Острів доктора Моро
Concerning the Beast Folk.
Theywerereallyhypnotised;hadbeentoldthatcertainthingswereimpossible,andthatcertainthingswerenottobedone,andtheseprohibitionswerewovenintothetextureoftheirmindsbeyondanypossibilityofdisobedienceordispute.
Certainmatters,however,inwhicholdinstinctwasatwarwithMoreau’sconvenience,wereinalessstablecondition.AseriesofpropositionscalledtheLaw(Ibadalreadyheardthemrecited)battledintheirmindswiththedeep-seated,ever-rebelliouscravingsoftheiranimalnatures.ThisLawtheywereeverrepeating,Ifound,andeverbreaking.BothMontgomeryandMoreaudisplayedparticularsolicitudetokeepthemignorantofthetasteofblood;theyfearedtheinevitablesuggestionsofthatflavour.MontgomerytoldmethattheLaw,especiallyamongthefelineBeastPeople,becameoddlyweakenedaboutnightfall;thatthentheanimalwasatitsstrongest;thataspiritofadventuresprangupinthematthedusk,whentheywoulddarethingstheyneverseemedtodreamaboutbyday.TothatIowedmystalkingbytheLeopard-man,onthenightofmyarrival.ButduringtheseearlierdaysofmystaytheybroketheLawonlyfurtivelyandafterdark;inthedaylighttherewasageneralatmosphereofrespectforitsmultifariousprohibitions.
AndhereperhapsImaygiveafewgeneralfactsabouttheislandandtheBeastPeople.Theisland,whichwasofirregularoutlineandlaylowuponthewidesea,hadatotalarea,Isuppose,ofsevenoreightsquaremiles.
