michael crichton.congo-第25章

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　〃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　got　to　get　her　back；〃　he　said。　〃Amy　is　my　responsibility；　I　can't　possibly　abandon　her　here…〃
　〃Seventy…two　minutes；〃　Ross　said；　pointing　to　the　screen。　〃We　have　exactly　one　hour　and　twelve　minutes　before　we　blow　the　timeline。〃　She　turned　to　Munro。　〃And　we　have　to　switch　over　to　the　second　contingency。〃
　〃Fine；〃　Munro　said。　〃I'll　get　the　men　working　on　it。〃
　〃In　a　new　plane；〃　Ross　said。　〃We　can't　take　this　one；　it's　contaminated。〃　She　was　punching　in　call　letters　to　the　puter　console；　her　fingers　clicking　on　the　keys。　〃We'll　take　it　straight　to　point　M；〃　Ross　said。　〃Okay？〃
　〃Absolutely；〃　Munro　said。
　Elliot　said；　〃I　won't　leave　Amy。　If　you're　going　to　leave　her　behind；　you'll　have　to　leave　me　as　well…〃　Elliot　stopped。
　Printed　on　the　screen　was　the　message　FORGET　GORILLA　PROCEED　TO　NEXT　CHECKPOINT　URGENT　APE　NOT　SIGNIFICANT　TIMELINE　OUTE　PUTER　VERIFICATION　REPEAT　PROCEED　WITHOUT　AMY。
　〃You　can't　leave　her　behind；〃　Elliot　said。　〃I'll　stay　behind；　too。〃
　〃Let　me　tell　you　something；〃　Ross　said。　〃I　never　believed　that　Amy　was　important　to　this　expedition…or　you　either。　From　the　very　beginning　she　was　just　a　diversion。　When　I　came　to　San　Francisco；　I　was　followed。　You　and　Amy　provided　a　diversion。　You　threw　the　consortium　into　a　spin。　It　was　worth　it。　Now　it's　not　worth　it。　We'll　leave　you　both　behind　if　we　have　to。　I　couldn't　care　less。〃
　
　7。 Bugs
　
　〃WELL；　GODDAMN　IT；〃　ELLIOT　BEGAN；　〃DO　YOU　mean　to　tell　me　that。　。　。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Ross　said　coldly。　〃You're　expendable。〃　But　even　as　she　spoke；　she　grabbed　his　arm　firmly　and　led　him　out　of　the　airplane　while　she　held　her　finger　to　her　lips。
　Elliot　realized　that　she　intended　to　pacify　him　in　private；　Amy　was　his　responsibility；　and　to　hell　with　all　the　diamonds　and　international　intrigue。　Outside　on　the　concrete　runway　he　repeated　stubbornly；　〃I'm　not　leaving　without　Amy。〃
　〃Neither　am　I。〃　Ross　walked　quickly　across　the　runway　toward　a　police　helic