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ing so； which he had only hinted at to Levine。
But the possibility of another island location was what led him to walk unaided。 He wanted to prepare for a future visit to this island。 And so he had begun to make the effort； day after day。
He and Levine had narrowed their search down to a string of islands along the Costa Rican coast； and Levine was as always very intense in his excitement。 But to Malcolm it remained hypothetical。
He refused to get excited until there was hard evidence … photographs； or actual tissue samples … to demonstrate the existence of new animals。 And so far； Malcolm had seen nothing at all。 He was not sure whether he was disappointed or relieved。
But in any case； Levine's sample had arrived。
Malcolm took the clipboard from the delivery man and quickly signed the top form： 〃Delivery of Excluded Materials / Samples： Biological Research。〃
The delivery man said； 〃You have to check the boxes； sir。〃
Malcolm looked at the list of questions running down the page； with a check box beside each。 Was the specimen alive。 Was the specimen cultures of bacteria； fungi； viruses； or protozoa。 Was the specimen registered tinder an established research protocol。 Was the specimen contagious。 Was the specimen taken from a farm or animal…husbandry site。 Was the specimen plant matter； propagative seeds； or bulbs。 Was the specimen insect or insect…related。。。。
He checked off 〃No' to everything。
〃And the next page； too； sir；〃 the delivery man said。 He was looking around the office； at the stacks of papers heaped untidily about； the maps on the walls with the colored pins stuck in them。 〃You do medical research here？〃
Malcolm flipped the page； scrawled his signature on the next form。
〃No。〃
〃And one more； sir。。。〃
The third form was a release of liability to the carrier。 Malcolm signed it as well。 The delivery man said； 〃Have a good day；〃 and left。
Immediately Malcolm sagged； resting his weight on the edge of the desk。 He winced。
〃Still hurt？〃 Beverly said。 She took the specimen to the side table； pushed some papers away； and began to unwrap it。
〃I'm okay。〃 He looked over at the cane； resting beside his chair behind the desk。 Then he took a breath； and crossed the room； slowly。
Beverly had the wrapping off the package； revealing a small stainless…steel cylinder the size of his fist。 A triple…bladed biohazard sign was taped across the screwtop lid。 Attached to the cylinder was a second small canister with a metal valve； it contained the refrigerant gas。
Malcolm swung the light over the cylinder； and said； 〃Let's see what be was so excited about。〃 He broke the taped seal and unscrewed the lid。 There was a hiss of gas； and a faint white puff of condensation。 The exterior of the cylinder frosted over。
Peering in； he saw a plastic baggie； and a sheet of paper。 He up…ended the cylinder； dumping the contents onto the table。 The baggie contained a ragged piece of greenish flesh about two inches square； with a small green plastic tag attached to it。 He held it up to the light； examined it with a magnifying glass； then set it down again。 He looked at the green skin； the pebbled texture。
Maybe； he thought。
Maybe。。。
〃Beverly；〃 he said； 〃call Elizabeth Gelman； over at the zoo。 Tell her I have something I want her to look at。 And tell her it's confidential。〃
Beverly nodded； and went out of the room to phone。 Alone； Malcolm unrolled the strip of paper that had e with the sample。 It was a piece of paper torn from a yellow legal pad。 In block printing； it said：
I WAS RIGHT AND YOU WERE WRONG。
Malcolm frowned。 That son of a bitch； he thought。 〃Beverly？ After you call Elizabeth； get Richard Levine at his office。 I need to talk to him right away。〃
The Lost World
Richard Levine pressed his face to the warm rock cliff； and paused to catch his breath。 Five hundred feet below； the ocean surged； waves thundering brilliant white against the black rocks。 The boat that had brought him was already heading east again； a small white speck on the horizon。 It had to return； for there was no safe harbor anywhere on this desolate； inhospitable island。
For now； they were on their own。
Levine took a deep breath； and looked down at Diego； twenty feet below him on the cliff face。 Diego was burdened with the backpack that contained all their equipment； but he was young and strong。 He smiled cheerfully； and nodded his head upward。 〃Have courage。 It is not far now； se？or。
〃I hope so；〃 Levine said。 When he had examined the cliff through binoculars from the boat； this had seemed like a good place to make the ascent。 But in fact； the cliff face was nearly vertical； and incredibly dangerous because the volcanic rock was crumbling and friable。
Levine raised his arms； fingers extending upward； reaching for the next handhold。 He clung to the rock； small pebbles broke free and his hand slipped down。 He gripped again； then pulled himself upward。 He was breathing hard； from exertion and fear。
〃Just twenty meters more； se？or；〃 Diego said encouragingly。 〃You can do it。〃
〃I'm sure I can；〃 Levine muttered。 〃Considering the alternative。〃 As he neared the top of the cliff； the wind blew harder； whistling in his ears； tugging at his clothes。 It felt as if it was trying to stick him away from the rock。 Looking up； he saw the dense foliage that grew right to the edge of the cliff face。
Almost there； he thought。 Almost。
And then； with a final heave； he pushed himself over the top and collapsed； rolling in soft wet ferns。 Still gasping； he looked back and saw Diego e over lightly； easily； lie squatted on the mossy grass； and smiled。 Levine turned away； staring at the huge ferns overhead； releasing the accumulated tension of the climb in long shuddering breaths。 His legs burned fiercely。
But no matter … he was here！ Finally！
He looked at the jungle around him。 It was primary forest； undisturbed by the hand of man。 Exactly as the satellite images had shown。 Levine had been forced to rely on satellite photographs； because there were no maps available of private islands such as this one； This island existed as a kind of lost world； isolated in the midst of the Pacific Ocean。
