Машина часу
Chapter 4
‘Thebigdoorwayopenedintoaproportionatelygreathallhungwithbrown. Theroofwasinshadow,andthewindows,partiallyglazedwithcolouredglassandpartiallyunglazed,admittedatemperedlight. Thefloorwasmadeupofhugeblocksofsomeveryhardwhitemetal,notplatesnorslabs—blocks,anditwassomuchworn,asIjudgedbythegoingtoandfroofpastgenerations,astobedeeplychannelledalongthemorefrequentedways. Transversetothelengthwereinnumerabletablesmadeofslabsofpolishedstone,raisedperhapsafootfromthefloor,anduponthesewereheapsoffruits. SomeIrecognizedasakindofhypertrophiedraspberryandorange,butforthemostparttheywerestrange.
‘Betweenthetableswasscatteredagreatnumberofcushions. Uponthesemyconductorsseatedthemselves,signingformetodolikewise. Withaprettyabsenceofceremonytheybegantoeatthefruitwiththeirhands,flingingpeelandstalks,andsoforth,intotheroundopeningsinthesidesofthetables. Iwasnotloathtofollowtheirexample,forIfeltthirstyandhungry. AsIdidsoIsurveyedthehallatmyleisure.
‘Andperhapsthethingthatstruckmemostwasitsdilapidatedlook. Thestained-glasswindows,whichdisplayedonlyageometricalpattern,werebrokeninmanyplaces,andthecurtainsthathungacrossthelowerendwerethickwithdust. Anditcaughtmyeyethatthecornerofthemarbletablenearmewasfractured. Nevertheless,thegeneraleffectwasextremelyrichandpicturesque. Therewere,perhaps,acoupleofhundredpeopledininginthehall,andmostofthem,seatedasneartomeastheycouldcome,werewatchingmewithinterest,theirlittleeyesshiningoverthefruittheywereeating. Allwerecladinthesamesoftandyetstrong,silkymaterial.
