Отравленный пояс
Chapter V. The Dead World
Allthestoresoffood,allthevintagesofwine,allthetreasuresofartwereoursforthetaking.Butwhatwerewetodo?Somefewtasksappealedtousatonce,sincetheylayreadytoourhands.Wedescendedintothekitchenandlaidthetwodomesticsupontheirrespectivebeds.Theyseemedtohavediedwithoutsuffering,oneinthechairbythefire,theotheruponthesculleryfloor.ThenwecarriedinpoorAustinfromtheyard.Hismusclesweresetashardasaboardinthemostexaggeratedrigormortis,whilethecontractionofthefibreshaddrawnhismouthintoahardsardonicgrin.Thissymptomwasprevalentamongallwhohaddiedfromthepoison.Whereverwewentwewereconfrontedbythosegrinningfaces,whichseemedtomockatourdreadfulposition,smilingsilentlyandgrimlyattheill-fatedsurvivorsoftheirrace.
"Lookhere,"saidLordJohn,whohadpacedrestlesslyaboutthedining-roomwhilstwepartookofsomefood,"Idon’tknowhowyoufellowsfeelaboutit,butformypart,Isimplycan’tsithereanddonothin’."
"Perhaps,"Challengeranswered,"youwouldhavethekindnesstosuggestwhatyouthinkweoughttodo."
"Getamoveonusandseeallthathashappened."
"ThatiswhatIshouldmyselfpropose."
"Butnotinthislittlecountryvillage.Wecanseefromthewindowallthatthisplacecanteachus."
"Whereshouldwego,then?"
"ToLondon!"
"That’sallverywell,"grumbledSummerlee."Youmaybeequaltoaforty-milewalk,butI’mnotsosureaboutChallenger,withhisstumpylegs,andIamperfectlysureaboutmyself."Challengerwasverymuchannoyed.
