the.lost.world-第74章
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it was even possible to get a sense of the spatial arrangement； with the nests in the center； the adults moving carefully around the outside； so as not to disturb the incubating eggs。 In this rigid structure； the dinosaurs were reminiscent of their descendants the birds； which also displayed precise courtship； mating； and nest…building patterns。
But the velociraptors behaved differently。 There was a disorderly chaotic feeling to the scene before him： ill…formed nests； quarreling adults； very few young and juvenile animals； the eggshells crushed； the broken mounds stepped on。 Around the mounds； Levine now saw scattered small bones which he presumed were the remains of newborns。 He saw no living infants anywhere in the clearing。 There were three juveniles； but these younger animals were forced to fend for themselves； and they already showed many scars on their bodies。 The youngsters looked thin； undernourished。 Poking around the periphery of the carcass； they were cautious； backing away whenever one of the adults snapped at them。
〃And what about the apatosaurs？〃 Malcolm asked。 〃What about the carcasses？〃
Levine counted four； all together。 In various stages of deposition。
〃You have to tell Sarah；〃 Malcolm said。
But Levine was wondering about something else： he was wondering how these big carcasses had gotten here in the first place。 They hadn't died here by accident； surely all animals would have avoided this nest。 They couldn't have been lured here； and they were too large to carry。 So how did they get here？ Something was tickling the back of his mind； some obvious thought that he wasn't …
〃They brought Arby；〃 Malcolm said。
〃Yes；〃 Levine said。 〃They did。〃
He stared at the nest； trying to figure it out。 Then Thorne nudged him。 〃There's the cage；〃 he said； pointing。 At the far side of the clearing lying on the ground； partially hidden behind fronds； Levine saw the glint of aluminum struts。 But he couldn't see Arby。
〃Way over there；〃 Levine said。
The raptors were ignoring the cage； still fighting over Eddie's carcass。 Thorne brought out a Lindstradt rifle； snapped open the cartridge pack。 He saw six darts。 〃Not enough；〃 he said； and snapped it shut。 There were at least ten raptors in the clearing。
Levine rummaged in the back seat； found his knapsack； which had fallen to the floor。 He unzipped it； came out with a small silver cylinder the size of a large soft…drink bottle。 It had a skull and crossbones stenciled on it； Beneath； lettering read： CAUTION TOXIC METACHOLINE （MIVACURIAM）。
〃What's that？〃 Thorne said。
〃Something they cooked up in Los Alamos；〃 Levine said。 〃It's a nonlethal area neutralizer。 Releases a short…acting cholinesterase aerosol。 Paralyzes all life forms for up to three minutes。 It'll knock all the raptors out。
〃But what about the boy？〃 Thorne said。 〃You can't use that。 You'll paralyze him。〃
Levine pointed。 〃If we throw the canister to the right of the cage； the gas'll blow away from him； toward the raptors。〃
〃Or it may not；〃 Thorne said； 〃And he may be badly injured。〃
Levine nodded。 He put the cylinder back in the knapsack； then sat； facing forward； staring at the raptors。 〃So；〃 Levine said。 〃What do we do now？〃
Thorne looked over at the aluminum cage； partially blocked by ferns。 Then he saw something that made him sit up： the cage moved slightly； the bars shifting in the moonlight。
〃Did you see that？〃 Levine said。
Thorne said； 〃I'm going to get that kid out of there。〃
〃But how？〃 Levine said。
〃The old…fashioned way； 〃 Thorne said。
He climbed out of the car。
Sarah accelerated； racing the motorcycle up the mud banks of the river。 The raptor was just ahead； cutting diagonally toward them； heading for the water。
〃Go！〃 Kelly shouted。 〃Go！〃
The raptor saw them and changed course； angling farther ahead。 It was trying to get distance on them but they were moving faster on the open banks。 They came abreast of the animal； flanking it； and then Sarah left the banks； heading back onto the grassy plain。 The raptor moved right； deeper into the plain。 Away from the river。
