jurassic.park-第54部分

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e　of　a　stand　of　fir　trees。　But　the　building　was　unfinished　and　unpainted；　the　windows　were　boarded　up。　The　trees　and　the　lodge　were　splattered　with　broad　white　streaks。
　　　　〃I　guess　they　didn't　finish　it；　for　some　reason；〃　Grant　said；　hiding　his　disappointment。　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃e　on；　let's　go　back　to　the　boat。〃
　　　　The　sun　came　out　as　they　walked　along；　making　the　morning　more　cheerful。　Grant　looked　at　the　latticework　shadows　on　the　ground　from　the　dome　above；　He　noticed　that　the　ground　and　the　foliage　were　spattered　with　broad　streaks　of　the　same　white　chalky　substance　that　had　been　on　the　building。　And　there　was　a　distinctive；　sour　odor　in　the　morning　air。
　　　　〃Stinks　here；〃　Lex　said。　〃What's　all　the　white　stuff？〃
　　　　〃Looks　like　reptile　droppings。　Probably　from　the　birds。〃
　　　　〃How　e　they　didn't　finish　the　lodge？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　　　They　entered　a　clearing　of　low　grass；　dotted　with　wild　flowers。　They　heard　a　long；　low　whistle。　Then　an　answering　whistle；　from　across　the　forest。
　　　　〃What's　that？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　　　Then　Grant　saw　the　dark　shadow　of　a　cloud　on　the　grassy　field　ahead。　The　shadow　was　moving　fast。　In　moments；　it　had　swept　over　them。　He　looked　up　and　saw　an　enormous　dark　shape　gliding　above　them；　blotting　out　the　sun。
　　　　〃Yew！〃　Lex　said。　〃Is　it　a　pterodactyl？〃
　　　　〃Yes；〃　Tim　said。
　　　　Grant　didn't　answer。　He　was　entranced　by　the　sight　of　the　huge　flying　creature。　In　the　sky　above；　the　pterodactyl　gave　a　low　whistle　and　wheeled　gracefully；　turning　back　toward　them。
　　　　〃How　e　they're　not　on　the　tour？〃　Tim　said。
　　　　Grant　was　wondering　the　same　thing。　The　flying　dinosaurs　were　so　beautiful；　so　graceful　as　they　moved　through　the　air。　As　Grant　watched；　he　saw　a　second　pterodactyl　appear　in　the　sky；　and　a　third；　and　a　fourth。
　　　　〃Maybe　because　they　didn't　finish　the　lodge；〃　Lex　said。
　　　　Grant　was　thinking　these　weren't　ordinary　pterodactyls。　They　were　too　large。　They　must　cearadactyls；　big　flying　reptiles　from　the　early　Cretaceous。　When　they　were　high；　these　looked　like　small　airplanes。　When　they　came　lower；　he　could　see　the　animals　had　fifteen…foot　wingspans；　furry　bodies；　and　heads　like　crocodiles。　They　ate　fish；　he　remembered。　South　America　and　Mexico。
　　　　Lex　shaded　her　eyes　and　looked　up　at　the　sky。　〃Can　they　hurt　us？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　think　so。　They　eat　fish。〃
　　　　One　of　the　dactyls　spiraled　down；　a　flashing　dark　shadow　that　whooshed　past　them　with　a　rush　of　warm　air　and　a　lingering　sour　odor。
　　　　〃Wow！〃　Lex　said。　〃They're　really　big。〃　And　then　she　said；　〃Are　you　sure　they　can't　hurt　us？〃
　　　　〃Pretty　sure。〃
　　　　A　second　dactyl　swooped　down；　moving　faster　than　the　first。　It　came　from　behind；　streaked　over　their　heads。　Grant　had　a　glimpse　of　its　toothy　beak　and　the　furry　body。　It　looked　like　a　huge　bat；　he　thought。　But　Grant　was　impressed　with　the　frail　appearance　of　the　animals。　Their　huge　wingspans…the　delicate　pink　membranes　stretched　across　them…so　thin　they　were　translucent…everything　reinforced　the　delicacy　of　the　dactyls。
　　　　〃Ow！〃　Lex　shouted；　grabbing　her　hair。　〃He　bit　me！〃
　　　　〃He　what？〃　Grant　said。
　　　　〃He　bit　me！　He　bit　me！〃　When　she　took　her　band　away；　he　saw　blood　on　her　fingers。
　　　　Up　in　the　sky；　two　more　dactyls　folded　their　wings；　collapsing　into　small　dark　shapes　that　plummeted　toward　the　ground。　They　made　a　kind　of　scream　as　they　hurtled　downward。
