　screen。　Words　appeared　in　〃shortline；〃　the　pressed　language　devised　for　small…screen　imagery。　F　I　L　D　TME…POSITN　CHEK；　PLS　CONFRM　LOCL　TME　18：04　H　6/17/79。　She　confirmed　that　it　was　indeed　just　after　6　P。M。　at　their　location。　Immediately；　overlaid　lines　produced　a　scrambled　pattern　as　their　Field　Time…Position　was　measured　against　the　puter　simulation　run　in　Houston　before　their　departure。
　Ross　was　prepared　for　bad　news。　According　to　her　mental　calculations；　they　had　fallen　some　seventy…odd　hours　behind　their　projected　timeline；　and　some　twenty…odd　hours　behind　the　consortium。
　Their　original　plan　had　called　for　them　to　jump　onto　the　slopes　of　Mukenko　at　2　P。M。　on　June　17；　arriving　at　Zinj　approximately　thirty…six　hours　later；　around　midday　of　June　19。　This　would　have　put　them　onsite　nearly　two　days　before　the　consortium。
　However；　the　SAM　attack　forced　them　to　jump　eighty　miles　south　of　their　intended　drop　zone。　The　jungle　terrain　before　them　was　varied；　and　they　could　expect　to　pick　up　time　rafting　on　rivers；　but　it　would　still　take　a　minimum　of　three　days　to　go　eighty　miles。
　That　meant　that　they　could　no　longer　expect　to　beat　the　consortium　to　the　site。　Instead　of　arriving　forty…eight　hours　ahead；　they　would　be　lucky　if　they　arrived　only　twenty…four　hours　too　late。
　To　her　surprise；　the　screen　blinked：　FILD　TME…POSITN　CHEK　：　…09　：　04　H　WEL　DUN。　They　were　only　nine　hours　off　their　simulation　timeline。
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃　Munro　asked；　looking　at　the　screen。
　There　was　only　one　possible　conclusion。　〃Something　has　slowed　the　consortium；〃　Ross　said。
　On　the　screen　they　read　EURO/NIP0N　C0NSRTIM　LEGL　TRUBL　GOMA　AIRPRT　ZAIR　THEIR　AIRCRFT　FOUND　RADIOACTIVE　TUF　LUK　FOR　THEM。
　〃Travis　has　been　working　back　in　Houston；〃　Ross　said。　She　could　imagine　what　it　must　have　cost　ERTS　to　put　in　the　fix　at　the　rural　airport　in　Goma。　〃But　it　means　we　can　still　do　it；　if　we　can　make　up　the　nine　hours。〃
　〃We　can　do　it；〃　Munro　said。
　
　In　the　light　of　the　setting　equatorial　sun；　Moruti　camp　gleamed　like　a　cluster　of　dazzling　jewels…a　silver　dish　antenna；　and　five　silver…domed　tents；　all　reflecting　the　fiery　sun。　Peter　Elliot　sat　on　the　hilltop　with　Amy　and　stared　at　the　rain　forest　spread　out　below　them。　As　night　fell；　the　first　hazy　strands　of　mist　appeared；　and　as　the　darkness　deepened　and　water　vapor　condensed　in　the　cooling　air；　the　forest　became　shrouded　in　dense；　darkening　fog。