michael crichton.congo-第34章

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　〃It's　awful；〃　Ross　said。　She　seemed　genuinely　affected　with　human　feeling　and　instinctively　Elliot　turned　to　fort　her；　but　she　continued；　〃The　whole　expedition　is　falling　apart。　Ifs　awful。　We　have　to　hold　it　together　somehow；　or　we'll　never　find　the　diamonds。〃
　〃Is　that　all　you　care　about？〃
　〃Well；　they　do　have　insurance。　。　。
　〃For　Christ's　sake；〃　Elliot　said。
　〃You're　just　upset　because　you've　lost　your　damned　monkey；〃　Ross　said。　〃Now　get　hold　of　yourself。　They're　watching　us。〃
　The　Kikuyu　were　indeed　watching　Ross　and　Elliot；　trying　to　sense　the　drift　of　sentiment。　But　they　all　knew　that　the　real　negotiations　were　between　Munro　and　Kahega；　standing　off　to　one　side。　Several　minutes　later　Kahega　returned；　wiping　his　eyes。　He　spoke　quickly　to　his　remaining　brothers；　and　they　nodded。　He　turned　back　to　Munro。
　〃We　stay；　boss。〃
　〃Good；〃　Munro　said；　immediately　resuming　his　former　imperious　tone。　〃Bring　the　paddles。〃
　When　they　were　brought；　Munro　placed　the　paddles　to　either　side　of　Malawi's　head。　They　fitted　the　semicircular　indentations　on　the　head　perfectly。
　Munro　then　said　something　quickly　to　Kahega　in　Swahili；　and　Kahega　said　something　to　his　brothers；　and　they　nodded。　Only　then　did　Munro　take　the　next　horrible　step。　He　raised　his　arms　wide；　and　then　swung　the　paddles　back　hard　against　the　already　crushed　skull。　The　dull　sound　was　sickening；　droplets　of　blood　spattered　over　his　shirt；　but　he　did　not　further　damage　the　skull。
　〃A　man　hasn't　the　strength　to　do　this；〃　Munro　said　flatly。　He　looked　up　at　Peter　Elliot。　〃Care　to　try？〃
　Elliot　shook　his　head。
　Munro　stood。　〃Judging　by　the　way　he　fell；　Malawi　was　standing　when　it　happened。〃　Munro　faced　Elliot；　looking　him　in　the　eye。　〃Large　animal；　the　size　of　a　man。　Large；　strong　animal。　A　gorilla。〃
　Elliot　had　no　reply。
　
　There　is　no　doubt　that　Peter　Elliot　felt　a　personal　threat　in　these　developments；　although　not　a　threat　to　his　safety。　〃I　simply　couldn't　accept　it；〃　he　said　later。　〃I　knew　my　field；　and　I　simply　couldn't　accept　the　idea　of　some　unknown；　radically　violent　behavior　displayed　by　gorillas　in　the　wild。　And　in　any　case；　it　didn't　make　sense。　Gorillas　making　stone　paddles　that　they　used　to　crush　human　skulls？　It　was　impossible。〃
　After　examining　the　body；　Elliot　went　to　the　stream　to　wash　the　blood　from　his　hands。　Once　alone；　away　from　the　others；　he　found　himself　staring　into　the　clear　running　water　and　considering　the　possibility　that　he　might　be　wrong。　Certainly　primate　researchers　had　a　long　history　of　misjudging　their　subjects。
　Elliot　himself　had　helped　eradicate　one　of　the　most　famous　misconceptions…the　brutish　stupidity　of　the　gorilla。　In　their　first　descriptions；　Savage　and　Wyman　had　written；　〃This　animal　exhibits　a　degree　of　intelligence　inferior　to　that　of　the　Chimpanzee；　this　might　be　expected　from　its　wider　departure　from　the　organization　of　the　human　subject。〃　Later　observers　saw　the　gorilla　as　〃savage；　morose；　and　brutal。〃　But　now　there　was　abundant　evidence　from　field　and　laboratory　studies　that　the　gorilla　was　in　many　ways　brighter　than　the　chimpanzee。
　Then；　too；　there　were　the　famous　stories　of　chimpanzees　kidnapping　and　eating　human　infants。　For　decades；　primate　researchers　had　dismissed　such　native　tales　as　〃wild　and　superstitious　fantasy。〃　But　there　was　no　longer　any　doubt　that　chimpanzees　occasionally　kidnapped…and　ate…human　infants；　when　Jane　Goodall　studied　Gombe　chimpanzees；　she　locked　away　her　own　infant　to　prevent　his　being　taken　and　killed　by　the　chimps。
