解説　場面 29「技師の調査」

"I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the colonel looking down at me.

「私は彼からランプを受け取り、機械を徹底的に調べました。確かに巨大で、莫大な圧力を加えられる機械でした。しかし外へ出て操作レバーを押すと、シューという音で、側面シリンダーの一つから水が逆流するわずかな漏れがあるとすぐ分かりました。調べると、駆動棒の頭を囲むインドゴムの輪が縮み、動く受け口を完全には満たしていませんでした。明らかにそれが力の低下の原因で、私は二人に指摘しました。二人は説明を注意深く聞き、直し方について実際的な質問をいくつかしました。理解させると、私は好奇心を満たすため機械の主室へ戻り、よく観察しました。ひと目で漂白土の話がまったくのでっち上げだと分かりました。これほど強力な機械が、そんな不釣り合いな用途のために設計されたはずがありません。壁は木でしたが、床は大きな鉄の槽で、調べると一面に金属の堆積物がこびりついていました。かがんで正体を確かめようと削っていると、ドイツ語の低いうめき声が聞こえ、死人のような大佐の顔が私を見下ろしていました。