When the World Screamed Part 4

**Ben Tucker** (0:00)
PART FOUR Of When the World Screamed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The SlipriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker.
PART FOUR And it was not long that we had to wait. Only three days after my date of completion, my notice arrived. It was an ordinary invitation card, such as one uses for at-homes, and it ran thus.
Professor G. E. Challenger, FRSMD, DSC, etc. Late President, Zoological Institute, and holder of so many honorary degrees and appointments that they overtax the capacity of this card, request the attendance of Mr. Jones, no lady, at 1130 a.m. of Tuesday, June 21st, to witness a remarkable triumph of mind over matter at Hengess Downe, Sussex. Special train Victoria, 10-05. Passenger pay their own fares. Lunch after the experiment or not, according to circumstances. Station, Storington, RSVP, and at once with name and block letters. Forbis and Moore Gardens, SW.
I found that Malone had just received a similar missive over which he was chuckling. It's merely Swank sending it to us, said he. We have to be there, whatever happens, as the hangman said to the murderer. But I tell you, this has set all London buzzing. The old man is where he likes to be, with a pinpoint limelight right on his hairy old head.
And so at last the great day came. Personally, I thought it well to go down the night before so as to be sure that everything was in order. Our borer was fixed in position. The weight was adjusted. The electric contacts could be easily switched on, and I was satisfied that my own part in this strange experiment would be carried out without a hitch. The electric controls were operated at a point some 500 yards from the mouth of the shaft to minimize any personal danger. When on the fateful morning, an ideal English summer day, I came to the surface with my mind assured. I climbed halfway up the slope of the down in order to have a general view of the proceedings. All the world seemed to be coming to Hindustown. As far as we could see, the roads were dotted with people. Motor cars came bumping and swaying down the lanes, and discharged their passengers at the gate of the compound. This was in most cases the end of their progress.
A powerful band of janitors waited at the entrance in no promises or bribes, but only the production of the coveted buff tickets could get them any further. They dispersed, therefore, and joined the vast crowd which was already assembling on the side of the hill and covering the ridge with a dense mass of spectators. The place was like Epsom Downs on the Derby Day. Inside the compound, certain areas had been wired off, and the various privileged people were conducted to the particular pen to which they had been allotted. There was one for peers, one for members of the House of Commons, and one for the heads of learned societies and the men of fame in the scientific world, including Lapellier of the Sorbonne and Dr. Driesinger of the Berlin Academy. A special reserved enclosure with sandbags and a corrugated iron roof was set aside for three members of the royal family. At a quarter past eleven, a succession of Charabanc brought up the specially invited guests from the station, and I went down into the compound to assist at the reception. Professor Challenger stood by the select enclosure, resplendent in frock coat, white waistcoat, and burnished top hat, his expression a blend of overpowering and almost offensive benevolence, mixed with most portentous self-importance.
Clearly a typical victim of the Jehovah Complex, as one of his critics described him. He assisted in conducting and occasionally in propelling his guests into their proper places, and then, having gathered the elite of the company around him, he took his station upon the top of a convenient hillock, and looked around him with the air of the chairman who expects some welcoming applause. As none was forthcoming, he plunged at once into his subject, his voice booming to the farthest extremities of the enclosure.
Gentlemen, he roared, upon this occasion I have no need to include the ladies. If I have not invited them to be present with us this morning, it is not, I can assure you, for want of appreciation. For I may say, with the elephantine humor and mock modesty, that the revelations between us upon both sides have always been excellent and indeed intimate. The real reason is that some small element of danger is involved in our experiment, though it is not sufficient to justify the discomposure which I see upon many of your faces. It will interest the members of the press to know that I have reserved very special seats for them upon the spoil banks which immediately overlook the scene of the operation. They have shown an interest which is sometimes indistinguishable from impertinence in my affairs, so that on this occasion at least they cannot complain that I have been remiss in studying their convenience. If nothing happens, which is always possible, I have at least done my best for them. If, on the other hand, something does happen, they will be in an excellent position to experience and record it, should they ultimately feel equal to the task.