О дивный новый мир

           Helookedup,startled,fromhisdigging,fromhisthoughts;lookedupinadazzledbewilderment,hismindstillwanderinginthatotherworldoftruer-than?truth,stillfocusedontheimmensitiesofdeathanddeity;lookedupandsaw,closeabovehim,theswarmofhoveringmachines.Likelocuststheycame,hungpoised,descendedallaroundhimontheheather.Andfromoutofthebelliesofthesegiantgrasshopperssteppedmeninwhiteviscose-flannels,women(fortheweatherwashot)inacetate-shantungpyjamasorvelveteenshortsandsleeveless,half-unzipperedsinglets–onecouplefromeach.Inafewminutesthereweredozensofthem,standinginawidecircleroundthelighthouse,staring,laughing,clickingtheircameras,throwing(astoanape)peanuts,packetsofsex-hormonechewing-gum,pan-glandularpetitebeurres.Andeverymoment–foracrosstheHog’sBackthestreamoftrafficnowflowedunceasingly–theirnumbersincreased.Asinanightmare,thedozensbecamescores,thescoreshundreds.

           TheSavagehadretreatedtowardscover,andnow,inthepostureofananimalatbay,stoodwithhisbacktothewallofthelighthouse,staringfromfacetofaceinspeechlesshorror,likeamanoutofhissenses.

           Fromthisstuporhewasarousedtoamoreimmediatesenseofrealitybytheimpactonhischeekofawell-aimedpacketofchewing-gum.Ashockofstartlingpain–andhewasbroadawake,awakeandfiercelyangry.

           "Goaway!"heshouted.

           Theapehadspoken;therewasaburstoflaughterandhand-clapping.