The Time Machine - International World History Project

The Time Machinecomplete. You know I have a certain weakness formechanism, and I was inclined to linger among these; themore so as for the most part they had the interest ofpuzzles, and I could make only the vaguest guesses at whatthey were for. I fancied that if I could solve their puzzles Ishould find myself in possession of powers that might be ofuse against the Morlocks.‘Suddenly Weena came very close to my side. Sosuddenly that she startled me. Had it not been for her I donot think I should have noticed that the floor of thegallery sloped at all. [Footnote: It may be, of course, thatthe floor did not slope, but that the museum was built intothe side of a hill.-ED.] The end I had come in at was quiteabove ground, and was lit by rare slit-like windows. Asyou went down the length, the ground came up againstthese windows, until at last there was a pit like the ‘area’ ofa London house before each, and only a narrow line ofdaylight at the top. I went slowly along, puzzling aboutthe machines, and had been too intent upon them tonotice the gradual diminution of the light, until Weena’sincreasing apprehensions drew my attention. Then I sawthat the gallery ran down at last into a thick darkness. Ihesitated, and then, as I looked round me, I saw that thedust was less abundant and its surface less even. Further107 of 148