Острів доктора Моро
The Thing in the Forest.
Thenlookinghard,IdistinguishedthroughtheinterlacingnetworktheheadandbodyofthebruteIhadseendrinking.Hemovedhishead.Therewasanemeraldflashinhiseyesasheglancedatmefromtheshadowofthetrees,ahalf-luminouscolourthatvanishedasheturnedhisheadagain.Hewasmotionlessforamoment,andthenwithanoiselesstreadbeganrunningthroughthegreenconfusion.Inanothermomenthehadvanishedbehindsomebushes.Icouldnotseehim,butIfeltthathehadstoppedandwaswatchingmeagain.
Whatonearthwashe,—manorbeast?Whatdidhewantwithme?Ihadnoweapon,notevenastick.Flightwouldbemadness.AtanyratetheThing,whateveritwas,lackedthecouragetoattackme.Settingmyteethhard,Iwalkedstraighttowardshim.Iwasanxiousnottoshowthefearthatseemedchillingmybackbone.Ipushedthroughatangleoftallwhite-floweredbushes,andsawhimtwentypacesbeyond,lookingoverhisshoulderatmeandhesitating.Iadvancedasteportwo,lookingsteadfastlyintohiseyes.
"Whoareyou?"saidI.
Hetriedtomeetmygaze."No!"hesaidsuddenly,andturningwentboundingawayfrommethroughtheundergrowth.Thenheturnedandstaredatmeagain.Hiseyesshonebrightlyoutoftheduskunderthetrees.
Myheartwasinmymouth;butIfeltmyonlychancewasbluff,andwalkedsteadilytowardshim.Heturnedagain,andvanishedintothedusk.OncemoreIthoughtIcaughttheglintofhiseyes,andthatwasall.
