November 8, 2023 • 18 mins
"The Invisible Man" is a classic science fiction novel written by H.G. Wells and first published in 1897. The story revolves around the character of Griffin, a brilliant but eccentric scientist who discovers a way to become invisible. After successfully making himself invisible, Griffin quickly realizes that his newfound power comes with significant challenges and consequences.The novel explores the themes of power, morality, and the consequences of unchecked scientific curiosity. Griffin's invisible state allows him to indulge in his darker impulses, leading him down a path of cruelty and criminality. As he struggles to find a way to reverse his condition, he becomes increasingly isolated and desperate.Griffin's invisibility becomes both a physical and metaphorical representation of his detachment from society and his descent into madness. He becomes a symbol of the dangers of unchecked scientific experimentation and the potential for individuals to abuse their power.Throughout the novel, Griffin's actions create a sense of fear and unease in the townspeople who encounter him. As he becomes more unhinged, he becomes a menace, and the novel explores the efforts of those around him to stop his reign of terror."The Invisible Man" is not only a thrilling and suspenseful tale but also a thought-provoking commentary on the human condition and the consequences of playing with forces beyond one's control. It remains a seminal work in the science fiction genre and continues to be studied and adapted into various forms of media.
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(00:00):
This is a LibriVox recording. AllLibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer,please visit www dot LibriVox dot org.
To day's reading by Alex Foster wwwdot Alex Foster dot me dot UK.
The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells, Chapter eleven in The Coach
(00:24):
and Horses. Now, in orderto clearly understand what had happened in the
inn, it is necessary to goback to the moment when mister Marvell first
came into view of mister Hucks's window. At that precise moment, mister Cuss
and mister Bunting were in the parlor. They were seriously investigating the strange occurrences
of the morning, and were,with mister Hall's permission, making a thorough
(00:47):
examination of the Invisible Man's belongings.Jaffers had partially recovered from his fall and
had gone home in charge of hissympathetic friends. The stranger's scattered garments had
been removed by Missus Hall, andthe room tidied up, and on the
table under the window where the strangerhad been wont to work. Cuss had
hit almost at once on three bigbooks in manuscript labeled Diary Diary, said
(01:14):
Cuss, putting the three books onthe table. Now, at any rate
we shall learn something. The vicarstood with his hands on the table,
Diary, repeated Cuss, sitting down, putting two volumes to support the third
and opening it hum no name onthe fly leaf, bother cipher and figures.
The vicar came round to look overhis shoulder. Cuss turned the pages
(01:38):
over with a face, suddenly disappointed. I'm dear me, it's all cipher
Bunting. There are no diagrams,asked mister Bunting, no illustrations throwing light.
See for yourself, said mister Cuss. Some of it's mathematical, and
some of its Russian or some suchlanguage, to judge by the letters,
and some of its Greek. Nowthe Greek, I th thought you,
(02:00):
of course, said mister Bunting,taking out and wiping his spectacles, and
feeling suddenly very uncomfortable, for hehad no Greek left in his mind worth
talking about. Yes, the Greek, of course, may furnish a clue.
I'll find you a place. I'drather glance through the volumes first,
said mister Bunting, still wiping ageneral impression first cousin, Then you know
(02:23):
we can go looking for clues.He coughed, put on his glasses,
arranged them fastidiously, coughed again,and wished something would happen to avert the
seemingly inevitable exposure. Then he tookthe volume Cuss handed him in a leisurely
manner, and then something did happen. The door opened suddenly. Both gentlemen
(02:46):
started violently, looked around and wererelieved to see a sporadically rosy face beneath
a furry silk hat. Tap askedthe face and stood staring. No,
said both gentlemen at once. Overthe other side, my man, said
mister Bunting, and please shut thatdoor, said mister Cuss irritably. All
(03:07):
right, said the intruder, asit seemed, in a low voice,
curiously different from the huskiness of itsfirst inquiry. Right you are, said
the intruder in the former voice,Stand clear, And he vanished and closed
the door. A sailor, Ishould judge, said mister Bunting, amusing
fellows, they are stand clear.Indeed, anautical term referring to his getting
(03:31):
back out of the room. Isuppose I dare say so, said Cuss.
