Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 23 — An Abstract of the Six Messages First Received from Mr. Cavor
AndafterevadingthemforsometimeIfellintoacrevasse,cutmyheadratherbadly,anddisplacedmypatella,and,findingcrawlingverypainful,decidedtosurrender—iftheywouldstillpermitmetodoso.Thistheydid,and,perceivingmyhelplesscondition,carriedmewiththemagainintothemoon.AndofBedfordIhaveheardorseennothingmore,nor,sofarasIcangather,hasanySelenite.Eitherthenightovertookhiminthecrater,orelse,whichismoreprobable,hefoundthesphere,and,desiringtostealamarchuponme,madeoffwithit—only,Ifear,tofindituncontrollable,andtomeetamorelingeringfateinouterspace.”
AndwiththatCavordismissesmeandgoesontomoreinterestingtopics.Idisliketheideaofseemingtousemypositionashiseditortodeflecthisstoryinmyowninterest,butIamobligedtoprotesthereagainsttheturnhegivestheseoccurrences.Hesaidnothingaboutthatgaspingmessageontheblood-stainedpaperinwhichhetold,orattemptedtotell,averydifferentstory.Thedignifiedself-surrenderisanaltogethernewviewoftheaffairthathascometohim,Imustinsist,sincehebegantofeelsecureamongthelunarpeople;andasforthe“stealingamarch”conception,Iamquitewillingtoletthereaderdecidebetweenusonwhathehasbeforehim.IknowIamnotamodelman—Ihavemadenopretencetobe.ButamIthat?
However,thatisthesumofmywrongs.FromthispointIcaneditCavorwithanuntroubledmind,forhementionsmenomore.
