Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 18 — In the Sunlight
“Orifpresentlytheycomehuntingus?”
Hemadenoanswer.
“Youhadbettertakeaclub,”Isaid.
Heshookhishead,andstaredawayfrommeacrossthewaste.
Butforamomenthedidnotstart.Helookedroundatmeshyly,hesitated.“Aurevoir,”hesaid.
Ifeltanoddstabofemotion.Asenseofhowwehadgalledeachother,andparticularlyhowImusthavegalledhim,cametome.“Confoundit,”thoughtI,“wemighthavedonebetter!”Iwasonthepointofaskinghimtoshakehands—forthat,somehow,washowIfeltjustthen—whenheputhisfeettogetherandleaptawayfrommetowardsthenorth.Heseemedtodriftthroughtheairasadeadleafwoulddo,felllightly,andleaptagain.Istoodforamomentwatchinghim,thenfacedwestwardreluctantly,pulledmyselftogether,andwithsomethingofthefeelingofamanwholeapsintoicywater,selectedaleapingpoint,andplungedforwardtoexploremysolitaryhalfofthemoonworld.Idroppedratherclumsilyamongrocks,stoodupandlookedaboutme,clamberedontoarockyslab,andleaptagain....
WhenpresentlyIlookedforCavorhewashiddenfrommyeyes,butthehandkerchiefshowedoutbravelyonitsheadland,whiteintheblazeofthesun.
Ideterminednottolosesightofthathandkerchiefwhatevermightbetide.
