Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 24 — The Natural History of the Selenites
Phi-oo,hesays,wasabout5feethigh;hehadsmallslenderlegsabout18incheslong,andslightfeetofthecommonlunarpattern.Onthesebalancedalittlebody,throbbingwiththepulsationsofhisheart.Hehadlong,soft,many-jointedarmsendinginatentacledgrip,andhisneckwasmany-jointedintheusualway,butexceptionallyshortandthick.Hishead,saysCavor—apparentlyalludingtosomepreviousdescriptionthathasgoneastrayinspace—“isofthecommonlunartype,butstrangelymodified.Themouthhastheusualexpressionlessgape,butitisunusuallysmallandpointingdownward,andthemaskisreducedtothesizeofalargeflatnose-flap.Oneithersidearethelittleeyes.
“Therestoftheheadisdistendedintoahugeglobeandthechitinousleatherycuticleofthemooncalfherdsthinsouttoameremembrane,throughwhichthepulsatingbrainmovementsaredistinctlyvisible.Heisacreature,indeed,withatremendouslyhypertrophiedbrain,andwiththerestofhisorganismbothrelativelyandabsolutelydwarfed.”
InanotherpassageCavorcomparesthebackviewofhimtoAtlassupportingtheworld.Tsi-puffitseemswasaverysimilarinsect,buthis“face”wasdrawnouttoaconsiderablelength,andthebrainhypertrophybeingindifferentregions,hisheadwasnotroundbutpear-shaped,withthestalkdownward.Therewerealsolitter-carriers,lopsidedbeings,withenormousshoulders,veryspideryushers,andasquatfootattendantinCavor’sretinue.
ThemannerinwhichPhi-ooandTsi-puffattackedtheproblemofspeechwasfairlyobvious.
