Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 21 — Mr. Bedford at Littlestone
AfterwhichIpulledtheclothesovermyearsinordertodrownanyknocking,andwentverycomfortablytosleep.
Iwenttosleep.Nodoubtitwasaprosaicthingforthefirstmanbackfromthemoontodo,andIcanimaginethattheyoungandimaginativereaderwillfindmybehaviourdisappointing.ButIwashorriblyfatiguedandbothered,and,confoundit!whatelsewastheretodo?Therecertainlywasnottheremotestchanceofmybeingbelieved,ifIhadtoldmystorythen,anditwouldcertainlyhavesubjectedmetointolerableannoyances.Iwenttosleep.WhenatlastIwokeupagainIwasreadytofacetheworldasIhavealwaysbeenaccustomedtofaceitsinceIcametoyearsofdiscretion.AndsoIgotawaytoItaly,andthereitisIamwritingthisstory.Iftheworldwillnothaveitasfact,thentheworldmaytakeitasfiction.Itisnoconcernofmine.
Andnowthattheaccountisfinished,Iamamazedtothinkhowcompletelythisadventureisgoneanddonewith.EverybodybelievesthatCavorwasanotverybrilliantscientificexperimenterwhoblewuphishouseandhimselfatLympne,andtheyexplainthebangthatfollowedmyarrivalatLittlestonebyareferencetotheexperimentswithexplosivesthataregoingoncontinuallyatthegovernmentestablishmentofLydd,twomilesaway.ImustconfessthathithertoIhavenotacknowledgedmyshareinthedisappearanceofMasterTommySimmons,whichwasthatlittleboy’sname.That,perhaps,mayproveadifficultitemofcorroborationtoexplainaway.
