michael crichton.congo-第45章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


It　had　rained　the　night　before；　the　jungle　surrounding　them　was　wet；　the　air　supersaturated　with　moisture。　In　short；　they　had　all　the　requisites　for　a　lightning　storm。　Ross　felt　herself　torn　between　the　perverse　desire　to　watch　this　unique　theoretical　phenomenon　and　the　desire　to　run　for　her　life。
　In　a　searing　burst　of　blue…white　light；　the　lightning　storm　struck。　Bolts　of　electricity　crackled　all　around　them　like　rain；　Ross　later　estimated　there　were　two　hundred　bolts　within　the　first　minute…nearly　three　every　second。　The　familiar　shattering　crack　of　lightning　was　not　punctuation　but　a　continuous　sound；　a　mar　like　a　waterfall。　The　booming　thunder　caused　sharp　ear　pains；　and　the　acpanying　shock　waves　literally　knocked　them　backward。
　Everything　happened　so　fast　that　they　had　little　chance　to　absorb　sensations。　Their　ordinary　expectations　were　turned　upside　down。　One　of　the　porters；　Amburi；　had　e　back　toward　the　city　to　find　them。　They　saw　him　standing　in　a　clearing；　waving　them　ahead；　when　a　lightning　bolt　crashed　up　through　a　nearby　tree　into　the　sky。　Ross　had　known　that　the　lightning　flash　came　after　the　invisible　downward　flow　of　electrons　and　actually　ran　upward　from　the　ground　to　the　clouds　above。　But　to　see　it！　The　explosive　flash　lifted　Amburi　off　his　feet　and　tossed　him　through　the　air　toward　them；　he　scrambled　to　his　feet；　shouting　hysterically　in　Swahili。
　All　around　them　trees　were　cracking；　splitting　and　hissing　clouds　of　moisture　as　the　lightning　bolts　shot　upward　through　them。　Ross　later　said；　〃The　lightning　was　everywhere；　the　blinding　flashes　were　continuous；　with　this　terrible　sizzling　sound。　That　man　＇Amburi＇　was　screaming　and　the　next　instant　the　lightning　grounded　through　him。　I　was　close　enough　to　touch　him　but　there　was　very　little　heat；　just　white　light。　He　went　rigid　and　there　was　this　terrible　smell　as　his　whole　body　burst　into　flame；　and　he　fell　to　the　ground。　Munro　rolled　on　him　to　put　out　the　fire　but　he　was　dead；　and　we　ran　on。　There　was　no　time　to　react；　we　kept　falling　down　from　the　＇Earthquake＇　tremors。　Soon　we　were　all　half…blinded　from　the　lightning。　I　remember　hearing　somebody　screaming　but　I　didn't　know　who　it　was。　I　was　sure　we　would　all　die。〃
　Near　camp；　a　gigantic　tree　crashed　down　before　them；　presenting　an　obstacle　as　broad　and　high　as　a　three…story　building。　As　they　clambered　through　it；　lightning　sizzled　through　the　damp　branches；　stripping　off　bark；　glowing　and　scorching。　Amy　howled　when　a　white　bolt　streaked　across　her　hand　as　she　gripped　a　wet　branch。　Immediately　she　dived　to　the　ground；　burying　her　head　in　the　low　foliage；　refusing　to　move。　Elliot　had　to　drag　her　the　remaining　distance　to　the　camp。
　Munro　was　the　first　to　reach　camp。　He　found　Kahega　trying　to　pack　the　tents　for　their　departure；　but　it　was　impossible　with　the　tremors　and　the　lightning　crashing　down　through　the　dark　ashen　sky。　One　Mylar　tent　burst　into　flames。　They　smelled　the　harsh　burning　plastic。　The　dish　antenna；　resting　on　the　ground；　was　struck　and　split　apart；　sending　metal　fragments　flying。
　〃Leave！〃　Munro　shouted。　〃Leave！〃
　〃Ndio　mzee！〃　Kahega　shouted；　grabbing　his　pack　hastily。　He　glanced　back　toward　the　others；　and　in　that　moment　Elliot　stumbled　out　of　the　black　gloom　with　Amy　clinging　to　his　chest。　He　had　injured　his　ankle　and　was　limping　slightly。
　Amy　quickly　dropped　to　the　ground。
　〃Leave！〃　Munro　shouted。
　As　Elliot　moved　on；　Ross　emerged　from　the　darkness　of　the　ashen　atmosphere；　coughing；　bent　double。　The　left　side　of　her　body　was　scorched　and　blackened；　and　the　skin　of　her　left　hand　was　burned。　She　had　been　struck　by　Lightning；　although　she　had　no　later　memory　of　it。　She　pointed　to　her　nose　and　throat；　coughing。　〃Burns。　。　。　hurts。　。　。〃
