michael crichton.congo-第22节

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e　characteristic…admissible　in　court。　But　especially　in　this　laboratory；　we　e　across　a　great　deal　of　animal　hair；　and　we're　expert　in　that　as　well。〃
　A　large　stainless…steel　analyzer　began　pinging。　〃Blood's　ing　through；〃　the　pathologist　said。
　On　a　video　screen　they　saw　twin　patterns　of　pastel…colored　streaks。　〃This　is　the　electrophoresis　pattern；〃　the　pathologist　explained。　〃To　check　serum　proteins。　That's　ordinary　human　blood　on　the　left。　On　the　right　we　have　the　blood　sample　from　under　the　nails。　You　can　see　it's　definitely　not　human　blood。〃
　〃Not　human　blood？〃　Ross　said；　glancing　at　Elliot。
　〃It's　close　to　human　blood；〃　the　pathologist　said；　staring　at　the　pattern。　〃But　it's　not　human。　Could　be　a　domestic　or　farm　animal…a　pig；　perhaps。　Or　else　a　primate。　Monkeys　and　apes　are　very　close　serologically　to　human　beings。　We'll　have　a　puter　analysis　in　a　minute。〃
　On　the　screen；　the　puter　printed　ALPHA　AND　BETA　SERUM　GLOBULINS　MATCH：　GORILLA　BLOOD。
　The　pathologist　said；　〃There's　your　answer　to　what　he　had　under　his　nails。　Gorilla　blood。〃
　
　5。 Examination
　
　〃SHE　WON'T　HURT　YOU；〃　ELLIOT　TOLD　THE　frightened　orderly。　They　were　in　the　passenger　partment　of　the　747　cargo　jet。　〃See；　she's　smiling　at　you。〃
　Amy　was　indeed　giving　her　most　winning　smile；　being　careful　not　to　expose　her　teeth。　But　the　orderly　from　the　private　clinic　in　Nairobi　was　not　familiar　with　these　fine　points　of　gorilla　etiquette。　His　hands　shook　as　he　held　the　syringe。
　Nairobi　was　the　last　opportunity　for　Amy　to　receive　a　thorough　checkup。　Her　large；　powerful　body　belied　a　constitutional　fragility；　as　her　heavy…browed；　glowering　face　belied　a　meek；　rather　tender　nature。　In　San　Francisco；　the　Project　Amy　staff　subjected　her　to　a　thorough　medical　regimen…　urine　samples　every　other　day；　stool　samples　checked　weekly　for　occult　blood；　plete　blood　studies　monthly；　and　a　trip　to　the　dentist　every　three　months　for　removal　of　the　black　tartar　that　accumulated　from　her　vegetarian　diet。
　Amy　took　it　all　in　stride；　but　the　terrified　orderly　did　not　know　that。　He　approached　her　holding　the　syringe　in　front　of　him　like　a　weapon。　〃You　sure　he　won't　bite？〃
　Amy；　trying　to　be　helpful；　signed；　Amy　promise　no　bite。　She　was　signing　slowly；　deliberately；　as　she　always　did　when　confronted　by　someone　who　did　not　know　her　language。
　〃She　promises　not　to　bite　you；〃　Elliot　said。
　〃So　you　say；〃　the　orderly　said。　Elliot　did　not　bother　to　explain　that　he　hadn't　said　it；　she　had。
　After　the　blood　samples　were　drawn；　the　orderly　relaxed　a　little。　Packing　up；　he　said；　〃Certainly　is　an　ugly　brute。〃
　〃You've　hurt　her　feelings；〃　Elliot　said。
　And；　indeed；　Amy　was　signing　vigorously；　What　ugly？　〃Nothing；　Amy；〃　Elliot　said。　〃He's　just　never　seen　a　gorilla　before。〃
　The　orderly　said；　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃
　〃You've　hurt　her　feelings。　You'd　better　apologize。〃
　The　orderly　snapped　his　medical　case　shut。　He　stared　at　Elliot　and　then　at　Amy。　〃Apologize　to　him？〃
　〃Her；〃　Elliot　said。　〃Yes。　How　would　you　like　to　be　told　you're　ugly？〃
