Машина времени
Chapter 9
AndatthatIunderstoodthesmellofburningwood,theslumbrousmurmurthatwasgrowingnowintoagustyroar,theredglow,andtheMorlocks’flight.
‘Steppingoutfrombehindmytreeandlookingback,Isaw,throughtheblackpillarsofthenearertrees,theflamesoftheburningforest. Itwasmyfirstfirecomingafterme. WiththatIlookedforWeena,butshewasgone. Thehissingandcracklingbehindme,theexplosivethudaseachfreshtreeburstintoflame,leftlittletimeforreflection. Myironbarstillgripped,IfollowedintheMorlocks’path. Itwasacloserace. OncetheflamescreptforwardsoswiftlyonmyrightasIranthatIwasoutflankedandhadtostrikeofftotheleft. ButatlastIemergeduponasmallopenspace,andasIdidso,aMorlockcameblunderingtowardsme,andpastme,andwentonstraightintothefire!
‘AndnowIwastoseethemostweirdandhorriblething,Ithink,ofallthatIbeheldinthatfutureage. Thiswholespacewasasbrightasdaywiththereflectionofthefire. Inthecentrewasahillockortumulus,surmountedbyascorchedhawthorn. Beyondthiswasanotherarmoftheburningforest,withyellowtonguesalreadywrithingfromit,completelyencirclingthespacewithafenceoffire. Uponthehill-sideweresomethirtyorfortyMorlocks,dazzledbythelightandheat,andblunderinghitherandthitheragainsteachotherintheirbewilderment. AtfirstIdidnotrealizetheirblindness,andstruckfuriouslyatthemwithmybar,inafrenzyoffear,astheyapproachedme,killingoneandcripplingseveralmore. ButwhenIhadwatchedthegesturesofoneofthemgropingunderthehawthornagainsttheredsky,andheardtheirmoans,Iwasassuredoftheirabsolutehelplessnessandmiseryintheglare,andIstrucknomoreofthem.
