Отруєний пояс
Chapter III. Submerged
Inoticedthatshehadherhandtoherbrow.Thecabhadstoppedandthetiredhorse,withhisheadsunktohisknees,wasresting.Abovetherewasaperfectsummersky—onehugevaultofunbrokenblue,saveforafewfleecywhitecloudsoverthedistantdowns.Ifthehumanracemustdieto-day,itwasatleastuponagloriousdeath-bed.Andyetallthatgentlelovelinessofnaturemadethisterrificandwholesaledestructionthemorepitiableandawful.Surelyitwastoogoodlyaresidencethatweshouldbesoswiftly,soruthlessly,evictedfromit!
ButIhavesaidthatthetelephone-bellhadrungoncemore.SuddenlyIheardChallenger’stremendousvoicefromthehall.
"Malone!"hecried."Youarewanted."
Irusheddowntotheinstrument.ItwasMcArdlespeakingfromLondon.
"Thatyou,Mr.Malone?"criedhisfamiliarvoice."Mr.Malone,thereareterriblegoings-oninLondon.ForGod’ssake,seeifProfessorChallengercansuggestanythingthatcanbedone."
"Hecansuggestnothing,sir,"Ianswered."Heregardsthecrisisasuniversalandinevitable.Wehavesomeoxygenhere,butitcanonlydeferourfateforafewhours."
"Oxygen!"criedtheagonizedvoice."Thereisnotimetogetany.Theofficehasbeenaperfectpandemoniumeversinceyouleftinthemorning.Nowhalfofthestaffareinsensible.Iamweigheddownwithheavinessmyself.FrommywindowIcanseethepeoplelyingthickinFleetStreet.Thetrafficisallheldup.Judgingbythelasttelegrams,thewholeworld——"
Hisvoicehadbeensinking,andsuddenlystopped.
