michael crichton.congo-第13章

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e。
　In　the　final　analysis；　Ross　and　Elliot　misjudged　each　other；　for　each　presented　a　deceptive　appearance；　and　in　the　same　way。　Elliot　appeared　so　shy　and　retiring　that　one　Berkeley　faculty　member　had　mented；　〃It's　no　wonder　he's　devoted　his　life　to　apes；　he　can't　work　up　the　nerve　to　talk　to　people。〃　But　Elliot　had　been　a　tough　middle　linebacker　in　college；　and　his　diffident　academic　demeanor　concealed　a　head…crunching　ambitious　drive。
　Similarly；　Karen　Ross；　despite　her　youthful　cheerleader　beauty　and　soft；　seductive　Texas　accent；　possessed　great　intelligence　and　a　deep　inner　toughness。　（She　had　matured　early；　and　a　high…school　teacher　had　once　appraised　her　as　〃the　very　flower　of　virile　Texas　womanhood。〃）　Ross　felt　responsible　for　the　previous　ERTS　expedition；　and　she　was　determined　to　rectify　past　errors。　It　was　at　least　possible　that　Elliot　and　Amy　could　help　her　when　she　got　onsite；　that　was　reason　enough　to　take　them　with　her。　Beyond　that；　Ross　was　concerned　about　the　consortium；　which　was　obviously　seeking　Elliot；　since　Morikawa　was　calling。　If　she　took　Elliot　and　Amy　with　her；　she　removed　a　possible　advantage　to　the　consortium…again；　reason　enough　to　take　them　with　her。　Finally；　she　needed　a　cover　in　case　her　expedition　was　stopped　at　one　of　the　borders…and　a　primatologist　and　an　ape　provided　a　perfect　cover。
　But　in　the　end　Karen　Ross　wanted　only　the　Congo　diamonds…and　she　was　prepared　to　say　anything；　do　anything；　sacrifice　anything　to　get　them。
　In　photographs　taken　at　San　Francisco　airport；　Elliot　and　Ross　appeared　as　two　smiling；　youthful　academics；　embarking　on　a　lark　of　an　expedition　to　Africa。　But　in　fact；　their　motivations　were　different；　and　grimly　held。　Elliot　was　reluctant　to　tell　her　how　theoretical　and　academic　his　goals　were…and　Ross　was　reluctant　to　admit　how　pragmatic　were　hers。
　In　any　case；　by　midday　on　June　14；　Karen　Ross　found　herself　riding　with　Peter　Elliot　in　his　battered　Fiat　sedan　along　Hallowell　Road；　going　past　the　University　athletic　field。　She　had　some　misgivings：　they　were　going　to　meet　Amy。
　Elliot　unlocked　the　door　with　its　red　sign　DO　NOT　DISTURB　ANIMAL　EXPERIMENTATION　IN　PROGRESS。　Behind　the　door；　Amy　was　grunting　and　scratching　impatiently。　Elliot　paused。
　〃When　you　meet　her；〃　he　said；　〃remember　that　she　is　a　gorilla　and　not　a　human　being。　Gorillas　have　their　own　etiquette。　Don't　speak　loudly　or　make　any　sudden　movements　until　she　gets　used　to　you。　If　you　smile；　don't　show　your　teeth；　because　bared　teeth　are　a　threat。　And　keep　your　eyes　downcast；　because　direct　stares　from　strangers　are　considered　hostile。　Don't　stand　too　close　to　me　or　touch　me；　be…cause　she's　very　jealous。　If　you　talk　to　her；　don't　lie。　Even　though　she　uses　sign　language；　she　understands　most　human　speech；　and　we　usually　just　talk　to　her。　She　can　tell　when　you're　lying　and　she　doesn't　like　it。〃
　〃She　doesn't　like　it？〃
　〃She　dismisses　you；　won't　talk　to　you；　and　gets　bitchy。〃
　〃Anything　else？〃
　〃No；　it　should　be　okay。〃　He　smiled　reassuringly。　〃We　have　this　traditional　greeting；　even　though　she's　getting　a　little　big　for　it。〃　He　opened　the　door；　braced　himself；　and　said；　〃Good　morning；　Amy。〃
　A　huge　black　shape　came　leaping　out　through　the　open　door　into　his　arms。　Elliot　staggered　back　under　the　impact。　Ross　was　astonished　by　the　size　of　the　animal。　She　had　been　imagining　something　smaller　and　cuter。　Amy　was　as　large　as　an　adult　human　female。
　Amy　kissed　Elliot　on　the　cheek　with　her　large　lips；　her　black　head　seeming　enormous　alongside　his。　Her　breath　steamed　his　glasses。　Ross　smelled　a　sweetish　odor；　and　watched　as　he　gently　unwrapped　her　long　arms　from　around　his　shoulders。　〃Amy　happy　this　morning？〃　he　asked。
　Amy's　fingers　moved　quickly　near　her　cheek；　as　if　she　were　brushing　away　flies。
　〃Yes；　I　was　late　today；〃　Elliot　said。
　She　moved　her　fingers　again；　and　Ross　realized　that　Amy　was　signing。　The　speed　was　surprising；　she　had　expected　something　much　slower　and　more　deliberate。　She　noticed　that　Amy's　eyes　never　left　Elliot's　face。　She　was　extraordinarily　attentive；　focusing　on　him　with　total　animal　watchfulness。　She　seethed　to　absorb　everything；　his　posture；　his　expression；　his　tone　of　voice；　as　well　as　his　words。
