the.lost.world-第45节
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s Injury seldom occurred。 There were exceptions； of course。 When male hippos fought to take over a harem； they often severely wounded other males。 But in any case； nothing matched what she saw now。
As she watched； the wounded animal at the edge of the kill slunk forward and bit another adult； which snarled and leapt at it； slashing with its long toe…claw。 In a flash； the injured predator was eviscerated； coils of pale intestine slipping out through a wide gash。 The animal fell howling to the ground； and immediately three adults turned away from the kill and jumped onto its newly fallen body； and began to tear the animal's flesh with rapacious intensity。
Harding closed her eyes； and turned away。 This was a different world； and one she did not understand at all。 In a daze； she headed back down the bill； moving quietly； carefully away from the kill。
Noise
The Ford Explorer glided quietly forward along the jungle path。 They were following a game trail on the ridge above the valley； heading down toward the high hide； in the valley below。
Thorne drove。 He said to Malcolm； 〃You were saying earlier that you knew why the dinosaurs became extinct。。。。〃
〃Well； I'm pretty sure I do；〃 Malcolm said。 〃The basic situation is simple enough。〃 He shifted in his seat。 〃Dinosaurs arose in the Triassic； about two hundred million years ago。 They proliferated throughout the Jurassic and the Cretaceous periods that followed。 They were the dominant life form on this planet for about a hundred and fifty million years … which is a very long time。〃
〃Considering we've been here for only three million；〃 Eddie said。
〃Let's not put on airs；〃 Malcolm said。 〃Some puny apes have been here for three miIlion years。 We haven't。 Recognizable human beings have only been on this planet for thirty…five thousand years；〃 he said。 〃That's how long it's been since our ancestors painted caves in France and Spain； drawing pictures of game to invoke success in the hunt。 Thirty…five thousand years。 In the history of the earth； that's nothing at all。 We've just arrived。〃
〃Okay。。。〃
〃And of course even thirty…five thousand years ago； we were already making species extinct。 Cavemen killed so much game that animals became extinct on several continents。 There used to be lions and tigers in Europe。 There used to be giraffes and rhinos in Los Angeles。 Hell； ten thousand years ago； the ancestors of Native Americans hunted the woolly mammoth to extinction。 This is nothing new； this human tendency … 〃
〃Ian。'
〃Well； it's a fact； although your modern airheads think it's all so brand…new … 〃
〃Ian。 You were talking about dinosaurs。〃
〃Right。 Dinosaurs。 Anyway； during a hundred and fifty million years on this planet； dinosaurs were so successful that by the Cretaceous there were twenty…one major groups of them。 A few groups； like the camarasaurs and fabrosaurs； had died out。 But the overwhelming majority of dinosaur groups were still active throughout the Cretaceous。 And then； suddenly； about sixty…five million years ago； every single group became extinct。 And only the birds remained。 So。 The question is … What was that？〃
〃I thought you knew；〃 Thorne said。
〃No。 I mean； what was that sound？ Did you hear something？〃 〃No；〃 Thorne said。
〃Stop the car；〃 Malcolm said。
Thorne stopped the car； and clicked off the engine。 They rolled down the windows and felt the still； midday heat。 There was almost no breeze。 They listened for a while。
Thorne shrugged。 〃I don't hear anything。 What did you think you … 〃
〃Sssh；〃 Malcolm said。 He cupped his hand to his ear and put his head out the window； listening intently。 After a moment； he came back in。 〃I could have sworn I heard an engine。〃
〃An engine？ You mean an internal…bustion engine？〃
〃Right。〃 He pointed to the east。 〃It sounded like it was ing from over there。〃
They listened again； and heard nothing。
Thorne shook his head。 〃I can't imagine a gas engine here； Ian。 There's no gas to run one。〃
The radio clicked。 〃Dr。 Malcolm？〃 It was Arby； in the trailer。
〃 Yes； Arby。〃
〃Who else is here？ On the island？〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Turn on your monitor。〃
Thorne flicked on the dashboard monitor。 They saw a view from one of the security cameras。 The view looked down into the narrow； steep east valley。 They saw the slope of a hillside； dark beneath the trees。 A tree branch blocked much of the frame。 But the view was still； silent。 There was no sign of activity。
〃What did you see； Arby？〃
〃Just watch。〃
