11_metamorphosis-第5章

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；　dying　and　charred；　never　understanding　what　had　killed　it。〃

〃I　was　yelling　at　Annie；　who　was　white　faced　and　contrite　and　promising　not　to　go　running　off　ever　again；　when　I　spotted　familiar　shapes：　‘Hey；　Scott！　I　told　you　I　saw　Invid！'〃

〃But　they　had　drawn　back　out　of　sight　before　Scott　turned　from　Annie　or　she　could　spin　around。　And　right　away　Scott　and　I　were　arguing　again。　How　could　he　have　seen　them　up　above　and　yet　not　believe　I　had　done　the　same　down　below？　Either　you　trust　your　teammates　or　you　don't。〃

〃Of　course；　Mint　put　in　her　two…cents　worth；　as　the　ancients　say。　She　was　scared　enough　as　it　was　and　wished　I　wouldn't　see　Invids　behind　every　tree。〃

〃For　maybe　the　fourth　time　that　day　I　bit　back　what　I　had　been　about　to　say。　I　knew　Scott's　military　training　revolved　around　reports　and　evaluations　and　source…dependability　ratings　and　all　that　garbage；　but　either　I　was　a　teammate　or　I　wasn't。　I　dropped　the　subject；　though。〃

〃‘I　can't　help　it　if　you're　scared；　kid；'　I　told　Annie；　turning　away　from　Scott　to　kind　of　defuse　things。　‘I'm　scared；　too。　But　they　were　there；　they're　still　there；　and　they're　waiting　for　us。'〃

〃I　just　couldn't　get　a　handle　on　any　of　it。　Prehistoric　biota；　and　Invid　who　didn't　attack。　It　just　didn't　make　sense。〃

〃But　I　could　see　that　at　least　I　had　given　Scott　something　to　ponder。〃


〃The　fire　we　built　on　the　beach　of　a　tepid　lake　made　Annie　feel　a　lot　safer。　But　I　was　still　looking　in　every　direction；　waiting　for　Godzilla　and　the　gang　to　show　up　expecting　hot　hors　d'oeuvres。　Scott　coughed　at　the　smoke　but　agreed　with　Annie　that　the　fire　was　cheery。〃

〃I　stripped　off　my　armor　and　put　together　a　survival…type　circle　trident；　to　try　to　catch　some　supper。　Up　on　the　surface　we　could　have　just　thrown　some　explosives　in　the　water　and　waited　for　the　catch　of　the　day　to　e　floating　to　us　belly…up。　But　around　here　those　tactics　might　just　make　something　mad。〃

〃So　I　crouched　nervously　on　a　rock　on　the　beach；　waiting；　checking　the　deeper　water　every　half　second　or　so；　I　guess。　Still；　I'm　a　country　kid；　a　Forager；　and　I　had　done　that　kind　of　thing　a　hundred　times　before。　Pretty　soon　I　had　a　hit。〃

〃What　I　pulled　up　was　all　needle　snout　and　kinked　tail；　some　sort　of　freshwater；　pygmy　Ichthyosaurus　whose　grandmother　had　too　many　X…rays；　I　guess。　I　threw　it　down　on　the　sand。　Scott　and　Annie　came　over　to　find　out　what　was　wrong。〃

〃Everything　just　got　to　me；　because　I　started　waving　my　arms　around　and　babbling。　The　whole　time　scale　had　me　going　nuts。〃

〃‘This　fish　should've　been　dead；　I　dunno；　sixty…five　million　years　ago。　Those　pterosaurs　and　all　the　rest　of　these　critters；　same　thing！'〃

〃Annie　was　looking　at　me　with　eyes　as　round　as　full　moons。　‘S…so　how　can　they　still　be　alive？'〃

〃Scott　was　shaking　his　head　slowly。　‘This　is…it's　beyond　me。'〃

〃I　told　them；　‘Well　I'm　just　wondering　what　else　might　be　floating　around　out　there。'　Somewhere　far　off；　we　heard　something　very　heavy　break　the　water　in　a　dive。　It　reminded　me　of　the　sound　whales　made　in　those　prewar　nature　shows。　Only；　we　knew　it　wasn't　a　whale；　because　it　honked　like　a　horny　tractor…trailer。〃


〃‘At　least　Annie　can　sleep；'　Scott　said　tiredly　awhile　later；　as　we　sat　in　the　firelight。　We　planned　to　take　turns　standing　guard　all　night；　and　it　was　time　for　him　to　turn　in。〃

〃We　had　managed　to　talk　Annie　out　of　taking　a　watch　with　some　excuse　about　needing　her　to　help　with　the　scouting　the　next　day。　Actually　we　didn't　want　her　up　alone　and　didn't　really　trust　her　with　a　gun。　Even　Scott　saw　the　sense　in　letting　her　sleep。　She　snored　softly；　cap　bill　pulled　down；　hands　clasped　across　her　middle　as　she　lay　on　her　back。　I　shrugged。　‘Kids：　nothing　bothers　'em。'〃

