MICHAEL CRICHTON

“Let me tell you something,” Ross said. “I never believed that Amy wasimportant to this expedition—or you either. From the very beginning she was justa diversion. When I came to San Francisco, I was followed. You and Amyprovided a diversion. You threw the consortium into a spin. It was worth it. Nowit’s not worth it. We’ll leave you both behind if we have to. I couldn’t care less.”7. Bugs“WELL, GODDAMN IT,” ELLIOT BEGAN, “DO YOU mean to tell me that. . .”“That’s right,” Ross said coldly. “You’re expendable.” But even as she spoke,she grabbed his arm firmly and led him out of the airplane while she held herfinger to her lips.Elliot realized that she intended to pacify him in private, Amy was hisresponsibility, and to hell with all the diamonds and international intrigue. Outsideon the concrete runway he repeated stubbornly, “I’m not leaving without Amy.”“Neither am I.” Ross walked quickly across the runway toward a policehelicopter.Elliot hurried to catch up. “What?”“Don’t you understand anything?” Ross said. “That airplane's not clean. It’s fullof bugs, and the consortium’s listening in. I made that speech for their benefit.”“But who was following you in San Francisco?”“Nobody. They’re going to spend hours trying to figure out who was.”“Amy and I weren’t just a diversion?”“Not at all,” she said. “Look: we don’t know what happened to the last ERTSCongo team, but no matter what you or Travis or anyone else says, I thinkgorillas were involved. And I think that Amy will help us when we get there.”“As an ambassador?”99