Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 1 — Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne
Theproposedtransferofthebungalowremainedveryconvenientlyinsuspense.
Atlastherosetodepart,withanapologyforthelengthofhiscall.Talkingoverhisworkwas,hesaid,apleasureenjoyedonlytoorarely.Itwasnotoftenhefoundsuchanintelligentlistenerasmyself,hemingledverylittlewithprofessionalscientificmen.
“Somuchpettiness,”heexplained;“somuchintrigue!Andreally,whenonehasanidea—anovel,fertilisingidea—Idon’twanttobeuncharitable,but—”
Iamamanwhobelievesinimpulses.Imadewhatwasperhapsarashproposition.Butyoumustremember,thatIhadbeenalone,play-writinginLympne,forfourteendays,andmycompunctionforhisruinedwalkstillhungaboutme.“Whynot,”saidI,“makethisyournewhabit?IntheplaceoftheoneIspoilt?Atleast,untilwecansettleaboutthebungalow.Whatyouwantistoturnoveryourworkinyourmind.Thatyouhavealwaysdoneduringyourafternoonwalk.Unfortunatelythat’sover—youcan’tgetthingsbackastheywere.Butwhynotcomeandtalkaboutyourworktome;usemeasasortofwallagainstwhichyoumaythrowyourthoughtsandcatchthemagain?It’scertainIdon’tknowenoughtostealyourideasmyself—andIknownoscientificmen—”
Istopped.Hewasconsidering.Evidentlythethingattractedhim.“ButI’mafraidIshouldboreyou,”hesaid.
“YouthinkI’mtoodull?”
“Oh,no;buttechnicalities—”
“Anyhow,you’veinterestedmeimmenselythisafternoon.”
“Ofcourseitwouldbeagreathelptome.Nothingclearsupone’sideassomuchasexplainingthem.