　Elliot　felt　strongly　about　this。　Over　the　years；　he　had　e　to　feel　acutely　the　prejudices　that　human　beings　showed　toward　apes；　considering　chimpanzees　to　be　cute　children；　orangs　to　be　wise　old　men；　and　gorillas　to　be　hulking；　dangerous　brutes。　They　were　wrong　in　every　case。
　Each　of　these　animals　was　unique；　and　did　not　fit　the　human　stereotypes　at　all。　Chimps；　for　example；　were　much　more　callous　than　gorillas　ever　were。　Because　chimps　were　extroverts；　an　angry　chimp　was　far　more　dangerous　than　an　angry　gorilla；　at　the　zoo；　Elliot　would　watch　in　amazement　as　human　mothers　pushed　their　children　closer　to　look　at　the　chimps；　but　recoiled　protectively　at　the　sight　of　the　gorillas。　These　mothers　obviously　did　not　know　that　wild　chimpanzees　caught　and　ate　human　infants…something　gorillas　never　did。
　Elliot　had　witnessed　repeatedly　the　human　prejudice　against　gorillas；　and　had　e　to　recognize　its　effect　on　Amy。　Amy　could　not　help　the　fact　that　she　was　huge　and　black　and　heavy…browed　and　squash…faced。　Behind　the　face　people　considered　so　repulsive　was　an　intelligent　and　sensitive　consciousness；　sympathetic　to　the　people　around　her；　It　pained　her　when　people　ran　away；　or　screamed　in　fear；　or　made　cruel　remarks。
　The　orderly　frowned。　〃You　mean　that　he　understands　English？〃
　〃Yes；　she　does。〃　The　gender　change　was　something　else
　Elliot　didn't　like。　People　who　were　afraid　of　Amy　always　assumed　she　was　male。
　The　orderly　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃
　〃Amy；　show　the　man　to　the　door。〃
　Amy　lumbered　over　to　the　door　and　opened　it　for　the　orderly；　whose　eyes　widened　as　he　left。　Amy　closed　the　door　behind　him。
　Silly　human　man；　Amy　signed。
　〃Never　mind；〃　Elliot　said。　〃e；　Peter　tickle　Amy。〃　And　for　the　next　fifteen　minutes；　he　tickled　her　as　she　rolled　on　the　floor　and　grunted　in　deep　satisfaction。　Elliot　never　noticed　the　door　open　behind　him；　never　noticed　the　shadow　falling　across　the　floor；　until　it　was　too　late　and　he　turned　his　head　to　look　up　and　saw　the　dark　cylinder　swing　down；　and　his　head　erupted　with　blinding　white　pain　and　everything　went　black。
　
　6。　Kidnapped
　
　HE　AWOKE　TO　A　PIERCING　ELECTRONIC　SHRIEK。
　〃Don't　move；　sir；〃　a　voice　said。
　Elliot　opened　his　eyes　and　stared　into　a　bright　light　shining　down　on　him。　He　was　still　lying　on　his　back　in　the　aircraft；　someone　was　bent　over　him。
　〃Look　to　the　right。　。　。　now　to　the　left。　。　。　。　Can　you　flex　your　fingers？〃
　He　followed　the　instructions。　The　light　was　taken　away　and　he　saw　a　black　man　in　a　white　suit　crouched　beside　him。　The　man　touched　Elliot's　head；　his　fingers　came　away　red　with　blood。　〃Nothing　to　be　alarmed　about；〃　the　man　said；　〃it's　quite　superficial。〃　He　looked　off。　〃How　long　would　you　estimate　he　was　unconscious？〃
　〃Couple　of　minutes；　no　more；〃　Munro　said。
　The　high…pitched　squeal　came　again。　He　saw　Ross　moving　around　the　passenger　section；　wearing　a　shoulder　pack；　and　holding　a　wand　in　front　of　her。　There　was　another　squeal。　〃Damn；〃　she　said；　and　plucked　something　from　the　molding　around　the　window。　〃That's　five。　They　really　did　a　job。〃
