the.lost.world-第67节

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no　longer　transmitted　to　the　next　generation　by　DNA　at　all。　It　was　now　carried　by　teaching。　Chimpanzees　taught　their　young　to　collect　termites　with　a　stick。　Such　actions　implied　at　least　the　rudiments　of　a　culture。　a　structured　social　life。　But　animals　raised　in　isolation；　without　parents；　without　guidance；　were　not　fully　functional。　Zoo　animals　frequently　could　not　care　for　their　offspring；　because　they　had　never　seen　it　done。　They　would　ignore　their　infants；　or　roll　over　and　crush　them；　or　simply　bee　annoyed　with　them　and　kill　them。
　　　　The　velociraptors　were　among　the　most　intelligent　dinosaurs；　and　the　most　ferocious。　Both　traits　demanded　behavioral　control。　Millions　of　years　ago；　in　the　now…vanished　Jurassic　world；　their　behavior　would　have　been　socially　determined；　passed　on　from　older　to　younger　animals。　Genes　controlled　the　capacity　to　make　such　patterns；　but　not　the　patterns　themselves。　Adaptive　behavior　was　a　kind　of　morality；　it　was　behavior　that　had　evolved　over　many　generations　because　it　was　found　to　succeed　…　behavior　that　allowed　members　of　the　species　to　cooperate；　to　live　together；　to　hunt；　to　raise　young。
　　　　But　on　this　island；　the　velociraptors　had　been　re…created　in　a　genetics　laboratory。　Although　their　physical　bodies　were　genetically　determined；　their　behavior　was　not。　These　newly　created　raptors　came　into　the　world　with　no　older　animals　to　guide　them；　to　show　them　proper　raptor　behavior。　They　were　on　their　own；　and　that　was　just　how　they　behaved　…　in　a　society　without　structure；　without　rules；　without　cooperation。　They　lived　in　an　uncontrolled；　every…creature…for…himself　world　where　the　meanest　and　the　nastiest　survived；　and　all　the　others　died。

