Загублений світ
Those Were the Real Conquests
Throughmysuddenspringtheymissedafatalgrip,butoneofthemcaughtthebackofmyneckandtheotheronemyface.Ithrewmyhandsuptoprotectmythroat,andthenextmomentthehugepawhadsliddownmyfaceandclosedoverthem.Iwasliftedlightlyfromtheground,andIfeltanintolerablepressureforcingmyheadbackandbackuntilthestrainuponthecervicalspinewasmorethanIcouldbear.Mysensesswam,butIstilltoreatthehandandforceditoutfrommychin.LookingupIsawafrightfulfacewithcoldinexorablelightblueeyeslookingdownintomine.Therewassomethinghypnoticinthoseterribleeyes.Icouldstrugglenolonger.Asthecreaturefeltmegrowlimpinhisgrasp,twowhitecaninesgleamedforamomentateachsideofthevilemouth,andthegriptightenedstillmoreuponmychin,forcingitalwaysupwardsandback.Athin,oval-tintedmistformedbeforemyeyesandlittlesilverybellstinkledinmyears.DullyandfaroffIheardthecrackofarifleandwasfeeblyawareoftheshockasIwasdroppedtotheearth,whereIlaywithoutsenseormotion.
Iawoketofindmyselfonmybackuponthegrassinourlairwithinthethicket.Someonehadbroughtthewaterfromthebrook,andLordJohnwassprinklingmyheadwithit,whileChallengerandSummerleewereproppingmeup,withconcernintheirfaces.ForamomentIhadaglimpseofthehumanspiritsbehindtheirscientificmasks.
