Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 3 — The Building of the sphere
Onemightmakeabookofitperhaps,”Isaid.
“Ihavenodoubttherewillbeminerals,”saidCavor.
“Forexample?”
“Oh!sulphur,ores,goldperhaps,possiblynewelements.”
“Costofcarriage,”Isaid.“Youknowyou’renotapracticalman.Themoon’saquarterofamillionmilesaway.”
“Itseemstomeitwouldn’tcostmuchtocartanyweightanywhereifyoupackeditinaCavoritecase.”
Ihadnotthoughtofthat.“Deliveredfreeonheadofpurchaser,eh?”
“Itisn’tasthoughwewereconfinedtothemoon.”
“Youmean?”
“There’sMars—clearatmosphere,novelsurroundings,exhilaratingsenseoflightness.Itmightbepleasanttogothere.”
“IsthereaironMars?”
“Oh,yes!”
“Seemsasthoughyoumightrunitasasanatorium.Bytheway,howfarisMars?”
“Twohundredmillionmilesatpresent,”saidCavorairily;“andyougoclosebythesun.”
Myimaginationwaspickingitselfupagain.“Afterall,”Isaid,“there’ssomethinginthesethings.There’stravel—”
Anextraordinarypossibilitycamerushingintomymind.SuddenlyIsaw,asinavision,thewholesolarsystemthreadedwithCavoritelinersandspheresdeluxe.“Rightsofpre-emption,”camefloatingintomyhead—planetaryrightsofpre-emption.IrecalledtheoldSpanishmonopolyinAmericangold.Itwasn’tasthoughitwasjustthisplanetorthat—itwasallofthem.IstaredatCavor’srubicundface,andsuddenlymyimaginationwasleapinganddancing.Istoodup,Iwalkedupanddown;mytonguewasunloosened.