　〃I　had　to　work；〃　Elliot　said。　She　sighed　again　quickly；　like　human　gestures　of　dismissal。　〃Yes；　that's　right；　people　work。〃　He　led　Amy　back　into　the　trailer；　and　motioned　for　Karen　Ross　to　follow。　Inside　the　trailer；　he　said；　〃Amy；　this　is　Dr。　Ross。　Say　hello　to　Dr。　Ross。〃
　Amy　looked　at　Karen　Ross　suspiciously。
　〃Hello；　Amy；〃　Karen　Ross　said；　smiling　at　the　floor。　She　felt　a　little　foolish　behaving　this　way；　but　Amy　was　large　enough　to　frighten　her。
　Amy　stared　at　Karen　Ross　for　a　moment；　then　walked　away；　across　the　trailer　to　her　easel。　She　had　been　finger…painting；　and　now　resumed　this　activity；　ignoring　them。
　〃What's　that　mean？〃　Ross　said。　She　distinctly　felt　she　was　being　snubbed。
　〃We'll　see；〃　Elliot　said。
　After　a　few　moments；　Amy　ambled　back；　walking　on　her　knuckles。　She　went　directly　to　Karen　Ross；　sniffed　her　crotch；　and　examined　her　minutely。　She　seemed　particularly　interested　in　Ross's　leather　purse；　which　had　a　shiny　brass　clasp。　Ross　said　later　that　〃it　was　just　like　any　cocktail　party　in　Houston。　I　was　being　checked　out　by　another　woman。　I　had　the　feeling　that　any　minute　she　was　going　to　ask…me　where　I　bought　my　clothes。〃
　That　was　not　the　oute；　however。　Amy　reached　up　and　deliberately　streaked　globs　of　green　finger　paint　on　Ross's　skirt。
　〃I　don't　think　this　is　going　too　well；〃　Karen　Ross　said。
　
　Elliot　had　watched　the　progress　of　this　first　meeting　with　more　apprehension　than　he　was　willing　to　admit。　Introducing　new　humans　to　Amy　was　often　difficult；　particularly　if　They　were　women。
　Over　the　years；　Elliot　had　e　to　recognize　many　distinctly　〃feminine〃　traits　in　Amy。　She　could　be　coy；　she　responded　to　flattery；　she　was　preoccupied　with　her　appearance；　loved　makeup；　and　was　very　fussy　about　the　color　of　the　sweaters　she　wore　in　the　winter。　She　preferred　men　to　women；　and　she　was　openly　jealous　of　Elliot's　girl　friends。　He　rarely　brought　them　around　to　meet　her；　but　sometimes　in　the　morning　she　would　sniff　him　for　perfume；　and　she　always　mented　if　he　had　not　changed　his　clothing　overnight。
　This　situation　might　have　been　amusing　if　not　for　the　fact　that　Amy　made　occasional　unprovoked　attacks　on　strange　women。　And　an　attack　by　Amy　was　never　amusing。
　Amy　returned　to　the　easel　and　signed；　No　like　woman　no　like　Amy　no　like　go　away　away。
　〃e　on；　Amy；　be　a　good　gorilla；〃　Peter　said。
　〃What　did　she　say？〃　Ross　asked；　going　to　the　sink　to　wash　the　finger　paint　from　her　dress。　Peter　noticed　that　she　did　not　squeal　and　shriek　as　many　visitors　did　when　they　received　an　unfriendly　greeting　from　Amy。
　〃She　said　she　likes　your　dress；〃　he　said。
　Amy　shot　him　a　look；　as　she　always　did　whenever　Elliot　mistranslated　her。　Amy　not　lie。　Peter　not　lie。
　〃Be　nice；　Amy；〃　he　said。　〃Karen　is　a　nice　human　per…son。〃
　Amy　grunted；　and　returned　to　her　work；　painting　rapidly。
　〃What　happens　now？〃　Karen　Ross　said。
　〃Give　her　time。〃　He　smiled　reassuringly。　〃She　needs　time　to　adjust。〃
　He　did　not　bother　to　explain　that　it　was　much　worse　with　chimpanzees。　Chimps　threw　feces　at　strangers；　and　even　at　workers　they　knew　well；　they　sometimes　attacked　to　establish　dominance。　Chimpanzees　had　a　strong　need　to　determine　who　was　in　charge。　Fortunately；　gorillas　were　much　less　formal　in　their　dominance　hierarchies；　and　less　violent。
　At　that　moment；　Amy　ripped　the　paper　from　the　easel　and　shredded　it　noisily；　flinging　the　pieces　around　the　room。
　〃Is　this　part　of　the　adjustment？〃　Karen　Ross　asked。　She　seemed　more　amused　than　frightened。
　〃Amy；　cut　it　out；〃　Peter　said；　allowing　his　tone　to　convey　irritation。　〃Amy。　。
　Amy　sat　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　surrounded　by　the　paper。　She　tore　it　angrily　and　signed；　This　woman。　This　woman。　It　was　classic　displacement　behavior。　Whenever　gorillas　did　not　feel　fortable　with　direct　aggression；　they　did　something　symbolic。　In　symbolic　terms；　she　was　now　tearing　Karen　Ross　apart。
　And　she　was　getting　worked　up；　beginning　what　the　Project　Amy　staff　called　〃sequencing。〃　Just　as　human　beings　first　became　red…faced；　a