Первые люди на Луне

           EvidentlytheearlybathingsectionofthisLittlestone.

           “Help!”saidtheyoungman:“rather!”Hebecamevaguelyactive.“Whatparticularlydoyouwantdone?”Heturnedroundandgesticulated.Thethreeyoungmenacceleratedtheirpace.Inaminutetheywereaboutme,plyingmewithquestionsIwasindisposedtoanswer.“I’lltellallthatlater,”Isaid.“I’mdeadbeat.I’marag.”

           “Comeuptothehotel,”saidtheforemostlittleman.“We’lllookafterthatthingthere.”

           Ihesitated.“Ican’t,”Isaid.“Inthatspherethere’stwobigbarsofgold.”

           Theylookedincredulouslyatoneanother,thenatmewithanewinquiry.Iwenttothesphere,stooped,creptin,andpresentlytheyhadtheSelenites’crowbarsandthebrokenchainbeforethem.IfIhadnotbeensohorriblyfaggedIcouldhavelaughedatthem.Itwaslikekittensroundabeetle.Theydidn’tknowwhattodowiththestuff.Thefatlittlemanstoopedandliftedtheendofoneofthebars,andthendroppeditwithagrunt.Thentheyalldid.

           “It’slead,orgold!”saidone.

           “Oh,it’sgold!”saidanother.

           “Gold,rightenough,”saidthethird.

           Thentheyallstaredatme,andthentheyallstaredattheshiplyingatanchor.

           “Isay!”criedthelittleman.“Butwheredidyougetthat?”

           Iwastootiredtokeepupalie.“Igotitinthemoon.”

           Isawthemstareatoneanother.

           “Lookhere!”saidI,“I’mnotgoingtoarguenow.