　Chimpanzees　hunted　a　variety　of　animals；　according　to　a　plicated　ritual。　And　field　studies　by　Dian　Fossey　suggested　that　gorillas　also　hunted　from　time　to　time；　killing　small　game　and　monkeys；　whenever…　He　heard　a　rustling　in　the　bushes　across　the　stream；　and　an　enormous　silverback　male　gorilla　reared　up　in　chest…high　foliage。　Peter　was　startled；　although　as　soon　as　he　got　over　his　fright　he　realized　that　he　was　safe。　Gorillas　never　crossed　open　water；　even　a　small　stream。　Or　was　that　a　misconception；　too？
　The　male　stared　at　him　across　the　water。　There　seemed　to　be　no　threat　in　his　gaze；　just　a　kind　of　watchful　curiosity。　Elliot　smelled　the　musty　odor　of　the　gorilla；　and　he　heard　the　breath　hiss　through　his　flattened　nostrils。　He　was　wondering　what　he　should　do　when　suddenly　the　gorilla　crashed　noisily　away　through　the　underbrush；　and　was　gone。
　This　encounter　perplexed　him；　and　he　stood；　wiping　the　sweat　from　his　face。　Then　he　realized　that　there　was　still　movement　in　the　foliage　across　the　stream。　After　a　moment；　another　gorilla　rose　up；　this　one　smaller：　a　female；　he　thought；　though　he　couldn't　be　sure。　The　new　gorilla　gazed　at　him　as　implacably　as　the　first。　Then　the　hand　moved。
　Peter　e　give　tickle。
　〃Amy！〃　he　shouted；　and　a　moment　later　he　had　splashed　across　the　stream；　and　she　had　leapt　into　his　arms；　hugging　him　and　delivering　sloppy　wet　kisses　and　grunting　happily。
　
　Amy's　unexpected　return　to　camp　nearly　got　her　shot　by　the　jumpy　Kikuyu　porters。　Only　by　blocking　her　body　with　his　own　did　Elliot　prevent　gunfire。　Twenty　minutes　later；　however；　everyone　had　adjusted　to　her　presence…and　Amy　promptly　began　making　demands。
　She　was　unhappy　to　learn　that　they　had　not　acquired　milk　or　cookies　in　her　absence；　but　when　Munro　produced　the　bottle　of　warm　Dom　Perignon；　she　agreed　to　accept　champagne　instead。
　They　all　sat　around　her；　drinking　champagne　from　tin　cups。　Elliot　was　glad　for　the　mitigating　presence　of　the　others；　for　now　that　Amy　was　sitting　there；　safely　restored　to　him；　calmly　sipping　her　champagne　and　signing　Tickle　drink　Amy　like；　he　found　himself　overe　with　anger　toward　her。
　Munro　grinned　at　Elliot　as　he　gave　him　his　champagne。　〃Calmly；　Professor；　calmly。　She's　just　a　child。〃
　〃The　hell　she　is；〃　Elliot　said。　He　conducted　the　subsequent　conversation　entirely　in　sign　language；　not　speaking。
　Amy；　he　signed。　Why　Amy　leave？
　She　buried　her　nose　in　her　cup；　singing　Tickle　drink　good　drink。
　Amy；　he　signed。　Amy　tell　Peter　why　leave。
　Peter　not　like　Amy。
　Peter　like　Amy。
　Peter　hurt　Amy　Peter　fly　ouch　pin　Amy　no　like　Peter　no　like　Amy　Amy　sad　sad。
　In　a　detached　corner　of　his　mind；　he　thought　he　would　have　to　remember　that　〃ouch　pin〃　had　now　been　extended　to　the　Thoralen　dart。　Her　generalization　pleased　him；　but　he　signed　sternly；　Peter　like　Amy。　Amy　know　Peter　like　Amy。　Amy　tell　Peter　why…　Peter　no　tickle　Amy　Peter　not　nice　Amy　Peter　not　nice　human　person　Peter　like　woman　no　like　Amy　Peter　not　like　Amy　Amy　sad　Amy　sad。
　This　increasingly　rapid　signing　was　itself　an　indication　that　she　was　upset。　Where　Amy　go？
　Amy　go　gorillas　good　gorillas。　Amy　like。
　Curiosity　overcame　his　anger。　Had　she　joined　a　troop　of　wild　gorillas　for　several　days？　If　so；　it　was　an　event　of　major　importance；　a　crucial　moment　in　modern　primate　history…　a　language…skilled　primate　had　joined　a　wild　troop　and　had　e　back　again。　He　wanted　to　know　more。
　Gorillas　nice　to　Amy？
　With　a　smug　look：　Yes。
　Amy　tell　Peter。
　She　stared　off　into　the　distance；　not　answering。
　To　catch　her　attention　Elliot　snapped　his　fingers。　She　turned　to　him　slowly；　her　expression　bored。
　Amy　tell　Peter；　Amy　stay　gorillas？
　Yes。
　In　her　indifference　was　the　clear　recognition　that　Elliot　was　desperate　to　learn　what　she　knew。　Amy　was　always　very　astute　at　recognizing　when　she　had　the　upper　hand…and　she　had　it　now。
　Amy　tell　Peter；　he　signed　as　calmly　as　he　could。
　Good　gorillas　like　Amy　Amy　good　gorilla。
