Перші люди на Місяці

           NeitherCavornortheotherSelenitesseemedtohavedoneanythingfromthetimewhenIhadturnedabouttothetimewhenthedeadSelenitehittheground.Everyonestoodbackfromustwo,everyonealert.ThatarrestseemedtolastatleastasecondaftertheSelenitewasdown.Everyonemusthavebeentakingthethingin.Iseemtoremembermyselfstandingwithmyarmhalfretracted,tryingalsototakeitin.“Whatnext?”clamouredmybrain;“whatnext?”Theninamomenteveryonewasmoving!

           Iperceivedwemustgetourchainsloose,andthatbeforewecoulddothistheseSeleniteshadtobebeatenoff.Ifacedtowardsthegroupofthethreegoad-bearers.Instantlyonethrewhisgoadatme.Itswishedovermyhead,andIsupposewentflyingintotheabyssbehind.

           Ileapedrightathimwithallmymightasthegoadflewoverme.HeturnedtorunasIjumped,andIborehimtotheground,camedownrightuponhim,andslippeduponhissmashedbodyandfell.Heseemedtowriggleundermyfoot.

           Icameintoasittingposition,andoneveryhandthebluebacksoftheSeleniteswererecedingintothedarkness.Ibentalinkbymainforceanduntwistedthechainthathadhamperedmeabouttheankles,andsprangtomyfeet,withthechaininmyhand.Anothergoad,flungjavelin-wise,whistledbyme,andImadearushtowardsthedarknessoutofwhichithadcome.ThenIturnedbacktowardsCavor,whowasstillstandinginthelightoftherivuletnearthegulfconvulsivelybusywithhiswrists,andatthesametimejabberingnonsenseabouthisidea.

           “Comeon!”Icried.

           “Myhands!”heanswered.