My nerves are all loose to day. It made me quite jump the
door opening like that. Mister Buntingsmiled as if he had not jumped.
And now, he said, witha sigh, these books some one sniffed
as he did. So one thingis indisputable, said Bunting, drawing a
(03:55):
chair up next to that of misterCuss. The certainly have been very strange
things happening and iping during the lastfew days, very strange. I cannot,
of course believe in this absurd invisibilitystory. It's incredible, said Cuss.
Incredible, but the fact remains thatI saw. I certainly saw right
(04:16):
down his sleeve. But did youAre you sure suppose a mirror? For
instance? Hallucinations are so easily produced. I don't know if you've ever seen
a really good conjurer. I won'targue again, said Cus. We've thrashed
that out, Bunting. And justnow there's these books. Ah, here's
(04:39):
some of what I take to beGreek Greek letters. Certainly, he pointed
to the middle of the page.Mister Bunting flushed slightly and brought his face
nearer, apparently finding some difficulty withhis glasses. Suddenly he became aware of
a strange feeling at the nape ofhis neck. He tried to raise his
(04:59):
head and countered an immovable resistance.The feeling was a curious pressure, the
grip of a heavy, firm hand, and it bore his chin irresistibly to
the table. Don't move, littlemen, whispered a voice, or I'll
brain you both. Mister Bunting lookedinto the face of cuss close to his
own, and each saw a horrifiedreflection of his own, sickly astonishment.
(05:25):
I'm sorry to handle you so roughly, said the voice, but it's unavoidable.
Since when did you learn to pryinto an investigator's private memoranda? Said
the voice, and two chins struckthe table simultaneously, and two sets of
teeth rattled. Since when did youlearn to invade the private rooms of a
(05:46):
man in misfortune? And the concussionwas repeated. Where have they put my
clothes? Listen, said the voice. The windows are fastened, and I've
taken the key out of the door. I am a fairly strong man,
and I have the poker handy.Besides being invisible, there's not the slightest
(06:08):
doubt that I could kill you bothand get away quite easily if I wanted
to do you understand very well?If I let you go, will you
promise not to try any nonsense anddo what I tell you? The vicar
and the doctor looked at one another, and the doctor pulled a face.
Yes, said mister Bunting, andthe doctor repeated it. Then the pressure
(06:30):
on the next relaxed, and thedoctor and the vicar sat up, both
very red in the face and wrigglingtheir heads. Please keep sitting where you
are, said the invisible man.Here's the poker. You see. When
I came into this room, continuedthe invisible man, after presenting the poker
to the tip of the nose ofeach of his visitors. I did not
(06:51):
expect to find it occupied, andI expected to find, in addition to
my books of memoranda, an outfitof clothing. Where is it? No,
don't rise, I can see it'sgone now. Just at present.
Though the days are quite warm enoughfor an invisible man to run about stark,
the evenings are quite chilly. Iwant clothing and other accommodation, and
(07:15):
I must also have those three books. Chapter twelve, The invisible man loses
his temper. It is unavoidable thatat this point the narrative should break off
again for a certain, very painfulreason that will presently be apparent. While
(07:35):
these things were going on in theparlor, and while mister Huckster was watching
mister Marvell smoking his pipe against thegate not a dozen yards away, mister
Hall and Teddy Henry were discussing ina state of cloudy puzzlement the one iping
topic. Suddenly there came a violentthud against the door of the parlor,
a sharp cry, and then silence. Ulloh, said Teddy Henfrey, all
(08:01):
from the tap. Mister Hall tookthings in slowly. But surely that ain't
right, he said, and cameround from behind the bar towards the parlor
door. He and Teddy approached thedoor together with intent faces, their eyes
considered somewhat wrong, said Hall,and Henry nodded agreement. Whiffs of an
(08:24):
unpleasant chemical odor met them. Therewas a muffled sound of conversation, very
rapid and subdued. You are rightthere, asked Hall, rapping. The
muttered conversation ceased abruptly for a momentsilence. Then the conversation was resumed in
hissing whispers, then a sharp cryof no, no, you don't.
