michael crichton.congo-第8章

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ize　and　color。　A　Skinnenan　animal　behaviorist　pointed　out　that　it　would　be　simple　to　teach　pigeons　to　watch　the　pills　and　peck　colored　keys　to　do　the　sorting　process。　Incredulous　factory　managers　agreed　to　a　test；　the　pigeons　indeed　performed　reliably；　and　were　duly　placed　on　the　assembly　line。　Then　the　RSPCA　stepped　in　and　put　a　stop　to　it　on　the　grounds　that　it　represented　cruelty　to　animals；　the　job　was　turned　over　to　a　human　operator。　for　whom　it　did　not；　apparently；　represent　cruelty。
　
　
　there　was　a　case　involving　a　dolphin　named　Mary；　released　by　a　lab　technician　into　the　open　ocean。　The　University　of　Hawaii　prosecuted　the　technician；　charging　loss…of　a　valuable　research　animal。　Two　trials　resulted　in　hung　juries；　the　case　was　dropped。
　In　November；　1978；　there　was　a　custody　case　involving　a　chimpanzee　named　Arthur；　who　was　fluent　in　sign　language。　His　owner；　Johns　Hopkins　University；　decided　to　sell　him　and　close　the　program。　His　trainer；　William　Levine；　went　to　court　and　obtained　custody　on　the　grounds　that　Arthur　knew　language　and　thus　was　no　longer　a　chimpanzee。
　〃One　of　the　pertinent　facts；〃　Morton　said；　〃was　that　when　Arthur　was　confronted　by　other　chimpanzees；　he　referred　to　them　as　'black　things。'　And　when　Arthur　was　twice　asked　to　sort　photographs　of　people　and　photographs　of　chimps；　he　sorted　them　correctly　except　that　both　times　he　put　his　own　picture　in　the　stack　with　the　people。　He　obviously　did　not　consider　himself　a　chimpanzee；　and　the　court　ruled　that　he　should　remain　with　his　trainer；　since　any　separation　would　cause　him　severe　psychic　distress。〃
　〃Amy　cries　when　I　leave　her；〃　Elliot　said。
　〃When　you　conduct　experiments；　do　you　obtain　her　permission？〃
　〃Always。〃　Elliot　smiled。　Morton　obviously　had　no　sense　of　day…to…day　life　with　Amy。　It　was　essential　to　obtain　her　permission　for　any　course　of　action；　even　a　ride　in　a　car。　She　was　a　powerful　animal；　and　she　could　be　willful　and　stubborn。
　〃Do　you　keep　a　record　of　her　acquiescence？〃
　〃Videotapes。〃
　〃Does　she　understand　the　experiments　you　propose？〃　He　shrugged。　〃She　says　she　does。〃
　〃You　follow　a　system　of　rewards　and　punishments？〃　〃All　animal　behaviorists　do。〃
　Morton　frowned。　〃What　forms　do　her　punishments　take？〃
　〃Well；　when　she's　a　bad　girl　I　make　her　stand　in　the　corner　facing　the　wall。　Or　else　I　send　her　to　bed　early　without　her　peanut…butter…and…jelly　snack。〃
　〃What　about　torture　and　shock　treatments？〃
　〃Ridiculous。〃
　〃You　never　physically　punish　the　animal？〃
　〃She's　a　pretty　damn　big　animal。　Usually　I　worry　that　she'll　get　mad　and　punish　me。〃
　Morton　smiled　and　stood。　〃You're　going　to　be　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃Any　court　will　rule　that　Amy　is　your　ward　and　that　you　must　decide　any　ultimate　disposition　in　her　case。〃　He　hesitated。　〃I　know　this　sounds　strange；　but　could　you　put　Amy　on　the　stand？〃
　〃I　guess　so；〃　Elliot　said。　〃Do　you　think　it　will　e　to　that？〃
　〃Not　in　this　case；〃　Morton　said；　〃but　sooner　or　later　it　will。　You　watch：　within　ten　years；　there　will　be　a　custody　case　involving　a　language…using　primate；　and　the　ape　will　be　in　the　witness…box。〃
　Elliot　shook　his　hand；　and　said　as　he　was　leaving；　〃By　the　way；　would　I　have　any　problem　taking　her　out　of　the　country？〃
　〃If　there　is　a　custody　case；　you　could　have　trouble　taking　her　across　state　lines；〃　Morton　said。　〃Are　you　planning　to　take　her　out　of　the　country？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　my　advice　is　to　do　it　fast；　and　don't　tell　anyone；〃　Morton　said。
　
　Elliot　entered　his　office　on　the　third　floor　of　the　Zoology　Department　building　shortly　after　nine。　His　secretary；　Carolyn；　said：　〃A　Dr。　Ross　called　from　that　Wildlife　Fund　in　Houston；　she's　on　her　way　to　San　Francisco。　A　Mr。　Morikawa　called　three　times；　says　it's　important。　The　Project　Amy　staff　meeting　is　set　for　ten　o'clock。　And　Windy　is　in　your　office。〃
