Первые люди на Луне

           Therewouldbestilltimeforustogetmoreofthemagicstonethatgivesonemasteryovermen.Awaythere,closehandy,wasgoldforthepickingup;andthespherewouldtravelaswellhalffullofgoldasthoughitwereempty.Wecouldgobacknow,mastersofourselvesandourworld,andthen—

           Irousedmyselfatlast,andwithaneffortgotmyselfoutofthesphere.IshiveredasIemerged,fortheeveningairwasgrowingverycold.Istoodinthehollowstaringaboutme.IscrutinisedthebushesroundmeverycarefullybeforeIleapttotherockyshelfhardby,andtookoncemorewhathadbeenmyfirstleapinthemoon.ButnowImadeitwithnoeffortwhatever.

           Thegrowthanddecayofthevegetationhadgoneonapace,andthewholeaspectoftherockshadchanged,butstillitwaspossibletomakeouttheslopeonwhichtheseedshadgerminated,andtherockymassfromwhichwehadtakenourfirstviewofthecrater.Butthespikyshrubontheslopestoodbrownandserenow,andthirtyfeethigh,andcastlongshadowsthatstretchedoutofsight,andthelittleseedsthatclusteredinitsupperbrancheswerebrownandripe.Itsworkwasdone,anditwasbrittleandreadytofallandcrumpleunderthefreezingair,sosoonasthenightfallcame.Andthehugecacti,thathadswollenaswewatchedthem,hadlongsinceburstandscatteredtheirsporestothefourquartersofthemoon.Amazinglittlecornerintheuniverse—thelandingplaceofmen!

           Someday,thoughtI,Iwillhaveaninscriptionstandingthererightinthemidstofthehollow.