Острів доктора Моро
The Thing in the Forest.
Theyweretalking,oratleastoneofthemenwastalkingtotheothertwo,andallthreehadbeentoocloselyinterestedtoheedtherustlingofmyapproach.Theyswayedtheirheadsandshouldersfromsidetoside.Thespeaker’swordscamethickandsloppy,andthoughIcouldhearthemdistinctlyIcouldnotdistinguishwhathesaid.Heseemedtometoberecitingsomecomplicatedgibberish.Presentlyhisarticulationbecameshriller,andspreadinghishandsherosetohisfeet.Atthattheothersbegantogibberinunison,alsorisingtotheirfeet,spreadingtheirhandsandswayingtheirbodiesinrhythmwiththeirchant.Inoticedthentheabnormalshortnessoftheirlegs,andtheirlank,clumsyfeet.Allthreebeganslowlytocircleround,raisingandstampingtheirfeetandwavingtheirarms;akindoftunecreptintotheirrhythmicrecitation,andarefrain,—"Aloola,"or"Balloola,"itsoundedlike.Theireyesbegantosparkle,andtheiruglyfacestobrighten,withanexpressionofstrangepleasure.Salivadrippedfromtheirliplessmouths.
Suddenly,asIwatchedtheirgrotesqueandunaccountablegestures,Iperceivedclearlyforthefirsttimewhatitwasthathadoffendedme,whathadgivenmethetwoinconsistentandconflictingimpressionsofutterstrangenessandyetofthestrangestfamiliarity.Thethreecreaturesengagedinthismysteriousritewerehumaninshape,andyethumanbeingswiththestrangestairaboutthemofsomefamiliaranimal.
