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been the fashionable way to talk about scientific change。 〃Paradigm〃 was just another word for a model； but as scientists used it the term meant something more； a world view。 A larger way of seeing the world。 Paradigm shifts were said to occur whenever science made a major change in its view of the world。 Such changes were relatively rare； occurring about once a century； Darwinian evolution had forced a paradigm shift。 Quantum mechanics had forced a smaller shift。
〃No；〃 Malcolm said。 〃Not 。 。 。 paradigm 。 。 。 beyond 〃Beyond paradigm？〃 Harding said。
〃Don't care about 。 。 。 what 。 。 。 anymore 。
Harding sighed。 Despite all efforts； Malcolm was rapidly slipping into a terminal delirium。 His fever was higher； and they were almost out of his antibiotics。
〃What don't you care about？〃
〃Anything；〃 Malcolm said。 〃Because 。 。 。 everything looks different 。 。 。 on the other side。〃
And he smiled。
Descent
〃You're crazy；〃 Gennaro said to Ellie Sattler； watching as she squeezed backward into the rabbit hole； stretching her arms forward。 〃You're crazy to do that！〃
She smiled。 〃Probably；〃 she said。 She reached forward with her outstretched hands； and pushed backward against the sides of the hole。 And suddenly she was gone。
The hole gaped black。
Gennaro began to sweat。 He turned to Muldoon； who was standing by the Jeep。 〃I'm not doing this；〃 he said。
〃Yes； you are。〃
〃I can't do this。 I can't。〃
〃They're waiting for you；〃 Muldoon said。 〃You have to。〃
〃Christ only knows what's down there；〃 Gennaro said。 〃I'm telling you； I can't do it。〃
〃You have to。〃
Gennaro turned away； looked at the hole； looked back。 〃I can't。 You can't make me。〃
〃I suppose not；〃 Muldoon said。 He held up the stainless…steel prod。 〃Ever felt a shock stick？〃
〃Doesn't do much；〃 Muldoon said。 〃Almost never fatal。 Generally knocks you flat。 Perhaps loosens your bowels。 But it doesn't usually have any permanent effect。 At least； not on dinos。 But； then； people are much smaller。〃
Gennaro looked at the stick。 〃You wouldn't。〃
〃I think you'd better go down and count those animals；〃 Muldoon said。 〃And you better hurry。〃
Gennaro looked back at the hole； at the black opening； a mouth in the earth。 Then he looked at Muldoon； standing there； large and impassive。
Gennaro was sweating and lighthearted。 He started walking toward the hole。 From a distance it appeared small； but as be came closer it seemed to grow larger。
〃That's it；〃 Muldoon said。
Gennaro climbed backward into the hole； but he began to feel too frightened to continue that way…the idea of backing into the unknown filled him with dread…so at the last minute he turned around and climbed head first into the hole； extending his arms forward and kicking his feet； because at least he would see where he was going。 He pulled the gas mask over his face。
And suddenly he was rushing forward； sliding into blackness； seeing the dirt walls disappear into darkness before him； and then the walls became narrower…much narrower…terrifyingly narrow…and he was lost in the pain of a squeezing pression that became steadily worse and worse； that crushed the air out of his lungs； and he was only dimly aware that the tunnel tilted slightly upward； along the path； shifting his body； leaving him gasping and seeing spots before his eyes； and the pain was extreme。
And then suddenly the tunnel tilted downward again； and it became wider； and Gennaro felt rough surfaces； concrete； and cold air。 His body was suddenly free； and bouncing； turning on concrete。
And then he fell。
Voices in the darkness。 Fingers touching him； reaching forward from the whispered voices。 The air was cold； like a cave。
〃…okay？〃
〃He looks okay； yes。〃
〃He's breathing。 。 。 。〃
〃Fine。〃
A female hand caressing his face。 It was Ellie。 〃Can you hear？〃 she whispered。
〃Why is everybody whispering？〃 he said。
〃Because。〃 She pointed。
Gennaro turned； rolled； got slowly to his feet。 He stared as his vision grew accustomed to the darkness。 But the first thing that he saw； gleaming in the darkness； was eyes。 Glowing green eyes。
