Острів доктора Моро
A Catastrophe.
Hepassedbyme,andIheardhimbehindmeunlockandenterhislaboratory.SoinduratedwasIatthattimetotheabominationoftheplace,thatIheardwithoutatouchofemotionthepumavictimbeginanotherdayoftorture.Itmetitspersecutorwithashriek,almostexactlylikethatofanangryvirago.
Thensuddenlysomethinghappened,—Idonotknowwhat,tothisday.Iheardashort,sharpcrybehindme,afall,andturningsawanawfulfacerushinguponme,—nothuman,notanimal,buthellish,brown,seamedwithredbranchingscars,reddropsstartingoutuponit,andthelidlesseyesablaze.Ithrewupmyarmtodefendmyselffromtheblowthatflungmeheadlongwithabrokenforearm;andthegreatmonster,swathedinlintandwithred-stainedbandagesflutteringaboutit,leaptovermeandpassed.Irolledoverandoverdownthebeach,triedtositup,andcollapseduponmybrokenarm.ThenMoreauappeared,hismassivewhitefaceallthemoreterribleforthebloodthattrickledfromhisforehead.Hecarriedarevolverinonehand.Hescarcelyglancedatme,butrushedoffatonceinpursuitofthepuma.
Itriedtheotherarmandsatup.Themuffledfigureinfrontraningreatstridingleapsalongthebeach,andMoreaufollowedher.Sheturnedherheadandsawhim,thendoublingabruptlymadeforthebushes.Shegaineduponhimateverystride.Isawherplungeintothem,andMoreau,runningslantinglytointercepther,firedandmissedasshedisappeared.Thenhetoovanishedinthegreenconfusion.
