Первые люди на Луне

           Whathadbeensolidairhadsuddenlyatthetouchofthesunbecomeapaste,amud,aslushyliquefaction,thathissedandbubbledintogas.

           Therecameastillmoreviolentwhirlofthesphereandwehadclutchedoneanother.Inanothermomentwewerespunaboutagain.Roundwewentandover,andthenIwasonallfours.Thelunardawnhadholdofus.Itmeanttoshowuslittlemenwhatthemooncoulddowithus.

           Icaughtasecondglimpseofthingswithout,puffsofvapour,halfliquidslush,excavated,sliding,falling,sliding.Wedroppedintodarkness.IwentdownwithCavor’skneesinmychest.Thenheseemedtoflyawayfromme,andforamomentIlaywithallthebreathoutofmybodystaringupward.Atopplingcragofthemeltingstuffhadsplashedoverus,buriedus,andnowitthinnedandboiledoffus.Isawthebubblesdancingontheglassabove.IheardCavorexclaimingfeebly.

           Thensomehugelandslipinthethawingairhadcaughtus,andsplutteringexpostulation,webegantorolldownaslope,rollingfasterandfaster,leapingcrevassesandreboundingfrombanks,fasterandfaster,westwardintothewhite-hotboilingtumultofthelunarday.

           Clutchingatoneanotherwespunabout,pitchedthiswayandthat,ourbaleofpackagesleapingatus,poundingatus.Wecollided,wegripped,weweretornasunder—ourheadsmet,andthewholeuniverseburstintofierydartsandstars!Ontheearthweshouldhavesmashedoneanotheradozentimes,butonthemoon,luckilyforus,ourweightwasonlyone-sixthofwhatitisterrestrially,andwefellverymercifully.