Dr. Kemp had continued writing in his study until the shots aroused him. Crack, crack, crack, they came one after the other.
"Hullo!" said Dr. Kemp, putting his pen into his mouth again and listening. "Who's letting off revolvers in Burdock? What are the asses1 at now?"
He went to the south window, threw it up, and leaning out stared down on the network of windows, beaded gas-lamps and shops, with its black interstices of roof and yard that made up the town at night. "Looks like a crowd down the hill," he said, "by 'The Cricketers,'" and remained watching. Thence his eyes wandered over the town to far away where the ships' lights shone, and the pier2 glowed--a little illuminated3, facetted pavilion like a gem4 of yellow light. The moon in its first quarter hung over the westward5 hill, and the stars were clear and almost tropically bright.
After five minutes, during which his mind had travelled into a remote speculation6 of social conditions of the future, and lost itself at last over the time dimension, Dr. Kemp roused himself with a sigh, pulled down the window again, and returned to his writing desk.
It must have been about an hour after this that the front-door bell rang. He had been writing slackly, and with intervals7 of abstraction, since the shots. He sat listening. He heard the servant answer the door, and waited for her feet on the staircase, but she did not come. "Wonder what that was," said Dr. Kemp.
He tried to resume his work, failed, got up, went downstairs from his study to the landing, rang, and called over the balustrade to the housemaid as she appeared in the hall below. "Was that a letter?" he asked.
"Only a runaway8 ring, sir," she answered.
"I'm restless to-night," he said to himself. He went back to his study, and this time attacked his work resolutely10. In a little while he was hard at work again, and the only sounds in the room were the ticking of the clock and the subdued11 shrillness12 of his quill13, hurrying in the very centre of the circle of light his lampshade threw on his table.
It was two o'clock before Dr. Kemp had finished his work for the night. He rose, yawned, and went downstairs to bed. He had already removed his coat and vest, when he noticed that he was thirsty. He took a candle and went down to the dining-room in search of a syphon and whiskey.
Dr. Kemp's scientific pursuits have made him a very observant man, and as he recrossed the hall, he noticed a dark spot on the linoleum14 near the mat at the foot of the stairs. He went on upstairs, and then it suddenly occurred to him to ask himself what the spot on the linoleum might be. Apparently15 some subconscious16 element was at work. At any rate, he turned with his burden, went back to the hall, put down the syphon and whiskey, and bending down, touched the spot. Without any great surprise he found it had the stickiness and colour of drying blood.
He took up his burden again, and returned upstairs, looking about him and trying to account for the blood-spot. On the landing he saw something and stopped astonished. The door-handle of his own room was blood-stained.
He looked at his own hand. It was quite clean, and then he remembered that the door of his room had been open when he came down from his study, and that consequently he had not touched the handle at all. He went straight into his room, his face quite calm--perhaps a trifle more resolute9 than usual. His glance, wandering inquisitively17, fell on the bed. On the counterpane was a mess of blood, and the sheet had been torn. He had not noticed this before because he had walked straight to the dressing18-table. On the further side the bedclothes were depressed20 as if someone had been recently sitting there.
Then he had an odd impression that he had heard a low voice say, "Good Heavens!--Kemp!" But Dr. Kemp was no believer in voices.
He stood staring at the tumbled sheets. Was that really a voice? He looked about again, but noticed nothing further than the disordered and blood-stained bed. Then he distinctly heard a movement across the room, near the wash-hand stand. All men, however highly educated, retain some superstitious21 inklings. The feeling that is called "eerie22" came upon him. He closed the door of the room, came forward to the dressing-table, and put down his burdens. Suddenly, with a start, he perceived a coiled and blood-stained bandage of linen23 rag hanging in mid-air, between him and the wash-hand stand.
He stared at this in amazement24. It was an empty bandage, a bandage properly tied but quite empty. He would have advanced to grasp it, but a touch arrested him, and a voice speaking quite close to him.
"Kemp!" said the Voice.
"Eh?" said Kemp, with his mouth open.
"Keep your nerve," said the Voice. "I'm an Invisible Man."
Kemp made no answer for a space, simply stared at the bandage. "Invisible Man," he said.
"I am an Invisible Man," repeated the Voice.
The story he had been active to ridicule25 only that morning rushed through Kemp's brain. He does not appear to have been either very much frightened or very greatly surprised at the moment. Realisation came later.
"I thought it was all a lie," he said. The thought uppermost in his mind was the reiterated26 arguments of the morning. "Have you a bandage on?" he asked.
"Yes," said the Invisible Man.