(08:46):
There came a sudden motion and theoversetting of a chair, a brief struggle,
silence again, What the deuce,exclaimed Henry Sotto vatching you all right
there, asked mister Hall, sharplyagain. The vicar's voice answered with a
curious jerking intonation. Cool, cool, quite right. Please don't interrupt,
(09:15):
odd, said mister Henfrey. Odd, said mister Hall says, don't interrupt,
said Henfrey. Are you heard?And said Hall? And a sniff
said Henfrey. They remained listening.The conversation was rapid and subdued. I
can't, said mister Bunting, hisvoice rising, I tell you, sir,
(09:37):
I will not. What was that, asked Henfrey. Says he winner,
It weren't speaking to us? Washe disgraceful, said mister Bunting.
Within disgraceful, said mister Henfrey.I heard it distinct. Who's that speaking
now, asked Henfrey. Mister cussI suppose, said Hall. Can you
(10:00):
hear anything? Silence? The soundswithin indistinct and perplexing, sounds like throwing
the tablecloth about, said Hall.Missus Hall appeared behind the bar. Hall
made gestures of silence and invitation.This aroused Missus Hall's wifely opposition. What's
(10:22):
your lesson in there? For?Hall? Ain't you nothing better to do?
Busy day like this? Hall triedto convey everything by grimaces and dumb
show, but Missus Hall was obdurate. She raised her voice, so Hall
and Henfrey, rather crestfallen, tippedher back to the bar, gesticulating to
explain to her. At first,she refused to see anything in what they
(10:45):
had heard at all. Then sheinsisted on Hall keeping silence while Henfrey told
her his story. She was inclinedto think the whole business nonsense. Perhaps
they were just moving the furniture about. I heard and say, disgraceful that
I did, said Hall. Iheard that, Missus Hall, said Henfrey.
Loike as not began Missus Hall shsaid, mister teddy Henfrey. Didn't
(11:09):
I hear the window? What window? Asked Missus Hall. Parlor window,
said Henry. Everyone stood listening intently. Missus Hall's eyes directed straight before her
saw without seeing the brilliant oblong ofthe inn door, the road white and
vivid, and Huckster's shop front blisteringin the June sun. Abruptly Huckster's door
(11:31):
opened and Huckster appeared, eyes staringwith excitement, arms gesticulating. Yap cried
Hunter, stop thief, and herun obliquely across the oblong towards the yard
gates and vanished. Simultaneously came atumult from the parlor and a sound of
windows being closed. Hall, Henfrey, and the human contents of the Tap
(11:54):
rushed out at once, pell mellinto the street. They saw some one
whisker round the corner towards the road, and mister Huckster executing a complicated leap
in the air that ended on hisface and shoulder. Down the street.
People were standing, astonished or runningtowards them. Mister Huckster was stunned.
Henry stopped to discover this, butHall and the two laborers from the Tap
(12:16):
rushed at once to the corner,shouting incoherent things, and saw mister Marvell
vanishing by the corner of the churchwall. They appeared to have jumped to
the impossible conclusion that this was theinvisible man suddenly become visible and set off
at once along the lane in pursuit. But Hall had hardly run a dozen
yards before he gave a loud shoutof astonishment, and went flying headlong sideways,
(12:39):
clutching one of the laborers and bringinghim to the ground. He had
been charged just as one charges aman at football. The second laborer came
round in a circle, stared andconceiving that Hall had tumbled over of his
own accord, turned to resume thepursuit, only to be tripped by the
ankle, just as Huckster had been. Then, as the first laborer struggled
(13:00):
to his feet, he was kickedsideways by a blow that might have felled
an ox. As he went downthe rush from the direction of the village
Green came round the corner. Thefirst to appear was the proprietor of the
Cocoanut Shy, a burly man inblue jersey. He was astonished to see
the lane empty save for three mensprawling absurdly on the ground. And then
(13:20):
something happened to his rearmost foot,and he went headlong and rolled sideways,
just in time to graze the feetof his brother and partner following headlong.
