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.

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Roboto Lora
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