Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 1 — Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne
Moreover,thepossibilityofhisbeinginpursuitofsomevaluableinventionalsointerestedme.ItoccurredtomethatIwouldliketoknowmoreofthisresearch,notwithanydishonestintention,butsimplywithanideathattoknowwhatitwaswouldbearelieffromplay-writing.Ithrewoutfeelers.
Hewasquitewillingtosupplyinformation.Indeed,oncehewasfairlyunderwaytheconversationbecameamonologue.Hetalkedlikeamanlongpentup,whohashaditoverwithhimselfagainandagain.Hetalkedfornearlyanhour,andImustconfessIfounditaprettystiffbitoflistening.Butthroughitalltherewastheundertoneofsatisfactiononefeelswhenoneisneglectingworkonehassetoneself.DuringthatfirstinterviewIgatheredverylittleofthedriftofhiswork.Halfhiswordsweretechnicalitiesentirelystrangetome,andheillustratedoneortwopointswithwhathewaspleasedtocallelementarymathematics,computingonanenvelopewithacopying-inkpencil,inamannerthatmadeithardeventoseemtounderstand.“Yes,”Isaid,“yes.Goon!”NeverthelessImadeoutenoughtoconvincemethathewasnomerecrankplayingatdiscoveries.Inspiteofhiscrank-likeappearancetherewasaforceabouthimthatmadethatimpossible.Whateveritwas,itwasathingwithmechanicalpossibilities.Hetoldmeofawork-shedhehad,andofthreeassistants—originallyjobbingcarpenters—whomhehadtrained.Now,fromthework-shedtothepatentofficeisclearlyonlyonestep.Heinvitedmetoseethosethings.Iacceptedreadily,andtookcare,byaremarkorso,tounderlinethat.
