Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 1 — Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne
WhyhedidsoIdonotknow,forhenevercycledandheneverplayedcricket.Itwasafortuitousconcurrenceofgarments,arisingIknownothow.Hegesticulatedwithhishandsandarms,andjerkedhisheadaboutandbuzzed.Hebuzzedlikesomethingelectric.Youneverheardsuchbuzzing.Andeverandagainheclearedhisthroatwithamostextraordinarynoise.
Therehadbeenrain,andthatspasmodicwalkofhiswasenhancedbytheextremeslipperinessofthefootpath.Exactlyashecameagainstthesunhestopped,pulledoutawatch,hesitated.Thenwithasortofconvulsivegestureheturnedandretreatedwitheverymanifestationofhaste,nolongergesticulating,butgoingwithamplestridesthatshowedtherelativelylargesizeofhisfeet—theywere,Iremember,grotesquelyexaggeratedinsizebyadhesiveclay—tothebestpossibleadvantage.
Thisoccurredonthefirstdayofmysojourn,whenmyplay-writingenergywasatitsheightandIregardedtheincidentsimplyasanannoyingdistraction—thewasteoffiveminutes.Ireturnedtomyscenario.Butwhennexteveningtheapparitionwasrepeatedwithremarkableprecision,andagainthenextevening,andindeedeveryeveningwhenrainwasnotfalling,concentrationuponthescenariobecameaconsiderableeffort.“Confoundtheman,”Isaid,“onewouldthinkhewaslearningtobeamarionette!”andforseveraleveningsIcursedhimprettyheartily.Thenmyannoyancegavewaytoamazementandcuriosity.
