Отруєний пояс
Chapter V. The Dead World
"Ifyoucouldseeyourway,sir,toconfiningyourremarkstoyourownphysicalpeculiarities,youwouldfindthatyouhadanamplefieldforcomment,"hecried.
"Ihadnointentiontooffendyou,mydearChallenger,"criedourtactlessfriend."Youcan’tbeheldresponsibleforyourownphysique.Ifnaturehasgivenyouashort,heavybodyyoucannotpossiblyhelphavingstumpylegs."
Challengerwastoofurioustoanswer.Hecouldonlygrowlandblinkandbristle.LordJohnhastenedtointervenebeforethedisputebecamemoreviolent.
"Youtalkofwalking.Whyshouldwewalk?"saidhe.
"Doyousuggesttakingatrain?"askedChallenger,stillsimmering.
"What’sthematterwiththemotor-car?Whyshouldwenotgointhat?"
"Iamnotanexpert,"saidChallenger,pullingathisbeardreflectively."Atthesametime,youarerightinsupposingthatthehumanintellectinitshighermanifestationsshouldbesufficientlyflexibletoturnitselftoanything.Yourideaisanexcellentone,LordJohn.ImyselfwilldriveyoualltoLondon."
"Youwilldonothingofthekind,"saidSummerleewithdecision.
"No,indeed,George!"criedhiswife."Youonlytriedonce,andyourememberhowyoucrashedthroughthegateofthegarage."
"Itwasamomentarywantofconcentration,"saidChallengercomplacently."Youcanconsiderthemattersettled.IwillcertainlydriveyoualltoLondon."
ThesituationwasrelievedbyLordJohn.
"What’sthecar?"heasked.
"Atwenty-horsepowerHumber."
"Why,I’vedrivenoneforyears,"saidhe."ByGeorge!"headded."IneverthoughtI’dlivetotakethewholehumanraceinoneload.