　〃Really？〃
　James　Weldon　was　a　senior　professor　in　the　Department；　a　weak；　blustery　man。　〃Windy〃　Weldon　was　usually　portrayed　in　departmental　cartoons　as　holding　a　wet　finger　in　the　air：　he　was　a　master　at　knowing　which　way　the　wind　was　blowing。　For　the　past　several　days；　he　had　avoided　Peter　Elliot　and　his　staff。
　Elliot　went　into　his　office。
　〃Well；　Peter　my　boy；〃　Weldon　said；　reaching　out　to　give　his　version　of　a　hearty　handshake。　〃You're　in　early。〃
　Elliot　was　instantly　wary。　〃I　thought　I'd　beat　the　crowds；〃　he　said。　The　picketers　did　not　show　up　until　ten　o'clock；　sometimes　later；　depending　on　when　they　had　arranged　to　meet　the　TV　news　crews。　That　was　how　it　worked　these　days：
　protest　by　appointment。
　〃They're　not　ing　anymore。〃　Weldon　smiled。
　He　handed　Elliot　the　late　city　edition　of　the　Chronicle；　a　front…page　story　circled　in　black　pen。　Eleanor　Vries　had　resigned　her　position　as　regional　director　of　the　PPA；　pleading　overwork　and　personal　pressures；　a　statement　from　the　PPA　in　New　York　indicated　that　they　had　seriously　misconstrued　the　nature　and　content　of　Elliot's　research。
　〃Meaning　what？〃　Elliot　asked。
　〃Belli's　office　reviewed　your　paper　and　Vries's　public　statements　about　torture；　and　decided　that　the　PPA　was　exposed　to　a　major　libel　suit；〃　Weldon　said。　〃The　New　York　office　is　terrified。　They'll　be　making　overtures　to　you　later　today。　Personally；　I　hope　you'll　be　understanding。〃
　Elliot　dropped　into　his　chair。　〃What　about　the　faculty　meeting　next　week？〃
　〃Oh；　that's　essential；〃　Weldon　said。　〃There's　no　question　that　the　faculty　will　want　to　discuss　unethical　conduct…on　the　part　of　the　media；　and　issue　a　strong　statement　in　your　support。　I'm　drawing　up　a　statement　now；　to　e　from　my　office。〃
　The　irony　of　this　was　not　lost　on　Elliot。　〃You　sure　you　want　to　go　out　on　a　limb？〃　he　asked；
　〃I'm　behind　you　one　thousand　percent；　I　hope　you　know　that；〃　Weldon　said。　Weldon　was　restless；　pacing　around　the　office；　staring　at　the　walls；　which　were　covered　with　Amy's　finger　paintings。　Windy　had　something　further　on　his　mind。　〃She's　still　making　these　same　pictures？〃　he　asked；　finally。
　〃Yes；〃　Elliot　said。
　〃And　you　still　have　no　idea　what　they　mean？〃
　Elliot　paused；　at　best　it　was　premature　to　tell　Weldon　what　they　thought　the　pictures　meant。　〃No　idea；〃　he　said。
　〃Are　you　sure？〃　Weldon　asked；　frowning。　〃I　think　somebody　knows　what　they　mean。〃
　〃Why　is　that？〃
　〃Something　very　strange　has　happened；〃　Weldon　said。　〃Someone　has　offered　to　buy　Amy。〃
　〃To　buy　her？　What　are　you　talking　about；　to　buy　her？〃
　〃A　lawyer　in　Los　Angeles　called　my　office　yesterday　and　offered　to　buy　her　for　a　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　dollars。〃
　〃It　must　be　some　rich　do…gooder；〃　Elliot　said；　〃trying　to　save　Amy　from　torture。〃
　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Weldon　said。　〃For　one　thing；　the　otter　came　from　Japan。　Someone　named　Morikawa…he's　in　electronics　in　Tokyo。　I　found　that　out　when　the　lawyer　called　back　this　morning；　to　increase　his　offer　to　two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　dollars。〃
　〃Two　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　dollars？〃　Elliot　said。　〃For　Amy？〃　Of　course　it　was　out　of　the　question。　He　would　never　sell　her。　But　why　would　anyone　offer　so　much　money？
　Weldon　had　an　answer。　〃This　kind　of　money；　a　quarter　of　a　million　dollars；　can　only　be　ing　from　private　enterprise。　Industry。　Clearly；　Morikawa　has　read　about　your　work　and　found　a　use　for　speaking　primates　in　an　industrial　context。〃　Windy　stared　at　the　ceiling；　a　sure　sign　he　was　about　to　wax　eloquent。　〃I　think　a　new　field　might　be　opening　up　here；　the　training　of　primates　for　industrial　applications　in　the　real　world。〃
