Остров доктора Моро
The Reversion of the Beast Folk.
(Canyouimaginelanguage,onceclear-cutandexact,softeningandguttering,losingshapeandimport,becomingmerelimpsofsoundagain?)Andtheywalkederectwithanincreasingdifficulty.Thoughtheyevidentlyfeltashamedofthemselves,everynowandthenIwouldcomeupononeoranotherrunningontoesandfinger-tips,andquiteunabletorecovertheverticalattitude.Theyheldthingsmoreclumsily;drinkingbysuction,feedingbygnawing,grewcommonereveryday.IrealisedmorekeenlythaneverwhatMoreauhadtoldmeaboutthe"stubbornbeast-flesh."Theywerereverting,andrevertingveryrapidly.
Someofthem—thepioneersinthis,Inoticedwithsomesurprise,wereallfemales—begantodisregardtheinjunctionofdecency,deliberatelyforthemostpart.Othersevenattemptedpublicoutragesupontheinstitutionofmonogamy.ThetraditionoftheLawwasclearlylosingitsforce.Icannotpursuethisdisagreeablesubject.
MyDog-manimperceptiblyslippedbacktothedogagain;daybydayhebecamedumb,quadrupedal,hairy.Iscarcelynoticedthetransitionfromthecompaniononmyrighthandtothelurchingdogatmyside.
Asthecarelessnessanddisorganisationincreasedfromdaytoday,thelaneofdwellingplaces,atnotimeverysweet,becamesoloathsomethatIleftit,andgoingacrosstheislandmademyselfahovelofboughsamidtheblackruinsofMoreau’senclosure.Somememoryofpain,Ifound,stillmadethatplacethesafestfromtheBeastFolk.