The two were then kicked, knelton, fallen over, and cursed by
quite a number of over hasty people. Now, when Hall and Henry and
the laborers ran out of the house. Missus Hall, who had been disciplined
(13:43):
by years of experience, remained inthe bar next to the till. And
suddenly the parlor door was opened andmister Cuss appeared, and without glancing at
her, rushed at once down thesteps round the corner. Hold him,
he cried, don't let him dropthat parcel. He knew nothing of the
existence of marvel, for the invisibleman had handed over the books and bundle
(14:05):
in the yard. The face ofmister Cuss was angry and resolute, but
his costume was defective, a sortof limp white kilt that could only have
passed muster in Greece. Hold him, he bawled. He's got my trousers,
and every stitch of the vicar's clothestend to him. In a minute,
he cried to Henry. As hepassed the prostrate huckster, and coming
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round the corner to join the tumult, was promptly knocked off his feet into
an indecorous sprawl. Somebody in fullflight trod heavily on his finger. He
yelled, struggled to regain his feet, was knocked against and thrown on all
fours again and became aware that hewas involved not in a capture but a
rout. Everyone was running back tothe village. He rose again and was
(14:52):
hit severely behind the ear. Hestaggered and set off back to the coach
and horses forthwith leaping over the desertedhuck, who was now sitting up on
his way behind him. As hewas half way up the inn steps,
he heard a sudden yell of rage, rising sharply out of the confusion of
cries, and a sounding smack insomeone's face. He recognized the voice as
(15:15):
that of the Invisible Man, andthe note was that of a man suddenly
infuriated by a painful blow. Inanother moment, mister Cuss was back in
the parlor. He's coming back,Bunting, he said, rushing in.
Save yourself. Mister Bunting was standingin the window, engaged in an attempt
to clothe himself in the hearth rugand a West Surrey gazette who's coming,
(15:39):
he said, so startled that hiscostume narrowly escaped disintegration. Invisible Man,
said Cuss, and rushed on atto the window. We'd better clear out
from here. He's fighting mad mad. In another moment, he was out
in the yard. Good Heavens,said mister Bunting, hesitating between two horrible
alternatives, he heard a frightful strugglein the passage of the inn, and
(16:02):
his decision was made. He clamberedout of the window, adjusted his costume
hastily, and fled up the villageas fast as his fat little legs would
carry him. From the moment whenthe Invisible Man screamed with rage and mister
Bunting made his memorable flight up thevillage, it became impossible to give a
consecutive account of affairs in Iping.Possibly the Invisible Man's original intention were simply
(16:27):
to cover Marvel's retreat with the clothesand books, but his temper at no
time very good seems to have gonecompletely. At some chance blow and forthwith
he set to smiting and overthrowing.For the mere satisfaction of hurting. You
must figure the street full of running, figures of doors slamming, and fights
(16:48):
for hiding places. You must figurethe tumult suddenly striking on the unstable equilibrium
of old Fletcher's planks and two chairswith cataclysmic results. You must figure an
appalled couple bought dismally in a swing. And then the whole tumultuous rush has
passed, and the Iping Street,with its gourds and flags, is deserted,
save for the still raging, unseenand littered with cocoanuts, overthrown canvas,
(17:12):
screens, and the scattered stock intrade of a sweet stuff stall.
Everywhere there is a sound of closingshutters and shoving bolts, and the only
visible humanity is an occasional flitting eyeunder a raised eyebrow in the corner of
a window pane. The invisible manamused himself for a little while by breaking
(17:33):
all the windows in the coach andhorses, and then he thrust a street
lamp through the parlor window of MissusGribble. He it must have been who
cut the telegraph wire to Adeddeon,just beyond Higgins's cottage on the Aderdean Road.