　Munro　looked　down　at　Elliot。　〃How　do　you　feel？〃　he　asked。
　〃He　should　be　put　under　observation　for　twenty…four　hours；〃　the　black　man　said。　〃Just　as　a　precaution。〃
　〃Twenty…four　hours！〃　Ross　said；　moving　around　the　partment。
　Elliot　said；　〃Where　is　she？〃
　〃They　took　her；〃　Munro　said。　〃They　opened　the　rear　door；　inflated　the　pneumatic　slide；　and　were　gone　before　anyone　realized　what　happened。　We　found　this　next　to　you。〃
　Munro　gave　him　a　small　glass　vial　with　Japanese　markings。　The　sides　of　the　vial　were　scratched　and　scored；　at　one　end　was　a　rubber　plunger；　at　the　other　end　a　broken　needle。
　Elliot　sat　up。
　〃Easy　there；〃　the　doctor　said。
　〃I　feel　fine；〃　Elliot　said；　although　his　head　was　throbbing。　He　turned　the　vial　over　in　his　hand。　〃There　was　frost　on　it　when　you　found　it？〃
　Munro　nodded。　〃Very　cold。〃
　〃CO2；〃　Elliot　said。　It　was　a　dart　from　a　gas　gun。　He　shook　his　head。　〃They　broke　the　needle　off　in　her。〃　He　could　imagine　Amy's　screams　of　outrage。　She　was　unaccustomed　to　anything　but　the　tenderest　treatment。　Perhaps　that　was　one　of　the　shortings　of　his　work　with　her；　he　had　not　prepared　her　well　enough　for　the　real　world。　He　sniffed　the　vial；　smelled　a　pungent　odor。　〃Lobaxin。　Fast…acting　soporific；　onset　within　fifteen　seconds。　It's　what　they'd　use。〃　Elliot　was　angry。　Lobaxin　was　not　often　used　on　animals　because　it　caused　liver　damage。　And　they　had　broken　the　needle…　He　got　to　his　feet　and　leaned　on　Munro；　who　put　his　arm
　around　him。　The　doctor　protested。
　〃I'm　fine；〃　Elliot　said。
　Across　the　room；　there　was　another　squeal；　this　one　loud　and　prolonged。　Ross　was　moving　her　wand　over　the　medicine　cabinet；　past　the　bottles　of　pills　and　supplies。　The　sound　seemed　to　embarrass　her；　quickly　she　moved　away；　shutting　the　cabinet。
　She　crossed　the　passenger　partment；　and　a　squeal　was　heard　again。　Ross　removed　a　small　black　device　from　the　underside　of　one　seat。　〃Look　at　this。　They　must　have　brought　an　extra　person　just　to　plant　the　bugs。　It'll　take　hours　to　sterilize　the　plane。　We　can't　wait~〃
　She　went　immediately　to　the　puter　console　and　began　typing。
　Elliot　said；　〃Where　are　they　now？　The　consortium？〃
　〃The　main　party　left　from　Kubala　airport　outside　Nairobi　six　hours　ago；〃　Munro　said。
　〃Then　they　didn't　take　Amy　with　them。〃
　〃Of　course　they　didn't　take　her；〃　Ross　said；　sounding　annoyed。　〃They've　got　no　use　for　her。〃
　〃Have　they　killed　her？〃　Elliot　asked。
　〃Maybe；〃　Munro　said　quietly。
　〃Oh；　Jesus　。　。
　〃But　I　doubt　it；〃　Munro　continued。　〃They　don't　want　any　publicity；　and　Amy's　famous…as　famous　in　some　circles　as　an　ambassador　or　a　head　of　state。　She's　a　talking　gorilla；　and　there　aren't　many　of　those。　She's　been　on　television　news；　she's　had　her　picture　in　the　newspapers。　。　。　。　They'd　kill　you　before　they　killed　her。〃
　〃Just　so　they　don't　kill　her；〃　Elliot　said。
　〃They　won't；〃　Ross　said；　with　finality。　〃The　consortium　isn't　interested　in　Amy。　They　don't　even　know　why　we　brought　her。　They're　just　trying　to　blow　our　timeline…but　they　won't　succeed。〃
　Something　in　her　tone　suggested　that　she　planned　to　leave　Amy　behind。　The　idea　appalled　Elliot。　〃We've　g