michael crichton.congo-第39章

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　Munro　watched　the　foliage　move；；　and　heard　the　sighing。　He　could　only　guess　at　the　numbers　concealed　in　the　bush。　Twenty？　Thirty？　Too　many；　in　any　case。
　Kahega　pointed　up　the　hillside　to　a　track　that　ran　above　the　ravine。　〃Go　up　there？〃
　For　a　long　time；　Munro　did　not　answer。　Finally；　he　said；　〃No；　not　up　there。〃
　〃Then　where；　Captain？〃
　〃Back；〃　Munro　said。　〃We　go　back。〃
　When　they　turned　away　from　the　ravine；　the　sighing　faded　and　the　foliage　ceased　its　movement。　When　he　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　for　a　last　glimpse；　the　ravine　appeared　an　ordinary　passage　in　the　jungle；　without　threat　of　any　kind。　But　Munro　knew　the　truth。　They　could　not　leave。
　
　3。Return
　
　ELLIOT'S　IDEA　CAME　IN　A　FLASH　OF　INSIGHT。　〃IN　the　middle　of　the　camp；〃　he　later　related；　〃I　was　looking　at　Amy　signing　to　Kahega。　Amy　was　asking　him　for　a　drink；　but　Kahega　didn't　know　Ameslan；　and　he　kept　shrugging　helplessly。　It　occurred　to　me　that　the　linguistic　skill　of　the　gray　gorillas　was　both　their　great　advantage　and　their　Achilles'　heel。〃
　Elliot　proposed　to　capture　a　single　gray　gorilla；　learn　its　language；　and　use　that　language　to　establish　munication　with　the　other　animals。　Under　normal　circumstances　it　would　take　several　months　to　learn　a　new　ape　language；　but　Elliot　thought　he　could　do　it　in　a　matter　of　hours。
　Seamans　was　already　at　work　on　the　gray…gorilla　verbalizations；　all　he　needed　was　further　input。　But　Elliot　had　decided　that　the　gray　gorillas　employed　a　bination　of　spoken　sounds　and　sign　language。　And　the　sign　language　would　be　easy　to　work　out。
　Back　at　Berkeley；　Seamans　had　developed　a　puter　program　called　APE；　for　animal　pattern　explanation。　APE　was　capable　of　observing　Amy　and　assigning　meanings　to　her　signs。　Since　the　APE　program　utilized　declassified　army　software　subroutines　for　code…breaking；　it　was　capable　of　identifying　new　signs；　and　translating　these　as　well。　Although　APE　was　intended　to　work　with　Amy　in　ASL；　there　was　no　reason　why　it　would　not　work　with　an　entirely　new　language。
　If　they　could　forge　satellite　links　from　the　Congo　to　Houston　to　Berkeley；　they　could　feed　video　data　from　a　captive　animal　directly　into　the　APE　program。　And　APE　promised　a　speed　of　translation　far　beyond　the　capacity　of　any　human　observer。　（The　army　software　was　designed　to　break　enemy　codes　in　minutes。）
　Elliot　and　Ross　were　convinced　it　would　work；　Munro　was
　not。　He　made　some　disparaging　ments　about　interrogating　prisoners　of　war。　〃What　do　you　intend　to　do；〃　he　said；　〃torture　the　animal？〃
　〃We　will　employ　situational　stress；〃　Elliot　said；　〃to　elicit　language　usage。〃　He　was　laying　out　test　materials　on　the　ground：　a　banana；　a　bowl　of　water；　a　piece　of　candy；　a　stick；　a　succulent　vine；　stone　paddles。　〃We'll　scare　the　hell　out　of　her　if　we　have　to。〃
　〃Her？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Elliot　said；　loading　the　Thoralen　dart　gun。　〃Her。''
　
　4。Capture
　
　HE　WANTED　A　FEMALE　WITHOUT　AN　INFANT。　An　infant　would　create　difficulties。
　Pushing　through　waist…high　undergrowth；　he　found　himself　on　the　edge　of　a　sharp　ridge　and　saw　nine　animals　grouped　below　him：　two　males；　five　females；　and　two　juveniles。　They　were　foraging　through　the　jungle　twenty　feet　below。　He　watched　the　group　long　enough　to　be　sure　that　all　the　females　used　language；　and　that　there　were　no　infants　Concealed　in　the　foliage。　Then　he　waited　for　his　chance。
　The　gorillas　fed　casually　among　the　ferns；　plucking　up　tender　shoots；　which　they　chewed　lazily。　After　several　minutes；　one　female　moved　up　from　the　group　to　forage　nearer　the　top　of　the　ridge　where　he　was　crouching。　She　was　separated　from　the　rest　of　the　group　by　more　than　ten　yards。
