Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 17 — The Fight in the Cave of the Moon Butchers
Aflat,longSelenitedashedoutofthedarkness,andsquealedandfled.Ihalted,andstoppedCavorwithmyhand.Ihungmyjacketovermycrowbar,duckedroundthenextcarcass,droppedjacketandcrowbar,showedmyself,anddartedback.
“Chuzz-flick,”justonearrowcame.WewerecloseontheSelenites,andtheywerestandinginacrowd,broad,short,andtalltogether,withalittlebatteryoftheirshootingimplementspointingdownthecave.Threeorfourotherarrowsfollowedthefirst,thentheirfireceased.
Istuckoutmyhead,andescapedbyahair’s-breadth.ThistimeIdrewadozenshotsormore,andheardtheSelenitesshoutingandtwitteringasifwithexcitementastheyshot.Ipickedupjacketandcrowbaragain.
“Now!”saidI,andthrustoutthejacket.
“Chuzz-zz-zz-zz!Chuzz!”Inaninstantmyjackethadgrownathickbeardofarrows,andtheywerequiveringalloverthecarcassbehindus.InstantlyIslippedthecrowbaroutofthejacket,droppedthejacket—forallIknowtothecontraryitislyingupthereinthemoonnow—andrushedoutuponthem.
Foraminuteperhapsitwasmassacre.Iwastoofiercetodiscriminate,andtheSeleniteswereprobablytooscaredtofight.Atanyratetheymadenosortoffightagainstme.Isawscarlet,asthesayingis.IrememberIseemedtobewadingamongthoseleathery,thinthingsasamanwadesthroughtallgrass,mowingandhitting,firstright,thenleft;smash.Littledropsofmoistureflewabout.Itrodonthingsthatcrushedandpipedandwentslippery.Thecrowdseemedtoopenandcloseandflowlikewater
