Загублений світ
The most Wonderful Things have Happened
Nofoot-markshowedatraceofitsnature,andonlytheoverhangingbranchoftheenormousginkotreesuggestedhowitmighthavecomeandgone;butofitsmalevolentstrengththerewasampleevidenceintheconditionofourstores.Theywerestrewnatrandomallovertheground,andonetinofmeathadbeencrushedintopiecessoastoextractthecontents.Acaseofcartridgeshadbeenshatteredintomatchwood,andoneofthebrassshellslayshreddedintopiecesbesideit.Againthefeelingofvaguehorrorcameuponoursouls,andwegazedroundwithfrightenedeyesatthedarkshadowswhichlayaroundus,inallofwhichsomefearsomeshapemightbelurking.HowgooditwaswhenwewerehailedbythevoiceofZambo,and,goingtotheedgeoftheplateau,sawhimsittinggrinningatusuponthetopoftheoppositepinnacle.
"Allwell,MassaChallenger,allwell!"hecried."Mestayhere.Nofear.Youalwaysfindmewhenyouwant."
Hishonestblackface,andtheimmenseviewbeforeus,whichcarriedushalf-waybacktotheaffluentoftheAmazon,helpedustorememberthatwereallywereuponthisearthinthetwentiethcentury,andhadnotbysomemagicbeenconveyedtosomerawplanetinitsearliestandwildeststate.
