Первые люди на Луне

           Suddenly,foramoment,Iwasinapuffoffallingsnow,andalltheworldaboutmegreyanddim.

           AndthenitwasIheard,notloudandpenetratingasatfirst,butfaintanddimlikeadyingvoice,thattolling,thatsametollingthathadwelcomedthecomingoftheday:Boom!...Boom!...Boom!...

           Itechoedaboutthecrater,itseemedtothrobwiththethrobbingofthegreaterstars,theblood-redcrescentofthesun’sdiscsankasittolledout:Boom!...Boom!...Boom!...

           WhathadhappenedtoCavor?AllthroughthattollingIstoodtherestupidly,andatlastthetollingceased.

           Andsuddenlytheopenmouthofthetunneldownbelowthere,shutlikeaneyeandvanishedoutofsight.

           ThenindeedwasIalone.

           Overme,aroundme,closinginonme,embracingmeevernearer,wastheEternal;thatwhichwasbeforethebeginning,andthatwhichtriumphsovertheend;thatenormousvoidinwhichalllightandlifeandbeingisbutthethinandvanishingsplendourofafallingstar,thecold,thestillness,thesilence—theinfiniteandfinalNightofspace.

           Thesenseofsolitudeanddesolationbecamethesenseofanoverwhelmingpresencethatstoopedtowardsme,thatalmosttouchedme.

           “No,”Icried.“No!Notyet!notyet!Wait!Wait!Oh,wait!”Myvoicewentuptoashriek.Iflungthecrumpledpaperfromme,scrambledbacktothecresttotakemybearings,andthen,withallthewillthatwasinme,leaptouttowardsthemarkIhadleft,dimanddistantnowintheverymarginoftheshadow.

           Leap,leap,leap,andeachleapwassevenages.