Затерянный мир
For once I was the Hero
Alongthebaseoftheseredcliffs,somedistanceabovetheground,Icouldseeanumberofdarkholesthroughtheglass,whichIconjecturedtobethemouthsofcaves.Attheopeningofoneofthesesomethingwhitewasshimmering,butIwasunabletomakeoutwhatitwas.IsatchartingthecountryuntilthesunhadsetanditwassodarkthatIcouldnolongerdistinguishdetails.ThenIclimbeddowntomycompanionswaitingformesoeagerlyatthebottomofthegreattree.ForonceIwastheherooftheexpedition.AloneIhadthoughtofit,andaloneIhaddoneit;andherewasthechartwhichwouldsaveusamonth’sblindgropingamongunknowndangers.Eachofthemshookmesolemnlybythehand.
ButbeforetheydiscussedthedetailsofmymapIhadtotellthemofmyencounterwiththeape-manamongthebranches.
"Hehasbeenthereallthetime,"saidI.
"Howdoyouknowthat?"askedLordJohn.
"BecauseIhaveneverbeenwithoutthatfeelingthatsomethingmalevolentwaswatchingus.Imentionedittoyou,ProfessorChallenger."
"Ouryoungfriendcertainlysaidsomethingofthekind.HeisalsotheoneamonguswhoisendowedwiththatCeltictemperamentwhichwouldmakehimsensitivetosuchimpressions."
"Thewholetheoryoftelepathy——"beganSummerlee,fillinghispipe.
"Istoovasttobenowdiscussed,"saidChallenger,withdecision.
