the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第8节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
physically perfect。 The creature looked about him in a dazed；
uncomprehending manner。 A great question was writ large upon his
intelligent countenance。 Professor Maxon stepped forward and took him
by the hand。
〃Come；〃 he said； and led him toward a smaller room off the main
workshop。 The giant followed docilely； his eyes roving about the room
the pitiful questioning still upon his handsome features。 Von Horn turned
toward the campong。
Virginia； deserted by all； even the faithful Sing； who； cheated of his
sport on the preceding day； had again gone to the beach to snare gulls；
became restless of the enforced idleness and solitude。 For a time she
wandered about the little compound which had been reserved for the
whites； but tiring of this she decided to extend her stroll beyond the
palisade； a thing which she had never before done unless accompanied by
von Horn a thing both he and her father had cautioned her against。
〃What danger can there be？〃 she thought。 〃We know that the island
is uninhabited by others than ourselves； and that there are no dangerous
beasts。 And； anyway； there is no one now who seems to care what
becomes of me； unlessunlessI wonder if he does care。 I wonder if I
care whether or not he cares。 Oh； dear； I wish I knew；〃 and as she
soliloquized she wandered past the little clearing and into the jungle that
lay behind the campong。
As von Horn and Professor Maxon talked together in the laboratory
before the upsetting of vat Number Thirteen； a grotesque and horrible
creature had slunk from the low shed at the opposite side of the campong
until it had crouched at the flimsy door of the building in which the two
men conversed。 For a while it listened intently； but when von Horn urged
the necessity for dispatching certain 〃terrible； soulless creatures〃 an
expression of intermingled fear and hatred convulsed the hideous features；
and like a great grizzly it turned and lumbered awkwardly across the
campong toward the easterly； or back wall of the enclosure。
Here it leaped futilely a half dozen times for the top of the palisade；
26
… Page 27…
THE MONSTER MEN
and then trembling and chattering in rage it ran back and forth along the
base of the obstacle； just as a wild beast in captivity paces angrily before
the bars of its cage。
Finally it paused to look once more at the senseless wood that barred
its escape； as though measuring the distance to the top。 Then the eyes
roamed about the campong to rest at last upon the slanting roof of the
thatched shed which was its shelter。 Presently a slow idea was born in
the poor； malformed brain。
The creature approached the shed。 He could just reach the saplings
that formed the frame work of the roof。 Like a huge sloth he drew himself
to the roof of the structure。 From here he could see beyond the palisade；
and the wild freedom of the jungle called to him。 He did not know what
it was but in its leafy wall he perceived many breaks and openings that
offered concealment from the creatures who were plotting to take his life。
Yet the wall was not fully six feet from him； and the top of it at least
five feet above the top of the shed those who had designed the campong
had been careful to set this structure sufficiently far from the palisade to
prevent its forming too easy an avenue of escape。
The creature glanced fearfully toward the workshop。 He remembered
the cruel bull whip that always followed each new experiment on his part
that did not coincide with the desires of his master； and as he thought of
von Horn a nasty gleam shot his mismated eyes。
He tried to reach across the distance between the roof and the palisade；
and in the attempt lost his balance and nearly precipitated himself to the
ground below。 Cautiously he drew back； still looking about for some
means to cross the chasm。 One of the saplings of the roof； protruding
beyond the palm leaf thatch； caught his attention。 With a single wrench
he tore it from its fastenings。 Extending it toward the palisade he
discovered that it just spanned the gap； but he dared not attempt to cross
upon its single slender strand。
Quickly he ripped off a half dozen other poles from the roof； and
laying them side by side； formed a safe and easy path to freedom。 A
moment more and he sat astride the top of the wall。 Drawing the poles
after him； he dropped them one by one to the ground outside the campong。
27
… Page 28…
THE MONSTER MEN
Then he lowered himself to liberty。
Gathering the saplings under one huge arm he ran； lumberingly； into
the jungle。 He would not leave evidence of the havoc he had wrought；
the fear of the bull whip was still strong upon him。 The green foliage
closed about him and the peaceful jungle gave no sign of the horrid brute
that roamed its shadowed mazes。
As von Horn stepped into the campong his quick eye perceived the
havoc that had been wrought with the roof at the east end of the shed。
Quickly he crossed to the low structure。 Within its compartments a
number of deformed monsters squatted upon their haunches； or lay prone
upon the native mats that covered the floor。
As the man entered they looked furtively at the bull whip which trailed
from his right hand； and then glanced fearfully at one another as though
questioning which was the malefactor on this occasion。
Von Horn ran his eyes over the hideous assemblage。
〃Where is Number One？〃 he asked； directing his question toward a
thing whose forehead gave greater promise of intelligence than any of his
companions。
The one addressed shook his head。
Von Horn turned and made a circuit of the campong。 There was no
sign of the missing one and no indication of any other irregularity than the
demolished portion of the roof。 With an expression of mild concern upon
his face he entered the workshop。
〃Number One has escaped into the jungle； Professor；〃 he said。
Professor Maxon looked up in surprise； but before he had an
opportunity to reply a woman's scream； shrill with horror； smote upon
their startled ears。
Von Horn was the first to reach the campong of the whites。 Professor
Maxon was close behind him； and the faces of both were white with
apprehension。 The enclosure was deserted。 Not even Sing was there。
Without a word the two men sprang through the gateway and raced for the
jungle in the direction from which that single； haunting cry had come。
Virginia Maxon； idling beneath the leafy shade of the tropical foliage；
became presently aware that she had wandered farther from the campong
28
… Page 29…
THE MONSTER MEN
than she had intended。 The day was sultry； and the heat； even in the dense
shade of the jungle； oppressive。 Slowly she retraced her steps； her eyes
upon the ground； her mind absorbed in sad consideration of her father's
increasing moodiness and eccentricity。
Possibly it was this very abstraction which deadened her senses to the
near approach of another。 At any rate the girl's first intimation that she
was not alone came when she raised her eyes to look full into the horrid
countenance of a fearsome monster which blocked her path toward camp。
The sudden shock brought a single involuntary scream from her lips。
And who can wonder！ The thing thrust so unexpectedly before her eyes
was hideous in the extreme。 A great mountain of deformed flesh clothed
in dirty； white cotton pajamas！ Its face was of the ashen hue of a fresh
corpse； while the white hair and pink eyes denoted the absence of pigment；
a characteristic of albinos。
One eye was fully twice the diameter o
