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Chapter 24 — The Natural History of the Selenites
Atfirsttheydescendedinsilence—saveforthetwitteringsoftheSelenites—andthenintoastirofwindymovement.Inalittlewhiletheprofoundblacknesshadmadehiseyessosensitivethathebegantoseemoreandmoreofthethingsabouthim,andatlastthevaguetookshape.
“Conceiveanenormouscylindricalspace,”saysCavor,inhisseventhmessage,“aquarterofamileacross,perhaps;verydimlylitatfirstandthenbrighter,withbigplatformstwistingdownitssidesinaspiralthatvanishesatlastbelowinablueprofundity;andlitevenmorebrightly—onecouldnottellhoworwhy.Thinkofthewelloftheverylargestspiralstaircaseorlift-shaftthatyouhaveeverlookeddown,andmagnifythatbyahundred.Imagineitattwilightseenthroughblueglass.Imagineyourselflookingdownthat;onlyimaginealsothatyoufeelextraordinarilylight,andhavegotridofanygiddyfeelingyoumighthaveonearth,andyouwillhavethefirstconditionsofmyimpression.Roundthisenormousshaftimagineabroadgalleryrunninginamuchsteeperspiralthanwouldbecredibleonearth,andformingasteeproadprotectedfromthegulfonlybyalittleparapetthatvanishesatlastinperspectiveacoupleofmilesbelow.
“Lookingup,Isawtheveryfellowofthedownwardvision;ithad,ofcourse,theeffectoflookingintoaverysteepcone.Awindwasblowingdowntheshaft,andfaraboveIfancyIheard,growingfainterandfainter,thebellowingofthemooncalvesthatwerebeingdrivendownagainfromtheireveningpasturageontheexterior.
