Людина-невидимка
The Hunter Hunted
Kempappearedwithafaceofterrorclosetotheglass,rappingandthenshakingfranticallyattheFrenchwindow. Then,seeinghiseffortswereuseless,heranalongtheveranda,vaultedtheend,andwenttohammeratthesidedoor. Thenheranroundbythesidegatetothefrontofthehouse,andsointothehill-road. AndMr.Heelasstaringfromhiswindow—afaceofhorror—hadscarcelywitnessedKempvanish,eretheasparaguswasbeingtrampledthiswayandthatbyfeetunseen. AtthatMr.Heelasfledprecipitatelyupstairs,andtherestofthechaseisbeyondhispurview. Butashepassedthestaircasewindow,heheardthesidegateslam.
Emergingintothehill-road,Kempnaturallytookthedownwarddirection,andsoitwashecametoruninhisownpersontheveryracehehadwatchedwithsuchacriticaleyefromthebelvederestudyonlyfourdaysago. Heranitwell,foramanoutoftraining,andthoughhisfacewaswhiteandwet,hiswitswerecooltothelast. Heranwithwidestrides,andwhereverapatchofroughgroundintervened,wherevertherecameapatchofrawflints,orabitofbrokenglassshonedazzling,hecrosseditandleftthebareinvisiblefeetthatfollowedtotakewhatlinetheywould.
ForthefirsttimeinhislifeKempdiscoveredthatthehill-roadwasindescribablyvastanddesolate,andthatthebeginningsofthetownfarbelowatthehillfootwerestrangelyremote. Neverhadtherebeenaslowerormorepainfulmethodofprogressionthanrunning.
