Reading Help The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
Morlocks' path. It was a close race. Once the flames crept forward `
` so swiftly on my right as I ran that I was outflanked and had to `
` strike off to the left. But at last I emerged upon a small open `
` space, and as I did so, a Morlock came blundering towards me, and `
` past me, and went on straight into the fire! `
` `
` 'And now I was to see the most weird and horrible thing, I think, of `
` all that I beheld in that future age. This whole space was as bright `
` as day with the reflection of the fire. In the centre was a hillock `
` or tumulus, surmounted by a scorched hawthorn. Beyond this was `
` another arm of the burning forest, with yellow tongues already `
` writhing from it, completely encircling the space with a fence of `
` fire. Upon the hill-side were some thirty or forty Morlocks, dazzled `
` by the light and heat, and blundering hither and thither against `
` each other in their bewilderment. At first I did not realize their `
` blindness, and struck furiously at them with my bar, in a frenzy of `
` fear, as they approached me, killing one and crippling several more. `
` But when I had watched the gestures of one of them groping under the `
` hawthorn against the red sky, and heard their moans, I was assured `
` of their absolute helplessness and misery in the glare, and I struck `
` no more of them. `
` `
` 'Yet every now and then one would come straight towards me, setting `
` loose a quivering horror that made me quick to elude him. At one `
` time the flames died down somewhat, and I feared the foul creatures `
` would presently be able to see me. I was thinking of beginning the `
` fight by killing some of them before this should happen; but the `
` fire burst out again brightly, and I stayed my hand. I walked about `
` the hill among them and avoided them, looking for some trace of `
` Weena. But Weena was gone. `
` `
` 'At last I sat down on the summit of the hillock, and watched this `
` strange incredible company of blind things groping to and fro, and `
` making uncanny noises to each other, as the glare of the fire beat `
` on them. The coiling uprush of smoke streamed across the sky, and `
` through the rare tatters of that red canopy, remote as though they `
` belonged to another universe, shone the little stars. Two or three `
` Morlocks came blundering into me, and I drove them off with blows `
` of my fists, trembling as I did so. `
` `
` 'For the most part of that night I was persuaded it was a nightmare. `
` I bit myself and screamed in a passionate desire to awake. I beat `
` the ground with my hands, and got up and sat down again, and `
` wandered here and there, and again sat down. Then I would fall to `
` rubbing my eyes and calling upon God to let me awake. Thrice I saw `
` Morlocks put their heads down in a kind of agony and rush into the `
` flames. But, at last, above the subsiding red of the fire, above the `
` streaming masses of black smoke and the whitening and blackening `
` tree stumps, and the diminishing numbers of these dim creatures, `
` came the white light of the day. `
` `
` 'I searched again for traces of Weena, but there were none. It was `
` plain that they had left her poor little body in the forest. I `
` cannot describe how it relieved me to think that it had escaped the `
` awful fate to which it seemed destined. As I thought of that, I was `
` almost moved to begin a massacre of the helpless abominations about `
` me, but I contained myself. The hillock, as I have said, was a kind `
` of island in the forest. From its summit I could now make out `
` through a haze of smoke the Palace of Green Porcelain, and from that `
` I could get my bearings for the White Sphinx. And so, leaving the `
` remnant of these damned souls still going hither and thither and `
` moaning, as the day grew clearer, I tied some grass about my feet `
` and limped on across smoking ashes and among black stems, that still `
` pulsated internally with fire, towards the hiding-place of the Time `
` Machine. I walked slowly, for I was almost exhausted, as well as `
` lame, and I felt the intensest wretchedness for the horrible death `
` of little Weena. It seemed an overwhelming calamity. Now, in this `
` old familiar room, it is more like the sorrow of a dream than an `
` actual loss. But that morning it left me absolutely lonely `
` again--terribly alone. I began to think of this house of mine, of `
` this fireside, of some of you, and with such thoughts came a longing `
