English
'Weemergedfromthepalacewhilethesunwasstillinpartabovethehorizon.
IwasdeterminedtoreachtheWhiteSphinxearlythenextmorning,anderetheduskIpurposedpushingthroughthewoodsthathadstoppedmeonthepreviousjourney.
Myplanwastogoasfaraspossiblethatnight,andthen,buildingafire,tosleepintheprotectionofitsglare.
Accordingly,aswewentalongIgatheredanysticksordriedgrassIsaw,andpresentlyhadmyarmsfullofsuchlitter.
Thusloaded,ourprogresswasslowerthanIhadanticipated,andbesidesWeenawastired.
AndIbegantosufferfromsleepinesstoo;sothatitwasfullnightbeforewereachedthewood.
UpontheshrubbyhillofitsedgeWeenawouldhavestopped,fearingthedarknessbeforeus;butasingularsenseofimpendingcalamity,thatshouldindeedhaveservedmeasawarning,drovemeonward.
Ihadbeenwithoutsleepforanightandtwodays,andIwasfeverishandirritable.
Ifeltsleepcominguponme,andtheMorlockswithit.
'Whilewehesitated,amongtheblackbushesbehindus,anddimagainsttheirblackness,Isawthreecrouchingfigures.
Therewasscrubandlonggrassallaboutus,andIdidnotfeelsafefromtheirinsidiousapproach.
Theforest,Icalculated,wasratherlessthanamileacross.
Ifwecouldgetthroughittothebarehill–side,there,asitseemedtome,wasanaltogethersaferresting–place;IthoughtthatwithmymatchesandmycamphorIcouldcontrivetokeepmypathilluminatedthroughthewoods.
YetitwasevidentthatifIwastoflourishmatcheswithmyhandsIshouldhavetoabandonmyfirewood;so,ratherreluctantly,Iputitdown.
AndthenitcameintomyheadthatIwouldamazeourfriendsbehindbylightingit.
Iwastodiscovertheatrociousfollyofthisproceeding,butitcametomymindasaningeniousmoveforcoveringourretreat.
'Idon'tknowifyouhaveeverthoughtwhatararethingflamemustbeintheabsenceofmanandinatemperateclimate.
Thesun'sheatisrarelystrongenoughtoburn,evenwhenitisfocusedbydewdrops,asissometimesthecaseinmoretropicaldistricts.
Lightningmayblastandblacken,butitrarelygivesrisetowidespreadfire.
Decayingvegetationmayoccasionallysmoulderwiththeheatofitsfermentation,butthisrarelyresultsinflame.
Inthisdecadence,too,theartoffire–makinghadbeenforgottenontheearth.
TheredtonguesthatwentlickingupmyheapofwoodwereanaltogethernewandstrangethingtoWeena.
'Shewantedtoruntoitandplaywithit.
IbelieveshewouldhavecastherselfintoithadInotrestrainedher.
ButIcaughtherup,andinspiteofherstruggles,plungedboldlybeforemeintothewood.
Foralittlewaytheglareofmyfirelitthepath.
Lookingbackpresently,Icouldsee,throughthecrowdedstems,thatfrommyheapofstickstheblazehadspreadtosomebushesadjacent,andacurvedlineoffirewascreepingupthegrassofthehill.
Ilaughedatthat,andturnedagaintothedarktreesbeforeme.
Itwasveryblack,andWeenaclungtomeconvulsively,buttherewasstill,asmyeyesgrewaccustomedtothedarkness,sufficientlightformetoavoidthestems.
Overheaditwassimplyblack,exceptwhereagapofremoteblueskyshonedownuponushereandthere.
IstrucknoneofmymatchesbecauseIhadnohandfree.
UponmyleftarmIcarriedmylittleone,inmyrighthandIhadmyironbar.
'ForsomewayIheardnothingbutthecracklingtwigsundermyfeet,thefaintrustleofthebreezeabove,andmyownbreathingandthethroboftheblood–vesselsinmyears.
ThenIseemedtoknowofapatteringaboutme.Ipushedongrimly.
Thepatteringgrewmoredistinct,andthenIcaughtthesamequeersoundandvoicesIhadheardintheUnder–world.
TherewereevidentlyseveraloftheMorlocks,andtheywereclosinginuponme.
Indeed,inanotherminuteIfeltatugatmycoat,thensomethingatmyarm.
AndWeenashiveredviolently,andbecamequitestill.
'Itwastimeforamatch.ButtogetoneImustputherdown.
Ididso,and,asIfumbledwithmypocket,astrugglebeganinthedarknessaboutmyknees,perfectlysilentonherpartandwiththesamepeculiarcooingsoundsfromtheMorlocks.
Softlittlehands,too,werecreepingovermycoatandback,touchingevenmyneck.Thenthematchscratchedandfizzed.
Ihelditflaring,andsawthewhitebacksoftheMorlocksinflightamidthetrees.
Ihastilytookalumpofcamphorfrommypocket,andpreparedtolightitassoonasthematchshouldwane.ThenIlookedatWeena.
