Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 15 — The Giddy Bridge
ThefiguresofCavorandtheguidingSelenitemarchedbeforeme,thesidesoftheirlegsandheadsthatweretowardstherivuletwereclearandbrightblue,theirdarkenedsides,nowthatthereflectionofthetunnelwallnolongerlitthem,mergedindistinguishablyinthedarknessbeyond.
AndsoonIperceivedthatwewereapproachingadeclivityofsomesort,becausethelittlebluestreamdippedsuddenlyoutofsight.
Inanothermoment,asitseemed,wehadreachedtheedge.Theshiningstreamgaveonemeanderofhesitationandthenrushedover.Itfelltoadepthatwhichthesoundofitsdescentwasabsolutelylosttous.Farbelowwasabluishglow,asortofbluemist—ataninfinitedistancebelow.Andthedarknessthestreamdroppedoutofbecameutterlyvoidandblack,savethatathinglikeaplankprojectedfromtheedgeofthecliffandstretchedoutandfadedandvanishedaltogether.Therewasawarmairblowingupoutofthegulf.
ForamomentIandCavorstoodasneartheedgeaswedared,peeringintoablue-tingedprofundity.Andthenourguidewaspullingatmyarm.
Thenheleftme,andwalkedtotheendofthatplankandsteppeduponit,lookingback.Thenwhenheperceivedwewatchedhim,heturnedaboutandwentonalongit,walkingassurelyasthoughhewasonfirmearth.Foramomenthisformwasdistinct,thenhebecameablueblur,andthenvanishedintotheobscurity.Ibecameawareofsomevagueshapeloomingdarklyoutoftheblack.
Therewasapause.“Surely!—”saidCavor.
OneoftheotherSeleniteswalkedafewpacesoutupontheplank,andturnedandlookedbackatusunconcernedly.