Затерянный мир
For once I was the Hero
EvenChallengerwasaffectedbytheconsiderationthathisenemieswouldneverstandconfutediftheconfirmationofhisstatementsshouldneverreachthosewhohaddoubtedthem.
"Theproblemofthedescentisatfirstsightaformidableone,"saidhe,"andyetIcannotdoubtthattheintellectcansolveit.IampreparedtoagreewithourcolleaguethataprotractedstayinMapleWhiteLandisatpresentinadvisable,andthatthequestionofourreturnwillsoonhavetobefaced.Iabsolutelyrefusetoleave,however,untilwehavemadeatleastasuperficialexaminationofthiscountry,andareabletotakebackwithussomethinginthenatureofachart."
ProfessorSummerleegaveasnortofimpatience.
"Wehavespenttwolongdaysinexploration,"saidhe,"andwearenowiserastotheactualgeographyoftheplacethanwhenwestarted.Itisclearthatitisallthicklywooded,anditwouldtakemonthstopenetrateitandtolearntherelationsofoneparttoanother.Ifthereweresomecentralpeakitwouldbedifferent,butitallslopesdownwards,sofaraswecansee.Thefartherwegothelesslikelyitisthatwewillgetanygeneralview."
ItwasatthatmomentthatIhadmyinspiration.Myeyeschancedtolightupontheenormousgnarledtrunkofthegingkotreewhichcastitshugebranchesoverus.Surely,ifitsboleexceededthatofallothers,itsheightmustdothesame.
