Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 20 — Mr. Bedford in Infinite Space
UndertheinspiringtouchofthedriftingnewspaperIbecamepracticalagainforawhile.ItwasquitecleartomethatwhatIhadtodowastogetbacktoearth,butasfarasIcouldseeIwasdriftingawayfromit.WhateverhadhappenedtoCavor,evenifhewasstillalive,whichseemedtomeincredibleafterthatblood-stainedscrap,Iwaspowerlesstohelphim.Therehewas,livingordeadbehindthemantleofthatraylessnight,andtherehemustremainatleastuntilIcouldsummonourfellowmentohisassistance.ShouldIdothat?SomethingofthesortIhadinmymind;tocomebacktoearthifitwerepossible,andthenasmaturerconsiderationmightdetermine,eithertoshowandexplainthespheretoafewdiscreetpersons,andactwiththem,orelsetokeepmysecret,sellmygold,obtainweapons,provisions,andanassistant,andreturnwiththeseadvantagestodealonequaltermswiththeflimsypeopleofthemoon,torescueCavor,ifthatwerestillpossible,andatanyratetoprocureasufficientsupplyofgoldtoplacemysubsequentproceedingsonafirmerbasis.Butthatwashopingfar;Ihadfirsttogetback.
Isetmyselftodecidejustexactlyhowthereturntoearthcouldbecontrived.AsIstruggledwiththatproblemIceasedtoworryaboutwhatIshoulddowhenIgotthere.Atlastmyonlycarewastogetback.
IpuzzledoutatlastthatmybestchancewouldbetodropbacktowardsthemoonasnearasIdaredinordertogathervelocity,thentoshutmywindows,andflybehindit,andwhenIwaspasttoopenmyearthwardwindows,andsogetoffatagoodpacehomeward.
