"A. C. Doyle - The Disintegration Machine" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doyle Arthur Conan)

'How long was I away?'

'Two or three minutes. I was, I confess, horrified. I could not imagine that you would return. Then he clicked
this lever, if it is a lever, into a new slot and there you were upon the chair, looking a little bewildered but
otherwise the same as ever. I thanked God at the sight of you!' He mopped his moist brow with his big red
handkerchief.

'Now, sir,' said the inventor. 'Or perhaps your nerve has failed you?'

Challenger visibly braced himself. Then, pushing my protesting hand to one side, he seated himself upon the
chair. The handle clicked into number three. He was gone.

I should have been horrified but for the perfect coolness of the operator. 'It is an interesting process, is it not?'
he remarked. 'When one considers the tremendous individuality of the Professor it is strange to think that he
is at present a molecular cloud suspended in some portion of this building. He is now, of course, entirely at
my mercy. If I choose to leave him in suspension there is nothing on earth to prevent me.'

'I would very soon find means to prevent you.'

The smile once again became a snarl. 'You cannot imagine that such a thought ever entered my mind. Good
heavens! Think of the permanent dissolution of the great Professor Challenger vanished into cosmic space
and left no trace! Terrible! Terrible! At the same time he has not been as courteous as he might. Don't you
think some small lesson тИТтИТ ?'

'No, I do not.'

'Well, we will call it a curious demonstration. Something that would make an interesting paragraph in your
paper. For example, I have discovered that the hair of the body being on an entirely different vibration to the
living organic tissues can be included or excluded at will. It would interest me to see the bear without his
bristles. Behold him!'

There was the click of the lever. An instant later Challenger was seated upon the chair once more. But what a
Challenger! What a shorn lion! Furious as I was at the trick that had been played upon him I could hardly
keep from roaring with laughter.

His huge head was as bald as a baby's and his chin was as smooth as a girl's. Bereft of his glorious mane the
lower part of his face was heavily jowled and hamтИТshaped, while his whole appearance was that of an old
fighting gladiator, battered and bulging, with the jaws of a bulldog over a massive chin.



The Disintegration Machine and Other Stories 6
 The Disintegration Machine and Other Stories

It may have been some look upon our faces тИТтИТ I have no doubt that the evil grin of my companion had
widened at the sight тИТтИТ but, however that may be, Challenger's hand flew up to his head and he became
conscious of his condition. The next instant he had sprung out of his chair, seized the inventor by the throat,
and had hurled him to the ground. Knowing Challenger's immense strength I was convinced that the man
would be killed.