Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 1 — Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne
You’vemadeallthatimpossible!”
Isuggestedhemighttrysomeotherdirection.
“No.Thereisnootherdirection.Thisistheonlyone.I’veinquired.Andnow—everyafternoonatfour—Icometoadeadwall.”
“But,mydearsir,ifthethingissoimportanttoyou—”
“It’svital.Yousee,I’m—I’maninvestigator—Iamengagedinascientificresearch.Ilive—”hepausedandseemedtothink.“Justoverthere,”hesaid,andpointedsuddenlydangerouslynearmyeye.“Thehousewithwhitechimneysyouseejustoverthetrees.Andmycircumstancesareabnormal—abnormal.Iamonthepointofcompletingoneofthemostimportant—demonstrations—Icanassureyouoneofthemostimportantdemonstrationsthathaveeverbeenmade.Itrequiresconstantthought,constantmentaleaseandactivity.Andtheafternoonwasmybrightesttime!—effervescingwithnewideas—newpointsofview.”
“Butwhynotcomebystill?”
“Itwouldbealldifferent.Ishouldbeself-conscious.Ishouldthinkofyouatyourplay—watchingmeirritated—insteadofthinkingofmywork.No!Imusthavethebungalow.”
Imeditated.Naturally,Iwantedtothinkthematteroverthoroughlybeforeanythingdecisivewassaid.Iwasgenerallyreadyenoughforbusinessinthosedays,andsellingalwaysattractedme;butinthefirstplaceitwasnotmybungalow,andevenifIsoldittohimatagoodpriceImightgetinconveniencedinthedeliveryofgoodsifthecurrentownergotwindofthetransaction,andinthesecondIwas,well—undischarged.Itwasclearlyabusinessthatrequireddelicatehandling.
