michael crichton.congo-第27章

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　〃What's　wrong　with　the　Ragora　River？〃　Elliot　asked。
　〃Maybe　nothing；〃　Munro　said。　〃Depends　on　how　hard　it's　mined　lately。〃
　Ross　glanced　at　her　watch。　〃We're　now　twelve　hours　behind；〃　she　said。　〃The　only　thing　we　can　do　is　continue　straight　through　the　night　on　the　river。〃
　〃I'd　do　that　anyway；〃　Munro　said。
　Ross　had　never　heard　of　an　expedition　guide　leading　a　party　through　a　wilderness　area　at　night。　〃You　would？　Why？〃
　〃Because；〃　Munro　said；　〃the　obstacles　on　the　lower　river　will　be　much　easier　at　night。〃
　〃What　obstacles？〃
　〃We'll　discuss　them　when　we　e　to　them；〃　Munro　said。
　A　mile　before　they　reached　the　Ragora；　they　heard　the　distant　mar　of　powerful　water。　Amy　was　immediately　anxious；　signing　What　water？　again　and　again。　Elliot　tried　to　reassure　her；　but　he　was　not　inclined　to　do　much；　Amy　was　going　to　have　to　put　up　with　the　river；　despite　her　fears。
　But　when　they　got　to　the　Ragora　they　found　that　the　sound　came　from　tumbling　cataracts　somewhere　upstream；　directly　before　them；　the　river　was　fifty　feet　wide　and　a　placid　muddy　brown。
　〃Doesn't　look　too　bad；〃　Elliot　said。
　〃No；〃　Munro　said；　〃it　doesn't。〃
　But　Munro　understood　about　the　Congo。　The　fourth　largest　river　in　the　world　（after　the　Nile；　the　Amazon；　and　the　Yangize）　was　unique　in　many　ways。　It　twisted　like　a　giant　snake　across　the　face　of　Africa；　twice　crossing　the　equator…　the　first　time　going　north；　toward　Kisangani；　and　later　going　south；　at　Mbandaka。　This　fact　was　so　remarkable　that　even　a　hundred　years　ago　geographers　did　not　believe　it　was　true。
　Because　the　Congo　flowed　both　north　and　south　of　the　equator；　there　was　always　a　rainy　season　somewhere　along　its　path；　the　river　was　not　subject　to　the　seasonal　fluctuations　that　characterized　rivers　such　as　the　Nile。　The　Congo　poured　a　steady　1；500；000　cubic　feet　of　water　every　second　into　the　Atlantic　Ocean；　a　flow　greater　than　any　river　except　the　Amazon。
　But　this　tortuous　course　also　made　the　Congo　the　least　navigable　of　the　great　rivers。　Serious　disruptions　began　with　the　rapids　of　Stanley　Pool；　three　hundred　miles　from　the　Atlantic。　Two　thousand　miles　inland；　at　Kisangani；　where　the　river　was　still　…a　mile　wide；　the　Wagenia　Cataract　blocked　all　navigation。　And　as　one　moved　farther　upriver　along　the　fan　of　tributaries；　the　impediments　became　even　more　pronounced；　for　above　Kisangani　the　tributaries　were　descending　rapidly　into　the　low　jungle　from　their　sources…the　highland　savannahs　to　the　south；　and　the　16；000…foot　snowcapped　Ruwenzori　Mountains　to　the　east。
　The　tributaries　cut　a　series　of　gorges；　the　most　striking　of　which　was　the　Portes　d'Enfer…the　Gates　of　Hell…at　Kongolo。　Here　the　placid　Lualàba　River　funneled　through　a　gorge　half　a　mile　deep　and　a　hundred　yards　wide。
　The　Ragora　was　a　minor　tributary　of　the　Lualaba；　which　it　joined　near　Kisangani。　The　tribes　along　the　river　referred　to　it　as　baratawani；　〃the　deceitful　road；〃　for　the　Ragora　was　notoriously　changeable。　Its　principal　feature　was　the　Ragora　Gorge；　a　limestone　cut　two　hundred　feet　deep　and　in　places　only　ten　feet　wide。　Depending　on　recent　rainfall；　the　Ragora　Gorge　was　either　a　pleasant　scenic　spectacle　or　a　boiling　whitewater　nightmare。
　At　Abutu；　they　were　still　fifteen　miles　upriver　from　the　gorge；　and　conditions　on　the　river　told　them　nothing　about　conditions　within　the　gorge。　Munro　knew　all　that；　but　he　did　not　feel　it　necessary　to　explain　it　to　Elliot；　particularly　since　at　the　moment　Elliot　was　fully　occupied　with　Amy。
　
　
　
　Amy　had　watched　with　growing　uneasiness　as　Kahega's　men　inflated　the　two　Zodiac　rafts。　She　tugged　Elliot's　sleeve　and　demanded　to　know　What　balloons？