〃We　were　finishing　up　the　last　of　my　impossible　fish；　and　Scott　grinned；　‘Your　appetite　hasn't　been　bothered　much；　either。'　I　kept　on　chewing；　looking　into　the　fire；　trying　to　think。　‘Hey；　Rand！　Anybody　home？'〃

〃‘I　hear　ya　perfectly　well；　Scott。　I'm　just　trying　to　piece　a　few　things　together；　all　right？'〃

〃He　took　an　unspoken　offense　and　went　to　curl　up　by　the　other　side　of　the　fire。　He　probably　thought　that　I　was　still　upset　that　he　didn't　believe　me　about　the　Invid。〃

〃I　thought　back　to　what　had　happened　since　we　fell　into　that　pit　or　whatever　it　was。　The　fire　made　it　easier　to　visualize　the　energy　screen　we　had　fallen　through。〃

〃Scott　had　grown　up　out　there　in　space　somewhere；　and　lacked　a　lot　of　knowledge　about　Earth。　And　Annie…she　was　simply　Annie。　But　one　of　the　main　things　that　originally　drew　me　into　the　Forager　life　was　that　it　was　a　way　to　find　books。　Books；　films…the　history　of　Earth；　the　Human　race；　the　history　that　led　to　my　being　what　I　am；　if　that　doesn't　sound　uppity。〃

〃No；　Scott　knew　next　to　nothing　about　Earth's　prehistory；　but　I　had　read　a　small　library's　worth。　What　kid　doesn't　bee　interested　in　dinosaurs？　And　I　had　seen　enough　to　know　that　what　we　had　been　thrown　into　was　a　huge　potpourri：　Paleozoic　plants；　Mesozoic　reptiles。　Everything　was　thrown　in　and　mixed　around；　as　if　somebody　was　waiting　to　see　what　floated　to　the　top。〃

〃While　there　were　a　few　swamp　areas　like　the　one　in　which　we　had　found　ourselves　at　the　outset；　most　of　the　hundreds　or　thousands　of　square　miles　of　the　Lizard　Lounge　appeared　to　be　flood　plain；　with　seasonal　bodies　of　water。　We　had　no　idea　how　the　builders　managed　that。　But　it　was　no　wonder　the　place　was　so　enormous；　the　land　creatures'　lives　revolved　around　the　herbivores'　need　for　a　slow；　constant　feeding　migration；　and　the　carnivores'　constant　need　to　follow　and　hunt。〃

〃We　had　seen　dinos　no　bigger　than　chipmunks；　and　the　real　heavyweights　as　well；　most　or　all　of　the　biological　niches　were　filled；　including　the　ones　for　small；　furtive　mammals。〃

We　had　seen　things　that　verified　the　work　of　Ostrom；　Horner；　Bakker；　and　the　rest　of　the　last　great　paleontologists。　Stegosaurus　actually　did　have　a　single　row　of　bony　plates　on　its　back。　Do　they　know；　I　hope？〃

〃What　we　had　stumbled　into　were　warm…blooded　dinosaurs…endotherms！　The　Brontosauruses　protected　their　young　while　on　the　move；　like　a　herd　of　elephants。　I　watched　huge　duckbill　females　exhibiting　maternal　behavior；　feeding　and　protecting　their　hatchlings。　Of　course；　we　didn't　have　any　time　to　witness　live　births　among　the　brontos：　we　were　sorta　busy　keeping　away　from　hungry　meat…eaters。〃

〃The　predators　were　warm…blooded；　and　therefore　had　to　eat　a　lot。　They　were　fast…moving；　very　aggressive；　and　always　ready　for　a　meal。　I　watched　a　pack　of　swift　Deinonychuses；　running　on　bird…hipped　hind　legs；　drag　down　a　much　bigger　Tenontosaurus。　The　Deinoychuses　tore　the　helpless　giant　to　pieces　and　devoured　it。〃

〃Annie　hid　her　eyes　against　my　back；　and　while　I　was　fascinated　even　though　I　was　sickened；　I　made　up　my　mind　to　try　to　spare　her　any　similar　sight；　if　possible。〃

〃We　had　already　had　a　few　close　encounters；　though。　Scott　may　go　down　in　history　as　the　only　human　being　to　ever　kill　a　T。　Rex；　he　did　it　with　a　rocket　barrage　of　Scorpions　from　his　Cyc's　forward　racks。　We　were　safe　for　the　time　being；　but　how　long　could　we　last　once　we　ran　out　of　power　and　ordnance？〃

〃I'm　probably　the　last　member　of　the　legendary　King　Kong　Klub；　having　passed　the　rigorous　written　and　oral　exams　and　proven　my　love　for　that　movie。　But　in　spite　of　my　avowed　devotion　to　stop…motion　critters；　I　wished　in　those　next　hours　that　the　Cycs　were　teleportation　machines。　I　suspect　we　all　did。　You　would　have；　too。〃

