Человек-невидимка
At the House in Great Portland Street
Mylimbsbecameglassy,thebonesandarteriesfaded,vanished,andthelittlewhitenerveswentlast. Igrittedmyteethandstayedtheretotheend. Atlastonlythedeadtipsofthefingernailsremained,pallidandwhite,andthebrownstainofsomeaciduponmyfingers.
"Istruggledup. AtfirstIwasasincapableasaswathedinfant—steppingwithlimbsIcouldnotsee. Iwasweakandveryhungry. Iwentandstaredatnothinginmyshaving-glass,atnothingsavewhereanattenuatedpigmentstillremainedbehindtheretinaofmyeyes,fainterthanmist. Ihadtohangontothetableandpressmyforeheadagainsttheglass.
"ItwasonlybyafranticeffortofwillthatIdraggedmyselfbacktotheapparatusandcompletedtheprocess.
"Isleptduringtheforenoon,pullingthesheetovermyeyestoshutoutthelight,andaboutmiddayIwasawakenedagainbyaknocking. Mystrengthhadreturned. Isatupandlistenedandheardawhispering. Isprangtomyfeetandasnoiselesslyaspossiblebegantodetachtheconnectionsofmyapparatus,andtodistributeitabouttheroom,soastodestroythesuggestionsofitsarrangement. Presentlytheknockingwasrenewedandvoicescalled,firstmylandlord's,andthentwoothers. TogaintimeIansweredthem. TheinvisibleragandpillowcametohandandIopenedthewindowandpitchedthemoutontothecisterncover. Asthewindowopened,aheavycrashcameatthedoor.Someonehadchargeditwiththeideaofsmashingthelock. ButthestoutboltsIhadscrewedupsomedaysbeforestoppedhim. Thatstartledme,mademeangry. Ibegantotrembleanddothingshurriedly.
