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Warpath: Jurassic Park 4 (Rewriten) Chapter 4
By Vito Hardy
Chapter 4: The Santa Fe Institute
Ian Malcolm stood at the podium.He was now 48 year old, and a familiar figure at the institute. Now he was dressed wearing all black.
"Of the self-organizing behaviors two are in particular interest to the study of evolution," Malcolm said. "One is adaptation. We see it everywhere. We have come to think that the ability to adapt is characteristic of complex systems, and may be one reason why evolution seems to lead toward more complex organisms. But even more important is the way complex systems seem to strike a balance between the need for order and the imperative to change. Complex systems tend to locate themselves at a place we call the edge of chaos. Now both conditions of frozen totalization lead to extinction. Too much change is as destructive as too little. Only at the edge of chaos can complex systems flourish. And, by implications, extinction is the inevitable result of one or the other strategy, too much change, or too little."
In the audience heads started nodding. This was familiar thinking to most of the researchers present.
"Unfortunately the gap between this theoretical construct and the fact of extinction is vast," Malcolm said. "We have no way to know if our thinking is correct. The fossil record can tell us that an animal became extinct at a certain time--Yes? What is it?"
At the back of the room, a hand had gone up, waving impatiently.
"You had a question," Malcolm asked.
From the back of the room Richard Levine stood up.
"Actually, an observation," Levine replied. "I am Richard Livine a Paleontologist from Berkeley. And I agree that the fossil record is not helpful in addressing extinction. Particularly if your thesis is that behavior is the cause of extinction-because bones don't tell us much about behavior. But I disagree that your behavioral thesis is untestable. In point of fact, it implies an outcome. Although prehaps you haven't yet thought of it."
"What's your point," Malcolm asked.
"Just this," Levine pointed out. "During the Cretaceous, Dinosauria were widely distributed across the planet. We have found their remains on every continent, and in every climatic zone-even in the antarctic. Now. If their extinction was really the result of their behavior, and not the consequence of a catastrophe, or a disease, or a change in plant life, or any of the other broad-scale explanations that have been proposed, then it seems to me highly unlikely that they all changed their behavior at the same time, everywhere. And that in turn means that there may well be some remnants of these animals still alive on the earth. Why couldn't you look for them?"
"You could if that amused you," Malcolm replied. "And if you had no more compelling use for your time."
"No, no," Levine said trying not to lose this conversation. "I'm quite serious. What if the dinosaurs did not become extinct? What if they still exist? Somewhere in an isolated spot on the planet."
"You're talking about a Lost World," Malcolm said just remembering a bad memory in his mind. Suddenly he could hear the sound of John Hammond saying over and over again, "Now it's only a matter of time before this Lost World is found and piladged."
Heads nodded all over the room.
"No," Levine replied. "I am speaking literally."
"Then you're badly deluded," Malcolm said with a dismissive wave of his hand while the voice of Hammond repeated over and over again. He turned back to his chalk board and started writing information about the next meeting. Levine then sat back down and started taking notes.
Ian Malcolm walking across the courtyard with Dr. Sarah Harding Malcolm wearing a dark brown tank top and black pants.
"They didn't care for that," Sarah replied laughing during the conversation that they were having.
"I admit it's discouraging," Malcolm said. "But it can't be helped. These are some of the best scientists in the country, and still....no interesting ideas. By the way, what's the story on that guy who interupted me?"
"Richard Levine," Sarah asked still laughing. "Irritating, isn't he? He has a worldwide reputation for being a pain in the Ass."
"I'd say," Malcolm said.
"He's wealty is the problem," Sarah said.
"You have time for lunch," Malcolm asked nodding.
"Sure, I would be-," Sarah was cut off from a screaming voice coming down the hill toward them. It was Richard Levine.
"Dr. Malcolm," Levine yelled. "Wait up! Please! Dr. Malcolm!"
Malcolm turned to see Levine running down the hillside toward them.
"Shit," Malcolm sighed.
Levine finally cault up to the two people low on breath. "Dr. Malcolm, I was surprized that you didn't take my proposal more seriously."
"How could I," Malcolm asked. "It's absurd."
"Yes but-," Levine was cut off.
"My wife and I were just going to lunch," Malcolm said.
"Yes, but I think you should reconsider," Levine implied. "Because I believe my argument is valid-it is entirely possible, even likely, that dinosaurs still exist. You must know there are persistent rumors about animals in Costa Rica, where I believe you have spent time."
"Yes, and in the case of Costa Rica I can tell you-," Malcolm replied being cut off.
"Also in the Congo," Levine continued. "For years there have been reports by pygmis of a large sauropod, perhaps even an apatosaur, in the dense forest around Bokambu. And also in the high jungles of Irian Jaya, there is supposedly an animal the size of a rhino, which perhaps is a remnant ceratopsian-"
"Fantasy," Malcolm replied. "Pure fantasy. Nothing has ever been seen. No photographs. No hard evidence."
"Perhaps not," Levine replied. "But absence of proof is not proof of absence. I believe there may well be a locus of these animals, survivals from a past time."
"Anything is possible," Malcolm replied shrugging.
"Several months ago I kept geting reports from one of my friends down in Costa Rica about extremly odd animals washing up on the beaches," Levine said trying to make up some wild story out of the blue.
"How long ago," Malcolm asked.
"About nine months ago," Levine replied.
"I thought so," Malcolm said. "Do you have any photograghs on these animals?"
"Well no, but," Levine replied.
"No photographs, no proof," Malcolm insisted. "So its not worth worring about."
"I think its worth mounting an expedition, to find out about these reported survivals," Levine said.
"An expedition," Malcolm asked in an unusual tone of voice. "To find a hypothetical Lost World? Who is going to pay for it?"