　　　　〃e　on！〃　Grant　said；　grabbing　their　hands。　They　ran　across　the　meadow；　bearing　the　approaching　scream；　and　he　flung　himself　on　the　ground　at　the　last　moment；　pulling　the　kids　down　with　him；　as　the　two　dactyls　whistled　and　squeaked　past　them；　flapping　their　wings。　Grant　felt　claws　tear　the　shirt　along　his　back。
　　　　Then　he　was　up；　pulling　Lex　back　onto　her　feet；　and　running　with　Tim　a　few　feet　forward　while　overhead　two　more　birds　wheeled　and　dove　toward　them；　screaming。　At　the　last　moment；　he　pushed　the　kids　to　the　ground；　and　the　big　shadows　flapped　past。
　　　　〃Uck；〃　Lex　said；　disgusted。　He　saw　that　she　was　streaked　with　white　droppings　from　the　birds。
　　　　Grant　scrambled　to　his　feet。　〃e　on！〃
　　　　He　was　about　to　run　when　Lex　shrieked　in　terror。　He　turned　back　and　saw　that　one　of　the　dactyls　had　grabbed　her　by　the　shoulders　with　its　hind　claws。　The　animal's　huge　leathery　wings；　translucent　in　the　sunlight；　flapped　broadly　on　both　sides　of　her。　The　dactyl　was　trying　to　take　off；　but　Lex　was　too　heavy；　and　while　it　struggled　it　repeatedly　jabbed　at　her　head　with　its　long　pointed　jaw。
　　　　Lex　was　screaming；　waving　her　arms　wildly。　Grant　did　the　only　thing　he　could　think　to　do。　He　ran　forward　and　jumped　up；　throwing　himself　against　the　body　of　the　dactyl。　He　knocked　it　onto　its　back　on　the　ground；　and　fell　on　top　of　the　furry　body。　The　animal　screamed　and　snapped；　Grant　ducked　his　head　away　from　the　jaws　and　pushed　back；　as　the　giant　wings　beat　around　his　body。　It　was　like　being　in　a　tent　In　a　windstorm。　He　couldn't　see；　he　couldn't　hear；　there　was　nothing　but　the　flapping　and　shrieking　and　the　leathery　membranes。　The　clawed　legs　scratched　frantically　at　his　chest。　Lex　was　screaming。　Grant　pushed　away　from　the　dactyl　and　it　squeaked　and　gibbered　as　it　flapped　its　wings　and　struggled　to　turn　over；　to　right　itself。　Finally　it　pulled　in　its　wings　like　a　bat　and　rolled　over；　lifted　itself　up　on　its　little　wing　claws；　and　began　to　walk　that　way。　He　paused；　astonished。
　　　　It　could　walk　on　its　wings！　Lederer's　speculation　was　right！　But　then　the　other　dactyls　were　diving　down　at　them　and　Grant　was　dizzy；　off　balance；　and　in　horror　he　saw　Lex　run　away；　her　arms　over　her　head　。　。　。　Tim　shouting　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　。　。　。
　　　　The　first　of　them　swooped　down　and　she　threw　something　and　suddenly　the　dactyl　whistled　and　climbed。　The　other　dactyls　immediately　climbed　and　chased　the　first　into　the　sky。　The　fourth　dactyl　flapped　awkwardly　into　the　air　to　join　the　others。　Grant　looked　upward；　squinting　to　see　what　had　happened。　The　three　dactyls　chased　the　first；　screaming　angrily。
　　　　They　were　alone　in　the　field。
　　　　〃What　happened？〃　Grant　said。
　　　　〃They　got　my　glove；〃　Lex　said。　〃My　Darryl　Strawberry　special。〃
　　　　They　started　walking　again。　Tim　put　his　arm　around　her　shoulders。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　　　　〃Of　course；　stupid；〃　she　said；　shaking　him　off。　She　looked　upward。　〃I　hope　they　choke　and　die；〃　she　said。
　　　　〃Yeah；〃　Tim　said。　〃Me；　too…〃
　　　　Up　ahead；　they　saw　the　boat　on　the　shore。　Grant　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　eight…thirty。　He　now　had　two　and　a　half　hours　to　get　back。

Lex　cheered　as　they　drifted　beyond　the　silver　aviary　dome。　Then　the　banks　of　the　river　closed　in　on　both　sides；　the　trees　meeting　overhead　once　more。　The　river　was　narrower　than　ever；　in　some　places　only　ten　feet　wide；　and　the　current　flowed　very　fast。　Lex　reached　up　to　touch　the　branches　as　they　went　past。
