Людина-невидимка
The Wicksteed Murder
OnecanthenimaginetheInvisibleManmakingoff—quietlyinordertoavoiddiscoveringhispresenceintheneighbourhood,andWicksteed,excitedandcurious,pursuingthisunaccountablylocomotiveobject—finallystrikingatit.
NodoubttheInvisibleMancouldeasilyhavedistancedhismiddle-agedpursuerunderordinarycircumstances,butthepositioninwhichWicksteed'sbodywasfoundsuggeststhathehadtheilllucktodrivehisquarryintoacornerbetweenadriftofstingingnettlesandthegravelpit. TothosewhoappreciatetheextraordinaryirascibilityoftheInvisibleMan,therestoftheencounterwillbeeasytoimagine.
Butthisispurehypothesis. Theonlyundeniablefacts—forstoriesofchildrenareoftenunreliable—arethediscoveryofWicksteed'sbody,donetodeath,andoftheblood-stainedironrodflungamongthenettles. TheabandonmentoftherodbyGriffin,suggeststhatintheemotionalexcitementoftheaffair,thepurposeforwhichhetookit—ifhehadapurpose—wasabandoned. Hewascertainlyanintenselyegotisticalandunfeelingman,butthesightofhisvictim,hisfirstvictim,bloodyandpitifulathisfeet,mayhavereleasedsomelongpentfountainofremorsewhichforatimemayhavefloodedwhateverschemeofactionhehadcontrived.
AfterthemurderofMr.Wicksteed,hewouldseemtohavestruckacrossthecountrytowardsthedownland. ThereisastoryofavoiceheardaboutsunsetbyacoupleofmeninafieldnearFernBottom.
