Людина-невидимка
The Hunter Hunted
Allthegauntvillas,sleepingintheafternoonsun,lookedlockedandbarred;nodoubttheywerelockedandbarred—byhisownorders. Butatanyratetheymighthavekeptalookoutforaneventualitylikethis! Thetownwasrisingupnow,theseahaddroppedoutofsightbehindit,andpeopledownbelowwerestirring. Atramwasjustarrivingatthehillfoot. Beyondthatwasthepolicestation. Wasthatfootstepsheheardbehindhim?Spurt.
Thepeoplebelowwerestaringathim,oneortwowererunning,andhisbreathwasbeginningtosawinhisthroat. Thetramwasquitenearnow,andthe"JollyCricketers"wasnoisilybarringitsdoors. Beyondthetramwerepostsandheapsofgravel—thedrainageworks. Hehadatransitoryideaofjumpingintothetramandslammingthedoors,andthenheresolvedtogoforthepolicestation.Inanothermomenthehadpassedthedoorofthe"JollyCricketers,"andwasintheblisteringfagendofthestreet,withhumanbeingsabouthim. Thetramdriverandhishelper—arrestedbythesightofhisfurioushaste—stoodstaringwiththetramhorsesunhitched. Furtherontheastonishedfeaturesofnavviesappearedabovethemoundsofgravel.
Hispacebrokealittle,andthenheheardtheswiftpadofhispursuer,andleaptforwardagain. "TheInvisibleMan!"hecriedtothenavvies,withavagueindicativegesture,andbyaninspirationleapttheexcavationandplacedaburlygroupbetweenhimandthechase.