"I am," Levine replied. "I have already begun the preliminary planning."
"But that could cost-," Malcolm said.
"I don't care what it costs," Levine replied iritably. "The fact is, survival is possible, it has occurred in a variety of species from other genera, and it may be that there are survivals from the Cretaceous as well."
"Fantasy," Malcolm said shaking his head. He couldn't believe this guy was for real.
"Dr. Malcolm," Levine said in disgust. "I must say I'm very surprised at your additude. You've just presented a thesis and I am offering you a chance to prove it. I would have thought you'd jump at the opportunity."
"My jumping days are over," Malcolm said.
Sarah laughed.
"But instead of taking me up on this, you-," Levine pleaded.
"I'm not interested in dinosaurs," Malcolm replied.
"But everyone is interested in dinosaurs," Levine said.
"Not me," Malcolm said begining to walk away.
"By the way," Levine said feeling defeated. "What were you doing in Costa Rica? I heard you were there for almost a year."
"The Costa Rican government wouldn't allow me and some friends of mine to leave because of some sort of disease," Malcolm replied.
"Yes I know," Levine said. "But what were you doing there in the first place? Weren't you looking for dinosaurs?"
"No," Malcolm said suddenly hearing John Hammond's voice again this time saying,"Life will find a way as you once so elecuantly put it." Malcolm shook the voice away. "I wasn't."
The three people were now sitting and drinking beer in the Guadalupe Cafe not to far from the Institute discussing the same matter as before.
"You want to know what I've heard," Levine asked.
"No, not really," Malcolm replied smiling.
"I've heard that a couple of years back, a company named InGen genetically engineered some dinosaurs and put them on an island in Costa Rica," Levine said trying to keep the information streight. It appeared to him that he was now having to do everything possible to get Dr. Malcolm to go with him to save his girlfriend from disaster. "But something went wrong, a lot of people were killed, and the dinosaurs were left to breed on their own. And now nobody will talk about it, because of some legal angle. Nondisclosure agreements or something. And the Costa Rican government doesn't want to hurt tourism. So nobody will talk. That's what I heard."
"And you believe that," Malcolm asked amazed that this stupid man hadn't already heard of Jurassic Park. Malcolm just thought that this Levine guy never watched the news or something. Perhaps he never got out often and hadn't heard of the Godzilla rampage in San Diego.
"Not at first, I didn't," Levine replied. "But the thing is, I keep hearing it. The rumors keep floating around. Supposedly the two of you, Alan Grant and a bunch of other people were there."
"Did you ask Grant about it," Malcolm asked.
Levine smiled. Now was the time to strike and give the truth to the matter. "He's a partner at my digsite. Of course he said it was true. He told me all about your trip to Site B about 8 years ago. As well as his trip to that island."
Malcolm's eyes got large. He could't believe that his genius was just tested like that. This man had been lieing to him the whole time. He really did know about Jurassic Park and Grant was in on this embarassment, he was sure of it.
"You tell no one about this," Malcolm commanded. "I have been trying to get my life back together ever sense Sarah and I were forced to go to that island. One of my daughters, Kelly, was with us at the time and she is still distraught about what happened to this day. She has had so many counciling sessions I can't even count them.
"All I'm asking is that you come with me to Isla Nublar," Levine asked.
"You'd make a very good actor Dr. Levine," Malcolm replied smiling. "You've sure been able to fool me. I thought you had no idea about Jurassic Park unlike everyone else in the world."
"No I do watch the news, Dr. Malcolm," Levine replied smiling.
"Alright so why do you want me to go to that island," Malcolm sighed. "You even work at Dr. Grant's site as a partner with him. Why do you need me?"
"Have you ever heard of the Biosyn Corporation," Levine asked.
"Yes," Malcolm replied. "Isn't that company run by a guy named Lewis Dodgson?"
"In a way he does run the company," Levine replied. "He doesn't own it, but he does have the right hand of the CEO. Anyway he's going to the island to take something; it could be eggs, dinosaurs, embryos, or all of the above. Henry's not sure."
"Henry," Malcolm asked laughing. "Oh, I see. Henry Wu is the one holding your leash. Well at least it isn't good old Mr. God himself. Thankfully I'll never have to deal with him again. "
"Plus my girlfriend is on that island somewhere in danger," Levine added. "Henry and I are trying to get a team together. So far all we have is a field equipment expert that used to teach at Berkley. His name is Jack Thorne. Dr. Malcolm, please consider doing this. I understand that you don't want your wife here involved. I don't blame you. If I'd known that Kathy was going to go to that island I would've stopped her myself."
"Ian said that he would've tied me to the bed if I told him," Sarah laughed. "That's why I didn't when I went to Sorna."
Suddenly Malcolm heard another voice repeating in his head over and over. This time it was of Nick van Owen. "They call the islands Las Cinco Muertas." Malcolm shook the voice away and tried to regain control of himself.
"Dr. Malcolm, don't you see that if Dodgson performs what he's about to do we could have another San Diego Incident," Levine asked. "I know that you both had to go through that pain with Peter Ludlow. You don't want it to happen again. Please help me."
"Fine," Malcolm replied. "If it means saving the world from another Godzilla attack. I'll go."
"Count me in too," Sarah said.
"No, Sarah," Malcolm ordered. "You have a baby to look after remember? I don't want you in harms why again. I almost lost you once because of John Hammond. I don't want to have to deal with that again."
"Fine," Sarah replied. "Dr. Levine, you just make sure to bring him back in one peice or you'll have one angry woman at your door step."
"Don't worry, Mrs. Malcolm," Levine replied. "He'll be just fine."
1/27/02 10:55:34 AM
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