Отравленный пояс
Chapter VI. The Great Awakening
Challengerkissedusallinheremotion,beforeshefinallythrewherselfintothebear-hugofherhusband.
"Buttheycouldnothavebeenasleep!"criedLordJohn."Dashitall,Challenger,youdon’tmeantobelievethatthosefolkwereasleepwiththeirstaringeyesandstifflimbsandthatawfuldeathgrinontheirfaces!"
"Itcanonlyhavebeentheconditionthatiscalledcatalepsy,"saidChallenger."Ithasbeenararephenomenoninthepastandhasconstantlybeenmistakenfordeath.Whileitendures,thetemperaturefalls,therespirationdisappears,theheartbeatisindistinguishable—infact,itisdeath,savethatitisevanescent.Eventhemostcomprehensivemind"—hereheclosedhiseyesandsimpered—"couldhardlyconceiveauniversaloutbreakofitinthisfashion."
"Youmaylabelitcatalepsy,"remarkedSummerlee,"but,afterall,thatisonlyaname,andweknowaslittleoftheresultaswedoofthepoisonwhichhascausedit.Themostwecansayisthatthevitiatedetherhasproducedatemporarydeath."
Austinwasseatedallinaheaponthestepofthecar.ItwashiscoughingwhichIhadheardfromabove.Hehadbeenholdinghisheadinsilence,butnowhewasmutteringtohimselfandrunninghiseyesoverthecar.
"Youngfat-head!"hegrumbled."Can’tleavethingsalone!"
"What’sthematter,Austin?"
"Lubricatorsleftrunning,sir.Someonehasbeenfoolingwiththecar.Iexpectit’sthatyounggardenboy,sir."
LordJohnlookedguilty.
"Idon’tknowwhat’samisswithme,"continuedAustin,staggeringtohisfeet."IexpectIcameoverqueerwhenIwashosingherdown.