　Peter　Elliot　swore。　He　was　not　teaching　Amy　language　in　order　to　put　a　hard　hat　on　her　head　and　a　lunch　pail　in　her　hand；　and　he　said　so。
　〃You're　not　thinking　it　through；〃　Weldon　said。　〃What　if　we　are　on　the　verge　of　a　new　field　of　applied　behavior　for　the　great　apes？　Think　what　it　means。　Not　only　funding　to　the　Department；　and　an　opportunity　for　applied　research。　Most　important；　there　would　be　a　reason　to　keep　these　animals　alive。　You　know　that　the　great　apes　are　being　extinct。
　The　chimps　in　Africa　are　greatly　reduced　in　number。　The　orangs　of　Borneo　are　losing　their　natural　habitat　to　the　timber　cutters　and　will　be　extinct　in　ten　years。　The　gorilla　is　down　to　three　thousand　in　the　central　African　forests。　These　animals　will　all　disappear　in　our　lifetime…unless　there　is　a　reason　to　keep　them　alive；　as　a　species。　You　may　provide　that　reason；　Peter　my　boy。　Think　about　it。〃
　
　Elliot　did　think　about　it；　and　he　discussed　it　at　the　Project　Amy　staff　meeting　at　ten　o'clock。　They　considered　possible　industrial　applications　for　apes；　and　possible　advantages　to　employers；　such　as　the　lack　of　unions　and　fringe　benefits。　In　the　late　twentieth　century；　these　were　major　considerations。　（In　1978；　for　each　new　automobile　that　rolled　off　the　Detroit　assembly　lines；　the　cost　of　worker　health　benefits　exceeded　the　cost　of　all　the　steel　used　to　build　the　car。）
　But　they　concluded　that　a　vision　of　〃industrialized　apes〃
　was　wildly　fanciful。　An　ape　like　Amy　was　not　a　cheap　and　stupid　version　of　a　human　worker。　Quite　the　opposite：　Amy　was　a　highly　intelligent　and　plex　creature　out　of　her　element　in　the　modern　industrial　world。　She　demanded　a　great　deal　of　supervision；　she　was　whimsical　and　unreliable；　and　her　health　was　always　at　risk。　It　simply　didn't　make　sense　to　use　her　in　industry。　If　Morikawa　had　visions　of　apes　wielding　soldering　irons　on　a　microelectronic　assembly　line；　building　TVs　and　hi…fl　sets；　he　was　sorely　misinformed。
　The　only　note　of　caution　came　from　Bergman；　the　child　psychologist。　〃A　quarter　of　a　million　is　a　lot　of　money；〃　he　said；　〃and　Mr。　Morikawa　is　probably　no　fool。　He　must　have　learned　about　Amy　through　her　drawings；　which　imply　she　is　neurotic　and　difficult。　If　he's　interested　in　her；　I'd　bet　it's　because　of　her　drawings。　But　I　can't　imagine　why　those　drawings　should　be　worth　a　quarter　of　a　million　dollars。〃
　Neither　could　anyone　else；　and　the　discussion　turned　to　the　drawings　themselves；　and　the　newly　translated　texts。　Sarah　Johnson；　in　charge　of　research；　started　out　with　the　flat　ment　〃I　have　bad　news　about　the　Congo。〃*
　For　most　of　recorded　history；　she　explained；　nothing　was
　
　*Johnson's　principal　reference　was　the　definitive　work　by　A。　J。　Parkinson。　The　Congo　Delta　in　Myth　and　History　（London；　Peters。　1904）。
　
　known　about　the　Congo。　The　ancient　Egyptians　on　the　upper　Nile　knew　only　that　their　river　originated　far　to　the　south；　in　a　region　they　called　the　Land　of　Trees。　This　was　a　mysterious　place　with　forests　so　dense　they　were　as　dark　as　night　in　the　middle　of　the　day。　Strange　creatures　inhabited　this　perpetual　gloom；　including　little　men　with　tails；　and　animals　half　black　and　half　white。
　For　nearly　four　thousand　years　afterward；　nothing　more　substantial　was　learned　about　the　interior　of　Africa。　The　Arabs　came　to　East　Africa　in　the　seventh　century　A。D。；　in　search　of　gold；　ivory；　spices；　and　slaves。　But　the　Arabs　were　merchant　seamen　and　did　not　venture　inland。　They　called　the　interior　Zinj…the　Land　of　the　Blacks…a　region　of　fable　and　fantasy。　There　were　stories　of　vast　forests　and　tiny　men　with　tails；　stories　of　mountains　that　spewed　fire　and　turned　the　sky　black；　stories　of　native　villages　overwhelmed　by　monkeys；　which　would　have　congress　with　the　women；　stories　of　great　giants　with　hairy　bodies　and　flat　noses；　stories　of　creatures　half　leopa