Chapter 2 The Time Traveler's Surprise.
A week after that curious visit, I received a note from the time traveler inviting me to dinner again.
The note said he would have another interesting story to tell.
When I arrived at his home, the doctor and artist were already there.
The mayor and Philby were missing, but two nude guests had taken their place.
There was the editor of a local newspaper and a writer.
The time traveler had invited us all to dinner, but he had not shown up yet.
The doctor pulled a note from his pocket.
Our friend says we should start dinner without him if he is late.
It would be a shame to let our meal get cold, don't you think?
So we went to the dining room, where our friend's housekeeper served us our meal.
As we ate, we wondered where our host could be.
I joked that he must be busy traveling through time.
The editor didn't understand what I meant, so we described the events of the other night.
Just then, the door from the hallway slowly opened.
Here he is at last, I said as the time traveler entered the room.
The doctor looked up and cried.
Good heavens, man!
What's the matter? friend was a shocking sight.
His coat was dusty and dirty.
His hair was a great mess, and it seemed grayer.
His face was pale.
His chin was cut, and he looked very tired.
We stared at him in silence as he stood in the doorway.
Then he closed the door and walked to the table.
His feet must have been sore or hurt because he limped as he crossed the floor.
The time traveler slumped into a chair.
He weakly lifted his hand toward a pitcher of water.
The editor filled a glass and handed it to him.
Our friend drank the water in one gulp.
Then he looked around the table and smiled.
What on earth have you been up to? asked the doctor.
The time traveler did not answer.
Instead, he said in a whisper, Don't let me disturb you.
I'm alright.
He held out the water glass, and the editor filled it again.
After emptying the glass once more, the time traveler's eyes seemed to brighten.
He looked around the room at each of us, as if he'd been away a long time.
I'm going to wash and change my clothes, he said quietly.
Then I'll come down and explain things.
Save me some dinner.
I'm starving.
He put down his glass and walked to the doorway.
Then I saw that he wasn't wearing shoes on his feet, just ragged socks.
After he left the room, we slowly returned to our meal.
The writer was the first to ask, Just what is going on?
I said that it must have something to do with the time machine and we explained more about the model and how it had disappeared.
The editor and writer thought we were joking.
We continued to talk until the time traveler returned.
He had washed and was dressed in evening clothes, but our friend still looked very tired, as if he had been through an enormous adventure.
I say, said the editor with a laugh your friends here say you took a little trip into the middle of next week.
Tell us all about it, will you?
The time traveler sat down.
He smiled and said, What's for dinner?
It will be wonderful to have a home-cooked meal again.
But tell us what happened, said the editor.
Not until I've eaten something and gotten my strength back, said our hungry host.
I must ask one question, I said.
Have you been time-traveling?
Our friend nodded his head and quietly said yes.
We all wanted to hear what had happened, but we had to wait while he finished his meal.
We tried to talk about other things, but no one was really interested.
When the time traveler pushed his empty plate away and looked at us, I'm sorry, he said.
I've never been hungrier.
But now let's go into the study and I will tell you all about my adventure.
Once we were seated in the next room, the time traveler looked around at us and began.
Since this morning, I have lived through eight days.
Eight amazing days.
I'm worn out, but I can't sleep until I've told you everything.
But please don't interrupt, and please don't tell me you don't believe me or that it is impossible.
Every word I say is true, so no interruptions.
Is it agreed?
Agreed, we all said.
Our weary host then sat back in his chair.
The room was dark except for the light from a lamp on the table.
I glanced at the others as the time traveler began, but as I listened to his tale unfold, I could only look into his pale white face.
