"Manly Wade Wellman - Sherlock Holmes's War of the Worlds" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wellman Manly Wade)

"An interesting theory," said Challenger, "but, as such, best kept within limits."
"True," said Holmes. "Theorizing, in my experience, is dangerously apt to limit the progress of logical
deduc-tion. It should be used sparingly, like poetry in a scientific discussion."
He drew his head from under the black cloth and quickly made notes on his pad. "Discourse further,
Challenger. Your scientific learning and comprehension are utterly without peer and almost without rival."
"Almost?" grumbled Challenger, but the compliment pleased him. He, too, emerged from under the
cloth, smiling fearsomely in his beard.
"Astronomy has not been one of my principal pre-occupations," he began to lecture again, "yet I have
always tried to notice the findings and conclusions of those who make it a specialty. Mars is a red planet,
blotched here and there with greenish areas and capped at its poles with expanses of white that have the
look of ice or frost. The green areas, argue some, are vege-tation, perhaps of a primitive sort like moss
or lichen. Here, at hand," and he cradled the crystal in his fingers, "we have some vindication of
that argument. But no water has been detected by the most powerful telescope, and the atmosphere is
thinтАФperhaps as thin as that to be found at the summits of earth's highest mountains. And the
spectroscope reveals only the very smallest proportion of oxygen in that atmosphere, though it stands to
reason that oxygen must exist in water and water vapor."
All this he uttered in his characteristic tone of high authority.
"Man, of course, could never survive under such conditions," Holmes offered.
"No," said Challenger, shaking his head emphatic-ally. "On the basis of that oxygen-poor atmosphere,
it has often been asserted that life upon Mars is an im-possibility. But you and I, Holmes, know better."
"The argument should say, life as we know it upon earth. What we have seen is life of a very different
sort indeed. But as to the redness of the planet's surface, our crystal agrees with our astronomers'
findings on this point. Why, do you think, is it so rusty red?"
"I can be only speculative and hazard the conjec-ture that it is a soil similar to clay."
"Clay," repeated Holmes weightily. "I have given some time to studying various soils. In several
instances I have solved crimes by taking note of dust or sand of distinctive sorts on clothing or
shoes. Clay, says the old textbook, is of hydrated silicates of aluminum and can become plastic when
wet and can be made into bricks, tiles, and pottery. Redness in its color indi-cates the presence of
oxidized materials."
"What you say is true, if somewhat banal," said Challenger in a tone of lofty concession. "And where
are you trying to lead us?"
Holmes leaned back in his chair and placed his fingertips together, his habitual pose when deep in a
problem.
"It could well be that the soil of Mars has absorbed, over many ages, the oxygen that was once fairly
rich in the atmosphere."
"Hum!" Challenger grunted. "That possibility has occurred to others before you. I do not perceive its
relevance here."
"If a mineral deposit contains oxygen, a proper chemical action could release the oxygen again."
"By heaven, Holmes, I begin to see the direction of your reasoning." Challenger's teeth glinted in a
smile. "Your association with me is a profit to your mental processes, my dear fellow. The buildings that
we see in the crystal make up a group of considerable dimen-sions. They could house intricate
mechanical and chemical equipment, and these creatures dwelling there might be able to produce a
localized atmosphere that is breathable and can support them."
"Something keeps them alive, even if my specific sug-gestion here is at fault."
Challenger reached out and took Holmes's hand to shake it. "My contgratulations. You are a colleague
worthy of George Edward Challenger. Much more so in fact, than a number of professional scientists I
could name."
"I will try to merit that high endorsement," said Holmes, bowing. "In order that I may do so, let us
return to our studies."
Again they draped their heads with the cloth, and for some time they pored over the crystal in attentive