Острів доктора Моро
The Man Alone.
ThenIlookaboutmeatmyfellow-men;andIgoinfear.Iseefaces,keenandbright;othersdullordangerous;others,unsteady,insincere,—nonethathavethecalmauthorityofareasonablesoul.Ifeelasthoughtheanimalwassurgingupthroughthem;thatpresentlythedegradationoftheIslanderswillbeplayedoveragainonalargerscale.Iknowthisisanillusion;thattheseseemingmenandwomenaboutmeareindeedmenandwomen,—menandwomenforever,perfectlyreasonablecreatures,fullofhumandesiresandtendersolicitude,emancipatedfrominstinctandtheslavesofnofantasticLaw,—beingsaltogetherdifferentfromtheBeastFolk.YetIshrinkfromthem,fromtheircuriousglances,theirinquiriesandassistance,andlongtobeawayfromthemandalone.ForthatreasonIlivenearthebroadfreedownland,andcanescapethitherwhenthisshadowisovermysoul;andverysweetistheemptydownlandthen,underthewind-sweptsky.
WhenIlivedinLondonthehorrorwaswell-nighinsupportable.Icouldnotgetawayfrommen:theirvoicescamethroughwindows;lockeddoorswereflimsysafeguards.Iwouldgooutintothestreetstofightwithmydelusion,andprowlingwomenwouldmewafterme;furtive,cravingmenglancejealouslyatme;weary,paleworkersgocoughingbymewithtiredeyesandeagerpaces,likewoundeddeerdrippingblood;oldpeople,bentanddull,passmurmuringtothemselves;and,allunheeding,araggedtailofgibingchildren.