　Elliot　raised　the　dart　pistol　in　both　hands　and　squinted　down　the　sight　at　the　female。　She　was　perfectly　positioned。
　He　watched；　squeezed　the　trigger　slowly…and　lost　his　footing　on　the　ridge。　He　fell　crashing　down　the　slope；　right　into　the　midst　of　the　gorillas。
　
　Elliot　lay　unconscious　on　his　back；　twenty　feet　below；　but　his　chest　was　moving；　and　his　arm　twitched；　Munro　felt　certain　that　he　was　all　right。　Munro　was　only　concerned　about　the　gorillas。
　The　gray　gorillas　had　seen　Elliot　fall　and　now　moved　toward　the　body。　Eight　or　nine　animals　clustered　around　him；　staring　impassively；　signing。
　Munro　slipped　the　safety　off　his　gun。
　Elliot　groaned；　touched　his　head；　and　opened　his　eyes。　Munro　saw　Elliot　stiffen　as　he　saw　the　gorillas；　but　he　did　not　move。　Three　mature　males　crouched　very　close　to　him；　and　he　understood　the　precariousness　of　his　situation。　Elliot　lay　motionless　on　the　ground　for　nearly　a　minute。　The　gorillas　whispered　and　signed；　but　they　did　not　e　any　closer。
　Finally　Elliot　sat　up　on　one　elbow；　which　caused　a　burst　of　signing　but　no　direct　threatening　behavior。
　On　the　hillside　above；　Amy　tugged　at　Munro's　sleeve；　signing　emphatically。　Munro　shook　his　head：　he　did　not　understand；　he　raised　his　machine　gun　again；　and　Amy　bit　his　kneecap。　The　pain　was　excruciating。　It　was　all　Munro　could　do　to　keep　from　screaming。
　
　Elliot；　lying　on　the　ground　below；　tried　to　control　his　breathing。　The　gorillas　were　very　close…close　enough　for　him　to　touch　them；　close　enough　to　smell　the　sweet；　musty　odor　of　their　bodies。　They　were　agitated；　the　males　had　started　grunting；　a　rhythmic　ho…ho…ho。
　He　decided　he　had　better　get　to　his　feet；　slowly　and　methodically。　He　thought　that　if　he　could　put　some　distance　between　himself　and　the　animals；　their　sense　of　threat　would　be　reduced。　But　as　soon　as　he　began　to　move　the　grunting　grew　louder；　and　one　of　the　males　began　a　sideways　crablike　movement；　slapping　the　ground　with　his　flat　palms。
　Immediately　Elliot　lay　back　down。　The　gorillas　relaxed；
　and　he　decided　he　had　done　the　correct　thing。　The　animals　were　confused　by　this　human　being　crashing　down　in　their　midst；　they　apparently　did　not　expect　contact　with　men　in　foraging　areas。
　He　decided　to　wait　them　out；　if　necessary　remaining　on　his　back　for　several　hours　until　they　lost　interest　and　moved　off。　He　breathed　slowly；　regularly；　aware　that　he　was　sweating。　Probably　he　smelled　of　fear…but　like　men；　gorillas　had　a　poorly　developed　sense　of　smell。　They　did　not　react…to　the　odor　of　fear。　He　waited。　The　gorillas　were　sighing　and　signing　swiftly；　trying　to　decide　what　to　do。　Then　one　male　abruptly　resumed　his　crabwise　movements；　slapping　the　ground　and　staring　at　Elliot。　Elliot　did　not　move。　In　his　mind；　he　reviewed　the　stages　of　attack　behavior：　grunting；　sideways　movement；　slapping；　tearing　up　grass；　beating　chest…　Charging。
　The　male　gorilla　began　tearing　up　grass。　Elliot　felt　his　heart　pounding。　The　gorilla　was　a　huge　animal；　easily　three　hundred　pounds。　He　reared　up　on　his　hind　legs　and　beat　his　chest　with　flat　palms；　making　a　hollow　sound。　Elliot　wondered　what　Munro　was　doing　above。　And　then　he　heard　a　crash；　and　he　looked　to　see　Amy　tumbling　down　the　hillside；　breaking　her　fall　by　grabbing　at　branches　and　ferns。　She　landed　at　Elliot's　feet。
　The　gorillas　could　not　have　been　more　surprised。　The　large　male　ceased　beating　his　chest；　dropped　down　from　his　upright　posture；　and　glowered　at　Amy。
　Amy　grunted。
　The　large　male　moved　menacingly　toward　Peter；　but　he　never　took　his　eyes　off　Amy。　Amy　watched　him　without　response。　It　was　a　clear　test　of　dominance。　The　male　moved　closer　and　closer；　without　hesitation。
　Amy　bellowed；　a　deafening　sound；　Elliot　jumped　in　surprise。　He　had　only　heard　her　do　it　once　or　twice　before　in　moments　of　extreme　rage。　It　was　unusual　for　females　to　roar；　and　the　other　gorillas　were　alarmed。　Amy's　forearms　stiffened；　her　back　went　rigid；　her　face　became　tense。　She　stared　aggressively　at　the　male　and　roared　again。