　That　told　him　nothing　at　all。　She　was　posing　phrases　by　rote：　another　way　of　ignoring　him。
　Amy。
　She　glanced　at　him。
　Amy　tell　Peter。　Amy　e　see　gorillas？
　Yes。
　Gorillas　do　what？
　Gorillas　sniff　Amy。
　All　gorillas？
　Big　gorillas　white　back　gorillas　sniff　Amy　baby　sniff　Amy　all　gorillas　sniff　gorillas　like　Amy。
　So　silverback　males　had　sniffed　her；　then　infants；　then　all　the　members　of　the　troop。　That　much　was　clear…remarkably　clear；　he　thought；　making　a　mental　note　of　her　extended　syntax。　Afterward　had　she　been　accepted　in　the　troop？　He　signed；　What　happen　Amy　then？
　Gorillas　give　food。
　What　food？
　No　name　Amy　food　give　food。
　Apparently　they　had　shown　her　food。　Or　had　they　actually　fed　her？　Such　a　thing　had　never　been　reported　in　the　wild；　but　then　no　one　had　ever　witnessed　the　introduction　of　a　new　animal　into　a　troop。　She　was　a　female；　and　nearly　of　productive　age。
　What　gorillas　give　food？
　All　give　food　Amy　take　food　Amy　like。
　Apparently　it　was　not　males；　or　males　exclusively。　But　what　had　caused　her　acceptance？　Granted　that　gorilla　troops　were　not　as　closed　to　outsiders　as　monkey　troops…what　actually　had　happened？
　Amy　stay　with　gorillas？
　Gorillas　like　Amy。
　Yes。　What　Amy　do？
　Amy　sleep　Amy　eat　Amy　live　gorillas　gorillas　good　gorillas　Amy　like。
　So　she　had　joined　in　the　life　of　the　troop；　living　the　daily　existence。　Had　she　been　totally　accepted？
　Amy　like　gorillas？
　Gorillas　dumb。
　Why　dumb？
　Gorillas　no　talk。
　No　talk　sign　talk？
　Gorillas　no　talk。
　Evidently　she　had　experienced　frustration　with　the　gorillas　because　they　did　not　know　her　sign　language。　（Language　using　primates　were　monly　frustrated　and　annoyed　when　thrown　among　animals　who　did　not　understand　the　signs。）
　Gorillas　nice　to　Amy？
　Gorillas　like　Amy　Amy　like　gorillas　like　Amy　like　gorillas。
　Why　Amy　e　back？
　Want　milk　cookies。
　〃Amy；〃　he　said；　〃you　know　we　don't　have　any　damn　milk　or　cookies。〃　His　sudden　verbalization　startled　the　others。　They　looked　questioningly　at　Amy。
　For　a　long　time　she　did　not　answer。　Amy　like　Peter。　Amy　sad　want　Peter。
　He　felt　like　crying。
　Peter　good　human　person。
　Blinking　his　eyes　he　signed；　Peter　tickle　Amy。　She　jumped　into　his　arms。
　
　Later；　he　questioned　her　in　more　detail。　But　it　was　a　painstakingly　slow　process；　chiefly　because　of　Amy's　difficulty　in　handling　concepts　of　time。
　Amy　distinguished　past；　present；　and　future…she　remembered　previous　events；　and　anticipated　future　promises…but　the　Project　Amy　staff　had　never　succeeded　in　teaching　her　exact　differentiations。　She　did　not；　for　example；　distinguish　yesterday　from　the　day　before。　Whether　this　reflected　a　failing　in　teaching　methods　or　an　innate　feature　of　Amy's　conceptual　world　was　an　open　question。　（There　was　evidence　for　a　conceptual　difference。　Amy　was　particularly　perplexed　by　spatial　metaphors　for　time；　such　as　〃that's　behind　us〃　or　〃that's　ing　up。〃　Her　trainers　conceived　of　the　past　as　behind　them　and　the　future　ahead。　But　Amy's　behavior　seemed　to　indicate　that　she　conceived　of　the　past　as　in　front　of　her…because　she　could　see　it…and　the　future　behind　her…　because　it　was　still　invisible。　Whenever　she　was　impatient　for　the　promised　arrival　of　a　friend；　she　repeatedly　looked　over　her　shoulder；　even　if　she　was　facing　the　door。）
　In　any　case；　the　time　problem　was　a　difficulty　in　talking　to　her　now；　and　Elliot　phrased　his　questions　carefully。　He　asked；　〃Amy；　what　happened　at　night？　With　the　gorillas？〃
　She　gave　him　the　look　she　always　gave　him　when　she　thought　a　question　was　obvious。　Amy　sleep　night。
　〃And　the　other　gorillas？〃　Gorillas　sleep　night。
　〃All　the　gorillas？〃　She　disdained　to　answer。
　〃Amy；〃　he　said；　〃gorillas　e　to　our　camp　at　night。〃　e　this　place？
　〃Yes；　this　place。　Gorillas　e　at　night。〃