Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 18 — In the Sunlight
Hestoodwithhishandsclaspedbehindhisback,staringacrossthecrater.Atlasthesignedandspoke.“ItwasIfoundthewayhere,buttofindawayisn’talwaystobemasterofaway.IfItakemysecretbacktoearth,whatwillhappen?IdonotseehowIcankeepmysecretforayear,forevenapartofayear.Soonerorlateritmustcomeout,evenifothermenrediscoverit.Andthen...Governmentsandpowerswillstruggletogethither,theywillfightagainstoneanother,andagainstthesemoonpeople;itwillonlyspreadwarfareandmultiplytheoccasionsofwar.Inalittlewhile,inaverylittlewhile,ifItellmysecret,thisplanettoitsdeepestgallerieswillbestrewnwithhumandead.Otherthingsaredoubtful,butthatiscertain.Itisnotasthoughmanhadanyuseforthemoon.Whatgoodwouldthemoonbetomen?Evenoftheirownplanetwhathavetheymadebutabattle-groundandtheatreofinfinitefolly?Smallashisworldis,andshortashistime,hehasstillinhislittlelifedowntherefarmorethanhecando.No!Sciencehastoiledtoolongforgingweaponsforfoolstouse.Itistimesheheldherhand.Lethimfinditoutforhimselfagain—inathousandyears’time.”
“Therearemethodsofsecrecy,”Isaid.
Helookedupatmeandsmiled.“Afterall,”hesaid,“whyshouldoneworry?Thereislittlechanceofourfindingthesphere,anddownbelowthingsarebrewing.It’ssimplythehumanhabitofhopingtillwediethatmakesusthinkofreturn.Ourtroublesareonlybeginning.
