按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Sarah；〃 he said。 〃We're miles from the nest。 There isn't any way for them to track it。〃
〃How do you know？〃
〃Sarah … 〃
〃You said yourself； we don't know anything about these animals。 We don't know anything about their physiology； their biochemistry； their nervous systems； their behavior。 And we don't know anything about their sensory equipment； either。〃
〃Yes； but … 〃
〃They're predators； Ian。 Good sense of vision； good sense of hearing and smell。〃
〃I assume so； yes。〃
〃But we don't know what else；〃 Sarah said。
〃What else？〃 Malcolm said。
〃Ian。 There are other sensory modalities。 Snakes sense infrared。 Bats have echolocation。 Birds and turtles have magnetosensors … they can detect the earth's magnetic field； which is how they migrate。 Dinosaurs may have other sensory modalities that we can't imagine。〃
〃Sarah； this is ridiculous。〃
〃Is it？ Then you tell me。 What are they doing out there？〃
Outside； near the trees； the tyrannosaurs had bee silent。 They were no longer growling； but they were still moving their heads back and forth in slow arcs； turning left and right。
Malcolm frowned。 〃It looks like。。。they're looking around。。。。〃
〃Straight into bright lights？ No； Ian。 They're blinded。〃
As soon as she said it； he realized she was right。 But the heads were turning back and forth in that regular way。 〃Then what are they doing？ Smelling？〃
〃No。 Heads are high。 Nostrils aren't moving。〃
〃Listening？〃
She nodded。 〃Possibly。〃
〃Listening to what？〃
〃Maybe to the baby。〃
He glanced over again。 〃Sarah。 The baby is out cold。〃
〃I know。〃
〃It isn't making any noise。〃
〃None that we can hear。〃 She stared at the tyrannosaurs。 〃But they're doing something； Ian。 That behavior we're seeing has meaning。 We just don't know what it is。〃
From the high hide； Levine stared through his night…vision glasses at the clearing。 He saw the two tyrannosaurs standing at the edge of the forest。 They were moving their heads in an odd； synchronized way。
They took a few hesitant steps toward the trailer； lifted their heads； turned right and left； and then seemed finally to make up their minds。 The animals moved quickly； almost aggressively； across the clearing。
Over the radio； they heard Malcolm say； 〃It's the lights！ The lights are drawing them。〃
A moment later； the exterior lights were turned off； and the clearing went black。 They all squinted in the darkness。 They heard Malcolm say； 〃That did it。〃
Thorne said to Levine； 〃What do you see？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃What're they doing？〃
〃They're just standing there。〃
Through the night…vision goggles； he saw that the tyrannosaurs had paused； as if confused by this change in light。 Even from a distance； he could hear their growls； but they were uneasy。 They swung their great heads up and down； and snapped their jaws。 But they did not move closer。
Kelly said； 〃What is it？〃
〃They're waiting；〃 Levine said。 〃At least for the moment。〃
Levine had the distinct impression that the tyrannosaurs were unsettled。 The trailer must represent a large and fearsome change in their environment。 Perhaps they would turn away； he thought； and leave。 Despite their enormous size； they were cautious； almost timid animals。
They growled again。 And then he saw them move forward； toward the darkened trailer。
〃Ian： what do we do？〃
〃Damned if I know；〃 Malcolm whispered。
They were crouched down side by side in the passageway； trying to stay out of sight in the windows。 The tyrannosaurs moved implacably forward。 They could feel each step as a distinct vibration now … two ten ton animals； moving toward them。
〃They're ing right at us！〃
〃I noticed；〃 he said。
The first of the animals reached the trailer； ing so close that the body blocked the entire window。 All Malcolm could see was powerfully muscled legs and underbelly。 The head was far above them； out of view。
