the.lost.world-第6章
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〃No pictures；〃 the pilot said again； and he pulled the camera out of Levine's hand。
〃Marty； this is crazy。〃
〃Just go ahead and make your examination；〃 Guitierrcz said； and then he began speaking in Spanish to the Pilot； who answered sharply and angrily； waving his hands。
Levine watched a moment； then turned away。 The hell with this； he thought。 They could argue forever。 He hurried forward； breathing through his mouth。 The odor became much stronger as he approached it。 Although the carcass was large he noticed there were no birds； rats； or other scavengers feeding on it。 There were only flies … flies so dense they covered the skin； and obscured the outline of the dead animal。
Even so； it was clear that this had been a substantial creature； roughly the size of a cow or horse before the bloat began to enlarge it further。 The dry skin had cracked in the sun and was now peeling upward； exposing the layer of runny； yellow subdermal fat beneath。
Oof； it stunk！ Levine winced。 He forced himself closer； directing all his attention to the animal。
Although it was the size of a cow； it was clearly not a mammal。 The skin was hairless。 The original skin color appeared to have been green； with a suggestion of darker striations running through it。 The epidermal surface was pebbled in polygonal tubercles of varying sizes； the pattern reminiscent of the skin of a lizard。 This texture varied in different parts of the animal； the pebbling larger and less distinct on the underbelly。 There were prominent skin folds at the neck； shoulder； and hip joints … again； like a lizard。
But the carcass was large。 Levine estimated the animal had originally weighed about a hundred kilograms； roughly two hundred and twenty pounds； No lizards grew that large anywhere in the world； except the Komodo dragons of Indonesia。 Varanus komodoensis were nine…foot…long monitor lizards； crocodile…size carnivores that ate goats and pigs； and on occasion human beings as well。 But there were no monitor lizards anywhere in the New World。 Of course； it was conceivable that this was one of the Iguanidae。 Iguanas were found all over South America； and the marine iguanas grew quite large。 Even so； this would be a record…size animal。
Levine moved slowly around the carcass； toward the front of the animal。 No； he thought； it wasn't a lizard。 The carcass lay on its side； its left rib cage toward the sky。 Nearly half of it was buried； the row of protruberances that marked the dorsal spinous processes of the backbone were just a few inches above the sand。 The long neck was curved； the head hidden beneath the bulk of the body like a duck's head under feathers。 Levine saw one forelimb； which seemed small and weak。 The distal appendage was buried in sand。 He would dig that out and have a look at it； but he wanted to take pictures before he disturbed the specimen in situ。
In fact； the more Levine saw of this carcass； the more carefully he thought he should proceed。 Because one thing was clear … this was a very rare； and possibly unknown； animal。 Levine felt simultaneously excited and cautious。 If this discovery was as significant as he was beginning to think it was； then it was essential that it be properly documented。
Up the beach； Guitierrez was still shouting at the pilot； who kept shaking his head stubbornly。 These banana…republic bureaucrats； Levine thought。 Why shouldn't he take pictures？ It couldn't harm anything。 And it was vital to document the changing state of the creature。
He heard a thumping； and looked up to see a second helicopter circling the bay； its dark shadow sliding across the sand。 This helicopter was ambulance…white； with red lettering on the side。 In the glare of the setting sun； he couldn't read it。
He turned back to the carcass； noticing now that the hind leg of the animal was powerfully muscled； very different from the foreleg。 It suggested that this creature walked upright； balanced on strong hind legs。 Many lizards were known to stand upright； of course； but none so large as this。 In point of fact； as Levine looked at the general shape of the carcass； he felt increasingly certain that this was not a lizard。
He worked quickly now； for the light was fading and he had much to do。 With every specimen； there were always two major questions to answer； both equally important。 First； what was the animal？ Second； why had it died？
Standing by the thigh； he saw the epidermis was split open； no doubt from the gaseous subcutaneous buildup。 But as Levine looked more closely； he saw that the split was in fact a sharp gash； and that it ran deep through the femorotibialis； exposing red muscle and pale bone beneath。 He ignored the stench； and the white maggots that wriggled across the open tissues of the gash； because he realized that …
〃Sorry about all this；〃 Guitierrez said； ing over。 〃But the pilot just refuses。〃
The pilot was nervously following Guitierrez； standing beside him； watching carefully。
〃Marty；〃 Levine said。 〃I really need to take pictures here。〃
〃I'm afraid you can't；〃 Guitierrez said； with a shrtig。
〃It's important； Marty。〃
〃Sorry。 I tried my best。〃
Farther down the beach； the white helicopter landed； its whine diminishing。 Men in uniforms began getting out。
〃Marty。 What do you think this animal is？〃
〃Well； I can only guess；〃 Guitierrez said。 〃From the general dimensions I'd call it a previously unidentified iguana。 It's extremely large； of course； and obviously not native to Costa Rica。 My guess is this animal came from the Galdpagos； or one of the … 〃
〃No； Marty；〃 Levine said。 〃It's not an iguana。〃
〃Before you say anything more；〃 Guitierrez said； glancing at the pilot； 〃I think you ought to know that several previously unknown species of lizard have shown up in this area。 Nobody's quite sure why。 Perhaps it's due to the cutting of the rain forest； or some other reason。 But new species are appearing。 Several years ago； I began to see unidentified species of … 〃
〃Marty。 It's not a damn lizard。〃
Guitierrez blinked his eyes。 〃What are you saying？ Of course it's a lizard。〃
〃I don't think so；〃 Levine said。
Guitierrez said； 〃You're probably just thrown off because of its size。 The fact is； here in Costa Rica； we occasionally encounter these aberrant forms … 〃
〃Marty；〃 Levine said coldly。 〃I am never thrown off 〃
〃Well； of course； I didn't mean that … 〃
〃And I am telling you； this is not a lizard；〃 Levine said。
〃I'm sorry；〃 Guitierrez said； shaking his head。 〃But I can't agree。〃
Back at the white helicopter； the men were huddled together； putting on white surgical masks。
〃I'm not asking you to agree；〃 Levine said。 He turned back to the carcass。 〃The diagnosis is settled easily enough； all we need do is excavate the head； or for that matter any of the limbs； for example this thigh here； which I believe … 〃
He broke off； and leaned closer。 He peered at the back of the thigh。
〃What is it？〃 Guiltierrez said。
〃Give me your knife。〃
〃Why？〃 Guitierrez said。
〃Just give it to me。〃
Guitierrez fished out his pocketknife； put the handle in Levine's outstretched hand。 Levine peered steadily at the carcass。 〃I think you will find this interesting。〃
〃What？〃
〃Right along the posterior dermal line； there is a … 〃
Suddenly； they heard shouting on the beach； and looked up to see the men from the white helicopter running down the beach toward them。 They carried tanks on their backs； and were shouting in Spanish。
〃What are they saying？〃 Levine asked； frowning。
Guitierrez sighed。 〃They're saying to get back。〃
〃Tell them we're busy；〃 Levine said； and bent over the carcass again。
But the men kept shouting； and suddenly there was a roaring sound； and Levine looked up to see flamethrowers igniting； big red jets of flame roaring out in the evening light。 He ran around the carcass toward the men； shouting； 〃No！ No！〃
But the men paid no attention。
He shouted； 〃No； this is a priceless … 〃
The first of the uniformed men grabbed Levine； and threw him roughly to the sand。
〃What the hell are you doing？〃 Levine yelled； scrambling to his feet。 But even as