　The　male　paused；　tilted　his　head　to　one　side。　He　seemed　to　be　thinking　it　over。　Finally　he　hacked　off；　rejoining　the　semicircle　of　gray　apes　around　Elliot's　head。
　Amy　deliberately　rested　her　hand　on　Elliot's　leg；　establishing　possession。　A　juvenile　male；　four　or　five　years　old；　impulsively　scurried　forward；　baring　his　teeth。　Amy　slapped　him　across　the　face；　and　the　juvenile　whined　and　scrambled　back　to　the　safety　of　his　group。
　Amy　glowered　at　the　other　gorillas。　And　then　she　began　signing。　Go　away　leave　Amy　go　away。
　The　gorillas　did　not　respond。
　Peter　good　human　person。　But　she　seemed　to　be　aware　that　the　gorillas　did　not　understand；　for　she　then　did　something　remarkable：　she　sighed；　making　the　same　wheezing　sound　that　the　gorillas　made。
　The　gorillas　were　startled；　and　stared　at　one　another。
　But　if　Amy　was　speaking　their　language；　it　was　without　effect：　they　remained　where　they　were。　And　the　more　she　sighed；　the　more　their　reaction　diminished；　until　finally　they　stared　blandly　at　her。
　She　was　not　getting　through　to　them。
　Amy　now　came　alongside　Peter's　head　and　began　to　groom　him；　plucking　at　his　beard　and　scalp。　The　gray　gorillas　signed　rapidly。　Then　the　male　began　his　rhythmic　ho…ho…ho　once　more。　When　she　saw　this　Amy　turned　to　Peter　and　signed；　Amy　hug　Peter。　He　was　surprised：　Amy　never　volunteered
　to　hug　Peter。　Ordinarily　she　only　wanted　Peter　to　hug　and　tickle　Amy。
　Elliot　sat　up　and　she　immediately　pulled　him　to　her　chest；　pressing　his　face　into　her　hair。　At　once　the　male　gorilla　ceased　grunting。　The　gray　gorillas　began　to　backpedal；　as　if　they
　had　mitted　some　error。　In　that　moment；　Elliot　under…　
　stood：　she　was　treating　him　like　her　infant。
　This　was　classic　primate　behavior　in　aggressive　situations。　Primates　carried　strong　inhibitions　against　harming　infants；　and　this　inhibition　was　invoked　by　adult　animals
　in　many　contexts。　Male　baboons　often　ended　their　fight　when　one　male　grabbed　an　infant　and　clutched　it　to　his　chest；　the　sight　of　the　small　animal　inhibited　further　attack。　Chimpanzees　showed　wore　subtle　variations　of　the　same　thing。　If　juvenile　chimp　play　turned　too　brutal；　a　male　would　grab　one　juvenile　and　clutch　it　maternally；　even　though　in　this　case　both　parent　and　child　were　symbolic。　Yet　the　posture　was　sufficient　to　evoke　the　inhibition　against　further　violence。　In　this　case　Amy　was　not　only　halting　the　male's　attack　but　protecting　Elliot　as　well；　by　treating　him　as　an　infant…if　the　gorillas　would　accept　a　bearded　six…foot…tall　infant。
　They　did。
　They　disappeared　hack　into　the　foliage。　Amy　released　Elliot　from　her　fierce　grip。　She　looked　at　him　and　signed；　Dumb　things。
　〃Thank　you；　Amy；〃　he　said　and　kissed　her。
　Peter　tickle　Amy　Amy　good　gorilla。
　〃You　bet；〃　he　said；　and　he　tickled　her　for　the　next　several　minutes；　while　she　rolled　on　the　ground；　grunting　happily。
　
　It　was　two　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　when　they　returned　to　camp。　Ross　said；　〃Did　you　get　a　gorilla？〃
　〃No；〃　Elliot　said。
　〃Well；　it　doesn't　matter；〃　Ross；　said；　〃because　I　can't　raise　Houston。〃
　Elliot　was　stunned：　〃More　electronic　jamming？〃
　〃Worse　than　that；〃　Ross　said。　She　had　spent　an　hour　trying　to　establish　a　satellite　link　with　Houston；　and　had　failed。　Each　time　the　link　was　broken　within　seconds。　Finally；　after　confirming　that　there　was　no　fault　with　her　equipment；　she　had　checked　the　date。　〃It's　June　24；〃　she　said。　〃And　we　had　munications　trouble　with　the　last　Congo　expedition　on　May　28。　That's　twenty…seven　days　ago。〃
　When　Elliot　still　didn't　get　it；　Munro　said；　〃She's　telling　you　it's　solar。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Ross　said。　〃T