Shewaslyingclutchingmyfeetandquitemotionless,withherfacetotheground.WithasuddenfrightIstoopedtoher.Sheseemedscarcelytobreathe.
Ilittheblockofcamphorandflungittotheground,andasitsplitandflaredupanddrovebacktheMorlocksandtheshadows,Ikneltdownandliftedher.
Thewoodbehindseemedfullofthestirandmurmurofagreatcompany!
'Sheseemedtohavefainted.Iputhercarefullyuponmyshoulderandrosetopushon,andthentherecameahorriblerealization.
InmanoeuvringwithmymatchesandWeena,Ihadturnedmyselfaboutseveraltimes,andnowIhadnotthefaintestideainwhatdirectionlaymypath.
ForallIknew,ImightbefacingbacktowardsthePalaceofGreenPorcelain.Ifoundmyselfinacoldsweat.Ihadtothinkrapidlywhattodo.
Ideterminedtobuildafireandencampwherewewere.
IputWeena,stillmotionless,downuponaturfybole,andveryhastily,asmyfirstlumpofcamphorwaned,Ibegancollectingsticksandleaves.
HereandthereoutofthedarknessroundmetheMorlocks'eyesshonelikecarbuncles.
'Thecamphorflickeredandwentout.Ilitamatch,andasIdidso,twowhiteformsthathadbeenapproachingWeenadashedhastilyaway.
Onewassoblindedbythelightthathecamestraightforme,andIfelthisbonesgrindundertheblowofmyfist.
Hegaveawhoopofdismay,staggeredalittleway,andfelldown.
Ilitanotherpieceofcamphor,andwentongatheringmybonfire.
PresentlyInoticedhowdrywassomeofthefoliageaboveme,forsincemyarrivalontheTimeMachine,amatterofaweek,norainhadfallen.
So,insteadofcastingaboutamongthetreesforfallentwigs,Ibeganleapingupanddraggingdownbranches.
VerysoonIhadachokingsmokyfireofgreenwoodanddrysticks,andcouldeconomizemycamphor.
ThenIturnedtowhereWeenalaybesidemyironmace.
ItriedwhatIcouldtoreviveher,butshelaylikeonedead.
Icouldnotevensatisfymyselfwhetherornotshebreathed.
'Now,thesmokeofthefirebeatovertowardsme,anditmusthavemademeheavyofasudden.
Moreover,thevapourofcamphorwasintheair.
Myfirewouldnotneedreplenishingforanhourorso.
Ifeltverywearyaftermyexertion,andsatdown.
Thewood,too,wasfullofaslumbrousmurmurthatIdidnotunderstand.Iseemedjusttonodandopenmyeyes.
Butallwasdark,andtheMorlockshadtheirhandsuponme.
FlingingofftheirclingingfingersIhastilyfeltinmypocketforthematch–box,and—ithadgone!
Thentheygrippedandclosedwithmeagain.InamomentIknewwhathadhappened.
Ihadslept,andmyfirehadgoneout,andthebitternessofdeathcameovermysoul.
Theforestseemedfullofthesmellofburningwood.
Iwascaughtbytheneck,bythehair,bythearms,andpulleddown.
Itwasindescribablyhorribleinthedarknesstofeelallthesesoftcreaturesheapeduponme.
IfeltasifIwasinamonstrousspider'sweb.Iwasoverpowered,andwentdown.Ifeltlittleteethnippingatmyneck.
Irolledover,andasIdidsomyhandcameagainstmyironlever.Itgavemestrength.
Istruggledup,shakingthehumanratsfromme,and,holdingthebarshort,IthrustwhereIjudgedtheirfacesmightbe.
Icouldfeelthesucculentgivingoffleshandboneundermyblows,andforamomentIwasfree.
'Thestrangeexultationthatsooftenseemstoaccompanyhardfightingcameuponme.
IknewthatbothIandWeenawerelost,butIdeterminedtomaketheMorlockspayfortheirmeat.
Istoodwithmybacktoatree,swingingtheironbarbeforeme.
Thewholewoodwasfullofthestirandcriesofthem.Aminutepassed.
Theirvoicesseemedtorisetoahigherpitchofexcitement,andtheirmovementsgrewfaster.Yetnonecamewithinreach.Istoodglaringattheblackness.Thensuddenlycamehope.WhatiftheMorlockswereafraid?
Andcloseontheheelsofthatcameastrangething.Thedarknessseemedtogrowluminous.
VerydimlyIbegantoseetheMorlocksaboutme—threebatteredatmyfeet—andthenIrecognized,withincreduloussurprise,thattheotherswererunning,inanincessantstream,asitseemed,frombehindme,andawaythroughthewoodinfront.
Andtheirbacksseemednolongerwhite,butreddish.
AsIstoodagape,Isawalittleredsparkgodriftingacrossagapofstarlightbetweenthebranches,andvanish.
AndatthatIunderstoodthesmellofburningwood,theslumbrousmurmurthatwasgrowingnowintoagustyroar,theredglow,andtheMorlocks'flight.
'Steppingoutfrombehindmytreeandlookingback,Isaw,throughtheblackpillarsofthenearertrees,theflamesoftheburningforest.Itwasmyfirstfirecomingafterme.
