Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 17 — The Fight in the Cave of the Moon Butchers
Twoofthemmissedwiththeirhatchets,andtherestfledincontinently.Thenthetwoalsoweresprintingawayupthecavern,withhandsclenchedandheadsdown.Ineversawmenrunlikethem!
IknewthespearIhadwasnogoodforme.Itwasthinandflimsy,onlyeffectualforathrust,andtoolongforaquickrecover.SoIonlychasedtheSelenitesasfarasthefirstcarcass,andstoppedthereandpickeduponeofthecrowbarsthatwerelyingabout.Itfeltcomfortinglyheavy,andequaltosmashinganynumberofSelenites.Ithrewawaymyspear,andpickedupasecondcrowbarfortheotherhand.IfeltfivetimesbetterthanIhadwiththespear.IshookthetwothreateninglyattheSelenites,whohadcometoahaltinalittlecrowdfarawayupthecavern,andthenturnedabouttolookatCavor.
Hewasleapingfromsidetosideofthegrating,makingthreateningjabswithhisbrokenspear.Thatwasallright.ItwouldkeeptheSelenitesdown—foratimeatanyrate.Ilookedupthecavernagain.Whatonearthwerewegoingtodonow?
Wewerecorneredinasortofwayalready.Butthesebutchersupthecavernhadbeensurprised,theywereprobablyscared,andtheyhadnospecialweapons,onlythoselittlehatchetsoftheirs.Andthatwaylayescape.Theirsturdylittleforms—eversomuchshorterandthickerthanthemooncalfherds—werescattereduptheslopeinawaythatwaseloquentofindecision.Ihadthemoraladvantageofamadbullinastreet.Butforallthat,thereseemedatremendouscrowdofthem.Veryprobablytherewas.ThoseSelenitesdowntheclefthadcertainlysomeinfernallylongspears.
