Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 1 — Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne
Thechancethathadbroughtmeintotheverybirth-chamberofthisnewtime—itwasanepoch,noless—wasoneofthosechancesthatcomeonceinathousandyears.Thethingunrolled,itexpandedandexpanded.AmongotherthingsIsawinitmyredemptionasabusinessman.Isawaparentcompany,anddaughtercompanies,applicationstorightofus,applicationstoleft,ringsandtrusts,privileges,andconcessionsspreadingandspreading,untilonevast,stupendousCavoritecompanyranandruledtheworld.
AndIwasinit!
Itookmylinestraightaway.IknewIwasstakingeverything,butIjumpedthereandthen.
“We’reonabsolutelythebiggestthingthathaseverbeeninvented,”Isaid,andputtheaccenton“we.”“Ifyouwanttokeepmeoutofthis,you’llhavetodoitwithagun.I’mcomingdowntobeyourfourthlabourerto-morrow.”
Heseemedsurprisedatmyenthusiasm,butnotabitsuspiciousorhostile.Rather,hewasself-depreciatory.Helookedatmedoubtfully.“Butdoyoureallythink—?”hesaid.“Andyourplay!Howaboutthatplay?”
“It’svanished!”Icried.“Mydearsir,don’tyouseewhatyou’vegot?Don’tyouseewhatyou’regoingtodo?”
Thatwasmerelyarhetoricalturn,butpositively,hedidn’t.AtfirstIcouldnotbelieveit.Hehadnothadthebeginningoftheinklingofanidea.
