Машина часу

           ‘Andyet,notexactly! Thethinghadstartedfromthesouth-eastcornerofthelaboratory. Ithadcometorestagaininthenorth-west,againstthewallwhereyousawit. ThatgivesyoutheexactdistancefrommylittlelawntothepedestaloftheWhiteSphinx,intowhichtheMorlockshadcarriedmymachine. 

           ‘Foratimemybrainwentstagnant. PresentlyIgotupandcamethroughthepassagehere,limping,becausemyheelwasstillpainful,andfeelingsorelybegrimed. IsawthePallMallGazetteonthetablebythedoor. Ifoundthedatewasindeedto-day,andlookingatthetimepiece,sawthehourwasalmosteighto’clock. Iheardyourvoicesandtheclatterofplates. Ihesitated—Ifeltsosickandweak. ThenIsniffedgoodwholesomemeat,andopenedthedooronyou. Youknowtherest. Iwashed,anddined,andnowIamtellingyouthestory. 

           ‘Iknow,’hesaid,afterapause,‘thatallthiswillbeabsolutelyincredibletoyou. TometheoneincrediblethingisthatIamhereto-nightinthisoldfamiliarroomlookingintoyourfriendlyfacesandtellingyouthesestrangeadventures.’ 

           HelookedattheMedicalMan. ‘No.Icannotexpectyoutobelieveit. Takeitasalie—oraprophecy. SayIdreameditintheworkshop. ConsiderIhavebeenspeculatinguponthedestiniesofourraceuntilIhavehatchedthisfiction. Treatmyassertionofitstruthasamerestrokeofarttoenhanceitsinterest. Andtakingitasastory,whatdoyouthinkofit?’ 

           Hetookuphispipe,andbegan,inhisoldaccustomedmanner,totapwithitnervouslyuponthebarsofthegrate. Therewasamomentarystillness. Thenchairsbegantocreakandshoestoscrapeuponthecarpet.