Отруєний пояс
Chapter II. The Tide Of Death
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"Andpray,sir,"askedSummerleehumbly,"whatisyouropinionastothepresentoutlook?"
"WithyourpermissionIwillsayafewwordsuponthatsubject."Heseatedhimselfuponhisdesk,hisshort,stumpylegsswinginginfrontofhim."Weareassistingatatremendousandawfulfunction.Itis,inmyopinion,theendoftheworld."
Theendoftheworld!Oureyesturnedtothegreatbow-windowandwelookedoutatthesummerbeautyofthecountry-side,thelongslopesofheather,thegreatcountry-houses,thecozyfarms,thepleasure-seekersuponthelinks.
Theendoftheworld!Onehadoftenheardthewords,buttheideathattheycouldeverhaveanimmediatepracticalsignificance,thatitshouldnotbeatsomevaguedate,butnow,to-day,thatwasatremendous,astaggeringthought.WewereallstrucksolemnandwaitedinsilenceforChallengertocontinue.Hisoverpoweringpresenceandappearancelentsuchforcetothesolemnityofhiswordsthatforamomentallthecruditiesandabsurditiesofthemanvanished,andheloomedbeforeusassomethingmajesticandbeyondtherangeofordinaryhumanity.Thentome,atleast,therecamebackthecheeringrecollectionofhowtwicesincewehadenteredtheroomhehadroaredwithlaughter.Surely,Ithought,therearelimitstomentaldetachment.Thecrisiscannotbesogreatorsopressingafterall.
"Youwillconceiveabunchofgrapes,"saidhe,"whicharecoveredbysomeinfinitesimalbutnoxiousbacillus.Thegardenerpassesitthroughadisinfectingmedium.Itmaybethathedesireshisgrapestobecleaner.
