Отруєний пояс
Chapter VI. The Great Awakening
Iseemtorememberfloppingoverbythestep.ButI’llswearIneverleftthoselubricatortapson."
InacondensednarrativetheastonishedAustinwastoldwhathadhappenedtohimselfandtheworld.Themysteryofthedrippinglubricatorswasalsoexplainedtohim.Helistenedwithanairofdeepdistrustwhentoldhowanamateurhaddrivenhiscarandwithabsorbedinteresttothefewsentencesinwhichourexperiencesofthesleepingcitywererecorded.Icanrememberhiscommentwhenthestorywasconcluded.
"WasyououtsidetheBankofEngland,sir?"
"Yes,Austin."
"Withallthemmillionsinsideandeverybodyasleep?"
"Thatwasso."
"AndInotthere!"hegroaned,andturneddismallyoncemoretothehosingofhiscar.
Therewasasuddengrindingofwheelsupongravel.TheoldcabhadactuallypulledupatChallenger’sdoor.Isawtheyoungoccupantstepoutfromit.Aninstantlaterthemaid,wholookedastousledandbewilderedasifshehadthatinstantbeenarousedfromthedeepestsleep,appearedwithacarduponatray.Challengersnortedferociouslyashelookedatit,andhisthickblackhairseemedtobristleupinhiswrath.
"Apressman!"hegrowled.Thenwithadeprecatingsmile:"Afterall,itisnaturalthatthewholeworldshouldhastentoknowwhatIthinkofsuchanepisode."
"Thatcanhardlybehiserrand,"saidSummerlee,"forhewasontheroadinhiscabbeforeeverthecrisiscame."
Ilookedatthecard:"JamesBaxter,LondonCorrespondent,NewYorkMonitor."
"You’llseehim?"saidI.
"NotI."
"Oh,George!Youshouldbekinderandmoreconsideratetoothers.
