cc.themediterraneancaper2-第8部分

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ncestors。　Some　of　the　marine　reptiles　attained　a　length　of　　twenty…three　feet　and　were　very　tough　customers。　The　most　noteworthy　event　was　　the　introduction　of　the　first　true　dinosaurs；　who　even　learned　to　walk　on　their　　hind　legs　and　use　their　tails　for　a　kind　of　cane。〃
　Pitt　leaned　back　and　stretched　his　legs。　〃I　thought　that　the　era　of　the　　dinosaurs　occurred　much　later。〃
　Gunn　laughed。　〃You've　seen　too　many　old　movies。　You're　undoubtedly　thinking　of　　the　behemoths　that　were　always　portrayed　in　the　early　science　fiction　films；　　menacing　a　tribe　of　hairy　cavemen。　They　never　failed　to　have　a　forty　ton　　Brontosaurus　or　a　ferocious　Tyrannosaurus　or　a　flying　Pteranodon　chasing　a　　half…nude；　big…fitted　heroine　through　a　primeval　jungle。　Actually　these　more　　monly　known　dinosaurs　roamed　the　earth　and　became　extinct　sixty　million　years　　before　man　appeared。〃
　〃Where　does　your　freak　fish　fit　into　the　picture？〃
　〃Imagine；　if　you　will；　a　three　foot　Teaser　fish　who　lived；　cavorted；　made　love　　and　finally　died　somewhere　in　the　Sea　of　Tethys。　Nothing　and　no　one　took　notice　　as　this　obscure　creature's　body　slowly　sank　to　the　red　mud　of　the　seabed。　The　　unmarked　grave　was　covered　over　with　sediments　which　hardened　into　sandstone　and　　left　a　thin　film　of　carbon。　It　was　this　trace　of　carbon　that　etched　and　outlined　　the　Teaser's　tissue　and　bone　structure　into　the　surrounding　strata。〃　The　years　　passed　and　turned　into　millenniums。　And　the　millenniums　became　eons；　until　one　　warm　spring　day；　two　hundred　million　years　later；　a　farmer　in　the　Austrian　town　　of　Neunkirchen　struck　his　plow　against　a　hard　surface。　And　presto；　our　Teaser　　fish；　though　now　a　near　perfect　fossilized　version；　once　again　returned　to　the　　light。〃　Gunn　hesitated　and　ran　his　hand　through　a　head　of　thinning　hair。　His　　face　looked　drawn　and　tired；　but　his　eyes　burned　with　excitement　as　he　spoke　of　　the　Teaser。　〃One　vital　element　you　must　remember；　when　the　Teaser　died　there　　were　no　birds　and　bees；　no　hair　bearing　mammals；　no　delicate　butterflies；　even　　flowers　had　not　yet　appeared　on　the　earth。〃
　Pitt　studied　the　photograph　of　the　fossil　again。　〃It　doesn't　seem　possible　that　　any　living　thing　could　survive　this　long　without　going　through　drastic　　evolutionary　changes。〃
　〃Incredible？　Yes；　but　it　has　happened　before。　The　shark　has　been　with　us　for　　three　hundred　and　fifty　million　years。　The　Horseshoe　Crab　has　existed　virtually　　unchanged　over　two　hundred　million　years。　Then；　of　course；　we　have　the　classic　　example；　the　Coelacanth。〃
　〃Yes；　I　heard　of　it；〃　said　Pitt。　〃That　was　the　fish　believed　extinct　for　seventy　　million　years　until　they　began　to　be　found　off　the　coast　of　east　Africa。〃
　Gunn　nodded。　〃The　Coelacanth　was　a　sensational　and　important　find　at　the　time；　　but　nothing　pared　to　what　the　scientific　world　would　gain　if　we　could　drop　a　　Teaser　in　its　lap。〃　Gunn　paused　for　a　moment　to　light　another　cigarette。　His　　eyes　betrayed　the　gleam　of　total　absorption。　〃The　whole　thing　boils　down　to　　this；　the　Teaser　could　be　an　early　link　in　the　evolution　of　mammals；　and　that　　Includes　man。　What　I　didn't　tell　you　was　that　the　fossil　found　in　Austria　shows　　definite　mammal　characteristics　in　its　anatomy。　The　protruding　limbs　and　other　　features　of　its　internal　organs；　place　it　in　a　perfect　evolutionary　line　to　　advance　in　a　general　pattern　toward　the　development　of　humans　and　animals。〃
