Отруєний пояс
Chapter V. The Dead World
"ByGeorge,youngfellah!"saidhe,pullingoffhiscoat."You’vehitonadoocedgoodnotion.Givemeagripandwe’llsoonhaveamoveonit."
But,eventhen,soheavywasthebellthatitwasnotuntilChallengerandSummerleehadaddedtheirweighttooursthatweheardtheroaringandclangingaboveourheadswhichtoldusthatthegreatclapperwasringingoutitsmusic.FaroverdeadLondonresoundedourmessageofcomradeshipandhopetoanyfellow-mansurviving.Itcheeredourownhearts,thatstrong,metalliccall,andweturnedthemoreearnestlytoourwork,draggedtwofeetofftheearthwitheachupwardjerkoftherope,butallstrainingtogetheronthedownwardheave,Challengerthelowestofall,bendingallhisgreatstrengthtothetaskandfloppingupanddownlikeamonstrousbull-frog,croakingwitheverypull.Itwasatthatmomentthatanartistmighthavetakenapictureofthefouradventurers,thecomradesofmanystrangeperilsinthepast,whomfatehadnowchosenforsosupremeanexperience.Forhalfanhourweworked,thesweatdroppingfromourfaces,ourarmsandbacksachingwiththeexertion.Thenwewentoutintotheporticoofthechurchandlookedeagerlyupanddownthesilent,crowdedstreets.Notasound,notamotion,inanswertooursummons.
"It’snouse.Nooneisleft,"Icried.
"Wecandonothingmore,"saidMrs.Challenger."ForGod’ssake,George,letusgetbacktoRotherfield.Anotherhourofthisdreadful,silentcitywoulddrivememad."
Wegotintothecarwithoutanotherword.LordJohnbackedherroundandturnedhertothesouth