WiththatIlookedforWeena,butshewasgone.
Thehissingandcracklingbehindme,theexplosivethudaseachfreshtreeburstintoflame,leftlittletimeforreflection.
Myironbarstillgripped,IfollowedintheMorlocks'path.Itwasacloserace.
OncetheflamescreptforwardsoswiftlyonmyrightasIranthatIwasoutflankedandhadtostrikeofftotheleft.
ButatlastIemergeduponasmallopenspace,andasIdidso,aMorlockcameblunderingtowardsme,andpastme,andwentonstraightintothefire!
'AndnowIwastoseethemostweirdandhorriblething,Ithink,ofallthatIbeheldinthatfutureage.
Thiswholespacewasasbrightasdaywiththereflectionofthefire.
Inthecentrewasahillockortumulus,surmountedbyascorchedhawthorn.
Beyondthiswasanotherarmoftheburningforest,withyellowtonguesalreadywrithingfromit,completelyencirclingthespacewithafenceoffire.
Uponthehill–sideweresomethirtyorfortyMorlocks,dazzledbythelightandheat,andblunderinghitherandthitheragainsteachotherintheirbewilderment.
AtfirstIdidnotrealizetheirblindness,andstruckfuriouslyatthemwithmybar,inafrenzyoffear,astheyapproachedme,killingoneandcripplingseveralmore.
ButwhenIhadwatchedthegesturesofoneofthemgropingunderthehawthornagainsttheredsky,andheardtheirmoans,Iwasassuredoftheirabsolutehelplessnessandmiseryintheglare,andIstrucknomoreofthem.
'Yeteverynowandthenonewouldcomestraighttowardsme,settinglooseaquiveringhorrorthatmademequicktoeludehim.
Atonetimetheflamesdieddownsomewhat,andIfearedthefoulcreatureswouldpresentlybeabletoseeme.
Iwasthinkingofbeginningthefightbykillingsomeofthembeforethisshouldhappen;butthefireburstoutagainbrightly,andIstayedmyhand.
Iwalkedaboutthehillamongthemandavoidedthem,lookingforsometraceofWeena.ButWeenawasgone.
'AtlastIsatdownonthesummitofthehillock,andwatchedthisstrangeincrediblecompanyofblindthingsgropingtoandfro,andmakinguncannynoisestoeachother,astheglareofthefirebeatonthem.
Thecoilinguprushofsmokestreamedacrossthesky,andthroughtheraretattersofthatredcanopy,remoteasthoughtheybelongedtoanotheruniverse,shonethelittlestars.
TwoorthreeMorlockscameblunderingintome,andIdrovethemoffwithblowsofmyfists,tremblingasIdidso.
'ForthemostpartofthatnightIwaspersuadeditwasanightmare.
Ibitmyselfandscreamedinapassionatedesiretoawake.
Ibeatthegroundwithmyhands,andgotupandsatdownagain,andwanderedhereandthere,andagainsatdown.
ThenIwouldfalltorubbingmyeyesandcallinguponGodtoletmeawake.
ThriceIsawMorlocksputtheirheadsdowninakindofagonyandrushintotheflames.
But,atlast,abovethesubsidingredofthefire,abovethestreamingmassesofblacksmokeandthewhiteningandblackeningtreestumps,andthediminishingnumbersofthesedimcreatures,camethewhitelightoftheday.
'IsearchedagainfortracesofWeena,buttherewerenone.
Itwasplainthattheyhadleftherpoorlittlebodyintheforest.
Icannotdescribehowitrelievedmetothinkthatithadescapedtheawfulfatetowhichitseemeddestined.
AsIthoughtofthat,Iwasalmostmovedtobeginamassacreofthehelplessabominationsaboutme,butIcontainedmyself.
Thehillock,asIhavesaid,wasakindofislandintheforest.
FromitssummitIcouldnowmakeoutthroughahazeofsmokethePalaceofGreenPorcelain,andfromthatIcouldgetmybearingsfortheWhiteSphinx.
Andso,leavingtheremnantofthesedamnedsoulsstillgoinghitherandthitherandmoaning,asthedaygrewclearer,Itiedsomegrassaboutmyfeetandlimpedonacrosssmokingashesandamongblackstems,thatstillpulsatedinternallywithfire,towardsthehiding–placeoftheTimeMachine.
Iwalkedslowly,forIwasalmostexhausted,aswellaslame,andIfelttheintensestwretchednessforthehorribledeathoflittleWeena.Itseemedanoverwhelmingcalamity.
Now,inthisoldfamiliarroom,itismorelikethesorrowofadreamthananactualloss.
Butthatmorningitleftmeabsolutelylonelyagain—terriblyalone.
Ibegantothinkofthishouseofmine,ofthisfireside,ofsomeofyou,andwithsuchthoughtscamealongingthatwaspain.
'ButasIwalkedoverthesmokingashesunderthebrightmorningsky,Imadeadiscovery.Inmytrouserpocketwerestillsomeloosematches.Theboxmusthaveleakedbeforeitwaslost.
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