　　　　Grant　sat　back　in　the　raft　and　listened　to　the　gurgle　of　the　water　through　the　warm　rubber。　They　were　moving　faster　now；　the　branches　overhead　slipping　by　more　rapidly。　It　was　pleasant。　It　gave　a　little　breeze　in　the　hot　confines　of　the　overhanging　branches。　And　it　meant　they　would　get　back　that　much　sooner。
　　　　Grant　couldn't　guess　how　far　they　had　e；　but　it　must　be　several　miles　at　least　from　the　sauropod　building　where　they　had　spent　the　night。　Perhaps　four　or　five　miles。　Maybe　even　more。　That　meant　they　might　be　only　an　hour's　walk　from　the　hotel；　once　they　left　the　raft。　But　after　the　aviary；　Grant　was　in　no　hurry　to　leave　the　river　again。　For　the　moment；　they　were　making　good　time。
　　　　〃I　wonder　how　Ralph　is；〃　Lex　said。　〃He's　probably　dead　or　something。〃
　　　　〃I'm　sure　he's　fine。〃
　　　　〃I　wonder　if　he'd　let　me　ride　him。〃　She　sighed；　sleepy　in　the　sun。　〃That　would　be　fun；　to　ride　Ralph。〃
　　　　Tim　said　to　Grant；　〃Remember　back　at　the　stegosaurus？　Last　night？〃
　　　　〃Yes。〃
　　　　〃How　e　you　asked　them　about　frog　DNA？〃
　　　　〃Because　of　the　breeding；〃　Grant　said。　〃They　can't　explain　why　the　dinosaurs　are　breeding；　since　they　irradiate　them；　and　since　they're　all　females。〃
　　　　〃Right。〃
　　　　〃Well；　irradiation　is　notoriously　unreliable　and　probably　doesn't　work。　I　think　that'll　eventually　be　shown　here。　But　there　is　still　the　problem　of　the　dinosaurs'　being　female。　How　can　they　breed　when　they're　all　female？〃
　　　　〃Right；〃　Tim　said。
　　　　〃Well；　across　the　animal　kingdom；　sexual　reproduction　exists　in　extraordinary　variety。〃
　　　　〃Tim's　very　interested　in　sex；〃　Lex　said。
　　　　They　both　ignored　her。　〃For　example；〃　Grant　said；　〃many　animals　have　sexual　reproduction　without　ever　having　what　we　would　call　sex。　The　male　releases　a　spermatophore；　which　contains　the　sperm；　and　the　female　picks　it　up　at　a　later　time。　This　kind　of　exchange　does　not　require　quite　as　much　physical　differentiation　between　male　and　female　as　we　usually　think　exists。　Male　and　female　are　more　alike　in　some　animals　than　they　are　in　human　beings。〃
　　　　Tim　nodded。　〃But　what　about　the　frogs？〃
　　　　Grant　heard　sudden　shrieks　from　the　trees　above；　as　the　microceratopsians　scattered　in　alarm；　shaking　the　branches。　The　big　head　of　the　tyrannosaur　lunged　through　the　foliage　from　the　left；　the　jaws　snapping　at　the　raft。　Lex　howled　in　terror；　and　Grant　paddled　away　toward　the　opposite　bank；　but　the　river　here　was　only　ten　feet　wide。　The　tyrannosaur　was　caught　in　the　heavy　growth…　it　butted　and　twisted　its　head；　and　roared。　Then　it　pulled　its　head　back。
　　　　Through　the　trees　that　lined　the　riverbank；　they　saw　the　huge　dark　form　of　the　tyrannosaur；　moving　north；　looking　for　a　gap　in　the　trees　that　lined　the　bank。　The　microceratopsians　had　all　gone　to　the　opposite　bank；　where　they　shrieked　and　scampered　and　jumped　up　and　down。　In　the　raft；　Grant；　Tim；　and　Lex　stared　helplessly　as　the　tyrannosaur　tried　to　break　through　again；　But　the　trees　were　too　dense　along　the　banks　of　the　river。　The　tyrannosaur　again　moved　downstream；　ahead　of　the　boat；　and　tried　again；　shaking　the　branches　furiously。
　　　　But　again　it　failed。
　　　　Then　it　moved　off；　heading　farther　downstream。
　　　　〃I　hate　him；〃　Lex　said。
　　　　Grant　sat　back　in　the　boat；　badly　shaken。　If　the　tyrannosaur　had　broken　through；　there　was　nothing　be　could　have　done　to　save　them。　The　river　was　so　narrow　that　it　was　hardly　wider　than　the　raft。　It　was　like　being　in　a　tunnel。　The　rubber　gunwales　often　scraped　on　the　mud　as　the　boat　was　p