Острів доктора Моро
The Sayers of the Law.
IsawtheApe-man’sfaceshiningwithperspiration;andmyeyesbeingnowaccustomedtothedarkness,Isawmoredistinctlythefigureinthecornerfromwhichthevoicecame.Itwasthesizeofaman,butitseemedcoveredwithadullgreyhairalmostlikeaSkye-terrier.Whatwasit?Whatweretheyall?Imagineyourselfsurroundedbyallthemosthorriblecripplesandmaniacsitispossibletoconceive,andyoumayunderstandalittleofmyfeelingswiththesegrotesquecaricaturesofhumanityaboutme.
"Heisafive-man,afive-man,afive-man—likeme,"saidtheApe-man.
Iheldoutmyhands.Thegreycreatureinthecornerleantforward.
"Nottorunonall-fours;thatistheLaw.ArewenotMen?"hesaid.
Heputoutastrangelydistortedtalonandgrippedmyfingers.Thethingwasalmostlikethehoofofadeerproducedintoclaws.Icouldhaveyelledwithsurpriseandpain.Hisfacecameforwardandpeeredatmynails,cameforwardintothelightoftheopeningofthehutandIsawwithaquiveringdisgustthatitwaslikethefaceofneithermannorbeast,butamereshockofgreyhair,withthreeshadowyover-archingstomarktheeyesandmouth.
"Hehaslittlenails,"saidthisgrislycreatureinhishairybeard."Itiswell."
Hethrewmyhanddown,andinstinctivelyIgrippedmystick.
"Eatrootsandherbs;itisHiswill,"saidtheApe-man.
