Отруєний пояс
Chapter I. The Blurring Of Lines
"Mineisinthevan.Whatevercantheolddearbeafter?"
"HaveyouseenhisletterintheTimes?"Iasked.
"Whatwasit?"
"Stuffandnonsense!"saidSummerleeharshly.
"Well,it’satthebottomofthisoxygenbusiness,orIammistaken,"saidI.
"Stuffandnonsense!"criedSummerleeagainwithquiteunnecessaryviolence.Wehadallgotintoafirst-classsmoker,andhehadalreadylittheshortandcharredoldbriarpipewhichseemedtosingetheendofhislong,aggressivenose.
"FriendChallengerisacleverman,"saidhewithgreatvehemence."Noonecandenyit.It’safoolthatdeniesit.Lookathishat.There’sasixty-ouncebraininsideit—abigengine,runningsmooth,andturningoutcleanwork.Showmetheengine-houseandI’lltellyouthesizeoftheengine.Butheisaborncharlatan—you’veheardmetellhimsotohisface—aborncharlatan,withakindofdramatictrickofjumpingintothelimelight.Thingsarequiet,sofriendChallengerseesachancetosetthepublictalkingabouthim.Youdon’timaginethatheseriouslybelievesallthisnonsenseaboutachangeintheetherandadangertothehumanrace?Waseversuchacock-and-bullstoryinthislife?"
Hesatlikeanoldwhiteraven,croakingandshakingwithsardoniclaughter.
AwaveofangerpassedthroughmeasIlistenedtoSummerlee.Itwasdisgracefulthatheshouldspeakthusoftheleaderwhohadbeenthesourceofallourfameandgivenussuchanexperienceasnomenhaveeverenjoyed.Ihadopenedmymouthtouttersomehotretort,whenLordJohngotbeforeme.
