Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 14 — Experiments in intercourse
HisbehaviourseemedtochecktheSelenitesintheirdesireforourprogressforamoment.Theyfacedoneanother,theirqueerheadsmoved,thetwitteringvoicescamequickandliquid.Thenoneofthem,alean,tallcreature,withasortofmantleaddedtotheputteeinwhichtheothersweredressed,twistedhiselephanttrunkofahandaboutCavor’swaist,andpulledhimgentlytofollowourguide,whoagainwentonahead.Cavorresisted.“Wemayjustaswellbeginexplainingourselvesnow.Theymaythinkwearenewanimals,anewsortofmooncalfperhaps!Itismostimportantthatweshouldshowanintelligentinterestfromtheoutset.”
Hebegantoshakehisheadviolently.“No,no,”hesaid,“menotcomeononeminute.Melookat‘im.”
“Isn’ttheresomegeometricalpointyoumightbringinaproposofthataffair?”Isuggested,astheSelenitesconferredagain.
“Possiblyaparabolic—”hebegan.
Heyelledloudly,andleapedsixfeetormore!
Oneofthefourarmedmoon-menhadprickedhimwithagoad!
Iturnedonthegoad-bearerbehindmewithaswiftthreateninggesture,andhestartedback.ThisandCavor’ssuddenshoutandleapclearlyastonishedalltheSelenites.Theyrecededhastily,facingus.Foroneofthosemomentsthatseemtolastforever,westoodinangryprotest,withascatteredsemicircleoftheseinhumanbeingsaboutus.
“Heprickedme!”saidCavor,withacatchingofthevoice.
“Isawhim,”Ianswered.
“Confoundit!”IsaidtotheSelenites;“we’renotgoingtostandthat!Whatonearthdoyoutakeusfor?”
Iglancedquicklyrightandleft