Dozens of eyes。 All around him。
He was on a concrete ledge； a kind of embankment； about seven feet above the floor。 Large steel junction boxes provided a makeshift hiding place； protecting them from the view of the two full…size velociraptors that stood directly before them； not five feet away。 The animals were dark green with brownish tiger stripes。 They stood upright； balancing on their stiff extended tails。 They were totally silent； looking around watchfully with large dark eyes。 At the feet of the adults； baby velociraptors skittered and chirped。 Farther back； in the darkness； juveniles tumbled and played； giving short snarls and growls。
Gennaro did not dare to breathe。
Two raptors！
Crouched on the ledge； he was only a foot or two above the animals head height。 The raptors were edgy； their heads jerking nervously up and down。 From time to time they snorted impatiently。 Then they moved off； turning back toward the main group。
As his eyes adjusted； Gennaro could now see that they were in some kind of an enormous underground structure； but it was man…made…there were seams of poured concrete； and the nubs of protruding steel rods。 And within this vast echoing space were many animals： Gennaro guessed at least thirty raptors。 Perhaps more。
〃It's a colony； Grant said； whispering。 〃Four or six adults。 The rest juveniles and infants。 At least two hatchings。 One last year and one this year。 These babies look about four months old。 Probably hatched in April。〃
One of the babies； curious； scampered up on the ledge； and came toward them； squeaking。 It was now only ten feet away。
〃Oh Jesus；〃 Gennaro said。 But immediately one of the adults came forward； raised its head； and gently nudged the baby to turn back。 The baby chittered a protest； then hopped up to stand on the snout of the adult。 The adult moved slowly； allowing the baby to climb over its head； down its neck； onto its back。 From that protected spot； the infant turned； and chirped noisily at the three intruders。
The adults still did not seem to notice them at all。
〃I don't get it；〃 Gennaro whispered。 〃Why aren't they attacking？〃
Grant shook his head。 〃They must not see us。 And there aren't any eggs at the moment。 。 。 。 Makes them more relaxed。〃
〃Relaxed？〃 Gennaro said。 〃How long do we have to stay here？〃
〃Long enough to do the count；〃 Grant said。
As Grant saw it； there were three nests； attended by three sets of parents。 The division of territory was centered roughly around the nests； although the offspring seemed to overlap； and run into different territories。 The adults were benign with the young ones； and tougher with the juveniles； occasionally snapping at the older animals when their play got too rough。
At that moment； a juvenile raptor came up to Ellie and rubbed his head against her leg。 She looked down and saw the leather collar with the black box。 It was damp in one place。 And it had chafed the skin of the young animal's neck。
The juvenile whimpered。
In the big room below； one of the adults turned curiously toward the sound。
〃You think I can take it off？〃 she asked。
〃Just do it quickly。〃
〃Oo…kay；〃 she said； squatting beside the small animal。 It whimpered again。
The adults snorted； bobbed their heads。
Ellie petted the little juvenile； trying to soothe it； to silence its whimpering。 She moved her hands toward the leather collar； lifted back the Velcro tab with a tearing sound。 The adults jerked their heads。
Then one began to walk toward her。
〃Oh shit；〃 Gennaro said； under his breath。
〃Don't move；〃 Grant said。 〃Stay calm。〃
The adult walked past them； its long curved toes clicking on the concrete。 The animal paused in front of Ellie； who stayed crouched by the juvenile； behind a steel box。 The juvenile was exposed； and Ellie's hand was still on the collar。 The adult raised its head； and sniffed the air。 The adult's big head was very close to her hand； but it could not see her because of the function box。 A tongue flicked out； tentati