Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 18 — In the Sunlight
Thinkofitsinkywatersunderthesparelights—if,indeed,theireyesneedlights!Thinkofthecascadingtributariespouringdowntheirchannelstofeedit!Thinkofthetidesuponitssurface,andtherushandswirlofitsebbandflow!Perhapstheyhaveshipsthatgouponit,perhapsdowntherearemightycitiesandswarmingways,andwisdomandorderpassingthewitofman.Andwemaydiehereuponit,andneverseethemasterswhomustbe—rulingoverthesethings!Wemayfreezeanddiehere,andtheairwillfreezeandthawuponus,andthen—!Thentheywillcomeuponus,comeonourstiffandsilentbodies,andfindthespherewecannotfind,andtheywillunderstandatlasttoolateallthethoughtandeffortthatendedhereinvain!”
Hisvoiceforallthatspeechsoundedlikethevoiceofsomeoneheardinatelephone,weakandfaraway.
“Butthedarkness,”Isaid.
“Onemightgetoverthat.”
“How?”
“Idon’tknow.HowamItoknow?Onemightcarryatorch,onemighthavealamp—Theothers—mightunderstand.”
Hestoodforamomentwithhishandshelddownandaruefulface,staringoutoverthewastethatdefiedhim.Thenwithagestureofrenunciationheturnedtowardsmewithproposalsforthesystematichuntingofthesphere.
“Wecanreturn,”Isaid.
Helookedabouthim.“Firstofallweshallhavetogettoearth.”
“Wecouldbringbacklampstocarryandclimbingirons,andahundrednecessarythings.”
“Yes,”hesaid.
“Wecantakebackanearnestofsuccessinthisgold.”
Helookedatmygoldencrowbars,andsaidnothingforaspace.
