Острів доктора Моро

           "

           "It’sadamnedsillyceremony,"saidMontgomery.

           Bothturnedandfacedthesixorsevengrotesquecreatures,whostoodthereinthesunlight,solid,castingshadows,moving,andyetsoincrediblyunreal.Montgomerycrackedhiswhipatthem,andforthwiththeyallturnedandfledhelter-skelterintothetrees;andwhenMontgomeryandMoreauwereatadistanceIjudgedsufficient,Iwadedashore,andpickedupandexaminedtherevolvers.Tosatisfymyselfagainstthesubtlesttrickery,Idischargedoneataroundlumpoflava,andhadthesatisfactionofseeingthestonepulverisedandthebeachsplashedwithlead.StillIhesitatedforamoment.

           "I’lltaketherisk,"saidI,atlast;andwitharevolverineachhandIwalkedupthebeachtowardsthem.

           "That’sbetter,"saidMoreau,withoutaffectation."Asitis,youhavewastedthebestpartofmydaywithyourconfoundedimagination."Andwithatouchofcontemptwhichhumiliatedme,heandMontgomeryturnedandwentoninsilencebeforeme.

           TheknotofBeastMen,stillwondering,stoodbackamongthetrees.Ipassedthemasserenelyaspossible.Onestartedtofollowme,butretreatedagainwhenMontgomerycrackedhiswhip.Thereststoodsilent—watching.Theymayoncehavebeenanimals;butIneverbeforesawananimaltryingtothink.