"Oh!" said Kemp, and then roused himself. "I say!" he said. "But this is nonsense. It's some trick." He stepped forward suddenly, and his hand, extended towards the bandage, met invisible fingers.
He recoiled27 at the touch and his colour changed.
"Keep steady, Kemp, for God's sake! I want help badly. Stop!"
The hand gripped his arm. He struck at it.
"Kemp!" cried the Voice. "Kemp! Keep steady!" and the grip tightened28.
A frantic29 desire to free himself took possession of Kemp. The hand of the bandaged arm gripped his shoulder, and he was suddenly tripped and flung backwards30 upon the bed. He opened his mouth to shout, and the corner of the sheet was thrust between his teeth. The Invisible Man had him down grimly, but his arms were free and he struck and tried to kick savagely31.
"Listen to reason, will you?" said the Invisible Man, sticking to him in spite of a pounding in the ribs32. "By Heaven! you'll madden me in a minute!
"Lie still, you fool!" bawled33 the Invisible Man in Kemp's ear.
Kemp struggled for another moment and then lay still.
"If you shout, I'll smash your face," said the Invisible Man, relieving his mouth.
"I'm an Invisible Man. It's no foolishness, and no magic. I really am an Invisible Man. And I want your help. I don't want to hurt you, but if you behave like a frantic rustic34, I must. Don't you remember me, Kemp? Griffin, of University College?"
"Let me get up," said Kemp. "I'll stop where I am. And let me sit quiet for a minute."
He sat up and felt his neck.
"I am Griffin, of University College, and I have made myself invisible. I am just an ordinary man--a man you have known--made invisible."
"Griffin?" said Kemp.
"Griffin," answered the Voice. A younger student than you were, almost an albino, six feet high, and broad, with a pink and white face and red eyes, who won the medal for chemistry."
"I am confused," said Kemp. "My brain is rioting. What has this to do with Griffin?"
"I _am_ Griffin."
Kemp thought. "It's horrible," he said. "But what devilry must happen to make a man invisible?"
"It's no devilry. It's a process, sane35 and intelligible36 enough--"
"It's horrible!" said Kemp. "How on earth--?"
"It's horrible enough. But I'm wounded and in pain, and tired ... Great God! Kemp, you are a man. Take it steady. Give me some food and drink, and let me sit down here."
Kemp stared at the bandage as it moved across the room, then saw a basket chair dragged across the floor and come to rest near the bed. It creaked, and the seat was depressed the quarter of an inch or so. He rubbed his eyes and felt his neck again. "This beats ghosts," he said, and laughed stupidly.
"That's better. Thank Heaven, you're getting sensible!"
"Or silly," said Kemp, and knuckled37 his eyes.
"Give me some whiskey. I'm near dead."
"It didn't feel so. Where are you? If I get up shall I run into you? _There_! all right. Whiskey? Here. Where shall I give it to you?"
The chair creaked and Kemp felt the glass drawn38 away from him. He let go by an effort; his instinct was all against it. It came to rest poised39 twenty inches above the front edge of the seat of the chair. He stared at it in infinite perplexity. "This is--this must be--hypnotism. You have suggested you are invisible."
"Nonsense," said the Voice.
"It's frantic."
"Listen to me."
"I demonstrated conclusively40 this morning," began Kemp, "that invisibility--"
"Never mind what you've demonstrated!--I'm starving," said the Voice, "and the night is chilly41 to a man without clothes."
"Food?" said Kemp.
The tumbler of whiskey tilted42 itself. "Yes," said the Invisible Man rapping it down. "Have you a dressing-gown?"
Kemp made some exclamation43 in an undertone. He walked to a wardrobe and produced a robe of dingy44 scarlet45. "This do?" he asked. It was taken from him. It hung limp for a moment in mid-air, fluttered weirdly46, stood full and decorous buttoning itself, and sat down in his chair. "Drawers, socks, slippers47 would be a comfort," said the Unseen, curtly48. "And food."
"Anything. But this is the insanest thing I ever was in, in my life!"
He turned out his drawers for the articles, and then went downstairs to ransack49 his larder50. He came back with some cold cutlets and bread, pulled up a light table, and placed them before his guest. "Never mind knives," said his visitor, and a cutlet hung in mid-air, with a sound of gnawing51.
"Invisible!" said Kemp, and sat down on a bedroom chair.
"I always like to get something about me before I eat," said the Invisible Man, with a full mouth, eating greedily. "Queer fancy!"
"I suppose that wrist is all right," said Kemp.
"Trust me," said the Invisible Man.
