Людина-невидимка
At the House in Great Portland Street
Iremembermyselfasagauntblackfigure,goingalongtheslippery,shinypavement,andthestrangesenseofdetachmentIfeltfromthesqualidrespectability,thesordidcommercialismoftheplace.
"Ididnotfeelabitsorryformyfather. Heseemedtometobethevictimofhisownfoolishsentimentality. Thecurrentcantrequiredmyattendanceathisfuneral,butitwasreallynotmyaffair.
"ButgoingalongtheHighStreet,myoldlifecamebacktomeforaspace,forImetthegirlIhadknowntenyearssince. Oureyesmet.
"Somethingmovedmetoturnbackandtalktoher. Shewasaveryordinaryperson.
"Itwasalllikeadream,thatvisittotheoldplaces. IdidnotfeelthenthatIwaslonely,thatIhadcomeoutfromtheworldintoadesolateplace. Iappreciatedmylossofsympathy,butIputitdowntothegeneralinanityofthings. Re-enteringmyroomseemedliketherecoveryofreality. TherewerethethingsIknewandloved. Therestoodtheapparatus,theexperimentsarrangedandwaiting. Andnowtherewasscarcelyadifficultyleft,beyondtheplanningofdetails.
"Iwilltellyou,Kemp,soonerorlater,allthecomplicatedprocesses. Weneednotgointothatnow. Forthemostpart,savingcertaingapsIchosetoremember,theyarewrittenincypherinthosebooksthattramphashidden. Wemusthunthimdown. Wemustgetthosebooksagain. Buttheessentialphasewastoplacethetransparentobjectwhoserefractiveindexwastobeloweredbetweentworadiatingcentresofasortofetherealvibration,ofwhichIwilltellyoumorefullylater.