The　Jeep　picked　up　speed；　bouncing　hard。　Thorne　held　on　to　the　bars；　to　keep　from　being　thrown　out。　Behind　him；　he　saw　the　raptor　swinging　back　and　forth　in　the　air；　still　clinging　to　the　tarp。　It　wasn't　letting　go。　Levine　drove　back　onto　the　flat　muddy　banks　of　the　river；　and　turned　right；　following　the　edge　of　the　water。　The　raptor　hung　on　tenaciously。
　　　　Directly　ahead；　lying　in　the　mud；　Levine　saw　another　skeleton。　Another　skeleton？　Why　were　all　these　skeletons　here？　But　there　was　no　time　to　think　…　he　drove　forward；　passing　beneath　the　row　of　ribs。　Without　lights；　he　leaned　forward　and　squinted　in　the　moonlight；　looking　for　obstacles　ahead。
　　　　In　the　back　of　the　car；　the　raptor　scrambled　up；　released　the　tarp；　clamped　its　jaws　on　the　cage；　and　began　to　pull　it　out　of　the　back　of　the　Jeep。　Thorne　lunged；　grabbed　the　end　of　the　cage　nearest　him。　The　cage　twisted　rolling　Thorne　onto　his　back。　He　found　himself　in　a　tug　of　war　with　the　raptor　…　and　the　raptor　was　winning。　Thorne　locked　his　legs　around　the　front　passenger　seat；　trying　to　hold　on。　The　raptor　snarled；　Thorne　sensed　the　sheer　fury　of　the　animal；　enraged　that　it　might　lose　its　prize。
　　　　〃Here！〃　Levine　shouted；　holding　a　gun　out　to　Thorne。　Thorne　was　on　his　back；　gripping　the　cage　in　both　hands。　He　couldn't　take　the　gun。　Levine　looked　back；　and　saw　the　situation。　He　looked　in　the　rearview　mirror。　Behind　them；　he　saw　the　rest　of　the　pack　still　in　pursuit；　snarling　and　growling。　He　could　not　slow　down。　Thorne　could　not　let　go　of　the　cage。　Still　driving　fast；　Levine　swung　around　in　the　passenger　seat；　and　aimed　the　rifle　backward。　He　tried　to　maneuver　the　gun；　knowing　what　would　happen　if　he　accidentally　shot　Thorne；　or　Arby。
　　　　〃Watch　it！〃　Thorne　was　shouting。　〃Watch　it！〃
　　　　Levine　managed　to　get　the　safety　off；　and　swung　the　barrel　straight　at　the　raptor；　which　was　still　gripping　the　cage　bars　in　its　jaws。　The　animal　looked　up；　and　in　a　quick　movement　closed　its　jaws　over　the　barrel。　It　tugged　at　the　gun。
　　　　Levine　fired。
　　　　The　raptor's　eyes　popped　wide　as　the　dart　slammed　into　the　back　of　its　throat。　It　made　a　gurgling　sound；　then　went　into　convulsions；　toppling　backward　out　of　the　Jeep　…　and　yanking　the　gun　from　Levine's　hands　as　it　fell。
　　　　Thorne　scrambled　to　his　knees；　and　pulled　the　cage　inside　the　car。　He　looked　down　inside　it；　but　he　couldn't　tell　about　Arby。　Looking　back；　he　saw　the　other　raptors　were　still　pursuing；　but　they　were　now　twenty　yards　back；　and　losing　ground。
　　　　On　the　dashboard；　the　radio　hissed。　〃Doc。〃　Thorne　recognized　Sarah's　voice。
　　　　〃Yes；　Sarah。〃
　　　　〃Where　are　you？〃
　　　　〃Following　the　river；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　The　storm　clouds　had　now　cleared；　and　it　was　a　bright　moonlit　night。　Behind　him；　the　raptors　still　continued　to　chase　the　Jeep。　But　they　were　now　failing　steadily　behind。
　　　　〃I　can't　see　your　lights；〃　Sarah　said。
　　　　〃Don't　have　any。〃
　　　　There　was　a　pause。　The　radio　crackled。　Her　voice　was　tense：　〃What　about　Arby。〃
　　　　〃We　have　him；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃Thank　God。　How　is　he？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know。　Alive。〃
　　　　The　landscape　opened　out。　They　came　back　into　a　broad　valley；　the　grass　silvery　in　the　moonlight。　Thorne　looked　around；　trying　to　orient　himself。　Then　he　realized：　they　were　back　on　the　plain；　but　much　farther　to　the　south。　They　must　still　be　on　the　same　side　of　the　river　as　the　high　hide。　In　that　case；　they　ought　to　be　able　to　make　their　way　up　onto　the　ridge　road；　somewhere　to　the　left。　That　road　would　lead　them　back　to　the　clearing；　and　the　remaining　trailer。　And　safety。　He　nudged　Levine；　pointed　to　the　right。　〃Go　there！〃
　　　　Levine　turned　the　car；　Thorne　clicked　the　radio。　〃Sarah。〃
　　　　〃Yes；　Doc。〃
　　　　〃We're　going　back　to　the　trailer　on　the　ridge　road。〃
　　　　〃Okay；〃　Sarah　said。　〃We'll　find　you。〃

Sarah　looked　back　at　Kelly。　〃Where's　the　ridge　road？〃
　　　　〃I　think　it's　that　one　up　there；〃　Kelly　said；　pointing　to　the　spine　of　the　ridge；　on　the　cliffs　high　above　them。
　　　　〃Okay；〃　Sarah　said。　She　gunned　the　bike　forward。

The　Jeep　rumbled　across　the　plain；　deep　in　silvery　grass。　They　were　moving　fast。　The　raptors　were　no　longer　visible　behind　them。　〃Looks　like　we　lost　them；〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　〃Maybe；〃　Levine　said。　When　he　had　pulled　out　of　the　streambed；　he　had　seen　several　animals　dart　off　to　the　left。　They　would　now　be　hidden　in　the　grass。　He　wasn't　sure　they　would　give　up　so　easily。
　　　　The　Jeep　was　roaring　toward　the　cliffs。　Directly　ahead　he　saw　a　curving　switchback　road；　running　up　from　the　valley　floor。　That　was　the　ridge　road；　he　felt　sure。