"Of all the strange and wonderful--"
"Exactly. But it's odd I should blunder into _your_ house to get my bandaging. My first stroke of luck! Anyhow I meant to sleep in this house to-night. You must stand that! It's a filthy52 nuisance, my blood showing, isn't it? Quite a clot19 over there. Gets visible as it coagulates, I see. It's only the living tissue I've changed, and only for as long as I'm alive.... I've been in the house three hours."
"But how's it done?" began Kemp, in a tone of exasperation53. "Confound it! The whole business--it's unreasonable54 from beginning to end."
"Quite reasonable," said the Invisible Man. "Perfectly55 reasonable."
He reached over and secured the whiskey bottle. Kemp stared at the devouring56 dressing gown. A ray of candle-light penetrating57 a torn patch in the right shoulder, made a triangle of light under the left ribs. "What were the shots?" he asked. "How did the shooting begin?"
"There was a real fool of a man--a sort of confederate of mine--curse him!--who tried to steal my money. _Has_ done so."
"Is _he_ invisible too?"
"No."
"Well?"
"Can't I have some more to eat before I tell you all that? I'm hungry--in pain. And you want me to tell stories!"
Kemp got up. "_You_ didn't do any shooting?" he asked.
"Not me," said his visitor. "Some fool I'd never seen fired at random58. A lot of them got scared. They all got scared at me. Curse them!--I say--I want more to eat than this, Kemp."
"I'll see what there is to eat downstairs," said Kemp. "Not much, I'm afraid."
After he had done eating, and he made a heavy meal, the Invisible Man demanded a cigar. He bit the end savagely before Kemp could find a knife, and cursed when the outer leaf loosened. It was strange to see him smoking; his mouth, and throat, pharynx and nares, became visible as a sort of whirling smoke cast.
"This blessed gift of smoking!" he said, and puffed59 vigorously. "I'm lucky to have fallen upon you, Kemp. You must help me. Fancy tumbling on you just now! I'm in a devilish scrape--I've been mad, I think. The things I have been through! But we will do things yet. Let me tell you--"
He helped himself to more whiskey and soda60. Kemp got up, looked about him, and fetched a glass from his spare room. "It's wild--but I suppose I may drink."
"You haven't changed much, Kemp, these dozen years. You fair men don't. Cool and methodical--after the first collapse61. I must tell you. We will work together!"
"But how was it all done?" said Kemp, "and how did you get like this?"
"For God's sake, let me smoke in peace for a little while! And then I will begin to tell you."
But the story was not told that night. The Invisible Man's wrist was growing painful; he was feverish62, exhausted63, and his mind came round to brood upon his chase down the hill and the struggle about the inn. He spoke64 in fragments of Marvel65, he smoked faster, his voice grew angry. Kemp tried to gather what he could.
"He was afraid of me, I could see that he was afraid of me," said the Invisible Man many times over. "He meant to give me the slip--he was always casting about! What a fool I was!"
"The cur!
"I should have killed him!"
"Where did you get the money?" asked Kemp, abruptly66.
The Invisible Man was silent for a space. "I can't tell you to-night," he said.
He groaned67 suddenly and leant forward, supporting his invisible head on invisible hands. "Kemp," he said, "I've had no sleep for near three days, except a couple of dozes68 of an hour or so. I must sleep soon."
"Well, have my room--have this room."
"But how can I sleep? If I sleep--he will get away. Ugh! What does it matter?"
"What's the shot wound?" asked Kemp, abruptly.
"Nothing--scratch and blood. Oh, God! How I want sleep!"
"Why not?"
The Invisible Man appeared to be regarding Kemp. "Because I've a particular objection to being caught by my fellow-men," he said slowly.
Kemp started.
"Fool that I am!" said the Invisible Man, striking the table smartly. "I've put the idea into your head."
收听单词发音 |
1
asses
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| n. 驴，愚蠢的人，臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人 | |
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pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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shrillness
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| 尖锐刺耳 | |
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quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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linoleum
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| n.油布，油毯 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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subconscious
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| n./adj.潜意识(的)，下意识(的) | |
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inquisitively
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| 过分好奇地； 好问地 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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clot
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| n.凝块；v.使凝成块 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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eerie
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| adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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33
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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knuckled
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| v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的过去式和过去分词 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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38
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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conclusively
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| adv.令人信服地，确凿地 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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42
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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44
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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45
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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weirdly
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| 古怪地 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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48
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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49
ransack
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| v.彻底搜索，洗劫 | |
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50
larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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51
gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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52
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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53
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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54
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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55
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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56
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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57
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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58
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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59
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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60
soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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61
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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62
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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63
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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64
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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65
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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66
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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67
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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68
dozes
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| n.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的名词复数 )v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的第三人称单数 ) | |
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