Острів доктора Моро
The Man Who Had Nowhere to Go.
Irefusedtogoaboardher,andflungmyselffulllengthonthedeck.Intheend,theyswungmeintoherbyarope(fortheyhadnosternladder),andthentheycutmeadrift.Idriftedslowlyfromtheschooner.InakindofstuporIwatchedallhandstaketotherigging,andslowlybutsurelyshecameroundtothewind;thesailsfluttered,andthenbelliedoutasthewindcameintothem.Istaredatherweather-beatensideheelingsteeplytowardsme;andthenshepassedoutofmyrangeofview.
Ididnotturnmyheadtofollowher.AtfirstIcouldscarcelybelievewhathadhappened.Icrouchedinthebottomofthedingey,stunned,andstaringblanklyatthevacant,oilysea.ThenIrealizedthatIwasinthatlittlehellofmineagain,nowhalfswamped;andlookingbackoverthegunwale,Isawtheschoonerstandingawayfromme,withthered-hairedcaptainmockingatmeoverthetaffrail,andturningtowardstheislandsawthelaunchgrowingsmallerassheapproachedthebeach.
Abruptlythecrueltyofthisdesertionbecamecleartome.IhadnomeansofreachingthelandunlessIshouldchancetodriftthere.Iwasstillweak,youmustremember,frommyexposureintheboat;Iwasemptyandveryfaint,orIshouldhavehadmoreheart.ButasitwasIsuddenlybegantosobandweep,asIhadneverdonesinceIwasalittlechild.Thetearsrandownmyface.InapassionofdespairIstruckwithmyfistsatthewaterinthebottomoftheboat,andkickedsavagelyatthegunwale.IprayedaloudforGodtoletmedie.
