Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 16 — Points of View
Butifweendured—”
“Neitherofuscouldendureasix-inchplankacrossthebottomlesspitforverylong.”
“No,”saidCavor;“butthen—”
“Iwon’t,”Isaid.
Hediscoveredanewlineofpossibilities.“Well,supposewegotourselvesintosomecorner,wherewecoulddefendourselvesagainstthesehindsandlabourers.If,forexample,wecouldholdoutforaweekorso,itisprobablethatthenewsofourappearancewouldfilterdowntothemoreintelligentandpopulousparts—”
“Iftheyexist.”
“Theymustexist,orwhencecamethosetremendousmachines?”
“That’spossible,butit’stheworstofthetwochances.”
“Wemightwriteupinscriptionsonwalls—”
“Howdoweknowtheireyeswouldseethesortofmarkswemade?”
“Ifwecutthem—”
“That’spossible,ofcourse.”
Itookupanewthreadofthought.“Afterall,”Isaid,“Isupposeyoudon’tthinktheseSelenitessoinfinitelywiserthanmen.”
“Theymustknowalotmore—oratleastalotofdifferentthings.”
“Yes,but—”Ihesitated.
“Ithinkyou’llquiteadmit,Cavor,thatyou’reratheranexceptionalman.”
“How?”
“Well,you—you’rearatherlonelyman—havebeen,thatis.Youhaven’tmarried.”
“Neverwantedto.Butwhy—”
“Andyounevergrewricherthanyouhappenedtobe?”
“Neverwantedthateither.”
“You’vejustrootedafterknowledge?”
“Well,acertaincuriosityisnatural—”
“Youthinkso.That’sjustit.Youthinkeveryothermindwantstoknow.