` that was pain. `
` `
` 'But as I walked over the smoking ashes under the bright morning `
` sky, I made a discovery. In my trouser pocket were still some loose `
` matches. The box must have leaked before it was lost. `
` `
` `
` `
` X `
` `
` `
` 'About eight or nine in the morning I came to the same seat of `
` yellow metal from which I had viewed the world upon the evening of `
` my arrival. I thought of my hasty conclusions upon that evening and `
` could not refrain from laughing bitterly at my confidence. Here `
` was the same beautiful scene, the same abundant foliage, the same `
` splendid palaces and magnificent ruins, the same silver river `
` running between its fertile banks. The gay robes of the beautiful `
` people moved hither and thither among the trees. Some were bathing `
` in exactly the place where I had saved Weena, and that suddenly gave `
` me a keen stab of pain. And like blots upon the landscape rose the `
` cupolas above the ways to the Under-world. I understood now what all `
` the beauty of the Over-world people covered. Very pleasant was their `
` day, as pleasant as the day of the cattle in the field. Like the `
` cattle, they knew of no enemies and provided against no needs. And `
` their end was the same. `
` `
` 'I grieved to think how brief the dream of the human intellect had `
` been. It had committed suicide. It had set itself steadfastly `
` towards comfort and ease, a balanced society with security and `
` permanency as its watchword, it had attained its hopes--to come `
` to this at last. Once, life and property must have reached almost `
` absolute safety. The rich had been assured of his wealth and `
` comfort, the toiler assured of his life and work. No doubt in that `
` perfect world there had been no unemployed problem, no social `
` question left unsolved. And a great quiet had followed. `
` `
` 'It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility `
` is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal `
` perfectly in harmony with its environment is a perfect mechanism. `
` Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are `
` useless. There is no intelligence where there is no change and no `
` need of change. Only those animals partake of intelligence that have `
` to meet a huge variety of needs and dangers. `
` `
` 'So, as I see it, the Upper-world man had drifted towards his `
` feeble prettiness, and the Under-world to mere mechanical industry. `
` But that perfect state had lacked one thing even for mechanical `
` perfection--absolute permanency. Apparently as time went on, the `
` feeding of the Under-world, however it was effected, had become `
` disjointed. Mother Necessity, who had been staved off for a `
` few thousand years, came back again, and she began below. The `
` Under-world being in contact with machinery, which, however perfect, `
` still needs some little thought outside habit, had probably retained `
` perforce rather more initiative, if less of every other human `
` character, than the Upper. And when other meat failed them, they `
` turned to what old habit had hitherto forbidden. So I say I saw it `
` in my last view of the world of Eight Hundred and Two Thousand Seven `
` Hundred and One. It may be as wrong an explanation as mortal wit `
` could invent. It is how the thing shaped itself to me, and as that I `
` give it to you. `
` `
` 'After the fatigues, excitements, and terrors of the past days, and `
` in spite of my grief, this seat and the tranquil view and the warm `
` sunlight were very pleasant. I was very tired and sleepy, and soon `
` my theorizing passed into dozing. Catching myself at that, I took my `
` own hint, and spreading myself out upon the turf I had a long and `
` refreshing sleep. `
` `
` 'I awoke a little before sunsetting. I now felt safe against being `
` caught napping by the Morlocks, and, stretching myself, I came on `
` down the hill towards the White Sphinx. I had my crowbar in one `
` hand, and the other hand played with the matches in my pocket. `
` `
` 'And now came a most unexpected thing. As I approached the pedestal `
` of the sphinx I found the bronze valves were open. They had slid `
` down into grooves. `
` `
` 'At that I stopped short before them, hesitating to enter. `
` `
` 'Within was a small apartment, and on a raised place in the corner `
` of this was the Time Machine. I had the small levers in my pocket. `
` So here, after all my elaborate preparations for the siege of the `
