Отруєний пояс
Chapter III. Submerged
"
ForamomentinhistendervoiceIcaughtaglimpseofanewChallenger,somethingveryfarfromthebullying,ranting,arrogantmanwhohadalternatelyamazedandoffendedhisgeneration.HereintheshadowofdeathwastheinnermostChallenger,themanwhohadwonandheldawoman’slove.Suddenlyhismoodchangedandhewasourstrongcaptainonceagain.
"AloneofallmankindIsawandforetoldthiscatastrophe,"saidhewitharingofexultationandscientifictriumphinhisvoice."Astoyou,mygoodSummerlee,ItrustyourlastdoubtshavebeenresolvedastothemeaningoftheblurringofthelinesinthespectrumandthatyouwillnolongercontendthatmyletterintheTimeswasbaseduponadelusion."
Foronceourpugnaciouscolleaguewasdeaftoachallenge.Hecouldbutsitgaspingandstretchinghislong,thinlimbs,asiftoassurehimselfthathewasstillreallyuponthisplanet.Challengerwalkedacrosstotheoxygentube,andthesoundoftheloudhissingfellawaytillitwasthemostgentlesibilation.
"Wemusthusbandoursupplyofthegas,"saidhe."Theatmosphereoftheroomisnowstronglyhyperoxygenated,andItakeitthatnoneofusfeelanydistressingsymptoms.Wecanonlydeterminebyactualexperimentswhatamountaddedtotheairwillservetoneutralizethepoison.Letusseehowthatwilldo."
Wesatinsilentnervoustensionforfiveminutesormore,observingourownsensations.IhadjustbeguntofancythatIfelttheconstrictionroundmytemplesagainwhenMrs.Challengercalledoutfromthesofathatshewasfainting.Herhusbandturnedonmoregas.
