Машина времени

           Thentheygrippedandclosedwithmeagain. InamomentIknewwhathadhappened. Ihadslept,andmyfirehadgoneout,andthebitternessofdeathcameovermysoul. Theforestseemedfullofthesmellofburningwood. Iwascaughtbytheneck,bythehair,bythearms,andpulleddown. Itwasindescribablyhorribleinthedarknesstofeelallthesesoftcreaturesheapeduponme. IfeltasifIwasinamonstrousspider’sweb. Iwasoverpowered,andwentdown. Ifeltlittleteethnippingatmyneck. Irolledover,andasIdidsomyhandcameagainstmyironlever. Itgavemestrength. Istruggledup,shakingthehumanratsfromme,and,holdingthebarshort,IthrustwhereIjudgedtheirfacesmightbe. Icouldfeelthesucculentgivingoffleshandboneundermyblows,andforamomentIwasfree. 

           ‘Thestrangeexultationthatsooftenseemstoaccompanyhardfightingcameuponme. IknewthatbothIandWeenawerelost,butIdeterminedtomaketheMorlockspayfortheirmeat. Istoodwithmybacktoatree,swingingtheironbarbeforeme. Thewholewoodwasfullofthestirandcriesofthem. Aminutepassed. Theirvoicesseemedtorisetoahigherpitchofexcitement,andtheirmovementsgrewfaster. Yetnonecamewithinreach. Istoodglaringattheblackness. Thensuddenlycamehope. WhatiftheMorlockswereafraid? Andcloseontheheelsofthatcameastrangething. Thedarknessseemedtogrowluminous. VerydimlyIbegantoseetheMorlocksaboutme—threebatteredatmyfeet—andthenIrecognized,withincreduloussurprise,thattheotherswererunning,inanincessantstream,asitseemed,frombehindme,andawaythroughthewoodinfront. Andtheirbacksseemednolongerwhite,butreddish. AsIstoodagape,Isawalittleredsparkgodriftingacrossagapofstarlightbetweenthebranches,andvanish.