　〃They're　boats；　Amy；〃　he　said；　although　he　sensed　she　had　already　figured　that　out；　and　was　being　euphemistic。　〃Boat〃　was　a　word　she　had　learned　with　difficulty；　since　she　disliked　water；　she　had　no　interest　in　anything　intended　to　ride　upon　it。
　Why　boat？　she　asked。
　〃We　ride　boat　now；〃　Elliot　said。
　Indeed；　Kahega's　men　were　pushing　the　boats　to　the　edge　of　the　water；　and　loading　the　equipment　on；　lashing　it　to　the　rubber　stanchions　at　the　gunwales。　…
　Who　ride？　she　asked。
　〃We　all　ride；〃　Elliot　said。
　Amy　watched　a　moment　longer。　Unfortunately；　everyone　was　nervous；　Munro　barking　orders；　the　men　working　hastily。　As　she　had　often　shown；　Amy　was　sensitive　to　the　moods　of　those　around　her。　Elliot　always　remembered　how　she　had　insisted　that　something　was　wrong　with　Sarah　Johnson　for　days　before　Sarah　finally　told　the　Project　Amy　staff　that　she　had　split　up　with　her　husband。　Now　Elliot　was　certain　that　Amy　sensed　their　apprehension。　Cross　water　in　boat？　she　asked。
　〃No；　Amy；〃　he　said。　〃Not　cross。　Ride　boat。〃
　No；　Amy　signed；　stiffening　her　back；　tightening　her　shoulders。
　〃Amy；〃　he　said；　〃we　can't　leave　you　here。〃
　She　had　a　solution　for　that。　Other　people　go。　Peter　stay　Amy。
　〃I'm　sorry；　Amy；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　to　go。　You　have　to　go。〃
　No；　she　signed。　Amy　no　go。
　〃Yes；　Amy。〃　He　went　to　his　pack　and　got　his　syringe　and　a　bottle　of　Thoralen。
　With　her　body　stiff　and　angry；　she　tapped　the　underside　of　her　chin　with　a　clenched　fist。
　〃Watch　your　language；　Amy；〃　he　warned　her。
　Ross　came　over　with　orange　life　vests　for　him　and　Amy。
　〃Something　wrong？〃
　〃She's　swearing；〃　Elliot　said。　〃Better　leave　us　alone。〃　Ross　took　one　look　at　Amy's　tense；　rigid　body；　and　left　hurriedly。
　Amy　signed　Peter's　name；　then　tapped　the　underside　of　her　chin　again。　This　was　the　Ameslan　sign　politely　translated　in　scholarly　reports　as　〃dirty；〃　although　it　was　most　often　employed　by　apes　when　they　needed　to　go　to　the　potty。　Primate　investigators　were　under　no　illusions　about　what　the　animals　really　meant。　Amy　was　saying；　Peter　shiny。
　Nearly　all　language…skilled　primates　swore；　and　they　employed　a　variety　of　words　for　swearing。　Sometimes　the　pejorative　seemed　to　be　chosen　at　random；　〃nut〃　or　〃bird〃
　or　〃wash。〃　But　at　least　eight　primates　in　different　laboratories　had　independently　settled　on　the　clenched…fist　sign　to　signify　extreme　displeasure。　The　only　reason　this　remarkable　coincidence　hadn't　been　written　up　was　that　no　investigator　was　willing　to　try　and　explain　it。　It　seemed　to　prove　that　apes；　like　people；　found　bodily　excretions　suitable　terms　to　express　denigration　and　anger。
　Peter　shitty。　she　signed　again。
　〃Amy。。　。〃　He　doubled　the　Thoralen　dose　he　was　drawing　into　the　syringe。
　Peter　shiny　boat　shiny　people　shiny。
　〃Amy；　cut　it　out。〃　He　stiffened　his　own　body　and　hunched　over；　imitating　a　gorilla's　angry　posture；　that　often　made　her　back　off；　but　this　time　it　had　no　effect。
　Peter　no　like　Amy。　Now　she　was　sulking；　turned　away　from　him；　signing　to　nobody。
　〃Don't　be　ridiculous；〃　Elliot　said；　approaching　her　with　the　syringe　held　ready。　〃Peter　like　Amy。〃
　She　backed　away　and　would　not　let　him　e　close　to　her。　In　the　end　he　was　forced　to　load　the　CO2　gun　and　shoot　a　dart　into　her　chest。　He　had　only　done　this　three　or　four　times　in　all　their　years　together。　She　plucked　out　the　dart　with　a　sad　expression。　Peter　no　like　Amy。
　〃Sorry；〃　Peter　Elliot　said；　and　ran　forward　to　catch　her　as　her　eyes　rolled　back　and　she　collapsed　into　his　arms。
　
　Amy　lay　on　her　back　in　the　second　boat　at　Elliot's　feet；　breathing　shallowly。　Ahead；　Elliot　saw　Munro　standing　in　the　first　boat；　leading　the　way　as　the　Zodiacs　slid　silently　downstream。
　Munro　had　divided　the　expedition　into　two　rafts　of　six　each；　Munro　went　in　the　first；　and　Elliot；　Ross；　and　Amy　went　in　the　second；　under　Kahega's　mand。　As　Munro　put　it；　the　second　boat　would　〃learn　from　our　misfortunes。〃
