Машина времени
Chapter 10
‘So,asIseeit,theUpper-worldmanhaddriftedtowardshisfeebleprettiness,andtheUnder-worldtomeremechanicalindustry. Butthatperfectstatehadlackedonethingevenformechanicalperfection—absolutepermanency. Apparentlyastimewenton,thefeedingoftheUnder-world,howeveritwaseffected,hadbecomedisjointed. MotherNecessity,whohadbeenstavedoffforafewthousandyears,camebackagain,andshebeganbelow. TheUnder-worldbeingincontactwithmachinery,which,howeverperfect,stillneedssomelittlethoughtoutsidehabit,hadprobablyretainedperforcerathermoreinitiative,iflessofeveryotherhumancharacter,thantheUpper. Andwhenothermeatfailedthem,theyturnedtowhatoldhabithadhithertoforbidden. SoIsayIsawitinmylastviewoftheworldofEightHundredandTwoThousandSevenHundredandOne. Itmaybeaswronganexplanationasmortalwitcouldinvent. Itishowthethingshapeditselftome,andasthatIgiveittoyou.
‘Afterthefatigues,excitements,andterrorsofthepastdays,andinspiteofmygrief,thisseatandthetranquilviewandthewarmsunlightwereverypleasant. Iwasverytiredandsleepy,andsoonmytheorizingpassedintodozing. Catchingmyselfatthat,Itookmyownhint,andspreadingmyselfoutupontheturfIhadalongandrefreshingsleep.
‘Iawokealittlebeforesunsetting. InowfeltsafeagainstbeingcaughtnappingbytheMorlocks,and,stretchingmyself,IcameondownthehilltowardstheWhiteSphinx. Ihadmycrowbarinonehand,andtheotherhandplayedwiththematchesinmypocket.
‘Andnowcameamostunexpectedthing. AsIapproachedthepedestalofthesphinxIfoundthebronzevalveswereopen. Theyhadsliddownintogrooves.