　〃It's　the　gas；〃　Munro　shouted。　He　put　his　arm　around　her　and　half…lifted　her　from　her　feet；　carrying　her　away。　〃We　have　to　get　uphill！〃
　An　hour　later；　on　higher　ground；　they　had　a　final　view　of　the　city　engulfed　with　smoke　and　ash。　Farther　up　on　the　slopes　of　the　volcano；　they　saw　a　line　of　trees　burst　into　flames　as　an　unseen　dark　wave　of　lava　came　sliding　down　the　mountainside。　They　heard　agonized　bellows　of　pain　from　the　gray　gorillas　on　the　hillside　as　hot　lava　rained　down　on　them。　As　they　watched；　the　foliage　collapsed　closer　and　closer　to　the　city；　until　finally　the　city　itself　crumbled　under　a　darkly　descending　cloud；　and　disappeared。
　The　Lost　City　of　Zinj　was　buried　forever。
　Only　then　did　Ross　realize　that　her　diamonds　were　buried　forever　as　well。
　
　
　
　6。　Nightmare
　
　THEY　HAD　NO　FOOD；　NO　WATER；　AND　VERY　LITTLE　ammunition。　They　dragged　themselves　through　the　jungle；　clothes　burned　and　torn；　faces　haggard；　exhausted。　They　did　not　speak　to　one　another；　but　silently　pressed　on。　Elliot　said　later　they　were　〃living　through　a　nightmare。〃
　The　world　through　which　they　passed　was　grim　and　colorless。　Sparkling　white　waterfalls　and　streams　now　ran　black　with　soot；　splashing　into　scummy　pools　of　gray　foam。　The　sky　was　dark　gray；　with　occasional　red　flashes　from　the　volcano。　The　very　air　became　filmy　gray；　they　coughed　and　stumbled　through　a　world　of　black　soot　and　ash。
　They　were　all　covered　with　ash…their　packs　gritty　on　their　backs；　their　faces　grimy　when　they　wiped　them；　their　hair　many　shades　darker。　Their　noses　and　eyes　burned。　There　was　nothing　to　do　about　it；　they　could　only　keep　going。
　As　Ross　trudged　through　the　dark　air；　she　was　aware　of　an　ironic　ending　to　her　personal　quest。　Ross　had　long　since　acquired　the　expertise　to　tap　into　any　ERTS　data　bank　she　wanted；　including　the　one　that　held　her　own　evaluation。　She　knew　her　assigned　qualities　by　heart：
　YOUTHFUL…ARROGANT　（probably）　/　TENUOUS　HUMAN　RAPPORT　（she　particularly　resented　that　one）　/　DOMINEERING　（maybe）　INTELLECTUALLY　ARROGANT　（only　natural）　/　INSENSITIVE　（whatever　that　meant）　/　DRIVEN　TO　SUCCEED　AT　ANY　COST（was　that　so　bad？）
　And　she　knew　her　Late…stage　conclusions。　All　that　flop…over　matrix　garbage　about　parental　figures　and　so　on。　And　the　last　line　of　her　report：　SUBJECT　MUST　BE　MONITORED　IN　LATE　STAGE　GOAL　ORIENTED　PROCEDURES。
　But　none　of　that　was　relevant。　She　had　gone　after　the　diamonds　only　to　be　beaten　by　the　worst　volcanic　eruption　in　Africa　in　a　decade。　Who　could　blame　her　for　what　had　happened？　It　wasn't　her　fault。　She　would　prove　that　on　her　next　expedition。。。。
　Munro　felt　the　frustration　of　a　gambler　who　has　placed　every　bet　correctly　but　still　loses。　He　had　been　correct　to　avoid　the　Euro…Japanese　consortium；　he　had　been　correct　to　go　with　ERTS；　and　yet　he　was　ing　out　empty…handed。　Well；　he　reminded　himself；　feeling　the　diamonds　in　his　pockets；　not　quite　empty　handed。
　Elliot　was　returning　without　photographs；　videotapes；　sound　recordings；　or　the　skeleton　of　a　gray　gorilla。　Even　his　measurements　had　been　lost。　Without　such　proofs；　he　dared　not　claim　a　new　species…in　fact；　he　would　be　unwise　even　to　discuss　the　possibility。　A　great　opportunity　had　slipped　away　from　him；　and　now；　walking　through　the　dark　landscape；　he　had　only　a　sense　of　the　natural　world　gone　mad：
　birds　fell　screeching　from　the　sky；　flopping　at　their　feet；　asphyxiated　by　the　gases　in　the　air　above；　bats　skittered　through　the　midday　air；　distant　animals　shrieked　and　howled。　A　leopard；　fur　burning　on　its　hindquarters；　ran　past　them　at　noon。　Somewhere　in　the　distance；　elephants　trumpeted　with　alarm。