And after that, as his peculiarqualities allowed, he passed out of
human perceptions altogether, and he wasneither heard, seen, nor felt in
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Iping any more. He vanished absolutely. But it was the best part of
two hours before any human being venturedout again into the desolation of an Iping
Street. End of Chapter twelve,recorded in Nottingham, England, on the
(18:18):
fifth of April two thousand and sixby Alex Foster w w W dot Alex
Foster dot me dot UK
This is a LibriVox recording. AllLibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer,please visit www dot LibriVox dot org.
To day's reading by Alex Foster wwwdot Alex Foster dot me dot UK.
The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells, Chapter eleven in The Coach
(00:24):
and Horses. Now, in orderto clearly understand what had happened in the
inn, it is necessary to goback to the moment when mister Marvell first
came into view of mister Hucks's window. At that precise moment, mister Cuss
and mister Bunting were in the parlor. They were seriously investigating the strange occurrences
of the morning, and were,with mister Hall's permission, making a thorough
(00:47):
examination of the Invisible Man's belongings.Jaffers had partially recovered from his fall and
had gone home in charge of hissympathetic friends. The stranger's scattered garments had
been removed by Missus Hall, andthe room tidied up, and on the
table under the window where the strangerhad been wont to work. Cuss had
hit almost at once on three bigbooks in manuscript labeled Diary Diary, said
(01:14):
Cuss, putting the three books onthe table. Now, at any rate
we shall learn something. The vicarstood with his hands on the table,
Diary, repeated Cuss, sitting down, putting two volumes to support the third
and opening it hum no name onthe fly leaf, bother cipher and figures.
The vicar came round to look overhis shoulder. Cuss turned the pages
(01:38):
over with a face, suddenly disappointed. I'm dear me, it's all cipher
Bunting. There are no diagrams,asked mister Bunting, no illustrations throwing light.
See for yourself, said mister Cuss. Some of it's mathematical, and
some of its Russian or some suchlanguage, to judge by the letters,
and some of its Greek. Nowthe Greek, I th thought you,
(02:00):
of course, said mister Bunting,taking out and wiping his spectacles, and
feeling suddenly very uncomfortable, for hehad no Greek left in his mind worth
talking about. Yes, the Greek, of course, may furnish a clue.
I'll find you a place. I'drather glance through the volumes first,
said mister Bunting, still wiping ageneral impression first cousin, Then you know
(02:23):
we can go looking for clues.He coughed, put on his glasses,
arranged them fastidiously, coughed again,and wished something would happen to avert the
seemingly inevitable exposure. Then he tookthe volume Cuss handed him in a leisurely
manner, and then something did happen. The door opened suddenly. Both gentlemen
(02:46):
started violently, looked around and wererelieved to see a sporadically rosy face beneath
a furry silk hat. Tap askedthe face and stood staring. No,
said both gentlemen at once. Overthe other side, my man, said
mister Bunting, and please shut thatdoor, said mister Cuss irritably. All
(03:07):
right, said the intruder, asit seemed, in a low voice,
curiously different from the huskiness of itsfirst inquiry. Right you are, said
the intruder in the former voice,Stand clear, And he vanished and closed
the door. A sailor, Ishould judge, said mister Bunting, amusing
fellows, they are stand clear.Indeed, anautical term referring to his getting
(03:31):
back out of the room. Isuppose I dare say so, said Cuss.
My nerves are all loose to day. It made me quite jump the
door opening like that. Mister Buntingsmiled as if he had not jumped.
And now, he said, witha sigh, these books some one sniffed
as he did. So one thingis indisputable, said Bunting, drawing a
(03:55):
chair up next to that of misterCuss. The certainly have been very strange
things happening and iping during the lastfew days, very strange. I cannot,
of course believe in this absurd invisibilitystory. It's incredible, said Cuss.