` White Sphinx, was a meek surrender. I threw my iron bar away, almost `
` sorry not to use it. `
` `
` 'A sudden thought came into my head as I stooped towards the portal. `
` For once, at least, I grasped the mental operations of the Morlocks. `
` Suppressing a strong inclination to laugh, I stepped through the `
` bronze frame and up to the Time Machine. I was surprised to find it `
` had been carefully oiled and cleaned. I have suspected since that `
` the Morlocks had even partially taken it to pieces while trying in `
` their dim way to grasp its purpose. `
` `
` 'Now as I stood and examined it, finding a pleasure in the mere `
` touch of the contrivance, the thing I had expected happened. The `
` bronze panels suddenly slid up and struck the frame with a clang. `
` I was in the dark--trapped. So the Morlocks thought. At that I `
` chuckled gleefully. `
` `
` 'I could already hear their murmuring laughter as they came towards `
` me. Very calmly I tried to strike the match. I had only to fix on `
` the levers and depart then like a ghost. But I had overlooked one `
` little thing. The matches were of that abominable kind that light `
` only on the box. `
` `
` 'You may imagine how all my calm vanished. The little brutes were `
` close upon me. One touched me. I made a sweeping blow in the dark at `
` them with the levers, and began to scramble into the saddle of the `
` machine. Then came one hand upon me and then another. Then I had `
` simply to fight against their persistent fingers for my levers, and `
` at the same time feel for the studs over which these fitted. One, `
` indeed, they almost got away from me. As it slipped from my hand, `
` I had to butt in the dark with my head--I could hear the Morlock's `
` skull ring--to recover it. It was a nearer thing than the fight in `
` the forest, I think, this last scramble. `
` `
` 'But at last the lever was fitted and pulled over. The clinging `
` hands slipped from me. The darkness presently fell from my eyes. `
` I found myself in the same grey light and tumult I have already `
` described. `
` `
` `
` `
` XI `
` `
` `
` 'I have already told you of the sickness and confusion that comes `
` with time travelling. And this time I was not seated properly in the `
` saddle, but sideways and in an unstable fashion. For an indefinite `
`
` so swiftly on my right as I ran that I was outflanked and had to `
` strike off to the left. But at last I emerged upon a small open `
` space, and as I did so, a Morlock came blundering towards me, and `
` past me, and went on straight into the fire! `
` `
` 'And now I was to see the most weird and horrible thing, I think, of `
` all that I beheld in that future age. This whole space was as bright `
` as day with the reflection of the fire. In the centre was a hillock `
` or tumulus, surmounted by a scorched hawthorn. Beyond this was `
` another arm of the burning forest, with yellow tongues already `
` writhing from it, completely encircling the space with a fence of `
` fire. Upon the hill-side were some thirty or forty Morlocks, dazzled `
` by the light and heat, and blundering hither and thither against `
` each other in their bewilderment. At first I did not realize their `
` blindness, and struck furiously at them with my bar, in a frenzy of `
` fear, as they approached me, killing one and crippling several more. `
` But when I had watched the gestures of one of them groping under the `
` hawthorn against the red sky, and heard their moans, I was assured `
` of their absolute helplessness and misery in the glare, and I struck `
` no more of them. `
` `
` 'Yet every now and then one would come straight towards me, setting `
` loose a quivering horror that made me quick to elude him. At one `
` time the flames died down somewhat, and I feared the foul creatures `
` would presently be able to see me. I was thinking of beginning the `
` fight by killing some of them before this should happen; but the `
` fire burst out again brightly, and I stayed my hand. I walked about `
` the hill among them and avoided them, looking for some trace of `
` Weena. But Weena was gone. `
` `
` 'At last I sat down on the summit of the hillock, and watched this `
` strange incredible company of blind things groping to and fro, and `
` making uncanny noises to each other, as the glare of the fire beat `
` on them. The coiling uprush of smoke streamed across the sky, and `
` through the rare tatters of that red canopy, remote as though they `