Then the second tyrannosaur came up on the opposite side。 The two animals began to circle the trailer； growling and snorting。 Heavy footsteps shook the floor beneath them。 They smelled the pungent predator odor。 One of the tyrannosaurs brushed against the side of the trailer and they heard a scraping sound； scaly flesh on metal。
Malcolm felt sudden panic。 It was the smell that did it； the smell that he suddenly remembered； from before。 He began to sweat。 He glanced over at Sarah； and saw that she was intent； watching the movements of the animals。 〃This isn't hunting behavior；〃 she whispered。
〃I don't know；〃 Malcolm said。 〃Maybe it is。 They aren't lions； you know。〃
One of the tyrannosaurs bellowed in the night； a frightening earsplitting sound。
〃Not hunting；〃 she said 〃They're searching； Ian。〃
A moment later； the second tyrannosaur bellowed in reply。 Then the big head swung down； and peered in through the window in front of them。 Malcolm ducked down； flattening himself on the trailer floor； and Sarah collapsed on top of him。 Her shoe pressed on his ear。
〃It's going to be fine； Sarah。〃
Outside； they heard the tyrannosaurs snorting and growling。
Malcolm whispered； 〃Would you mind moving？〃
She edged to one side； and he eased up slowly； peering cautiously over the seat cushions。 He had a glimpse of the big eye of the rex staring in at him。 The eye swiveled in the socket。 He saw the jaws open and close。 The hot breath of the animal fogged the glass。
The tyrannosaur's head swung away； moving back from the trailers and for a moment Malcolm breathed more easily。 But then the head swung back； and slammed with a heavy thud into the trailer； rocking it hard。
〃Don't worry； Sarah。 The trailer's very strong。〃
She whispered； 〃I can't tell you how relieved I am。〃
From the opposite side； the other rex bellowed and struck the trailer with it's snout。 The suspension creaked with the impact。
The two tyrannosaurs now began an alternating； rhythmic pounding of the trailer from either side。 Malcolm and Harding were thrown back and forth。 Sarah tried to steady herself； but was knocked away at the next impact。 The floor tilted crazily under each blow。 Lab equipment flew off the tables。 Glass shattered。
And then； abruptly； the pounding stopped。 There was silence。
Grunting； Malcolm got up on one knee。 He peered out the window； and saw the hindquarters of one of the tyrannosaurs； as it moved forward。
〃What do we do？〃 he whispered。
The radio crackled。 Thorne said； 〃Ian； are you there？ Ian！〃
〃For God's sake； turn that off；〃 Sarah whispered。
Malcolm reached for his belt； whispered； 〃We're okay；〃 and clicked the radio off。
Sarah was crawling on her hands and knees forward through the trailer； into the biology lab。 He followed her； and saw the big tyrannosaur peering in through the window； at the baby； strapped down。 The tyrannosaur made a soft grunting sound。
Then it paused； looking in the window。 It grunted again。
〃She wants her baby； Ian；〃 Sarah whispered。
〃Well； God knows；〃 Malcolm said； 〃it's all right with me。〃
They were huddled on the floor； trying to stay out of sight。
〃How are we going to get it to her？〃
〃I don't know。 Maybe push it out the door？〃
〃I don't want them to step on it；〃 Sarah said。
〃Who cares？〃 Malcolm said。
The tyrannosaur at the window made a series of soft grunts； followed by a long； menacing growl。 It was the big female。
〃Sarah … 〃
But she was already standing up； facing the tyrannosaur。 She immediately began to speak； her voice soft； soothing。 〃It's okay。。。。It's all right now。。。。The baby is fine。。。。I'm just going to loosen these straps here。。。。You can watch me。。。。〃
The head outside the window was so huge it filled the entire glass frame。 Sarah saw the powerful muscles of the neck ripple beneath the skin。 The jaws moved slightly。 Her hands trembled as she undid the straps。
〃That's right。。。。Your baby is fine。。。。See； it's just fine。。。。〃
Crouched below at her feet； Malcolm whispered； 〃What are you doing？〃
She did not change her soft； soothing tone。 〃I know it sounds crazy。。。。But it works with lions。。。sometimes。。。。There we are。。。。Your baby is free。。。。〃
