Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 18 — In the Sunlight
Wewelcomedeventherarenessoftheairthatmadeuspantasweran,andwhichrenderedspeakingnolongertheeasythingthatithadbeen,butanefforttomakeoneselfheard.Largergrewthesunlitcircleaboveus,andlarger,andallthenearertunnelsankintoarimofindistinguishableblack.Wesawthedeadbayonetshrubnolongerwithanytouchofgreeninit,butbrownanddryandthick,andtheshadowofitsupperbrancheshighoutofsightmadeadenselyinterlacedpatternuponthetumbledrocks.Andattheimmediatemouthofthetunnelwasawidetrampledspacewherethemooncalveshadcomeandgone.
Wecameoutuponthisspaceatlastintoalightandheatthathitandpresseduponus.Wetraversedtheexposedareapainfully,andclamberedupaslopeamongthescrubstems,andsatdownatlastpantinginahighplacebeneaththeshadowofamassoftwistedlava.Evenintheshadetherockfelthot.
Theairwasintenselyhot,andwewereingreatphysicaldiscomfort,butforallthatwewerenolongerinanightmare.Weseemedtohavecometoourownprovinceagain,beneaththestars.Allthefearandstressofourflightthroughthedimpassagesandfissuresbelowhadfallenfromus.ThatlastfighthadfilleduswithanenormousconfidenceinourselvessofarastheSeleniteswereconcerned.Welookedbackalmostincredulouslyattheblackopeningfromwhichwehadjustemerged.