Through the leaves； Thorne saw a flash of khaki； then another。 He realized it was a person； half…walking； half…sliding； down the steep jungle slope toward the floor below。 Small pact frame； short dark hair。
〃I'll be damned；〃 Malcolm said； smiling。
〃You know who that is？〃
〃Yes； of course。 It's Sarah。〃
〃Well； we better go get her。〃 Thorne reached for the radio； pressed the button。 〃Richard；〃 he said。
There was no answer。
〃Richard？ Are you reading？〃
There was no answer。
Malcolm sighed。 〃Great。 He's not answering。 Probably decided to go for a walk。 Pursuing his research。。。〃
〃That's what I'm afraid of；〃 Thorne said。 〃Eddie； unhook the motorcycle and go see what Levine's doing now。 Take a Lindstradt with you。 We'll go pick up Sarah。〃
Trail
Levine followed the game trail； moving deeper into the darkness of the jungle。 The parasaurs were somewhere up ahead； making a lot of noise as they crashed through the ferns and palms on the jungle floor。 At least now he understood why they had formed into a single file： there was no other practical way to move through the dense growth of the rain forest。
Their vocalizations had never stopped； but Levine noticed they were taking on a different character … more high…pitched； more excited。 He hurried forward； pushing past wet palm fronds taller than he was； following the beaten trail。 As he listened to the cries of the animals ahead； he also began to notice a distinctive odor； pungent and sweet…sour。 He had the feeling the odor was growing stronger。
But up ahead； something was happening； there was no doubt about it。 The parasaur vocalizations were now clipped； almost barking sounds。 He sensed in them an agitated quality。 But what could agitate an animal twelve feet high and thirty feet long？
His curiosity overwhelmed him。 Levine began to run through the jungle； shoving aside palms； leaping over fallen trees。 In the foliage ahead； he heard a hissing sound； a sort of spattering； and then one of the parasaurs gave a long； low trumpeting cry。
Eddie Carr drove the motorcycle up to the high hide； and stopped。 Levine was gone。 He looked at the ground around the hide； and saw many deep animal footprints in the ground。 The prints were large； about two feet in diameter； and they seemed to be going off into the jungle behind the hide。
He scanned the ground； and saw fresh bootmarks as well。 They had an Asolo tread； he recognized them as Levine's。 In some places the bootmarks disrupted the edge of the animal footprints； which meant that they had been made afterward。 The bootmarks also led into the forest。
Eddie Carr swore。 The last thing he wanted to do was to go into that jungle。 The very idea gave him the creeps。 But what choice was there？
He had to get Levine back。 That guy； he thought； was getting to be a real problem。 Eddie unshouldered the rifle； and set it laterally across the handlebars of the motorcycle。 Then he twisted the grips； and silently； the bike moved forward； into darkness。
Heart pounding with excitement； Levine pushed past the last of the big palms。 He stopped abruptly。 Directly ahead of him； the tall of a parasaur swung back and forth above his head。 The animal's hindquarters were turned toward him。 And a thick stream of urine gushed from the poste…rior pubis； spattering on the ground below。 Levine jumped back； avoiding the stream。 Beyond the nearest animal； he saw a clearing in the jungle； trampled flat by countless animal feet。 The parasaurs had located themselves at various positions within this clearing； and they were all urinating together。
So they were latrine animals； he thought。 That was fascinating； and totally unexpected。
Many contemporary animals； including rhinos and deer； preferred to relieve themselves at particular spots。 And many times； the behavior of herds was coordinated。 Latrine behavior was generally considered to be a method of marking territory。 But whatever the reason； no one had ever suspected that dinosaurs acted in this way。
As Levine watched； the parasaurs finished urinating； and each moved a few feet to the side。 Then they defecated； again in unison。 Each parasaur produced a large mound of straw…colored spoor。 This was acpanied by low trumpeting from each animal in the herd … along with an enormous quantity of expelled flatus； redolent of methane。
Behind him； a voice whispered； 〃Very nice。〃
He turned； and saw Eddie Carr sitting on the motorcycle。 He was waving his hand in front of his face。 〃Dino farts；〃 he said。 〃Better not light a match around here； you'll blow the place up。。。。〃
〃Ssssh；〃 Levine hissed angrily； shaking his head。 He turned back to the
