Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 1 — Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne
Hitherto—”
“Mydearsir,saynomore.”
“Butreallycanyousparethetime?”
“Thereisnorestlikechangeofoccupation,”Isaid,withprofoundconviction.
Theaffairwasover.Onmyverandahstepsheturned.“Iamalreadygreatlyindebtedtoyou,”hesaid.
Imadeaninterrogativenoise.
“Youhavecompletelycuredmeofthatridiculoushabitofhumming,”heexplained.
IthinkIsaidIwasgladtobeofanyservicetohim,andheturnedaway.
Immediatelythetrainofthoughtthatourconversationhadsuggestedmusthaveresumeditssway.Hisarmsbegantowaveintheirformerfashion.Thefaintechoof“zuzzoo”camebacktomeonthebreeze....
Well,afterall,thatwasnotmyaffair....
Hecamethenextday,andagainthenextdayafterthat,anddeliveredtwolecturesonphysicstoourmutualsatisfaction.Hetalkedwithanairofbeingextremelylucidaboutthe“ether”and“tubesofforce,”and“gravitationalpotential,”andthingslikethat,andIsatinmyotherfolding-chairandsaid,“Yes,”“Goon,”“Ifollowyou,”tokeephimgoing.Itwastremendouslydifficultstuff,butIdonotthinkheeversuspectedhowmuchIdidnotunderstandhim.ThereweremomentswhenIdoubtedwhetherIwaswellemployed,butatanyrateIwasrestingfromthatconfoundedplay.Nowandthenthingsgleamedonmeclearlyforaspace,onlytovanishjustwhenIthoughtIhadholdofthem.