Sarah unwrapped the blanket； and took away the oxygen mask； all the while speaking calmly。 〃Now。。。all I have to do。。。〃 She lifted the baby up in her hands。 〃。。。is get it to you。。。。〃
Suddenly； the female's head swung back； and smashed side…on into the glass； which shattered into a white spiderweb with a harsh crack。 Sarah couldn't see through it； but she saw a shadow move and then the second impact broke the glass free。 Sarah dropped the baby on the tray and jumped back as the head crashed through； and pushed several feet into the trailer。 Streams of blood ran down the adult's snout； from the shards of glass。 But after the initial violence it stopped； and became delicate in its movements。 It sniffed the baby； starting at the head； moving slowly down the body。 It sniffed the cast； too； and licked it briefly with its tongue。 Finally； it rested its lower jaw lightly on the baby's chest。 It stayed that way for a long time； not moving。 Only the eyes blinked slowly； staring at Sarah。
Malcolm； lying on the floor； saw blood dripping over the edge of the counter。 He started to get up； but she pushed his head back down with her hand。 She whispered； 〃Ssssh。〃
〃What's happening？〃
〃It's feeling the heartbeat。〃
The tyrannosaur grunted； opened its mouth； and gently gripped the infant between its jaws。 Then it moved slowly back； out through the broken glass； carrying the baby outside。
It set the baby on the ground； below their vision。 It bent over； the head disappearing from view。
Malcolm whispered； 〃Did it wake up？ Is the baby awake？〃
〃Ssssh！〃
There was a repetitive slurping sound； ing from outside the trailer。 It was interspersed with soft； guttural growls。 Malcolm saw Sarah leaning forward； trying to see out the window。 He whispered； 〃What's happening？〃
〃She's licking him。 And pushing him with her snout。〃
〃And？〃
〃That's all。 She just keeps doing it。〃
〃What about the baby？〃
〃Nothing。 It keeps rolling over； like it's dead。 How much morphine did we give him； the last time？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he said。 〃How should I know？〃
Malcolm remained on the floor； listening to the slurping and the growling。 And finally； after what seemed like an eternity； he heard a soft high…pitched squeak。
〃He's waking up！ Ian！ The baby's waking up！〃
Malcolm crawled up on his knees； and looked out the window in time to see the adult carrying the baby in its jaws； walking away toward the perimeter of the clearing。
〃What's it doing？〃
〃I guess； taking it back。〃
The second adult came into view； following the first。 Malcolm and Sarah watched the two tyrannosaurs move away from the trailer； across the clearing。
Malcolm's shoulders dropped。 〃That was close；〃 he said。
〃Yes。 That was close。〃 She sighed； and wiped blood from her forearm。
In the high hide； Thorne pressed the radio button。 〃Ian！ Are you there？ Ian！〃
Kelly said； 〃Maybe they turned the radio off。〃
A light rain began to fall； pattering on the metal roof of the shed。 Levine was staring through his night…vision glasses toward the cliff。 Lightning flashed； and Thorne said； 〃Can you see what the animals are doing？〃
〃I can；〃 Eddie said。 〃It looks。。。it looks like they're going away。〃 They all began to cheer。
Only Levine remained silent； watching through the glasses。 Thorne turned to him。 〃Is that right； Richard？ Is everything okay？〃
Actually； I think not；〃 Levine said。 〃I'm afraid we have made a serious error。
Malcolm watched the retreating tyrannosaurs through the shattered glass window。 Beside him； Sarah said nothing。 She never took her eyes off the animals。
Rain started to fall； water dripped from the shards of lass。 Thunder rumbled in the distance； and lightning cracked harshly down； illuminating； the giant animals as they moved away。
At the nearest of the big trees； the adults stopped； and placed the baby on the ground。
〃Why are they doing that？〃 Sarah said。 〃They should be going back to the nest。〃
〃I don't know； maybe they're … 〃