Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 16 — Points of View
Foratimewenursedourkneesinsilence.Thenheseemedtodecideformyreasons.
“Ithink,”hesaid,“onecangetdata.Itisclearthatwhilethesunisonthissideofthemoontheairwillbeblowingthroughthisplanetspongefromthedarksidehither.Onthisside,atanyrate,theairwillbeexpandingandflowingoutofthemooncavernsintothecraters....Verywell,there’sadraughthere.”
“Sothereis.”
“Andthatmeansthatthisisnotadeadend;somewherebehindusthiscleftgoesonandup.Thedraughtisblowingup,andthatisthewaywehavetogo.Ifwetrytogetupanysortofchimneyorgullythereis,weshallnotonlygetoutofthesepassageswheretheyarehuntingforus—”
“Butsupposethegullyistoonarrow?”
“We’llcomedownagain.”
“Ssh!”Isaidsuddenly;“what’sthat?”
Welistened.Atfirstitwasanindistinctmurmur,andthenonepickedouttheclangofagong.“Theymustthinkwearemooncalves,”saidI,“tobefrightenedatthat.”
“They’recomingalongthatpassage,”saidCavor.
“Theymustbe.”
“They’llnotthinkofthecleft.They’llgopast.”
Ilistenedagainforaspace.“Thistime,”Iwhispered,“they’relikelytohavesomesortofweapon.”
ThensuddenlyIsprangtomyfeet.“Goodheavens,Cavor!”Icried.“Buttheywill!They’llseethefungiIhavebeenpitchingdown.They’ll—”
Ididn’tfinishmysentence.Iturnedaboutandmadealeapoverthefungustopstowardstheupperendofthecavity
