Отравленный пояс
Chapter V. The Dead World
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Gettingoutofthecarandleavingitbythecurb,wewalkedwithsomedifficultyalongthecrowdedpavementofKingWilliamStreetandenteredtheopendoorofalargeinsuranceoffice.Itwasacornerhouse,andwechoseitascommandingaviewineverydirection.Ascendingthestair,wepassedthroughwhatIsupposetohavebeentheboard-room,foreightelderlymenwereseatedroundalongtableinthecentreofit.Thehighwindowwasopenandweallsteppedoutuponthebalcony.Fromitwecouldseethecrowdedcitystreetsradiatingineverydirection,whilebelowustheroadwasblackfromsidetosidewiththetopsofthemotionlesstaxis.All,ornearlyall,hadtheirheadspointedoutwards,showinghowtheterrifiedmenofthecityhadatthelastmomentmadeavainendeavortorejointheirfamiliesinthesuburbsorthecountry.Hereandthereamidthehumblercabstoweredthegreatbrass-spangledmotor-carofsomewealthymagnate,wedgedhopelesslyamongthedammedstreamofarrestedtraffic.Justbeneathustherewassuchaoneofgreatsizeandluxuriousappearance,withitsowner,afatoldman,leaningout,halfhisgrossbodythroughthewindow,andhispodgyhand,gleamingwithdiamonds,outstretchedasheurgedhischauffeurtomakealastefforttobreakthroughthepress.
Adozenmotor-busestowereduplikeislandsinthisflood,thepassengerswhocrowdedtheroofslyingallhuddledtogetherandacrosseachothers’lapslikeachild’stoysinanursery.