` belonged to another universe, shone the little stars. Two or three `
` Morlocks came blundering into me, and I drove them off with blows `
` of my fists, trembling as I did so. `
` `
` 'For the most part of that night I was persuaded it was a nightmare. `
` I bit myself and screamed in a passionate desire to awake. I beat `
` the ground with my hands, and got up and sat down again, and `
` wandered here and there, and again sat down. Then I would fall to `
` rubbing my eyes and calling upon God to let me awake. Thrice I saw `
` Morlocks put their heads down in a kind of agony and rush into the `
` flames. But, at last, above the subsiding red of the fire, above the `
` streaming masses of black smoke and the whitening and blackening `
` tree stumps, and the diminishing numbers of these dim creatures, `
` came the white light of the day. `
` `
` 'I searched again for traces of Weena, but there were none. It was `
` plain that they had left her poor little body in the forest. I `
` cannot describe how it relieved me to think that it had escaped the `
` awful fate to which it seemed destined. As I thought of that, I was `
` almost moved to begin a massacre of the helpless abominations about `
` me, but I contained myself. The hillock, as I have said, was a kind `
` of island in the forest. From its summit I could now make out `
` through a haze of smoke the Palace of Green Porcelain, and from that `
` I could get my bearings for the White Sphinx. And so, leaving the `
` remnant of these damned souls still going hither and thither and `
` moaning, as the day grew clearer, I tied some grass about my feet `
` and limped on across smoking ashes and among black stems, that still `
` pulsated internally with fire, towards the hiding-place of the Time `
` Machine. I walked slowly, for I was almost exhausted, as well as `
` lame, and I felt the intensest wretchedness for the horrible death `
` of little Weena. It seemed an overwhelming calamity. Now, in this `
` old familiar room, it is more like the sorrow of a dream than an `
` actual loss. But that morning it left me absolutely lonely `
` again--terribly alone. I began to think of this house of mine, of `
` this fireside, of some of you, and with such thoughts came a longing `
` that was pain. `
` `
` 'But as I walked over the smoking ashes under the bright morning `
` sky, I made a discovery. In my trouser pocket were still some loose `
` matches. The box must have leaked before it was lost. `
` `
` `
` `
` X `
` `
` `
` 'About eight or nine in the morning I came to the same seat of `
` yellow metal from which I had viewed the world upon the evening of `
` my arrival. I thought of my hasty conclusions upon that evening and `
` could not refrain from laughing bitterly at my confidence. Here `
` was the same beautiful scene, the same abundant foliage, the same `
` splendid palaces and magnificent ruins, the same silver river `
` running between its fertile banks. The gay robes of the beautiful `
` people moved hither and thither among the trees. Some were bathing `
` in exactly the place where I had saved Weena, and that suddenly gave `
` me a keen stab of pain. And like blots upon the landscape rose the `
` cupolas above the ways to the Under-world. I understood now what all `
` the beauty of the Over-world people covered. Very pleasant was their `
` day, as pleasant as the day of the cattle in the field. Like the `
` cattle, they knew of no enemies and provided against no needs. And `
` their end was the same. `
` `
` 'I grieved to think how brief the dream of the human intellect had `
` been. It had committed suicide. It had set itself steadfastly `
` towards comfort and ease, a balanced society with security and `
` permanency as its watchword, it had attained its hopes--to come `
` to this at last. Once, life and property must have reached almost `
` absolute safety. The rich had been assured of his wealth and `
` comfort, the toiler assured of his life and work. No doubt in that `
` perfect world there had been no unemployed problem, no social `
` question left unsolved. And a great quiet had followed. `
` `
` 'It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility `
` is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal `
` perfectly in harmony with its environment is a perfect mechanism. `
` Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are `
` useless. There is no intelligence where there is no change and no `
` need of change. Only those animals partake of intelligence that have `
` to meet a huge variety of needs and dangers. `
