the.lost.world-第11章
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ness； silently； on damp； spongy earth。
Levine paused often； to consult his wrist pass。 They were heading west； down a steep slope； toward the interior of the island。 He knew that the island was the remains of an ancient volcanic crater； eroded and deposed by centuries of weathering。 The interior terrain consisted of a series of ridges that led down to the floor of the crater。 But particularly here on the eastern side； the landscape was steep； rugged； and treacherous。
The sense of isolation； of having returned to a primordial world； was palpable。 Levine's heart pounded as he continued down the slope； across a marshy stream； and then up again。 At the top of the next ridge； there was a break in the foliage； and he felt a wele breeze。 From his vantage point； he was able to see to the far side of the island； a rim of hard black cliff； miles away。 Between here and the cliffs they saw nothing but gently undulating jungle。
Standing beside him； Diego said； 〃Fantástico。〃
Levine quickly shushed him。
〃But se？or；〃 he protested； pointing to the view。 〃We are alone here。〃
Levine shook his head； annoyed。 He had gone over all this with Diego； during the boat ride over。 Once on the island； no speaking。 No hair pomade； no cologne； no cigarettes。 All food sealed tightly in plastic bags。 Everything packed with great care。 Nothing to produce a smell； or make a sound。 He had warned Diego； again and again； of the importance of all these precautions。
But now it was obvious that Diego had paid no attention。 He didn't understand。 Levine poked Diego angrily； and shook his head again。
Diego smiled。 〃Se？or； please。 There are only birds here。〃
At that moment； they heard a deep； rumbling sound； an unearthly cry that arose from somewhere in the forest below them。 After a moment； the cry was answered； from another part of the forest。
Diego's eyes widened。
Levine mouthed： Birds？
Diego was silent。 He bit his lip； and stared out at the forest。
To the South； they saw a place where the tops of the trees began to move； a whole section of forest that suddenly seemed to e alive； as if brushed by wind。 But the rest of the forest was not moving。 It was not the wind。
Diego crossed himself quickly。
They heard more cries； lasting nearly a minute； and then silence descended again。
Levine moved off the ridge and headed down the jungle slope； going deeper into the interior。
He was moving forward quickly； looking at the ground； watching for snakes； when he heard a low whistle behind him。 He turned and saw Diego pointing to the left。
Levine doubled back； pushed through the fronds； and followed Diego as he moved south。 In a few moments； they came upon two parallel tracks in the dirt； long since overgrown with grass and ferns； but clearly recognizable as an old Jeep trail； leading off into the jungle。 Of course they would follow it。 He knew their progress would be much faster on a road。
Levine gestured； and Diego took off the backpack。 It was Levine's turn； he shouldered the weight； adjusted the straps。
In silence； they started down the road。
In places； the Jeep track was hardly recognizable； so thickly had the jungle grown back。 Clearly； no one had used this road for many years； and the jungle was always ready to return。
Behind him； Diego grunted； swore softly。 Levine turned and saw Diego lifting his foot gingerly； he had stepped to mid…ankle in a pile of green animal…droppings。 Levine went back。。
Diego scraped his boot clean on the stem of a fern。 The droppings appeared to be posed of pale flecks of hay； mixed with green。 The material was light and crumbly … dried； old。 There was no smell。
Levine searched the ground carefully； until he found the remainder of the original spoor。 The droppings were well formed； twelve centimeters in diameter。 Definitely left behind by some large herbivore。
Diego was silent； but his eyes were wide。
Levine shook his head； continued on。 As long as they saw signs of herbivore； he wasn't going to worry。 At least； not too much。 Even so； his fingers touched the butt of his pistol； as if for reassurance。
They came to a stream； muddy banks on both sides Here Levine paused。 He saw clear three…toed footprints in the mud； some of them quite large。 The palm of his own hand； fingers spread wide； fitted easily inside one of the prints； with room to spare。
When he looked up； Diego was crossing himself again。 He held the rifle in his other hand。
They waited at the stream； listening to the gentle gurgle of the water。 Something shiny glinted in the stream； catching his eye。 He bent over； and plucked it out。 It was a piece of glass tubing； roughly the size of a pencil。 One end was broken off。 There were graduated markings along the side。 He realized it was a pipette； of the kind used in laboratories everywhere in the world。 Levine held it up to the light； turning it in his fingers。 It was odd； he thought。 A pipette like this implied …
Levine turned； and caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye。 Something small and brown； scurrying across the mud of the riverbank。 Something about the size of a rat。
Diego grunted in Surprise； Then it was gone； disappearing in foliage。
Levine moved forward and crouched in the maid by the stream。 He peered at the footprints left by the tiny animal。 The footprints were three…toed； like the tracks of a bird。 He saw more three…toed tracks； including some bigger ones； which were several inches across。
Levine had seen such prints before； in trackways such as the Purgatoire River in Colorado； where the ancient shoreline was now fossilized； the dinosaur tracks frozen in stone。 But these prints were in fresh mud。 And they had been made by living animals。
Sitting on his haunches； Levine heard a soft squeak ing from somewhere to his right。 Looking over； he saw the ferns moving slightly。
He stayed very still； waiting。
After a moment； a small animal peeked out from among the fronds。 It appeared to be the size of a mouse； it had smooth； hairless skin and large eyes mounted high on its tiny head。 It was greenish…brown in color； and it made a continuous； irritable squeaking sound at Levine； as if to drive him away。 Levine stayed motionless； hardly daring to breathe。
He recognized this creature； of course。 It was a mussaurtis； a tiny prosauropod from the Late Triassic。 Skeletal remains were found only in South America。 It was one of the smallest dinosaurs known。
A dinosaur； he thought。
Even though he had expected I to see them on this island； it was still startling to be confronted by a living； breathing member of the Dinosauria。 Especially one so small。 He could not take his eyes off it。 He was entranced。 After all these years； after all the dusty skeletons … an actual living dinosaur！
The little mussaur ventured farther out from the protection of the fronds。 Now Levine could see that it was longer than he had thought at first。 It was actually about ten centimeters long； with a surprisingly thick tail。 All told； it looked very much like a lizard。 It sat upright； squatting on its hind legs on the frond。 He saw the rib cage moving as the animal breathed。 It waved its tiny forearms in the air at Levine； and squeaked repeatedly。
Slowly； very slowly； Levine extended his hand。
The creature squeaked again； but did not run。 If anything it seemed curious； cocking its head the way very small animals do； as Levine's hand came closer。
Finally Levine's fingers touched the tip of the frond。 The mussaur stood on its hind legs； balancing with its outstretched tail。 Showing no sign of fear； it stepped lightly onto Levine's hand； and stood in the creases of his palm。 He hardly felt the weight； it was so light。 The mussaur walked around； sniffed Levine's fingers。 Levine smiled； charmed。
Then； suddenly； the little creature hissed in annoyance； and jumped off his hand； disappearing into the palms。 Levine blinked； unable to understand why。
Then he smelled a foul odor； and heard a heavy rustling in the bushes on the other side。 There was a soft grunting sound。 More rustling。
For a brief moment； Levine remembered that carnivores in the wild hunted
