Затерянный мир
It’s Just the very Biggest Thing in the World
Therewereindicationsastothedirectionfromwhichthedeadtravelerhadcome.Indianlegendswouldalonehavebeenmyguide,forIfoundthatrumorsofastrangelandwerecommonamongalltheriverinetribes.Youhaveheard,nodoubt,ofCurupuri?"
"Never."
"Curupuriisthespiritofthewoods,somethingterrible,somethingmalevolent,somethingtobeavoided.Nonecandescribeitsshapeornature,butitisawordofterroralongtheAmazon.NowalltribesagreeastothedirectioninwhichCurupurilives.ItwasthesamedirectionfromwhichtheAmericanhadcome.Somethingterriblelaythatway.Itwasmybusinesstofindoutwhatitwas."
"Whatdidyoudo?"Myflippancywasallgone.Thismassivemancompelledone’sattentionandrespect.
"Iovercametheextremereluctanceofthenatives—areluctancewhichextendseventotalkuponthesubject—andbyjudiciouspersuasionandgifts,aided,Iwilladmit,bysomethreatsofcoercion,Igottwoofthemtoactasguides.AftermanyadventureswhichIneednotdescribe,andaftertravelingadistancewhichIwillnotmention,inadirectionwhichIwithhold,wecameatlasttoatractofcountrywhichhasneverbeendescribed,nor,indeed,visitedsavebymyunfortunatepredecessor.Wouldyoukindlylookatthis?"
Hehandedmeaphotograph—half-platesize.
"Theunsatisfactoryappearanceofitisduetothefact,"saidhe,"thatondescendingtherivertheboatwasupsetandthecasewhichcontainedtheundevelopedfilmswasbroken,withdisastrousresults.
