michael crichton.congo-第29章

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　A　moment　later；　the　aircraft　droned　onward　to　the　north；　out　of　sight；　a　final　missile　with　a　red…hot　tail　chasing　after　it；　but　it　was　gone　over　the　jungle　trees；　and　he　listened　to　the　distant　explosion　of　the　missile。
　〃Probably　got　through；〃　Munro　said；　standing。　〃We'd
　better　move　on。〃　And　he　shouted　in　Swahili　for　Kahega　to　put　the　men　on　the　river　once　more。
　
　2。Mukenko
　
　ELLIOT　SHIVERED；　ZIPPED　HIS　PARKA　TIGHTER；　AND　waited　for　the　hailstorm　to　stop。　They　were　huddled　beneath　a　stand　of　evergreen　trees　above　8；000　feet　on　the　alpine　slopes　of　Mount　Mukenko。　It　was　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　the　air　temperature　was　38　degrees。　Five　hours　before；　they　had　left　the　river　behind　and　begun　their　pre…dawn　climb　in　100…degree　steaming　jungle。
　Alongside　him；　Amy　watched　the　golf　ball…sized　white　pellets　bounce　on　the　grass　and　slap　the　branches　of　the　tree　over　their　heads。　She　had　never　seen　hail　before。
　She　signed；　What　name？
　〃Hail；〃　he　told　her。
　Peter　make　stop。
　〃I　wish　I　could；　Amy。〃
　She　watched　the　hail　for　a　moment；　then　signed；　Amy　want　go　home。
　She　had　begun　talking　about　going　home　the　night　before。　Although　the　Thoralen　had　worn　off；　she　remained　depressed　and　withdrawn。　Elliot　had　offered　her　some　food　to　cheer　her　up。　She　signed　that　she　wanted　milk。　When　he　told　her　they　…had　none　（which　she　knew。　perfectly　well）；　she　signed　that　she　wanted　a　banana。　Kahega　had　produced　a　bunch　of　small；　slightly　sour　jungle　bananas。　Amy　had　eaten　them　without　objection　on　previous　days。　but　she　now　threw　them　into　the　water　contemptuously；　signing　she　wanted　〃real　bananas。〃
　When　Elliot　told　her　that　they　had　no　real　bananas；　she　signed；　Amy　want　go　home。
　〃We　can't　go　home　now；　Amy。〃
　Amy　good　gorilla　Peter　take　Amy　home。
　She　had　only　known　him　as　the　person　in　charge；　the　final　arbiter　of　her　daily　life　in　the　experimental　setting　of　Project　Amy。　He　could　think　of　no　way　to　make　clear　to　her　that　he　was　no　longer　in　charge；　and　'that　he　was　not　punishing　her　by　keeping　her　here。
　In　fact；　they　were　all　discouraged。　Each　of　the　expedition　members　had　looked　forward　to　escaping　the　oppressive　heat　of　the　rain　forest；　but　now　that　they　were　climbing　Mukenko；　their　enthusiasm　had　quickly　faded。　〃Christ；〃　Ross　said。　〃From　hippos　to　hail。〃
　As　if　on　cue；　the　hail　stopped。　〃All　right；〃　Munro　said；　〃let's　get　moving。〃
　
　
　
　
　Mukenko　had　never　been　climbed　until　1933。　In　1908；　a　German　party　under　von　Ranke　ran　into　storms　and　had　to　descend；　a　Belgian　team　in　1913　reached　10；000　feet　but　could　not　find　a　route　to　the　summit；　and　another　German　team　was　forced　to　quit　in　1919　when　two　team　members　fell　and　died；　about　12；000　feet。　Nevertheless　Mukenko　was　classified　as　a　fairly　easy　（non…technical）　climb　by　most　mountaineers；　who　generally　devoted　a　day　to　the　ascent；　after　1943；　a　new　route　up　the　southeast　was　found　which　was　frustratingly　slow　but　not　dangerous；　and　it　was　this　mute　that　most　climbers　followed。
　Above　9；000　feet；　the　pine　forest　disappeared　and　they　crossed　weak　grassy　fields　cloaked　in　chilly　mist；　the　air　was　thinner；　and　they　called　frequently　for　a　rest。　Munro　had　no　patience　with　the　plaints　of　his　charges。　〃What　did　you　expect？〃　he　demanded。　〃It's　a　mountain。　Mountains　are　high。〃　He　was　especially　merciless　with　Ross；　who　seemed　the　most　easily　fatigued。　〃What　about　your　timetable？〃　he　would　ask　her。　〃We're　not　even　to　the　difficult　part。　It's　not　even　interesting　until　eleven　thousand　feet。　You　quit　now　and　we'll　never　make　it　to　the　summit　before　nightfall；　and　that　means　we　lose　a　full　day。〃
　〃I　don't　care；〃　Ross　said　finally；　dropping　to　the　ground；　gasping　for　breath。
