Машина времени
Chapter 12
‘Andyet,notexactly! Thethinghadstartedfromthesouth-eastcornerofthelaboratory. Ithadcometorestagaininthenorth-west,againstthewallwhereyousawit. ThatgivesyoutheexactdistancefrommylittlelawntothepedestaloftheWhiteSphinx,intowhichtheMorlockshadcarriedmymachine.
‘Foratimemybrainwentstagnant. PresentlyIgotupandcamethroughthepassagehere,limping,becausemyheelwasstillpainful,andfeelingsorelybegrimed. IsawthePallMallGazetteonthetablebythedoor. Ifoundthedatewasindeedto-day,andlookingatthetimepiece,sawthehourwasalmosteighto’clock. Iheardyourvoicesandtheclatterofplates. Ihesitated—Ifeltsosickandweak. ThenIsniffedgoodwholesomemeat,andopenedthedooronyou. Youknowtherest. Iwashed,anddined,andnowIamtellingyouthestory.
‘Iknow,’hesaid,afterapause,‘thatallthiswillbeabsolutelyincredibletoyou. TometheoneincrediblethingisthatIamhereto-nightinthisoldfamiliarroomlookingintoyourfriendlyfacesandtellingyouthesestrangeadventures.’
HelookedattheMedicalMan. ‘No.Icannotexpectyoutobelieveit. Takeitasalie—oraprophecy. SayIdreameditintheworkshop. ConsiderIhavebeenspeculatinguponthedestiniesofourraceuntilIhavehatchedthisfiction. Treatmyassertionofitstruthasamerestrokeofarttoenhanceitsinterest. Andtakingitasastory,whatdoyouthinkofit?’
Hetookuphispipe,andbegan,inhisoldaccustomedmanner,totapwithitnervouslyuponthebarsofthegrate. Therewasamomentarystillness. Thenchairsbegantocreakandshoestoscrapeuponthecarpet.