Now　that　the　terrain　was　smoother；　Thorne　crawled　back　between　the　seats　and　crouched　over　the　cage。　He　peered　in　through　the　bars　at　Arby；　who　was　groaning　softly。
　　　　Half　the　boy's　face　was　slick　with　blood；　and　his　shirt　was　soaked。　But　his　eyes　were　open；　and　he　seemed　to　be　moving　his　arms　and　legs。
　　　　Thorne　leaned　close　to　the　bars。　〃Hey；　son；〃　he　said　gently。　〃Can　you　hear　me？〃
　　　　Arby　nodded；　moaning。
　　　　〃How　you　doing　there？〃
　　　　〃Been　better；〃　Arby　said。

The　Jeep　ground　onto　the　dirt　road；　and　headed　upward　along　the　switchbacks。　Levine　felt　a　sense　of　relief　as　they　moved　higher；　away　from　the　valley。　He　was　finally　on　the　ridge　road；　and　he　was　going　to　be　safe。
　　　　He　looked　up；　toward　the　crest。　And　then　he　saw　the　dark　shapes　'in　the　moonlight；　already　at　the　top　of　the　road；　hopping　up　and　down。
　　　　Raptors。
　　　　Waiting　for　him。
　　　　He　pulled　to　a　stop。　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃
　　　　〃Move　over；〃　Thorne　said　grimly。　〃I'll　take　it　from　here。〃

At　the　Edge　OF　Chaos
　　　　
Thorne　came　up　onto　the　ridge；　and　turned　left；　accelerating。　The　road　stretched　ahead　in　the　moonlight；　a　narrow　strip　running　between　a　rock　wall　to　his　left；　and　a　sheer　cliff　falling　away　on　the　right。　Twenty　feet　above　him；　on　the　ridge；　he　saw　the　raptors；　leaping　and　snorting　as　they　ran　parallel　to　the　Jeep。
　　　　Levine　saw　them　too。
　　　　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃　he　said。
　　　　Thorne　shook　his　head。　〃Look　in　the　too＇　kit。　Look　in　the　glove　partment。　Get　anything　you　can　find。〃
　　　　Levine　bent　over；　fumbling　in　darkness。　But　Thorne　knew　they　were　in　trouble。　Their　gun　was　gone。　They　were　in　a　jeep　with　a　cloth　top；　and　the　raptors　were　all　around　them。　He　guessed　he　was　probably　about　half　a　mile　from　the　clearing；　and　the　trailer。
　　　　Half　a　mile　to　go。
　　　　Thorne　slowed　as　he　came　into　the　next　curve；　moving　the　car　away　from　the　plunging　drop　of　the　cliff。　Rounding　the　curve；　he　saw　a　raptor　crouched　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　facing　them；　its　head　lowered　menacingly。　Thorne　accelerated　toward　it。　The　raptor　leapt　up　in　the　air；　legs　raised　high。　It　landed　on　the　hood　of　the　car；　claws　squealing　as　they　raked　metal。　It　smashed　against　the　windshield；　the　glass　streaking　spiderwebs。　With　the　animal's　body　lying　against　the　windshield；　Thorne　couldn't　see　anything。　On　this　dangerous　road；　he　slammed　on　the　brakes。
　　　　〃Hey！〃　Levine　shouted；　tumbling　forward。
　　　　The　raptor　on　the　hood　slid　off　to　the　side。　Now　Thorne　could　see　again；　and　he　stamped　on　the　gas。　Levine　fell　back　again　as　the　car　moved　forward。　But　three　raptors　were　charging　the　car　from　the　side。
　　　　One　jumped　onto　the　running　board　and　locked　its　jaws　on　the　side　mirror。　The　animal's　glaring　eye　was　close　to　Thorne's　face。　He　swung　the　wheel　left；　scraping　the　car　along　the　rocky　face　of　the　road。　Ten　yards　ahead　a　boulder　protruded。　He　glanced　at　the　raptor；　which　continued　to　hold　on　tenaciously；　right　to　the　moment　when　the　boulder　smashed　into　the　side　mirror；　tearing　it　away。　The　raptor　was　gone。