Incredible, but the fact remains thatI saw. I certainly saw right
(04:16):
down his sleeve. But did youAre you sure suppose a mirror? For
instance? Hallucinations are so easily produced. I don't know if you've ever seen
a really good conjurer. I won'targue again, said Cus. We've thrashed
that out, Bunting. And justnow there's these books. Ah, here's
(04:39):
some of what I take to beGreek Greek letters. Certainly, he pointed
to the middle of the page.Mister Bunting flushed slightly and brought his face
nearer, apparently finding some difficulty withhis glasses. Suddenly he became aware of
a strange feeling at the nape ofhis neck. He tried to raise his
(04:59):
head and countered an immovable resistance.The feeling was a curious pressure, the
grip of a heavy, firm hand, and it bore his chin irresistibly to
the table. Don't move, littlemen, whispered a voice, or I'll
brain you both. Mister Bunting lookedinto the face of cuss close to his
own, and each saw a horrifiedreflection of his own, sickly astonishment.
(05:25):
I'm sorry to handle you so roughly, said the voice, but it's unavoidable.
Since when did you learn to pryinto an investigator's private memoranda? Said
the voice, and two chins struckthe table simultaneously, and two sets of
teeth rattled. Since when did youlearn to invade the private rooms of a
(05:46):
man in misfortune? And the concussionwas repeated. Where have they put my
clothes? Listen, said the voice. The windows are fastened, and I've
taken the key out of the door. I am a fairly strong man,
and I have the poker handy.Besides being invisible, there's not the slightest
(06:08):
doubt that I could kill you bothand get away quite easily if I wanted
to do you understand very well?If I let you go, will you
promise not to try any nonsense anddo what I tell you? The vicar
and the doctor looked at one another, and the doctor pulled a face.
Yes, said mister Bunting, andthe doctor repeated it. Then the pressure
(06:30):
on the next relaxed, and thedoctor and the vicar sat up, both
very red in the face and wrigglingtheir heads. Please keep sitting where you
are, said the invisible man.Here's the poker. You see. When
I came into this room, continuedthe invisible man, after presenting the poker
to the tip of the nose ofeach of his visitors. I did not
(06:51):
expect to find it occupied, andI expected to find, in addition to
my books of memoranda, an outfitof clothing. Where is it? No,
don't rise, I can see it'sgone now. Just at present.
Though the days are quite warm enoughfor an invisible man to run about stark,
the evenings are quite chilly. Iwant clothing and other accommodation, and
(07:15):
I must also have those three books. Chapter twelve, The invisible man loses
his temper. It is unavoidable thatat this point the narrative should break off
again for a certain, very painfulreason that will presently be apparent. While
(07:35):
these things were going on in theparlor, and while mister Huckster was watching
mister Marvell smoking his pipe against thegate not a dozen yards away, mister
Hall and Teddy Henry were discussing ina state of cloudy puzzlement the one iping
topic. Suddenly there came a violentthud against the door of the parlor,
a sharp cry, and then silence. Ulloh, said Teddy Henfrey, all
(08:01):
from the tap. Mister Hall tookthings in slowly. But surely that ain't
right, he said, and cameround from behind the bar towards the parlor
door. He and Teddy approached thedoor together with intent faces, their eyes
considered somewhat wrong, said Hall,and Henry nodded agreement. Whiffs of an
(08:24):
unpleasant chemical odor met them. Therewas a muffled sound of conversation, very
rapid and subdued. You are rightthere, asked Hall, rapping. The
muttered conversation ceased abruptly for a momentsilence. Then the conversation was resumed in
hissing whispers, then a sharp cryof no, no, you don't.