〃You did it！〃 Kelly shouted。
Sarah maintained her speed； moving slowly closer to the raptor。 It seemed to have given up on the river； and now had no plan。 It was just running up the plain。 And they were steadily； inexorably gaining。 Kelly was excited。 She tried to wipe the maid off her rifle； preparing to shoot again。
〃Damn！〃 Sarah shouted。
〃What？〃
〃Look！〃
Kelly leaned forward； stared past Sarah's shoulder。 Directly ahead； she saw the herd of apatosaurs。 They were only fifty yards from the first of the enormous animals； which bellowed and wheeled in sudden fear。 Their bodies were green…gray in the moonlight。
The raptor streaked directly toward the herd。
〃It thinks it's going to lose us！〃 Sarah gunned the bike； moving closer。 〃Get it now！ Now！〃
Kelly aimed and fired。 The gun bucked。 But the raptor kept going。
〃Missed！〃
Up ahead； the apatosaurs were turning； their big legs stomping the ground。 Their heavy tails whipped through the air。 But they were too slow to move away。 The raptor raced forward； heading directly beneath the big apatosaurs。
〃What do we do？〃 Kelly shouted。
〃No choice！〃' Sarah yelled。 She pulled parallel to the raptor just as they passed into shadow； racing beneath the first animal。 Kelly glimpsed the curve of the belly； hanging three feet above her。 The legs were as thick as tree trunks； stamping and turning。
The raptor ran on； darting among the moving legs。 Sarah swerved； followed。 Above them； the animals roared and turned； and roared again。 They were beneath another belly； then out into moonlight； then in shadow again。 Now they were in the middle of the herd。 It was like being in a forest of moving trees。
Directly ahead； a big leg came down with a slam！ that shook the ground。 The bike bounced as Sarah swung left； they scraped against the animal's flesh。 〃Hang on！〃 she shouted； and swerved again； following the raptor。 Above them； the apatosaurs were bellowing and moving。 The raptor dodged and turned； and then broke clear； racing out the back of the herd。
〃Shit！〃 Sarah said； spinning the bike around。 A whiptail swung low； narrowly missing them； and then they too were free； chasing the raptor again。
The motorcycle raced across the grassy plain。
〃Last chance！〃 Sarah shouted。 〃Do it〃'
Kelly raised the rifle。 Sarah was driving hard and fast； pulling very close to the running raptor。 The animal turned to butt her； but she held her position； punched it hard in the head with her fist。 〃Now！ 〃
Kelly shoved the barrel against the flesh of the neck； and squeezed the trigger。 The gun snapped back hard； jolting her in the stomach。
The raptor ran on。
〃No！〃 she shouted。 〃No！〃
And then suddenly the raptor fell； tumbling end over end in the grass； and Sarah swung the bike away and pulled to a stop。 The raptor was five yards away； flopping in the grass。 It snarled and yelped。 Then it was silent。
Sarah took the rifle； snapped open the cartridge pack。 Kelly saw five more darts。
〃I thought that was the last one；〃 she said。
〃I lied；〃 Sarah said。 〃Wait here。〃
Kelly stayed by the bike while Sarah moved cautiously forward through the grass。 Sarah fired one more shot； then stood waiting for a few moments。 Then she bent down。
When she came back； she was holding the key in her hand。
In the nest； the raptors were still tearing at the carcass； off to one side。 But the intensity of the behavior was diminishing： some of the animals were turning away； rubbing their jaws with their clawed hands； drifting slowly toward the center of the clearing。
Moving closer to the cage。
Thorne climbed into the back of the jeep； pushing aside the canvas cover。 He checked the rifle in his hands。
Levine slid into the driver's seat。 He started the engine。 Thorne steadied himself in the back of the jeep； gripped the rear bar。 He turned to Levine。
〃Go！〃
The Jeep raced forward across the clearing… By the carcass； the raptors looked up in surprise as they saw the intruder。 By then the jeep was past the center of the cle