　Pitt　idly　glanced　at　the　pictures　again。　〃If　this　so　called　living　fossil　is　　still　floating　around　in　its　original　form；　how　could　it　evolve　into　an　advanced　　stage？〃
　〃Any　plant　or　animal　species　is　like　a　related　family；〃　Gunn　replied。　〃One　　branch　may　produce　offspring　who　are　uniform　in　size　and　shape；　while　the　　cousins　over　on　the　other　side　of　the　mountain　produce　a　race　of　giants　with　two　　heads　and　four　arms。〃
　Pitt　was　getting　restless。　He　opened　the　door　and　walked　out　onto　the　deck。　The　　hot　air　struck　him　like　a　cloud　of　steam　and　he　winced。　All　this　expense　and　all　　these　men　sweating　their　asses　off　to　catch　a　stinking　fish；　he　thought。　Who　the　　hell　cares　if　our　ancestors　were　apes　or　fish…what　difference　did　it　make？　At　　the　rate　mankind　was　racing　toward　self…destruction；　it　would　probably　be　　extinct　in　another　thousand　years　or　less　anyway。　He　turned　back　to　the　darkened　　doorway　and　faced　Gunn。
　〃Ok；〃　Pitt　said　slowly。　〃I　know　what　you　and　your　boatload　of　academic　brains　　are　searching　for。　Now　the　only　question　in　my　mind　is　where　do　I　e　in？　If　　you're　having　trouble　with　broken　cables；　faulty　generators　or　missing　tools；　　you　don't　need　me；　you　need　a　good　mechanic　who　knows　how　to　take　care　of　his　　equipment。〃
　Gunn's　face　looked　puzzled　for　a　moment；　then　he　grinned。　〃I　see　that　you've　　been　pumping　information　out　of　Dr。　Knight。〃
　〃Dr。　Knight？〃
　〃Yes；　Ken　Knight；　the　young　fellow　who　picked　you　up　in　the　whaleboat　this　　morning。　He's　quite　a　brilliant　marine　geophysicist。〃
　〃That's　an　impressive　description；〃　said　Pitt。　〃He　seemed　friendly　enough　during　　the　boat　ride；　but　he　hardly　struck　me　as　brilliant。〃
　The　heat　outside　was　being　unbearable　and　the　metal　railing　gleamed　　ominously。　Pitt。　not　thinking；　put　his　hand　on　the　metal　and　instantly　cursed　as　　a　burning　sting　etched　his　palm。　Suddenly　the　pain　set　off　an　immense　feeling　of　　irritation　Within　him　and　he　returned　to　the　cabin；　slamming　the　door。　〃Let's　skip　all　this　crap；〃　Pitt　snapped　sharply。　〃Just　tell　me　what　miracle　I'm　　supposed　to　perform　that　puts　a　Teaser　over　your　fireplace　and　I'll　get　to　　work。〃　He　stretched　out　in　Gunn's　bunk　and　took　a　deep　breath　and　relaxed　as　the　　coolness　of　the　stateroom　calmed　him　once　more。　He　glanced　across　the　room　at　　Gunn。　Gunn's　face　was　expressionless；　but　Pitt　knew　him　well　enough　to　perceive　his　disfort。　Pitt　smiled　and　reached　over　and　gripped　Gunn　on　the　shoulder。　〃I　don't　wish　to　appear　mercenary。　but　if　you　want　me　to　join　your　little　crew　　of　scientific　pirates　it's　going　to　cost　you　a　drink。　All　this　talk　makes　a　man　　pretty　damn　thirsty。〃
　Gunn　laughed　with　relief　and　called　over　his　inter　for　some　ice　from　the　　ship's　galley。　Then　he　produced　a　bottle　of　Chivac　Regal　and　two　glasses　from　　his　bottom　desk　drawer。　'While　we're　waiting　for　the　ice；　you　might　scan　this　　report　I　wrote　concerning　our　equipment　malfunctions。〃　He　passed　a　yellow　folder　　to　Pitt。　〃I've　covered　every　incident　in　detail　and　chronological　order。　In　the　　beginning　I　thought　it　was　merely　accidents　or　bad　luck；　but　now　it's　gone　far　　beyond　the　realm　of　mere　coincidence。〃
　〃Have　you　any　proof　of　tampering　or　sabotage？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃None　whatsoever。〃