(08:46):
There came a sudden motion and theoversetting of a chair, a brief struggle,
silence again, What the deuce,exclaimed Henry Sotto vatching you all right
there, asked mister Hall, sharplyagain. The vicar's voice answered with a
curious jerking intonation. Cool, cool, quite right. Please don't interrupt,
(09:15):
odd, said mister Henfrey. Odd, said mister Hall says, don't interrupt,
said Henfrey. Are you heard?And said Hall? And a sniff
said Henfrey. They remained listening.The conversation was rapid and subdued. I
can't, said mister Bunting, hisvoice rising, I tell you, sir,
(09:37):
I will not. What was that, asked Henfrey. Says he winner,
It weren't speaking to us? Washe disgraceful, said mister Bunting.
Within disgraceful, said mister Henfrey.I heard it distinct. Who's that speaking
now, asked Henfrey. Mister cussI suppose, said Hall. Can you
(10:00):
hear anything? Silence? The soundswithin indistinct and perplexing, sounds like throwing
the tablecloth about, said Hall.Missus Hall appeared behind the bar. Hall
made gestures of silence and invitation.This aroused Missus Hall's wifely opposition. What's
(10:22):
your lesson in there? For?Hall? Ain't you nothing better to do?
Busy day like this? Hall triedto convey everything by grimaces and dumb
show, but Missus Hall was obdurate. She raised her voice, so Hall
and Henfrey, rather crestfallen, tippedher back to the bar, gesticulating to
explain to her. At first,she refused to see anything in what they
(10:45):
had heard at all. Then sheinsisted on Hall keeping silence while Henfrey told
her his story. She was inclinedto think the whole business nonsense. Perhaps
they were just moving the furniture about. I heard and say, disgraceful that
I did, said Hall. Iheard that, Missus Hall, said Henfrey.
Loike as not began Missus Hall shsaid, mister teddy Henfrey. Didn't
(11:09):
I hear the window? What window? Asked Missus Hall. Parlor window,
said Henry. Everyone stood listening intently. Missus Hall's eyes directed straight before her
saw without seeing the brilliant oblong ofthe inn door, the road white and
vivid, and Huckster's shop front blisteringin the June sun. Abruptly Huckster's door
(11:31):
opened and Huckster appeared, eyes staringwith excitement, arms gesticulating. Yap cried
Hunter, stop thief, and herun obliquely across the oblong towards the yard
gates and vanished. Simultaneously came atumult from the parlor and a sound of
windows being closed. Hall, Henfrey, and the human contents of the Tap
(11:54):
rushed out at once, pell mellinto the street. They saw some one
whisker round the corner towards the road, and mister Huckster executing a complicated leap
in the air that ended on hisface and shoulder. Down the street.
People were standing, astonished or runningtowards them. Mister Huckster was stunned.
Henry stopped to discover this, butHall and the two laborers from the Tap
(12:16):
rushed at once to the corner,shouting incoherent things, and saw mister Marvell
vanishing by the corner of the churchwall. They appeared to have jumped to
the impossible conclusion that this was theinvisible man suddenly become visible and set off
at once along the lane in pursuit. But Hall had hardly run a dozen
yards before he gave a loud shoutof astonishment, and went flying headlong sideways,
(12:39):
clutching one of the laborers and bringinghim to the ground. He had
been charged just as one charges aman at football. The second laborer came
round in a circle, stared andconceiving that Hall had tumbled over of his
own accord, turned to resume thepursuit, only to be tripped by the
ankle, just as Huckster had been. Then, as the first laborer struggled
(13:00):
to his feet, he was kickedsideways by a blow that might have felled
an ox. As he went downthe rush from the direction of the village
Green came round the corner. Thefirst to appear was the proprietor of the
Cocoanut Shy, a burly man inblue jersey. He was astonished to see
the lane empty save for three mensprawling absurdly on the ground. And then
(13:20):
something happened to his rearmost foot,and he went headlong and rolled sideways,
just in time to graze the feetof his brother and partner following headlong.