Levine listened to the sound of the wind； the rustle of the palm fronds that dripped water onto his face。 And then he heard another sound； distant； like the cry of a bird； but deeper； more resonant。 As he listened； he heard it again。
A sharp sizzle nearby made him look over。 Diego had struck a match； was raising it to light a cigarette。 Quickly； Levine sat up； pushed the younger man's hand away； and shook his head； no。
Diego frowned； puzzled。
Levine put his finger to his lips。
He pointed in the direction of the bird sound。
Diego shrugged； his expression indifferent。 He was unimpressed。 He saw no reason for concern。
That was because he didn't understand what they were up against； Levine thought； as he unzipped the dark…green backpack； and began to assemble the big Lindstradt rifle。 The rifle had been specially manufactured for him in Sweden； and represented the latest in animal…control technology。 He screwed the barrel into the stock； locked in the Fluger clip； checked the gas charge； and handed the rifle to Diego。 Diego took it with another shrug。
Meanwhile； Levine removed the black anodized Lindstradt pistol in its holster； and buckled it around his waist。 He removed the pistol； checked the safety twice； and put the pistol back in the holster。 Levine got to his feet； gestured for Diego to follow him。 Diego zipped up the backpack； and shouldered it again。
The two men started down the sloping hillside； away from the cliff。 Almost immediately； their clothes were soaked from the wet foliage。 They had no views； they were surrounded on all sides by dense jungle； and could see only a few yards ahead。 The fronds of the ferns were enormous； as long and broad as a man's body； the plants twenty feet tall； with rough spiky stalks。 And high above the ferns； a great canopy of trees blocked most of the sunlight。 They moved in darkness； silently； on damp； spongy earth。
Levine paused often； to consult his wrist pass。 They were heading west； down a steep slope； toward the interior of the island。 He knew that the island was the remains of an ancient volcanic crater； eroded and deposed by centuries of weathering。 The interior terrain consisted of a series of ridges that led down to the floor of the crater。 But particularly here on the eastern side； the landscape was steep； rugged； and treacherous。
The sense of isolation； of having returned to a primordial world； was palpable。 Levine's heart pounded as he continued down the slope； across a marshy stream； and then up again。 At the top of the next ridge； there was a break in the foliage； and he felt a wele breeze。 From his vantage point； he was able to see to the far side of the island； a rim of hard black cliff； miles away。 Between here and the cliffs they saw nothing but gently undulating jungle。
Standing beside him； Diego said； 〃Fantástico。〃
Levine quickly shushed him。
〃But se？or；〃 he protested； pointing to the view。 〃We are alone here。〃
Levine shook his head； annoyed。 He had gone over all this with Diego； during the boat ride over。 Once on the island； no speaking。 No hair pomade； no cologne； no cigarettes。 All food sealed tightly in plastic bags。 Everything packed with great care。 Nothing to produce a smell； or make a sound。 He had warned Diego； again and again； of the importance of all these precautions。
But now it was obvious that Diego had paid no attention。 He didn't understand。 Levine poked Diego angrily； and shook his head again。
Diego smiled。 〃Se？or； please。 There are only birds here。〃
At that moment； they heard a deep； rumbling sound； an unearthly cry that arose from somewhere in the forest below them。 After a moment； the cry was answered； from another part of the forest。
Diego's eyes widened。
Levine mouthed： Birds？
Diego was silent。 He bit his lip； and stared out at the forest。
To the South； they saw a place where the tops of the trees began to move； a whole section of forest that suddenly seemed to e alive； as if brushed by wind。 But the rest of the forest was not moving。 It was not the wind。
Diego crossed himself quickly。
They heard more cries； lasting nearly a minute； and then silence descended again。
Levine moved off the ridge and headed down the jungle slope； going deeper into the interior。
He was moving forward quickly； looking at the ground； watching for snakes； when he heard a low whistle behind him。 He turned and saw Diego pointing to the left。
Levine doubled back； pushed through the fronds； and followed Diego as he moved south。 In a few moments； they came upon two parallel tracks in the dirt； long since overgrown with grass and ferns； but clearly recognizable as an old Jeep trail； leading off into the jungle。 Of course they would follow it。 He knew their progress would be much faster on a road。
Levine gestured； and Diego took off the backpack。 It was Levine's turn； he shouldered the weight； adjusted the straps。
In silence； they started down the road。
In places； the Jeep track was hardly recognizable； so thickly had the jungle grown back。 Clearly； no one had used this road for many years； and the jungle was always ready to return。
Behind him； Diego grunted； swore softly。 Levine turned and saw Diego lifting his foot gingerly； he had stepped to mid…ankle in a pile of green animal…droppings。 Levine went back。。
Diego scraped his boot clean on the stem of a fern。 The droppings appeared to be posed of pale flecks of hay； mixed with green。 The material was light and crumbly … dried； old。 There was no smell。
Levine searched the ground carefully； until he found the remainder of the original spoor。 The droppings were well formed； twelve centimeters in diameter。 Definitely left behind by some large herbivore。
Diego was silent； but his eyes were wide。
Levine shook his head； continued on。 As long as they saw signs of herbivore； he wasn't going to worry。 At least； not too much。 Even so； his fingers touched the butt of his pistol； as if for reassurance。
They came to a