Затерянный мир
It’s Just the very Biggest Thing in the World
"Well,sir,whatisyours?"
"Theobviousonethatthecreatureexists.Thatisactuallysketchedfromthelife."
IshouldhavelaughedonlythatIhadavisionofourdoinganotherCatharine-wheeldownthepassage.
"Nodoubt,"saidI,"nodoubt,"asonehumorsanimbecile."Iconfess,however,"Iadded,"thatthistinyhumanfigurepuzzlesme.IfitwereanIndianwecouldsetitdownasevidenceofsomepigmyraceinAmerica,butitappearstobeaEuropeaninasun-hat."
TheProfessorsnortedlikeanangrybuffalo."Youreallytouchthelimit,"saidhe."Youenlargemyviewofthepossible.Cerebralparesis!Mentalinertia!Wonderful!"
Hewastooabsurdtomakemeangry.Indeed,itwasawasteofenergy,forifyouweregoingtobeangrywiththismanyouwouldbeangryallthetime.Icontentedmyselfwithsmilingwearily."Itstruckmethatthemanwassmall,"saidI.
"Lookhere!"hecried,leaningforwardanddabbingagreathairysausageofafingerontothepicture."Youseethatplantbehindtheanimal;IsupposeyouthoughtitwasadandelionoraBrusselssprout—what?Well,itisavegetableivorypalm,andtheyruntoaboutfiftyorsixtyfeet.Don’tyouseethatthemanisputinforapurpose?Hecouldn’treallyhavestoodinfrontofthatbruteandlivedtodrawit.