Первые люди на Луне

           Beforemethepaleserpent-girdledsectionofthesunsankandsank,andtheadvancingshadowswepttoseizethespherebeforeIcouldreachit.Iwastwomilesaway,ahundredleapsormore,andtheairaboutmewasthinningoutasitthinsunderanair-pump,andthecoldwasgrippingatmyjoints.ButhadIdied,Ishouldhavediedleaping.Once,andthenagainmyfootslippedonthegatheringsnowasIleaptandshortenedmyleap;onceIfellshortintobushesthatcrashedandsmashedintodustychipsandnothingness,andonceIstumbledasIdroppedandrolledheadoverheelsintoagully,androsebruisedandbleedingandconfusedastomydirection.

           Butsuchincidentswereasnothingtotheintervals,thoseawfulpauseswhenonedriftedthroughtheairtowardsthatpouringtideofnight.Mybreathingmadeapipingnoise,anditwasasthoughkniveswerewhirlinginmylungs.Myheartseemedtobeatagainstthetopofmybrain.“ShallIreachit?OHeaven!ShallIreachit?”

           Mywholebeingbecameanguish.

           “Liedown!”screamedmypainanddespair;“liedown!”

           ThenearerIstruggled,themoreawfullyremoteitseemed.Iwasnumb,Istumbled,Ibruisedandcutmyselfanddidnotbleed.

           Itwasinsight.

           Ifellonallfours,andmylungswhooped.

           Icrawled.Thefrostgatheredonmylips,icicleshungfrommymoustache,Iwaswhitewiththefreezingatmosphere.

           Iwasadozenyardsfromit.Myeyeshadbecomedim.“Liedown!”screameddespair;“liedown!”

           Itouchedit,andhalted.“Toolate!”screameddespair;“liedown!”

           Ifoughtstifflywithit