The Invisible Man.
P a r t I
So I began a new life. I had no shelter and no
clothes. I could tell nobody about my secret. I was thinking about
one only: where to get shelter from the snow and where to find
clothes. But there was no shelter for an Invisible Man in London.
Then I had idea. I went to a big department store. You know
these department store, Kemp. You can get everything there: meat,
furniture, clothes, clocks and watches, and many other things. I
thought to take shelter there, and I had some other plans besides.
I entered the shop and looked to the right and to the left. Then
I entered a department where they were selling furniture. I wanted
to sit and rest a little , but could not find a good place. At
last I found it in a room full of mattresses. I decided to lie
down among the mattresses and wait until closing time came. My
idea was to get food and other clothes in the shop. Then I could
go and get my money, books and other things. After I could find a
room in a London house and finish my work.
Closing time came quickly enough. By that time I had a good
rest among the mattresses. Then the doors were shut from outside. I
dot up and went to explore the department store. My first visit
was to the department where they sold men’s things. There I got a
vest, a shirt , trousers , a jacket and a hat. The vest was
very nice and warm. I began to feel a man again , and my next
task was to get food.
There was a cafe on the first floor, and I got cold
meat there. There was some coffee too, and I warmed it up in
the small kitchen of the cafe. As I could find no other food
there , I went back to the mattress room and slept there. It was
morning already. I opened my eyes. At first I could not understand
where I was. Then I heard some people talking , and saw two men
coming to the place where I lay. I got up and looked where I could
hide . But as I did so , they saw me. “Who’s that ?” cried one.
“Stop there!” shouted the other. I ran round a counter past a
boy of fifteen. Then I had a good idea. I hid behind a counter and
began to take off clothes as fast as I could. The jacket ,
trousers, and shirt were not difficult to take off, but I could
not take off the vest. I heard more men coming.
“This way, Policeman,” I heard somebody shouting. I ran back again
to the department where they sold mattresses. There I took off my vest and
stood a free man again. Then a policeman and two or tree shopmen
came round the corner. They saw a vest and one of the men said, “He
must be here.”
But they did not find me. I stood watching them for a time.
Then I went into the cafe and drank a little milk. Then I sat down
in a corner to think what to do next.
(After H.G. Wells)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
