Подорож на Місяць
Attack and Riposte
"Stillitwillbeenoughtosmashyoulikeglass!"
"Whatistopreventmyretardingtheshockbymeansofrocketsconvenientlyplaced,andlightedattherightmoment?"
"Butafterall,supposingalldifficultiessurmounted,allobstaclesremoved,supposingeverythingcombinedtofavoryou,andgrantingthatyoumayarrivesafeandsoundinthemoon,howwillyoucomeback?"
"Iamnotcomingback!"
Atthisreply,almostsublimeinitsverysimplicity,theassemblybecamesilent.Butitssilencewasmoreeloquentthancouldhavebeenitscriesofenthusiasm.Theunknownprofitedbytheopportunityandoncemoreprotested:
"Youwillinevitablykillyourself!"hecried;"andyourdeathwillbethatofamadman,uselesseventoscience!"
"Goon,mydearunknown,fortrulyyourpropheciesaremostagreeable!"
"Itreallyistoomuch!"criedMichelArdan’sadversary."IdonotknowwhyIshouldcontinuesofrivolousadiscussion!Pleaseyourselfaboutthisinsaneexpedition!Weneednottroubleourselvesaboutyou!"
"Praydon’tstanduponceremony!"
"No!anotherpersonisresponsibleforyouract."
"Who,mayIask?"demandedMichelArdaninanimperioustone.
"Theignoramuswhoorganizedthisequallyabsurdandimpossibleexperiment!"
Theattackwasdirect.Barbicane,eversincetheinterferenceoftheunknown,hadbeenmakingfearfuleffortsofself-control;now,however,seeinghimselfdirectlyattacked,hecouldrestrainhimselfnolonger.
