Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 18 — In the Sunlight
Wehaveshownthesemoonfolkviolence,wehavegiventhematasteofourquality,andourchancesareaboutasgoodasatiger’sthathasgotlooseandkilledamaninHydePark.Thenewsofusmustberunningdownfromgallerytogallery,downtowardsthecentralparts....Nosanebeingswilleverletustakethatspherebacktoearthaftersomuchastheyhaveseenofus.”
“Wearen’timprovingourchances,”saidI,“bysittinghere.”
Westoodupsidebyside.
“Afterall,”hesaid,“wemustseparate.Wemuststickupahandkerchiefonthesetallspikeshereandfastenitfirmly,andfromthisasacentrewemustworkoverthecrater.Youmustgowestward,movingoutinsemicirclestoandfrotowardsthesettingsun.Youmustmovefirstwithyourshadowonyourrightuntilitisatrightangleswiththedirectionofyourhandkerchief,andthenwithyourshadowonyourleft.AndIwilldothesametotheeast.Wewilllookintoeverygully,examineeveryskerryofrocks;wewilldoallwecantofindmysphere.IfweseetheSeleniteswewillhidefromthemaswellaswecan.Fordrinkwemusttakesnow,andifwefeeltheneedoffood,wemustkillamooncalfifwecan,andeatsuchfleshasithas—raw—andsoeachwillgohisownway.”
“Andifoneofuscomesuponthesphere?”
“Hemustcomebacktothewhitehandkerchief,andstandbyitandsignaltotheother.”
“Andifneither?”
Cavorglancedupatthesun.“Wegoonseekinguntilthenightandcoldovertakeus.”
“SupposetheSeleniteshavefoundthesphereandhiddenit?”
Heshruggedhisshoulders