　〃The　broken　cable　that　Knight　mentioned；　was　it　cut？〃Gunn　shrugged。　〃No；　the　ends　were　frayed；　but　that's　another　mystery。　I'll　　explain　it　to　you。〃　Gunn　paused　and　flicked　an　ash　from　his　cigarette。　〃We　work　　with　a　safety　margin　of　five…to…one。　For　example；　if　the　specifications　of　a　　cable　state　there　is　a　danger　of　breakage　with　a　stress　of　twenty…five　thousand　　pounds　or　above；　we　will　never　place　a　stress　on　it　higher　than　five　thousand　　pounds。　Because　of　this　large　safety　factor　NUMA　has　yet　to　have　a　single　　fatality　on　a　project。
　Lives　are　more　important　to　us　than　scientific　discovery。　Underwater　exploration　　is　a　risky　business　and　the　list　is　long　with　the　names　of　men　before　us　who　　have　died　trying　to　pry　new　secrets　from　the　seas。〃
　〃What　was　the　safety　margin　when　your　cable　Parted？〃
　〃I　was　getting　to　that。　It　was　nearly　six…to…one。　We　Only　had　a　four　thousand　　pound　stress　on　it　at　the　time。　It　was　extremely　fortunate　that　no　one　was　　injured　from　the　whiplash　of　the　cable　when　it　snapped〃
　〃May　I　see　the　cable？〃
　〃Yes；　I've　had　the　parted　ends　cut　from　the　main　sections　and　saved　for　your　　arrival。〃
　A　loud　knock　echoed　from　the　door　and　a　young　red…haired　boy；　no　more　than　　eighteen　or　nineteen；　entered　the　cabin；　carrying　a　small　bucket　of　ice。　He　sat　　it　on　the　desk　and　turned　and　faced　Gunn。　〃Can　I　get　you　anything　else；　sir？〃　〃Yes；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　you　can；〃　said　Gunn。　〃Run　down　to　the　maintenance　　deck　and　find　the　cable　sections　that　broke　recently　and　bring　them　back　here　to　　me。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃　The　boy　did　an　abrupt　about…face　and　hurried　from　the　cabin。
　〃One　of　the　crew　members？〃　asked　Pitt。
　Gunn　dropped　the　ice　in　the　glasses　and　poured　in　the　scotch。　He　passed　a　glass　　to　Pitt。　〃Yes；　we　have　eight　crew　members　and　fourteen　scientists　on　board。〃
　Pitt　swirled　the　yellow　liquid　around　the　ice　cubes。
　〃Could　any　one　of　those　twenty…two　men　be　responsible　for　your　problems？〃Gunn　shook　his　head。　〃I've　thought　about　that；　I've　even　dreamed　about　it；　and　I've　analyzed　each　man's　personnel　record　at　least　fifty　times；　and　I　can't　see　what　possible　motive　any　of　them　might　have　for　hindering　the　project。〃　Gunn　　paused　to　sip　his　drink。　〃No；　I'm　certain　my　opposition　es　from　another　　source。　Someone　inexplicably　wants　to　stop　us　from　catching　a　fish　that　might　　not　even　exist。〃
　The　boy　soon　returned　with　the　two　halves　of　the　broken　cable。　He　handed　the　　braided　steel　to　Gunn　and　left　the　cabin；　closing　the　door　after　him。　Pitt　took　another　drink　from　his　scotch　and　climbed　from　the　bunk。　He　set　the　　glass　on　Gunn's　desk'。　and　lifted　the　cable　in　his　hands；　examining　the　ends　　closely。
　It　looked　like　any　other　greasy　steel　cable。　Each　piece　was　about　two　feet　in　　length　and　contained　twenty…four　hundred　strands　that　were　braided　into　a　　standard　five…eighth…inch　diameter。　The　cable　was　not　broken　in　a　pact　area。　The　breaks　were　spread　over　a　fifteen　inch　distance　that　gave　both　frayed　wires　　the　appearance　of　a　pair　of　uneven；　unwound　horse　tails。
　Something　caught　Pitt's　eye。　and　he　took　the　magnifying　glass　and　peered　through　the　heavy　lens。　His　eyes　glinted　with　intensity　and　his　lips　slowly　spread　into　　a　grin　of　smug　satisfaction。　The　old　feelings　of　excitement　and　intrigue　began　　to　course　through　his　veins。　This　might　turn　out　to　be　an　interesting　operation　　after　all；　he　thought。
　〃See　anything？'　asked　Gunn。
　〃Yes；　a　great　deal；〃　replied　Pitt。　〃Somewhere　along　the　line　you've　found　　yourself　an　enemy　who　doesn't　want　you　fishing　around　in　his　territory。〃
　Gunn　became　flushed　and　his　eyes　opened　wide。　〃What　did　you　find？〃
　〃This　cable　was　purposel