Машина времени

           Tomethereisalwaysanairofexpectationaboutthateveningstillness. Theskywasclear,remote,andemptysaveforafewhorizontalbarsfardowninthesunset. Well,thatnighttheexpectationtookthecolourofmyfears. Inthatdarklingcalmmysensesseemedpreternaturallysharpened. IfanciedIcouldevenfeelthehollownessofthegroundbeneathmyfeet:could,indeed,almostseethroughittheMorlocksontheirant-hillgoinghitherandthitherandwaitingforthedark. InmyexcitementIfanciedthattheywouldreceivemyinvasionoftheirburrowsasadeclarationofwar. AndwhyhadtheytakenmyTimeMachine? 

           ‘Sowewentoninthequiet,andthetwilightdeepenedintonight. Theclearblueofthedistancefaded,andonestarafteranothercameout. Thegroundgrewdimandthetreesblack. Weena’sfearsandherfatiguegrewuponher. Itookherinmyarmsandtalkedtoherandcaressedher. Then,asthedarknessgrewdeeper,sheputherarmsroundmyneck,and,closinghereyes,tightlypressedherfaceagainstmyshoulder. Sowewentdownalongslopeintoavalley,andthereinthedimnessIalmostwalkedintoalittleriver. ThisIwaded,andwentuptheoppositesideofthevalley,pastanumberofsleepinghouses,andbyastatue—aFaun,orsomesuchfigure,minusthehead. Heretoowereacacias. SofarIhadseennothingoftheMorlocks,butitwasyetearlyinthenight,andthedarkerhoursbeforetheoldmoonrosewerestilltocome. 

           ‘FromthebrowofthenexthillIsawathickwoodspreadingwideandblackbeforeme. Ihesitatedatthis. Icouldseenoendtoit,eithertotherightortheleft. Feelingtired—myfeet,inparticular,wereverysore—IcarefullyloweredWeenafrommyshoulderasIhalted,andsatdownupontheturf. IcouldnolongerseethePalaceofGreenPorcelain,andIwasindoubtofmydirection.