Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 16 — Points of View
Well,it’sforthesechanceswe’resittingheredoingnothingwhileprecioustimeisflying.Itellyouwe’vegotintoafix.We’vecomeunarmed,we’velostoursphere,we’vegotnofood,we’veshownourselvestotheSelenites,andmadethemthinkwe’restrange,strong,dangerousanimals;andunlesstheseSelenitesareperfectfools,they’llsetaboutnowandhuntustilltheyfindus,andwhentheyfindusthey’lltrytotakeusiftheycan,andkillusiftheycan’t,andthat’stheendofthematter.Iftheytakeus,they’llprobablykillus,throughsomemisunderstanding.Afterwe’redonefor,theymaydiscussusperhaps,butweshan’tgetmuchfunoutofthat.”
“Goon.”
“Ontheotherhand,here’sgoldknockingaboutlikecastironathome.Ifonlywecangetsomeofitback,ifonlywecanfindoursphereagainbeforetheydo,andgetback,then—”
“Yes?”
“Wemightputthethingonasounderfooting.Comebackinabiggerspherewithguns.”
“GoodLord!”criedCavor,asthoughthatwashorrible.
Ishiedanotherluminousfungusdownthecleft.
“Lookhere,Cavor,”Isaid,“I’vehalfthevotingpoweranyhowinthisaffair,andthisisacaseforapracticalman.I’mapracticalman,andyouarenot.I’mnotgoingtotrusttoSelenitesandgeometricaldiagramsifIcanhelpit.That’sall.Getback.Dropallthissecrecy—ormostofit.Andcomeagain.”
Hereflected.“WhenIcametothemoon,”hesaid,“Ioughttohavecomealone.”
“Thequestionbeforethemeeting,”Isaid,“ishowtogetbacktothesphere.”
