Отруєний пояс
Chapter V. The Dead World
Onabroadlamppedestalinthecentreoftheroadway,aburlypolicemanwasstanding,leaninghisbackagainstthepostinsonaturalanattitudethatitwashardtorealizethathewasnotalive,whileathisfeettherelayaraggednewsboywithhisbundleofpapersonthegroundbesidehim.Apaper-carthadgotblockedinthecrowd,andwecouldreadinlargeletters,blackuponyellow,"SceneatLord’s.CountyMatchInterrupted."Thismusthavebeentheearliestedition,fortherewereotherplacardsbearingthelegend,"IsIttheEnd?GreatScientist’sWarning."Andanother,"IsChallengerJustified?OminousRumours."
Challengerpointedthelatterplacardouttohiswife,asitthrustitselflikeabannerabovethethrong.Icouldseehimthrowouthischestandstrokehisbeardashelookedatit.ItpleasedandflatteredthatcomplexmindtothinkthatLondonhaddiedwithhisnameandhiswordsstillpresentintheirthoughts.Hisfeelingsweresoevidentthattheyarousedthesardoniccommentofhiscolleague.
"Inthelimelighttothelast,Challenger,"heremarked.
"Soitwouldappear,"heansweredcomplacently."Well,"headdedashelookeddownthelongvistaoftheradiatingstreets,allsilentandallchokedupwithdeath,"IreallyseenopurposetobeservedbyourstayinganylongerinLondon.IsuggestthatwereturnatoncetoRotherfieldandthentakecounselastohowweshallmostprofitablyemploytheyearswhichliebeforeus."
OnlyoneotherpictureshallIgiveofthesceneswhichwecarriedbackinourmemoriesfromthedeadcity.
