Острів доктора Моро
The Man Alone.
Ihadtoactwiththeutmostcircumspectiontosavemyselffromthesuspicionofinsanity.MymemoryoftheLaw,ofthetwodeadsailors,oftheambuscadesofthedarkness,ofthebodyinthecanebrake,hauntedme;and,unnaturalasitseems,withmyreturntomankindcame,insteadofthatconfidenceandsympathyIhadexpected,astrangeenhancementoftheuncertaintyanddreadIhadexperiencedduringmystayupontheisland.Noonewouldbelieveme;IwasalmostasqueertomenasIhadbeentotheBeastPeople.Imayhavecaughtsomethingofthenaturalwildnessofmycompanions.Theysaythatterrorisadisease,andanyhowIcanwitnessthatforseveralyearsnowarestlessfearhasdweltinmymind,—sucharestlessfearasahalf-tamedlioncubmayfeel.
Mytroubletookthestrangestform.IcouldnotpersuademyselfthatthemenandwomenImetwerenotalsoanotherBeastPeople,animalshalfwroughtintotheoutwardimageofhumansouls,andthattheywouldpresentlybegintorevert,—toshowfirstthisbestialmarkandthenthat.ButIhaveconfidedmycasetoastrangelyableman,—amanwhohadknownMoreau,andseemedhalftocreditmystory;amentalspecialist,—andhehashelpedmemightily,thoughIdonotexpectthattheterrorofthatislandwilleveraltogetherleaveme.Atmosttimesitliesfarinthebackofmymind,ameredistantcloud,amemory,andafaintdistrust;buttherearetimeswhenthelittlecloudspreadsuntilitobscuresthewholesky.
