Машина часу
Chapter 6
‘Ihadtoclamberdownashaftofperhapstwohundredyards. Thedescentwaseffectedbymeansofmetallicbarsprojectingfromthesidesofthewell,andthesebeingadaptedtotheneedsofacreaturemuchsmallerandlighterthanmyself,Iwasspeedilycrampedandfatiguedbythedescent. Andnotsimplyfatigued! Oneofthebarsbentsuddenlyundermyweight,andalmostswungmeoffintotheblacknessbeneath. ForamomentIhungbyonehand,andafterthatexperienceIdidnotdaretorestagain. Thoughmyarmsandbackwerepresentlyacutelypainful,Iwentonclamberingdownthesheerdescentwithasquickamotionaspossible. Glancingupward,Isawtheaperture,asmallbluedisk,inwhichastarwasvisible,whilelittleWeena’sheadshowedasaroundblackprojection. Thethuddingsoundofamachinebelowgrewlouderandmoreoppressive. Everythingsavethatlittlediskabovewasprofoundlydark,andwhenIlookedupagainWeenahaddisappeared.
‘Iwasinanagonyofdiscomfort. Ihadsomethoughtoftryingtogouptheshaftagain,andleavetheUnder-worldalone. ButevenwhileIturnedthisoverinmymindIcontinuedtodescend. Atlast,withintenserelief,Isawdimlycomingup,afoottotherightofme,aslenderloopholeinthewall. Swingingmyselfin,IfounditwastheapertureofanarrowhorizontaltunnelinwhichIcouldliedownandrest. Itwasnottoosoon. Myarmsached,mybackwascramped,andIwastremblingwiththeprolongedterrorofafall. Besidesthis,theunbrokendarknesshadhadadistressingeffectuponmyeyes. Theairwasfullofthethrobandhumofmachinerypumpingairdowntheshaft.
‘IdonotknowhowlongIlay. Iwasrousedbyasofthandtouchingmyface.
