Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 14 — Experiments in intercourse
Assoonaswewereonourfeetthethick-setSelenitecameandpattedeachofourfaceswithhistentacles,andwalkedtowardstheopendoorway.Thatalsowasplainenough,andwefollowedhim.WesawthatfouroftheSelenitesstandinginthedoorwayweremuchtallerthantheothers,andclothedinthesamemannerasthosewehadseeninthecrater,namely,withspikedroundhelmetsandcylindricalbody-cases,andthateachofthefourcarriedagoadwithspikeandguardmadeofthatsamedull-lookingmetalasthebowls.Thesefourclosedaboutus,oneoneithersideofeachofus,asweemergedfromourchamberintothecavernfromwhichthelighthadcome.
Wedidnotgetourimpressionofthatcavernallatonce.OurattentionwastakenupbythemovementsandattitudesoftheSelenitesimmediatelyaboutus,andbythenecessityofcontrollingourmotion,lestweshouldstartleandalarmthemandourselvesbysomeexcessivestride.Infrontofuswastheshort,thick-setbeingwhohadsolvedtheproblemofaskingustogetup,movingwithgesturesthatseemed,almostallofthem,intelligibletous,invitingustofollowhim.Hisspout-likefaceturnedfromoneofustotheotherwithaquicknessthatwasclearlyinterrogative.Foratime,Isay,weweretakenupwiththesethings.
Butatlastthegreatplacethatformedabackgroundtoourmovementsasserteditself.
