The Poison Belt (Professor Challenger 2)

Chapter I

THE BLURRING OF LINES

It is imperative that now at once, while these stupendous events arestill clear in my mind, I should set them down with that exactness ofdetail which time may blur. But even as I do so, I am overwhelmed by thewonder of the fact that it should be our little group of the "LostWorld"--Professor Challenger, Professor Summerlee, Lord John Roxton, andmyself--who have passed through this amazing experience.

When, some years ago, I chronicled in the Daily Gazette our epoch-makingjourney in South America, I little thought that it should ever fall to mylot to tell an even stranger personal experience, one which is unique inall human annals and must stand out in the records of history as a greatpeak among the humble foothills which surround it. The event itself willalways be marvellous, but the circumstances that we four were together atthe time of this extraordinary episode came about in a most natural and,indeed, inevitable fashion. I will explain the events which led up to itas shortly and as clearly as I can, though I am well aware that thefuller the detail upon such a subject the more welcome it will be to thereader, for the public curiosity has been and still is insatiable.

It was upon Friday, the twenty-seventh of August--a date forevermemorable in the history of the world--that I went down to the office ofmy paper and asked for three days' leave of absence from Mr. McArdle, whostill presided over our news department. The good old Scotchman shookhis head, scratched his dwindling fringe of ruddy fluff, and finally puthis reluctance into words.

"I was thinking, Mr. Malone, that we could employ you to advantage thesedays. I was thinking there was a story that you are the only man thatcould handle as it should be handled."

"I am sorry for that," said I, trying to hide my disappointment. "Ofcourse if I am needed, there is an end of the matter. But the engagementwas important and intimate. If I could be spared----"

"Well, I don't see that you can."

It was bitter, but I had to put the best face I could upon it. Afterall, it was my own fault, for I should have known by this time that ajournalist has no right to make plans of his own.

"Then I'll think no more of it," said I with as much cheerfulness as Icould assume at so short a notice. "What was it that you wanted me todo?"

"Well, it was just to interview that deevil of a man down at Rotherfield."

"You don't mean Professor Challenger?" I cried.

"Aye, it's just him that I do mean. He ran young Alec Simpson of theCourier a mile down the high road last week by the collar of his coat andthe slack of his breeches. You'll have read of it, likely, in the policereport. Our boys would as soon interview a loose alligator in the zoo.But you could do it, I'm thinking--an old friend like you."

"Why," said I, greatly relieved, "this makes it all easy. It so happensthat it was to visit Professor Challenger at Rotherfield that I wasasking for leave of absence. The fact is, that it is the anniversary ofour main adventure on the plateau three years ago, and he has asked ourwhole party down to his house to see him and celebrate the occasion."

"Capital!" cried McArdle, rubbing his hands and beaming through hisglasses. "Then you will be able to get his opeenions out of him. In anyother man I would say it was all moonshine, but the fellow has made goodonce, and who knows but he may again!"

"Get what out of him?" I asked. "What has he been doing?"

"Haven't you seen his letter on 'Scientific Possibeelities' in to-day'sTimes?"

"No."

McArdle dived down and picked a copy from the floor.

"Read it aloud," said he, indicating a column with his finger. "I'd beglad to hear it again, for I am not sure now that I have the man'smeaning clear in my head."

This was the letter which I read to the news editor of the Gazette:--

"SCIENTIFIC POSSIBILITIES"

"Sir,--I have read with amusement, not wholly unmixed with some lesscomplimentary emotion, the complacent and wholly fatuous letter of JamesWilson MacPhail which has lately appeared in your columns upon thesubject of the blurring of Fraunhofer's lines in the spectra both of theplanets and of the fixed stars. He dismisses the matter as of nosignificance. To a wider intelligence it may well seem of very greatpossible importance--so great as to involve the ultimate welfare of everyman, woman, and child upon this planet. I can hardly hope, by the use ofscientific language, to convey any sense of my meaning to thoseineffectual people who gather their ideas from the columns of a dailynewspaper. I will endeavour, therefore, to condescend to theirlimitation and to indicate the situation by the use of a homely analogywhich will be within the limits of the intelligence of your readers."