Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 9 — Prospecting Begins
Hestretchedouthishandforhisblanket,thrusthisheadthroughitscentralhole,andwrappeditabouthim.Hesatdownontheedgeofthemanhole,helethisfeetdropuntiltheywerewithinsixinchesofthelunarground.Hehesitatedforamoment,thenthrusthimselfforward,droppedtheseinterveninginches,andstoodupontheuntroddensoilofthemoon.
Ashesteppedforwardhewasrefractedgrotesquelybytheedgeoftheglass.Hestoodforamomentlookingthiswayandthat.Thenhedrewhimselftogetherandleapt.
Theglassdistortedeverything,butitseemedtomeeventhentobeanextremelybigleap.Hehadatoneboundbecomeremote.Heseemedtwentyorthirtyfeetoff.Hewasstandinghighuponarockymassandgesticulatingbacktome.Perhapshewasshouting—butthesounddidnotreachme.Buthowthedeucehadhedonethis?Ifeltlikeamanwhohasjustseenanewconjuringtrick.
InapuzzledstateofmindItoodroppedthroughthemanhole.Istoodup.Justinfrontofmethesnowdrifthadfallenawayandmadeasortofditch.Imadeastepandjumped.
Ifoundmyselfflyingthroughtheair,sawtherockonwhichhestoodcomingtomeetme,clutcheditandclunginastateofinfiniteamazement.
Igaspedapainfullaugh.Iwastremendouslyconfused.Cavorbentdownandshoutedinpipingtonesformetobecareful.
Ihadforgottenthatonthemoon,withonlyaneighthpartoftheearth’smassandaquarterofitsdiameter,myweightwasbarelyasixthwhatitwasonearth.Butnowthatfactinsistedonbeingremembered.
“WeareoutofMotherEarth’sleading-stringsnow,”hesaid.