The two were then kicked, knelton, fallen over, and cursed by
quite a number of over hasty people. Now, when Hall and Henry and
the laborers ran out of the house. Missus Hall, who had been disciplined
(13:43):
by years of experience, remained inthe bar next to the till. And
suddenly the parlor door was opened andmister Cuss appeared, and without glancing at
her, rushed at once down thesteps round the corner. Hold him,
he cried, don't let him dropthat parcel. He knew nothing of the
existence of marvel, for the invisibleman had handed over the books and bundle
(14:05):
in the yard. The face ofmister Cuss was angry and resolute, but
his costume was defective, a sortof limp white kilt that could only have
passed muster in Greece. Hold him, he bawled. He's got my trousers,
and every stitch of the vicar's clothestend to him. In a minute,
he cried to Henry. As hepassed the prostrate huckster, and coming
(14:28):
round the corner to join the tumult, was promptly knocked off his feet into
an indecorous sprawl. Somebody in fullflight trod heavily on his finger. He
yelled, struggled to regain his feet, was knocked against and thrown on all
fours again and became aware that hewas involved not in a capture but a
rout. Everyone was running back tothe village. He rose again and was
(14:52):
hit severely behind the ear. Hestaggered and set off back to the coach
and horses forthwith leaping over the desertedhuck, who was now sitting up on
his way behind him. As hewas half way up the inn steps,
he heard a sudden yell of rage, rising sharply out of the confusion of
cries, and a sounding smack insomeone's face. He recognized the voice as
(15:15):
that of the Invisible Man, andthe note was that of a man suddenly
infuriated by a painful blow. Inanother moment, mister Cuss was back in
the parlor. He's coming back,Bunting, he said, rushing in.
Save yourself. Mister Bunting was standingin the window, engaged in an attempt
to clothe himself in the hearth rugand a West Surrey gazette who's coming,
(15:39):
he said, so startled that hiscostume narrowly escaped disintegration. Invisible Man,
said Cuss, and rushed on atto the window. We'd better clear out
from here. He's fighting mad mad. In another moment, he was out
in the yard. Good Heavens,said mister Bunting, hesitating between two horrible
alternatives, he heard a frightful strugglein the passage of the inn, and
(16:02):
his decision was made. He clamberedout of the window, adjusted his costume
hastily, and fled up the villageas fast as his fat little legs would
carry him. From the moment whenthe Invisible Man screamed with rage and mister
Bunting made his memorable flight up thevillage, it became impossible to give a
consecutive account of affairs in Iping.Possibly the Invisible Man's original intention were simply
(16:27):
to cover Marvel's retreat with the clothesand books, but his temper at no
time very good seems to have gonecompletely. At some chance blow and forthwith
he set to smiting and overthrowing.For the mere satisfaction of hurting. You
must figure the street full of running, figures of doors slamming, and fights
(16:48):
for hiding places. You must figurethe tumult suddenly striking on the unstable equilibrium
of old Fletcher's planks and two chairswith cataclysmic results. You must figure an
appalled couple bought dismally in a swing. And then the whole tumultuous rush has
passed, and the Iping Street,with its gourds and flags, is deserted,
save for the still raging, unseenand littered with cocoanuts, overthrown canvas,
(17:12):
screens, and the scattered stock intrade of a sweet stuff stall.
Everywhere there is a sound of closingshutters and shoving bolts, and the only
visible humanity is an occasional flitting eyeunder a raised eyebrow in the corner of
a window pane. The invisible manamused himself for a little while by breaking
(17:33):
all the windows in the coach andhorses, and then he thrust a street
lamp through the parlor window of MissusGribble. He it must have been who
cut the telegraph wire to Adeddeon,just beyond Higgins's cottage on the Aderdean Road.
And after that, as his peculiarqualities allowed, he passed out of
human perceptions altogether, and he wasneither heard, seen, nor felt in
(17:56):
Iping any more. He vanished absolutely. But it was the best part of
two hours before any human being venturedout again into the desolation of an Iping
Street. End of Chapter twelve,recorded in Nottingham, England, on the
(18:18):
fifth of April two thousand and sixby Alex Foster w w W dot Alex
Foster dot me dot UK
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