Отруєний пояс
Chapter III. Submerged
"It’sprettyawful,"mutteredLordJohn,moreimpressedthanIhadeverseenhim.
"Well,afterall,whatdoesitmatter?"Iremarked."Theworldisdead.Cremationissurelythebestburial."
"Itwouldshortenusupifthishousewentablaze."
"Iforesawthedanger,"saidChallenger,"andaskedmywifetoguardagainstit."
"Everythingisquitesafe,dear.Butmyheadbeginstothrobagain.Whatadreadfulatmosphere!"
"Wemustchangeit,"saidChallenger.Hebentoverhiscylinderofoxygen.
"It’snearlyempty,"saidhe."Ithaslastedussomethreeandahalfhours.Itisnowcloseoneighto’clock.Weshallgetthroughthenightcomfortably.Ishouldexpecttheendaboutnineo’clockto-morrowmorning.Weshallseeonesunrise,whichshallbeallourown."
Heturnedonhissecondtubeandopenedforhalfaminutethefanlightoverthedoor.Thenastheairbecameperceptiblybetter,butourownsymptomsmoreacute,hecloseditonceagain.
"Bytheway,"saidhe,"mandoesnotliveuponoxygenalone.It’sdinnertimeandover.Iassureyou,gentlemen,thatwhenIinvitedyoutomyhomeandtowhatIhadhopedwouldbeaninterestingreunion,Ihadintendedthatmykitchenshouldjustifyitself.However,wemustdowhatwecan.Iamsurethatyouwillagreewithmethatitwouldbefollytoconsumeourairtoorapidlybylightinganoil-stove.Ihavesomesmallprovisionofcoldmeats,bread,andpickleswhich,withacoupleofbottlesofclaret,mayserveourturn.Thankyou,mydear—nowaseveryouarethequeenofmanagers.
