Человек-невидимка
Certain First Principles
Ihadtodomyworkunderfrightfuldisadvantages. Oliver,myprofessor,wasascientificbounder,ajournalistbyinstinct,athiefofideas—hewasalwaysprying!Andyouknowtheknavishsystemofthescientificworld. Isimplywouldnotpublish,andlethimsharemycredit. Iwentonworking;Igotnearerandnearermakingmyformulaintoanexperiment,areality. Itoldnolivingsoul,becauseImeanttoflashmyworkupontheworldwithcrushingeffectandbecomefamousatablow. Itookupthequestionofpigmentstofillupcertaingaps. Andsuddenly,notbydesignbutbyaccident,Imadeadiscoveryinphysiology."
"Yes?"
"Youknowtheredcolouringmatterofblood;itcanbemadewhite—colourless—andremainwithallthefunctionsithasnow!"
Kempgaveacryofincredulousamazement.
TheInvisibleManroseandbeganpacingthelittlestudy. "Youmaywellexclaim.Irememberthatnight. Itwaslateatnight—inthedaytimeonewasbotheredwiththegaping,sillystudents—andIworkedthensometimestilldawn.Itcamesuddenly,splendidandcompleteinmymind. Iwasalone;thelaboratorywasstill,withthetalllightsburningbrightlyandsilently. InallmygreatmomentsIhavebeenalone. 'Onecouldmakeananimal—atissue—transparent!Onecouldmakeitinvisible! Allexceptthepigments—Icouldbeinvisible!'Isaid,suddenlyrealisingwhatitmeanttobeanalbinowithsuchknowledge. Itwasoverwhelming.IleftthefilteringIwasdoing,andwentandstaredoutofthegreatwindowatthestars. 'Icouldbeinvisible!'Irepeated.
