Машина времени
Chapter 2
Hesmiledquietly,inhisoldway. ‘Where’smymutton?’hesaid. ‘Whatatreatitistostickaforkintomeatagain!’
‘Story!’criedtheEditor.
‘Storybedamned!’saidtheTimeTraveller. ‘Iwantsomethingtoeat. Iwon’tsayaworduntilIgetsomepeptoneintomyarteries. Thanks. Andthesalt.’
‘Oneword,’saidI. ‘Haveyoubeentimetravelling?’
‘Yes,’saidtheTimeTraveller,withhismouthfull,noddinghishead.
‘I’dgiveashillingalineforaverbatimnote,’saidtheEditor. TheTimeTravellerpushedhisglasstowardstheSilentManandrangitwithhisfingernail; atwhichtheSilentMan,whohadbeenstaringathisface,startedconvulsively,andpouredhimwine. Therestofthedinnerwasuncomfortable. Formyownpart,suddenquestionskeptonrisingtomylips,andIdaresayitwasthesamewiththeothers. TheJournalisttriedtorelievethetensionbytellinganecdotesofHettiePotter. TheTimeTravellerdevotedhisattentiontohisdinner,anddisplayedtheappetiteofatramp. TheMedicalMansmokedacigarette,andwatchedtheTimeTravellerthroughhiseyelashes. TheSilentManseemedevenmoreclumsythanusual,anddrankchampagnewithregularityanddeterminationoutofsheernervousness. AtlasttheTimeTravellerpushedhisplateaway,andlookedroundus. ‘IsupposeImustapologize,’hesaid. ‘Iwassimplystarving. I’vehadamostamazingtime.’ Hereachedouthishandforacigar,andcuttheend. ‘Butcomeintothesmoking-room. It’stoolongastorytotellovergreasyplates.’ Andringingthebellinpassing,heledthewayintotheadjoiningroom.
‘YouhavetoldBlank,andDash,andChoseaboutthemachine?’hesaidtome,leaningbackinhiseasy-chairandnamingthethreenewguests.
‘Butthething’samereparadox,’saidtheEditor.