　〃Just　like　a　woman；〃　Munro　said　scornfully；　and　smiled　when　Ross　glared　at　him。　Munro　humiliated　them；　chided　them；　encouraged　them…and　somehow　kept　them　moving。
　Above　10；000　feet；　the　grass　disappeared　and　there　was　only　mossy　ground　cover；　they　came　upon　the　solitary　peculiar　fat…leafed　lobelia　trees；　emerging　suddenly　from　the　cold　gray　mist。　There　was　no　real　cover　between　10；000　feet　and　the　summit；　which　was　why　Munro　pushed　them；　he　did　not　want　to　get　caught　in　a　storm　on　the　barren　upper　slopes。
　The　sun　broke　out　at　11；000　feet；　and　they　stopped　to　position　the　second　of　the　directional　lasers　for　the　ERTS　laser…fix　system。　Ross　had　already　set　the　first　laser　several　miles　to　the　south　that　morning；　and　it　had　taken　thirty　minutes。
　The　second　laser　was　more　critical；　since　it　had　to　be　matched　to　the　first。　Despite　the　electronic　jamming；　the　transmitting　equipment　had　to　be　connected　with　Houston；　in　order　that　the　little　laser…it　was　the　size　of　a　pencil　eraser；　mounted　on　a　tiny　steel　tripod…could　be　accurately　aimed。　The　two　lasers　on　the　volcano　were　positioned　so　that　their　beams　crossed　many　miles　away；　above　the　jungle。　And　if　Ross's　calculations　were　correct；　that　intersection　point　was　directly　over　the　city　of　Zinj。
　
　Elliot　wondered　if　they　were　inadvertently　assisting　the　consortium；　but　Ross　said　no。　〃Only　at　night；〃　she　said；　〃when　they　aren't　moving。　During　the　day；　they　won't　be　able　to　lock　on　our　beacons…that's　the　beauty　of　the　system。〃
　Soon　they　smelled　sulfurous　volcanic　fumes　drifting　down　from　the　summit；　now　1；500　feet　above　them。　Up　here　there　was　no。　vegetation　at　all；　only　bare　hard　rock　and　scattered　patches　of　snow　tinged　yellow　from　the　sulfur。　The　sky　was　clear　dark　blue；　and　they　had　spectacular　views　of　the　south　Virunga　range…the　great　cone　of　Nyiragongo；　rising　steeply　from　the　deep　green　of　the　Congo　forests；　and；　beyond　that；　Mukenko；　shrouded　in　fog。
　The　last　thousand　feet　were　the　most　difficult；　particularly　for　Amy；　who　had　to　pick　her　way　barefoot　among　the　sharp　lava　rocks。　Above　12；000　feet；　the　ground　was　loose　volcanic　scree。　They　reached　the　summit　at　five　in　the　afternoon；　and　gazed　over　the　eight…mile…wide　lava　lake　and　smoking　crater　of　the　volcano。　Elliot　was　disappointed　in　the　landscape　of　black　rock　and　gray　steam　clouds。　〃Wait　until　night；〃　Munro　said。
　That　night　the　lava　glowed　in　a　network　of　hot　red　through　the　broken　dark　crust；　hissing　red　steam　slowly　lost　its　color　as　it　rose　into　the　sky。　On　the　crater　rim；　their　little　tents　reflected　the　red　glow　of　the　lava。　lb　the　west　scattered　clouds　were　silver　in　the　moonlight；　and　beneath　them　the　Congo　Jungle　stretched　away　for　miles。　They　could　see　the　straight　green　laser　beams；　intersecting　over　the　black　forest。　With　any　luck　they　would　reach　that　intersection　tomorrow。
　Ross　connected　her　transmitting　equipment　to　make　the　nightly　report　to　Houston。　After　the　regular　six…minute　delay；　the　signal　linked　directly　through　to　Houston；　without　interstitial　encoding　or　other　evasive　techniques。
　〃Hell；〃　Munro　said。
　〃But　what　does　it　mean？〃　Elliot　asked。
　〃It　means；〃　Munro　said　gloomily。　〃the　consortium　has　stopped　jamming　us。〃
　〃Isn't　that　good？〃
　〃No；〃　Ross　said。　〃It's　bad。　They　must　already　be　on　the　site；　and　they've　found　the　diamonds。〃　She　shook　her　head；　and　adjusted　the　video　screen：
　
　HUSTN　CONFRMS　CONSRTUM　ONSITE　ZINJ　PROBABILITY　1。000。　TAK　NO　FURTHR　RSKS。　SITUTN　HOPELSS。
　
　〃I　can't　believe　it；〃　Ross　said。　〃It's　all　over。〃
　Elliot　sighed。　〃My　feet　hurt；〃　he　said。
　〃I'm　tired；〃　Munro　said。
　〃The　hell　with　it；〃　Ross　said。
　Utterly　exhausted；　they　all　went　to　bed。
　
　DAY　8：　KANYAMAGUFA
　June　20；　1979
　
　1。　Descent
　
