第11章

with that stack of telegrams under your hand.I've seen death as often as most folk, but universal death--it's awful!""As to the laughter," said Challenger, "you will bear in mind that, like yourselves, I have not been exempt from the stimulating cerebral effects of the etheric poison.But as to the horror with which universal death appears to inspire you, Iwould put it to you that it is somewhat exaggerated.If you were sent to sea alone in an open boat to some unknown destination, your heart might well sink within you.The isolation, the uncertainty, would oppress you.But if your voyage were made in a goodly ship, which bore within it all your relations and your friends, you would feel that, however uncertain your destination might still remain, you would at least have one common and simultaneous experience which would hold you to the end in the same close communion.A lonely death may be terrible, but a universal one, as painless as this would appear to be, is not, in my judgment, a matter for apprehension.Indeed, I could sympathize with the person who took the view that the horror lay in the idea of surviving when all that is learned, famous, and exalted had passed away.""What, then, do you propose to do?" asked Summerlee, who had for once nodded his assent to the reasoning of his brother scientist.

"To take our lunch," said Challenger as the boom of a gong sounded through the house."We have a cook whose omelettes are only excelled by her cutlets.We can but trust that no cosmic disturbance has dulled her excellent abilities.My Scharzberger of '96 must also be rescued, so far as our earnest and united efforts can do it, from what would be a deplorable waste of a great vintage." He levered his great bulk off the desk, upon which he had sat while he announced the doom of the planet.

"Come," said he."If there is little time left, there is the more need that we should spend it in sober and reasonable enjoyment."And, indeed, it proved to be a very merry meal.It is true that we could not forget our awful situation.The full solemnity of the event loomed ever at the back of our minds and tempered our thoughts.But surely it is the soul which has never faced death which shies strongly from it at the end.To each of us men it had, for one great epoch in our lives, been a familiar presence.

As to the lady, she leaned upon the strong guidance of her mighty husband and was well content to go whither his path might lead.The future was our fate.The present was our own.We passed it in goodly comradeship and gentle merriment.Our minds were, as I have said, singularly lucid.Even I struck sparks at times.As to Challenger, he was wonderful! Never have I so realized the elemental greatness of the man, the sweep and power of his understanding.Summerlee drew him on with his chorus of subacid criticism, while Lord John and I laughed at the contest and the lady, her hand upon his sleeve, controlled the bellowings of the philosopher.Life, death, fate, the destiny of man--these were the stupendous subjects of that memorable hour, made vital by the fact that as the meal progressed strange, sudden exaltations in my mind and tinglings in my limbs proclaimed that the invisible tide of death was slowly and gently rising around us.Once I saw Lord John put his hand suddenly to his eyes, and once Summerlee dropped back for an instant in his chair.Each breath we breathed was charged with strange forces.And yet our minds were happy and at ease.

Presently Austin laid the cigarettes upon the table and was about to withdraw.

"Austin!" said his master.

"Yes, sir?"

"I thank you for your faithful service." A smile stole over the servant's gnarled face.

"I've done my duty, sir."

"I'm expecting the end of the world to-day, Austin.""Yes, sir.What time, sir?"

"I can't say, Austin.Before evening."

"Very good, sir."

The taciturn Austin saluted and withdrew.Challenger lit a cigarette, and, drawing his chair closer to his wife's, he took her hand in his.

"You know how matters stand, dear," said he."I have explained it also to our friends here.You're not afraid are you?""It won't be painful, George?"

"No more than laughing-gas at the dentist's.Every time you have had it you have practically died.""But that is a pleasant sensation."