Затерянный мир
Try Your Luck with Professor Challenger
"Onemoment,sir,"Isaid,asIrealizedthatitwasapinkbaldhead,andnotaredface,whichwasfrontingme."IamnotveryclearyetwhyIamtointerviewthisgentleman.Whathashedone?"
Thefaceflashedbackagain.
"WenttoSouthAmericaonasolitaryexpedeetiontwoyearsago.Camebacklastyear.HadundoubtedlybeentoSouthAmerica,butrefusedtosayexactlywhere.Begantotellhisadventuresinavagueway,butsomebodystartedtopickholes,andhejustshutuplikeanoyster.Somethingwonderfulhappened—ortheman’sachampionliar,whichisthemoreprobablesupposeetion.Hadsomedamagedphotographs,saidtobefakes.Gotsotouchythatheassaultsanyonewhoasksquestions,andheavesreportersdownthestairs.Inmyopinionhe’sjustahomicidalmegalomaniacwithaturnforscience.That’syourman,Mr.Malone.Now,offyourun,andseewhatyoucanmakeofhim.You’rebigenoughtolookafteryourself.Anyway,youareallsafe.Employers’LiabilityAct,youknow."
Agrinningredfaceturnedoncemoreintoapinkoval,fringedwithgingeryfluff;theinterviewwasatanend.
IwalkedacrosstotheSavageClub,butinsteadofturningintoitIleanedupontherailingsofAdelphiTerraceandgazedthoughtfullyforalongtimeatthebrown,oilyriver.Icanalwaysthinkmostsanelyandclearlyintheopenair.ItookoutthelistofProfessorChallenger’sexploits,andIreaditoverundertheelectriclamp.ThenIhadwhatIcanonlyregardasaninspiration.AsaPressman,IfeltsurefromwhatIhadbeentoldthatIcouldneverhopetogetintotouchwiththiscantankerousProfessor.Buttheserecriminations,twicementionedinhisskeletonbiography,couldonlymeanthathewasafanaticinscience.Wastherenotanexposedmarginthereuponwhichhemightbeaccessible?Iwouldtry.