　EVERYONE　SLEPT　LATE　ON　THE　MORNING　OF　JUNE　20。　They　had　a　leisurely　breakfast；　taking　the　time　to　cook　a　hot　meal。　They　relaxed　in　the　sun；　and　played　with　Amy；　who　was　delighted　by　this　unexpected　attention。　It　was　past　ten　o'clock　before　they　started　down　Mukenko　to　the　jungle。
　Because　the　western　slopes　of　Mukenko　are　sheer　and　impassible；　they　descended　inside　the　smoking　volcanic　crater　to　a　depth　of　half　a　mile。　Munro　led　the　way；　carrying　a　porter's　load　on　his　head；　Asari；　the　strongest　porter；　had　to　carry　Amy；　because　the　rocks　were　much　too　hot　for　her　bare　feet。
　Amy　was　terrified；　and　regarded　the　human　persons　trekking　single…file　down　the　steep　inner　cone　to　be　mad。　Elliot　was　not　sure　she　was　wrong：　the　heat　was　intense；　as　they　approached　the　lava　lake；　the　acrid　fumes　made　eyes　water　and　nostrils　burn；　they　heard　the　lava　pop　and　crackle　beneath　the　heavy　black　crust。
　Then　they　reached　the　formation　called　Naragema…the　Devil's　Eye。　It　was　a　natural　arch　150　feet　high；　and　so　smooth　it　appeared　polished　on　the　inside。　Through　this　arch　a　fresh　breeze　blew；　and　they　saw　the　green　jungle　below。　They　paused　to　rest　in　the　arch；　and　Ross　examined　the　smooth　inner　surface。　It　was　part　of　a　lava　tube　formed　in　some　earlier　eruption；　the　main　body　of　the　tube　had　been　blown　away；　leaving　just　the　slender　arch。
　〃They　call　it　the　Devil's　Eye；〃　Munro　said；　〃because　from　below；　during　an　eruption；　it　glows　like　a　red　eye。〃
　From　the　Devil's　Eye　they　descended　rapidly　through　an　alpine　zone；　and　from　there　across　the　unworldly　jagged　terrain　of　a　recent　lava　flow。　Here　they　encountered　black　craters　of　scorched　earth；　some　as　deep　as　five　or　six　feet。　Munro's　first　thought　was　that　the　Zaire　army　had　used　this　field　for　mortar　practice。　But　on　closer　examination；　they　saw　a　scorched　pattern　etched　into　the　rock；　extending　like　tentacles　outward　from　the　craters。　Munro　had　never　seen　anything　like　it；　Ross　immediately　set　up　her　antenna；　hooked　in　the　puter；　and　got　in　touch　with　Houston。　She　seemed　very　excited。
　The　party　rested　while　she　reviewed　the　data　on　the　little　screen；　Munro　said；　〃What　are　you　asking　them？〃
　〃The　date　of　the　last　Mukenko　eruption；　and　the　local　weather。　It　was　in　March…Do　you　know　somebody　named　Seamans？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Elliot　said。　〃Tom　Seamans　is　the　puter　programmer　for　Project　Amy。　Why？〃
　〃There's　a　message　for　you；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　the　screen。
　Elliot　came　around　to　look：　SEMNS　MESG　FOR　ELYT　STNDBY。
　〃What's　the　message？〃　Elliot　asked。
　〃Push　the　transmit　button；〃　she　said。
　He　pushed　the　button　and　the　message　flashed：　REVUWD　ORGNL　TAPE　HUSTNNUN　
　〃I　don't　understand；〃　Elliot　said。　Ross　explained　that　the　〃M〃　meant　that　there　was　more　message；　and　he　had　to　press　the　transmit　button　again。　He　pushed　the　button　several　times　before　he　got　the　message；　which　in　its　entirety　read：
　REVUWO　ORGNL　TAPE　HUSTN　NU　FINDNG　RE　AURL　SIGNL　INFO…PUTR　ANLYSS　PLTE　THNK　ITS　LNGWGE。
　Elliot　found　he　could　read　the　pressed　shortline　language　by　speaking　it　aloud：　〃Reviewed　original　tape　Houston；　new　finding　regarding　aural　signal　information；　puter　analysis　plete　think　it's　language。〃　He　frowned。　〃Language？〃
　Ross　said；　〃Didn't　you　ask　him　to　review　Houston's　original　tape　material　from　the　Congo？〃
　〃Yes；　but　that　was　for　visual　identification　of　the　animal　on　the　screen。　I　never　said　anything　to　him　about　aural　information。〃　Elliot　shook　his　head。　〃I　wish　I　could　talk　to　him。〃
　〃You　can；〃　Ross　said。　〃If　you　don't　mind　waking　him　up。〃　She　pushed　the　interlock　button；　and　fifteen　minutes　later　Elliot　typed；　Hello　Tom　How　Are　You？　The　screen　printed　HLO　TOM　HOURU。
　〃We　don't　usually　waste　satellite　time　with　that　kind　of　thing；〃　Ross　said。
　The　screen　printed　SLEPY　WHRERU。
　He　typed；　Virunga。　VIRNGA。
　〃Travis　is　going　to　scre