　They　were　trudging　lost　souls　in　a　grim　sooty　world　that　seemed　like　a　description　of　hell；　perpetual　fire　and　darkness；　where　tormented　souls　screamed　in　agony。　And　behind　them　Mukenko　spat　cinders　and　glowing　rain。　At　one　point；　they　were　engulfed　in　a　shower　of　red…hot　embers　that　sizzled　as　they　struck　the　damp　canopy　overhead；　then　turned　the　wet　ground　underfoot　smoky；　burning　holes　in　their　clothing；　scorching　their　skin；　setting　hair　smoldering　as　they　danced　in　pain　and　finally　sought　shelter　beneath　tall　trees；　huddled　together；　awaiting　the　end　of　the　fiery　rain　from　the　skies。
　Munro　planned　from　the　first　moments　of　the　eruption　to　head　directly　for　the　wrecked　C…130　transport；　which　would　afford　them　shelter　and　supplies。　He　estimated　they　would　reach　the　aircraft　in　two　hours。　In　fact；　six　hours　passed　before　the　gigantic　ash…covered　hulk　of　the　plane　emerged　from　the　murky　afternoon　darkness。
　One　reason　it　had　taken　them　so　long　to　move　away　from　Mukenko　was　that　they　were　obliged　to　avoid　General　Muguru　and　his　troops。　Whenever　they　came　across　jeep　tracks；　Munro　led　them　farther　west；　into　the　depths　of　the　jungle。
　〃He's　not　a　fallow　you　want　to　meet；〃　Munro　said。　〃And　neither　are　his　boys。　And　they'd　think　nothing　of　cutting　your　liver　out　and　eating　it　raw。〃
　
　Dark　ash　on　wings　and　fuselage　made　the　giant　transport　look　as　if　it　had　crashed　in　black　snow。　Off　one　bent　wing；　a　kind　of　waterfall　of　ash　hissed　over　the　metal　down　to　the　ground。　Far　in　the　distance；　they　heard　the　soft　beating　of　Kigani　drums；　and　thumping　mortar　from　Muguru's　troops。
　Otherwise　it　was　ominously　quiet。
　Munro　waited　in　the　forest　beyond　the　wreckage；　watching　the　airplane。　Ross　took　the　opportunity　to　try　to　transmit　on　the　puter；　continuously　brushing　ash　from　the　video　screen；　but　she　could　not　reach　Houston。
　Finally　Munro　signaled；　and　they　all　began　to　move　forward。　Amy；　panicked；　tugged　at　Munro's　sleeve。　No　go；　she　signed。　People　there。
　Munro　frowned　at　her；　glanced　at　Elliot。　Elliot　pointed　to　the　airplane。　Moments　later；　there　was　a　crash；　and　two　white…painted　Kigani　warriors　emerged　from　the　aircraft；　onto　the　high　wing。　They　were　carrying　cases　of　whiskey　and　arguing　about　how　to　get　them　down　to　the　jungle　floor　below。　After　a　moment；　five　more　Kigani　appeared　beneath　the　wing；　and　the　cases　were　passed　to　them。　The　two　men　above　jumped　down；　and　the　group　moved　off。
　Munro　looked　at　Amy　and　smiled。
　Amy　good　gorilla；　she　signed。
　They　waited　another　twenty　minutes；　and　when　no　further　Kigani　appeared；　Munro　led　the　group　to　the　airplane。　They　were　just　outside　the　cargo　doors　when　a　rain　of　white　arrows　began　to　whistle　down　on　them。
　〃Inside！〃　Munro　shouted；　and　hurried　them　all　up　the　crumpled　landing　gear；　onto　the　upper　wing　surface；　and　from　there　into　the　airplane。　He　slammed　the　emergency　door；　arrows　clattered　on　the　outer　metal　surface。
　Inside　the　transport　it　was　dark；　the　floor　tilted　at　a　crazy　angle。　Boxes　of　equipment　had　slid　across　the　aisles；　toppled　over；　and　smashed。　Broken　glassware　crunched　underfoot。　Elliot　carried　Amy　to　a　seat；　and　then　noticed　that　the　Kigani　had　defecated　on　the　seats。
　Outside；　they　heard　drums；　and　the　steady　rain　of　arrows　on　the　metal　and　windows。　Looking　out　through　the　dark　ash；　they　glimpsed　dozens　of　white…painted　men；　running　through　the　trees；　slipping　under　the　wing。
　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃　Ross　asked。
　〃Shoot　them；〃　Munro　said　briskly；　breaking　open　their　supplies；　removing　machine…gun　clips。　〃We　aren't　short　of　ammunition。〃
　〃But　there　must　be　a　hundred　men　out　there。〃
　〃Yes；　but　only　one　man　is　important。　Kill　the　Kigani　with　red　streaks　painted　beneath　his　eyes。　That'll　end　the　attack　right　away。〃
　〃Why？〃　Elliot　asked。
　〃Because　he's　the　Angawa　sorcerer；〃　Munro　said；　moving　forward　to　the　cockpit。　〃Kill　him　and　we're　off　the　hook。〃
　
　Poison…tipped　arrows　cla