` `
` 'So, as I see it, the Upper-world man had drifted towards his `
` feeble prettiness, and the Under-world to mere mechanical industry. `
` But that perfect state had lacked one thing even for mechanical `
` perfection--absolute permanency. Apparently as time went on, the `
` feeding of the Under-world, however it was effected, had become `
` disjointed. Mother Necessity, who had been staved off for a `
` few thousand years, came back again, and she began below. The `
` Under-world being in contact with machinery, which, however perfect, `
` still needs some little thought outside habit, had probably retained `
` perforce rather more initiative, if less of every other human `
` character, than the Upper. And when other meat failed them, they `
` turned to what old habit had hitherto forbidden. So I say I saw it `
` in my last view of the world of Eight Hundred and Two Thousand Seven `
` Hundred and One. It may be as wrong an explanation as mortal wit `
` could invent. It is how the thing shaped itself to me, and as that I `
` give it to you. `
` `
` 'After the fatigues, excitements, and terrors of the past days, and `
` in spite of my grief, this seat and the tranquil view and the warm `
` sunlight were very pleasant. I was very tired and sleepy, and soon `
` my theorizing passed into dozing. Catching myself at that, I took my `
` own hint, and spreading myself out upon the turf I had a long and `
` refreshing sleep. `
` `
` 'I awoke a little before sunsetting. I now felt safe against being `
` caught napping by the Morlocks, and, stretching myself, I came on `
` down the hill towards the White Sphinx. I had my crowbar in one `
` hand, and the other hand played with the matches in my pocket. `
` `
` 'And now came a most unexpected thing. As I approached the pedestal `
` of the sphinx I found the bronze valves were open. They had slid `
` down into grooves. `
` `
` 'At that I stopped short before them, hesitating to enter. `
` `
` 'Within was a small apartment, and on a raised place in the corner `
` of this was the Time Machine. I had the small levers in my pocket. `
` So here, after all my elaborate preparations for the siege of the `
` White Sphinx, was a meek surrender. I threw my iron bar away, almost `
` sorry not to use it. `
` `
` 'A sudden thought came into my head as I stooped towards the portal. `
` For once, at least, I grasped the mental operations of the Morlocks. `
` Suppressing a strong inclination to laugh, I stepped through the `
` bronze frame and up to the Time Machine. I was surprised to find it `
` had been carefully oiled and cleaned. I have suspected since that `
` the Morlocks had even partially taken it to pieces while trying in `
` their dim way to grasp its purpose. `
` `
` 'Now as I stood and examined it, finding a pleasure in the mere `
` touch of the contrivance, the thing I had expected happened. The `
` bronze panels suddenly slid up and struck the frame with a clang. `
` I was in the dark--trapped. So the Morlocks thought. At that I `
` chuckled gleefully. `
` `
` 'I could already hear their murmuring laughter as they came towards `
` me. Very calmly I tried to strike the match. I had only to fix on `
` the levers and depart then like a ghost. But I had overlooked one `
` little thing. The matches were of that abominable kind that light `
` only on the box. `
` `
` 'You may imagine how all my calm vanished. The little brutes were `
` close upon me. One touched me. I made a sweeping blow in the dark at `
` them with the levers, and began to scramble into the saddle of the `
` machine. Then came one hand upon me and then another. Then I had `
` simply to fight against their persistent fingers for my levers, and `
` at the same time feel for the studs over which these fitted. One, `
` indeed, they almost got away from me. As it slipped from my hand, `
` I had to butt in the dark with my head--I could hear the Morlock's `
` skull ring--to recover it. It was a nearer thing than the fight in `
` the forest, I think, this last scramble. `
` `
` 'But at last the lever was fitted and pulled over. The clinging `
` hands slipped from me. The darkness presently fell from my eyes. `
` I found myself in the same grey light and tumult I have already `
` described. `
` `
` `
` `
` XI `
` `
` `
` 'I have already told you of the sickness and confusion that comes `
` with time travelling. And this time I was not seated properly in the `
` saddle, but sideways and in an unstable fashion. For an indefinite `
`