〃I　had　forgotten　that　smell　of　blood。　If　you　have　ever　had　a　serious　laceration　or　been　around　major　trauma；　you　know　what　I'm　talking　about。　Fresh　blood；　spilled；　lost。　That　smell　was　so　thick　down　there　that　I　swear　it　would　have　snuffed　a　candle。〃

〃Still；　that　wasn't　what　I　was　trying　to　sort　out　while　I　sat　watching　the　fire　that　night；　to　the　sound　of　Pachycephalosauruses　batting　heads　like　bighorn　sheep　and　oinking　and　spitting　at　each　other。　I　was　considering　the　awesome　size　of　the　artificial　world　around　me。〃

〃The　Human　race；　even　at　its　prewar　height；　didn't　have　the　power　or　the　knowledge　to　create　this　Lost　World。　It　was　pretty　obvious　who　was　behind　it。〃

〃But　the　Invid　certainly　had　little　motivation　to　build　an　Earth　museum。　Then　I　stopped　thinking　of　the　Invid　I　had　been　catching　glimpses　of　in　terms　of　soldiers　and　started　trying　to　think。　of　them　as　some　other　kind　of　force…say；　park　rangers？　Guarding　a　sanctuary；　perhaps？〃

〃‘Clear　enough！'　I　was　mumbling；　and　Scott　sat　up；　rubbing　his　eyes；　to　look　at　me。　‘This　place　is　one　big　lab！'　I　cried。　‘Now　I'm　beginning　to　understand！　It's　incredible！'〃

〃‘Well；　I'm　not　beginning　to　understand；'　he　was　grousing。　‘Back　up　and　try　again。'〃

〃He　was　right。　I　forced　myself　to　slow　down。　‘I'm　sure　this　is　an　Invid　test　facility。　They're　playing　around　with　the　history　of　life　on　Earth…evolution；　from　the　start　right　down　to　today！'〃

〃Were　there　other　arenas　where　Tertiary　organisms　fought　and　strove；　or　basic　Earth　life…forms　had　been　mutated　with　coldly　clinical　intent；　against　some　possible　future？　There　wasn't　any　time　to　think　about　that　now；　I　was　about　to　trip　over　my　own　tongue　as　it　was。　I　tried　again。　‘They're　doing　evolution　experiments…cloning；　genetic　engineering！　Darwinism　in　the　passing　lane！'〃

〃‘Are　you　drunk？'〃

〃‘I　wish！　Listen；　Scott：　the　Invid　intend　to　make　Earth　their　home；　because　that's　where　the　Flower　of　Life　grows　best；　right？　Well；　before　they　choose　the　final　physical　form…or　forms…they'll　take　on；　they're　testing；　studying！'〃

〃Scott　was　standing　up　with　a　lot　of　well…now…hold…on…a…second…there　talk　and　flat…handed　calming　gestures。〃

〃‘And　now　we're　part　of　the　experiment；'　I　yelled　over　him；　sorry　that　Annie　was　going　to　have　to　wake　up　to　bad　news；　because　I　was　shouting　it。　‘They're　using　us　as　guinea　pigs　somehow；　that's　why　the　Invid　keep　hidden　instead　of　showing　themselves　and　attacking…'〃

〃Scott　was　trying　to　shush　me；　but　I　backed　away；　I　couldn't　let　him　think　I　had　had　a　hysterical　episode；　or　he　would　never　believe　me。　‘Scott；　we've　got　to　get　out　of　here。　Or　at　least　get　word　to　the　others！　This　is　more　important　than　your　damned　Reflex　Point！　Once　the　Invid　find　a　form　that　they　figure　will　let　them　dominate　the　Earth；　there'll　be　no　more　need　for…uh！'〃

〃At　least；　I　think　that　was　the　sound　I　made。　We　had　both　stopped　in　midsyllable；　mouths　open；　because　the　voice　we　heard　then　seemed　to　e　from　everywhere。　It　was　female；　and　there　was　something　slightly　familiar　about　it。　It　was　mostly　alien　and　cold；　yet　with　an　arrogant　undertone　to　it。〃

〃I　also　got　the　feeling；　somehow；　that　its　words　were　being　transmitted　to　and　echoed　by　some　multitude　that　spoke　with　a　single　voice；　subordinate　to　the　main　one。　And　I　know　this　is　strange；　but…it　sounded　like　a　stage　voice　to　me；　like　somebody　doing　Lady　Macbeth　through　a　lot　of　voice…processing　equipment。〃

〃It　said；　‘Humans；　your　time　on　this　planet　is　almost　spent！'〃

〃We　were　both　looking　around　for　the　source　of　the　voice。　And　then　I　felt　cold　night　air　on　my　neck；　because　the　hair　there　was　standing　up；　because　Annie　came　to　a　sitting　position；　arms　folded　across　her　chest。

〃She　was　still　facing　away　from　us；　the　firelight　playing　over　the　hair　that　looked　so　straggly　after　a　day　of　rou