Первые люди на Луне

           IwasoppressedbytheideathattheSeleniteswouldpresentlyclosetheirlidsandvalves,andshutusoutundertheinexorableonrushofthelunarnight.Itseemedtomehightimethatheabandonedhissearch,andthatwetookcounseltogether.Ifelthowurgentitwasthatweshoulddecidesoonuponourcourse.Wehadfailedtofindthesphere,wenolongerhadtimetoseekit,andoncethesevalveswereclosedwithusoutside,wewerelostmen.Thegreatnightofspacewoulddescenduponus—thatblacknessofthevoidwhichistheonlyabsolutedeath.Allmybeingshrankfromthatapproach.Wemustgetintothemoonagain,thoughwewereslainindoingit.Iwashauntedbyavisionofourfreezingtodeath,ofourhammeringwithourlaststrengthonthevalveofthegreatpit.

           Itooknothoughtanymoreofthesphere.IthoughtonlyoffindingCavoragain.Iwashalfinclinedtogobackintothemoonwithouthim,ratherthanseekhimuntilitwastoolate.Iwasalreadyhalf-waybacktowardsourhandkerchief,whensuddenly—

           Isawthesphere!

           Ididnotfinditsomuchasitfoundme.ItwaslyingmuchfarthertothewestwardthanIhadgone,andtheslopingraysofthesinkingsunreflectedfromitsglasshadsuddenlyproclaimeditspresenceinadazzlingbeam.ForaninstantIthoughtthiswassomenewdeviceoftheSelenitesagainstus,andthenIunderstood.

           Ithrewupmyarms,shoutedaghostlyshout,andsetoffinvastleapstowardsit.Imissedoneofmyleapsanddroppedintoadeepravineandtwistedmyankle,andafterthatIstumbledatalmosteveryleap.