按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃That's what I presume； yes。〃
Guitierrez nodded。 〃He was a clever man； Mr。 Hammond。〃
Grant said nothing。 Guitierrez sat back in the pool chair。
〃The authorities won't tell you；〃 Guitierrez said finally。 〃Because they are afraid； and perhaps also resentful of you； for what you have done。 But something very peculiar is happening in the rural regions。〃
〃Biting the babies？〃
〃No； thankfully； that has stopped。 But something else。 This spring； in the Ismaloya section； which is to the north； some unknown animals ate the crops in a very peculiar manner。 They moved each day； in a straight line…almost as straight as an arrow…from the coast； into the mountains； into the jungle。〃
Grant sat upright。
〃Like a migration；〃 Guitierrez said。 〃Wouldn't you say？〃
〃What crops？〃 Grant said。
〃Well； it was odd。 They would only eat agama beans and soy； and sometimes chickens。〃
Grant said； 〃Foods rich in lysine。 What happened to these animals？〃
〃Presumably；〃 Guitierrez said； 〃they entered the jungles。 In any case； they have not been found。 Of course； it would be difficult to search for them in the jungle。 A search party could spend years in the Ismaloya mountains； with nothing to show for it。〃
〃And we are being kept here because 。 。 。〃
Guitierrez shrugged。 〃The government is worried。 Perhaps there are more animals。 More trouble。 They are feeling cautious。〃
〃Do you think there are more animals？〃 Grant said。
〃I can't say。 Can you？〃
〃No；〃 Grant said。 〃I can't say。〃
〃But you suspect？〃
Grant nodded。 〃Possibly there are。 Yes。〃
〃I agree。〃
Guitierrez pushed up from his chair。 He waved to Tim and Lex； playing in the pool。 〃Probably they will send the children home；〃 he said。 〃There is no reason not to do that。〃 He put on his sunglasses。 〃Enjoy your stay with us； Dr。 Grant。 It is a lovely country here。〃
Grant said； 〃You're telling me we're not going anywhere？〃
〃None of us is going anywhere； Dr。 Grant；〃 Guitierrez said； smiling。 And then he turned； and walked back toward the entrance of the hotel。