Остров доктора Моро
The Thing in the Forest.
Alittlepointoflightshoneonthefurtherbendofthecurve,andthegreysweepofthesandybeachlayfaintunderthestarlight.Perhapstwomilesawaywasthatlittlepointoflight.TogettothebeachIshouldhavetogothroughthetreeswheretheshadowslurked,anddownabushyslope.
IcouldseetheThingrathermoredistinctlynow.Itwasnoanimal,foritstooderect.AtthatIopenedmymouthtospeak,andfoundahoarsephlegmchokedmyvoice.Itriedagain,andshouted,"Whoisthere?"Therewasnoanswer.Iadvancedastep.TheThingdidnotmove,onlygathereditselftogether.Myfootstruckastone.Thatgavemeanidea.Withouttakingmyeyesofftheblackformbeforeme,Istoopedandpickedupthislumpofrock;butatmymotiontheThingturnedabruptlyasadogmighthavedone,andslunkobliquelyintothefurtherdarkness.ThenIrecalledaschoolboyexpedientagainstbigdogs,andtwistedtherockintomyhandkerchief,andgavethisaturnroundmywrist.Iheardamovementfurtheroffamongtheshadows,asiftheThingwasinretreat.Thensuddenlymytenseexcitementgaveway;Ibrokeintoaprofuseperspirationandfella-trembling,withmyadversaryroutedandthisweaponinmyhand.
ItwassometimebeforeIcouldsummonresolutiontogodownthroughthetreesandbushesupontheflankoftheheadlandtothebeach.AtlastIdiditatarun;andasIemergedfromthethicketuponthesand,Iheardsomeotherbodycomecrashingafterme.