　But　for　the　first　two　hours　on　the　Ragora；　there　were　no　misfortunes。　It　was　an　extraordinarily　peaceful　experience　to　sit　in　the　front　of　the　boat　and　watch　the　jungle　on　both　sides　of　the　river　glide　past　them　in　timeless；　hypnotic　silence。　It　was　idyllic；　and　very　hot；　Ross　began　to　trail　her　hand　over　the　side　in　the　muddy　water；　until　Kahega　put　a　stop　to　it。
　〃Where　there　is　water；　there　is　always　mambo；〃　he　said。　Kahega　pointed　to　the　muddy　'banks；　where　crocodiles　basked　in　the　sunshine；　indifferent　to　their　approach。　Occasionally　one　of　the　huge　reptiles　yawned；　lifting　jagged　jaws　into　the　air；　but　for　the　most　part　they　seemed　sluggish；　hardly　noticing　the　boats。
　Elliot　was　secretly　disappointed。　He　had　grown　up　on　the　jungle　movies　where　the　crocodiles　slithered　menacingly　into　the　water　at　the　first　approach　of　boats。　〃Aren't　they　going　to　bother　us？〃　he　asked。
　〃Too　hot；〃　Kahega　said。　〃Mambo　sleepy　except　at　cool　times；　eat　morning　and　night；　not　now。　In　daytime；　Kikuyu　say　mambo　have　joined　army；　one…two…three…four。〃　And　he　laughed。
　It　took　some　explaining　before　it　was　clear　that　Kahega's　tribesmen　had　noticed　that　during　the　day　the　crocodiles　did　pushups；　periodically　lifting　their　heavy　bodies　off　the　ground　on　their　stubby　legs　in　a　movement　that　reminded　Kahega　of　army　calisthenics。
　〃What　is　Munro　so　worried　about？〃　Elliot　asked。　〃The　crocodiles？〃
　〃No；〃　Kahega　said。
　〃The　Ragora　Gorge？〃
　〃No；〃　Kahega　said。
　〃Then　what？〃
　〃After　the　gorge；〃　Kahega　said。
　Now　the　Ragora　twisted；　and　they　came　around　a　bend；　and　they　heard　the　growing　roar　of　the　water。　Elliot　felt　the　boat　gathering　speed；　the　water　rippling　along　the　rubber　gunwales。　Kahega　shouted；　〃Hold　fast；　Doctors！〃
　And　they　were　into　the　gorge。
　
　Afterward；　Elliot　had　only　fragmented；　kaleidoscopic　impressions：　the　churning　muddy　water　that　boiled　white　in　the　sunlight；　the　erratic　wrenching　of　his　own　boat；　and　the　way　Munro's　boat　up　ahead　seemed　to　reel　and　upend；　yet　miraculously　remain　upright。
　They　were　moving　so　fast　it　was　hard　to　focus　on　the　passing　blur　of　craggy　red　canyon　walls；　bare　rock　except　for　sparse　green　clinging　scrub；　the　hot　humid　air　and　the　shockingly　cold　muddy　water　that　smashed　over　them；　drenching　them　time　and　again；　the　pure　white　surge　of　water　boiling　around　the　black　protruding　rocks；　like　the　bald　heads　of　drowned　men。
　Everything　was　happening　too　fast。
　Ahead；　Munro's　boat　was　often　lost　from　sight　for　minutes　at　a　time；　concealed　by　giant　standing　waves　of　leaping；　roaring　muddy　water。　The　roar　echoed　off　the　rock　walls；　reverberating；　being　a　constant　feature　of　their　world；　in　the　depths　of　the　gorge；　where　the　afternoon　sun　did　not　reach　the　narrow　strip　of　dark　water；　the　boats　moved　through　a　rushing；　churning　inferno；　careening　off　rocky　walls；　spinning　end　around　end；　while　the　boatmen　shouted　and　cursed　and　fended　off　the　rock　walls　with　paddles。
　Amy　lay　on　her　back；　lashed　to　the　side　of　the　boat；　and　Elliot　was　in　constant　fear　that　she　would　drown　from　the　muddy　waves　that　crashed　over　the　gunwales。　Not　that　Ross　was　doing　much　better；　she　kept　repeating　〃Oh　my　God　oh　my　God　oh　my　God〃　over　and　over；　in　a　low　monotone；　as　the　water　smashed　down　on　them　in　successive　waves；　soaking　them　to　the　skin。
　Other　indignities　were　forced　upon　them　by　nature。　Even　in　the　boiling；　pounding　heart　of　the　gorge；　black　clouds　of　mosquitoes　hung　in　the　air；　stinging　them　again　and　again。　Somehow　it　did　not　seem　possible　that　there　could　be　mosquitoes　in　the　midst　of　the　roaring　chaos　of　the　Ragora　Gorge；　but　they　were　there。　The　boats　moved　with　gut…wrenching　fury　through　the　standing　waves；　and　in　the　gro