Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 16 — Points of View
Thenwhackandhewashangingtomyarm—andnoheavierthanakitten!Iluggedhimupuntilhehadahandonmyledge,andcouldreleaseme.
“Confoundit!”Isaid,“anyonecouldbeamountaineeronthemoon;”andsosetmyselfinearnesttotheclimbing.ForafewminutesIclamberedsteadily,andthenIlookedupagain.Thecleftopenedoutsteadily,andthelightwasbrighter.Only—
Itwasnotdaylightafterall.
InanothermomentIcouldseewhatitwas,andatthesightIcouldhavebeatenmyheadagainsttherockswithdisappointment.ForIbeheldsimplyanirregularlyslopingopenspace,andalloveritsslantingfloorstoodaforestoflittleclub-shapedfungi,eachshininggloriouslywiththatpinkishsilverylight.ForamomentIstaredattheirsoftradiance,thensprangforwardandupwardamongthem.Ipluckeduphalfadozenandflungthemagainsttherocks,andthensatdown,laughingbitterly,asCavor’sruddyfacecameintoview.
“It’sphosphorescenceagain!”Isaid.“Noneedtohurry.Sitdownandmakeyourselfathome.”Andashesplutteredoverourdisappointment,Ibegantolobmoreofthesegrowthsintothecleft.
“Ithoughtitwasdaylight,”hesaid.
“Daylight!”criedI.“Daybreak,sunset,clouds,andwindyskies!Shallweeverseesuchthingsagain?”
AsIspoke,alittlepictureofourworldseemedtorisebeforeme,brightandlittleandclear,likethebackgroundofsomeoldItalianpicture.“Theskythatchanges,andtheseathatchanges,andthehillsandthegreentreesandthetownsandcitiesshininginthesun.
