The Invisible Man

H. G. Wells

The Invisible Man (1897)

Uma figura completamente enroupada e, ainda, com luvas, óculos escuros, cachecol e um chapéu de aba larga, chega a uma pequena estalagem de aldeia numa noite de Inverno. Esta personagem paga a estadia mas rejeita todas as tentativas de diálogo de circunstância, por parte da estalajadeira e dos aldeãos, para proteger o segredo da sua identidade. Embora todos suponham que as faixas que lhe envolvem a cabeça ocultem alguma desfiguração ou sejam os restos de alguma complicada operação cirúrgica, na verdade trata-se de um homem que, por uma razão não revelada, se tornou invisível. Esta qualidade atinge-o como um estigma e, à medida que, inevitavelmente, ela se evidencia perante a suspeição de quantos o rodeiam, o horror vai tomando conta da situação, enquanto a natureza algo violenta do homem, acossado pela sua condição, toma rédea solta.

A história de Griffin, é esse o nome do Homem Invisível, é contada muito mais tarde, quando, perseguido e tema de manchetes de jornais, procura a ajuda de Kemp, um antigo colega da universidade, e o põe a par do seu trabalho de investigação sobre a invisibilidade e dos resultados que alcançou, ao mesmo tempo que revela uma personalidade desequilibrada, egoísta e desumanizada.

Porém, nessa altura já está em marcha uma implacável caça ao homem, rumo ao desfecho esperado.

Suddenly the stranger raised his gloved hands clenched, stamped his foot, and said, "Stop!" with such extraordinary violence that he silenced her instantly.

"You don't understand," he said, "who I am or what I am. I'll show you. By Heaven! I'll show you." Then he put his open palm over his face and withdrew it. The centre of his face became a black cavity. "Here," he said. He stepped forward and handed Mrs. Hall something which she, staring at his metamorphosed face, accepted automatically. Then, when she saw what it was, she screamed loudly, dropped it, and staggered back. The nose—it was the stranger's nose! pink and shining—rolled on the floor.

Then he removed his spectacles, and everyone in the bar gasped. He took off his hat, and with a violent gesture tore at his whiskers and bandages. For a moment they resisted him. A flash of horrible anticipation passed through the bar. "Oh, my Gard!" said some one. Then off they came.

It was worse than anything. Mrs. Hall, standing open-mouthed and horror-struck, shrieked at what she saw, and made for the door of the house. Everyone began to move. They were prepared for scars, disfigurements, tangible horrors, but nothing! The bandages and false hair flew across the passage into the bar, making a hobbledehoy jump to avoid them. Everyone tumbled on everyone else down the steps. For the man who stood there shouting some incoherent explanation, was a solid gesticulating figure up to the coat-collar of him, and then—nothingness, no visible thing at all!

People down the village heard shouts and shrieks, and looking up the street saw the "Coach and Horses" violently firing out its humanity. They saw Mrs. Hall fall down and Mr. Teddy Henfrey jump to avoid tumbling over her, and then they heard the frightful screams of Millie, who, emerging suddenly from the kitchen at the noise of the tumult, had come upon the headless stranger from behind. These increased suddenly.

Li anteriormente:

The Island Of Doctor Moreau (1896)
The Time Machine (1895)