Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 9 — Prospecting Begins
ThenImadeahastysteptolookoverthevergeoftherock.ButinmysurpriseathisdisappearanceIforgotoncemorethatwewereonthemoon.ThethrustofmyfootthatImadeinstridingwouldhavecarriedmeayardonearth;onthemoonitcarriedmesix—agoodfiveyardsovertheedge.Forthemomentthethinghadsomethingoftheeffectofthosenightmareswhenonefallsandfalls.Forwhileonefallssixteenfeetinthefirstsecondofafallonearth,onthemoononefallstwo,andwithonlyasixthofone’sweight.Ifell,orratherIjumpeddown,abouttenyardsIsuppose.Itseemedtotakequitealongtime,fiveorsixseconds,Ishouldthink.Ifloatedthroughtheairandfelllikeafeather,knee-deepinasnow-driftinthebottomofagullyofblue-grey,white-veinedrock.
Ilookedaboutme.“Cavor!”Icried;butnoCavorwasvisible.
“Cavor!”Icriedlouder,andtherocksechoedme.
Iturnedfiercelytotherocksandclamberedtothesummitofthem.“Cavor!”Icried.Myvoicesoundedlikethevoiceofalostlamb.
Thesphere,too,wasnotinsight,andforamomentahorriblefeelingofdesolationpinchedmyheart.
ThenIsawhim.Hewaslaughingandgesticulatingtoattractmyattention.Hewasonabarepatchofrocktwentyorthirtyyardsaway.Icouldnothearhisvoice,but“jump”saidhisgestures.Ihesitated,thedistanceseemedenormous.YetIreflectedthatsurelyImustbeabletoclearagreaterdistancethanCavor.
Imadeastepback,gatheredmyselftogether,andleaptwithallmymight.IseemedtoshootrightupintheairasthoughIshouldnevercomedown.
