Chapter 19 — Mr. Bedford Alone

           InalittlewhileitseemedtomeasthoughIhadalwaysbeenaloneonthemoon.Ihuntedforatimewithacertainintentness,buttheheatwasstillverygreat,andthethinnessoftheairfeltlikeahoopaboutone’schest.Icamepresentlyintoahollowbasinbristlingwithtall,brown,dryfrondsaboutitsedge,andIsatdownunderthesetorestandcool.Iintendedtorestforonlyalittlewhile.Iputdownmyclubsbesideme,andsatrestingmychinonmyhands.Isawwithasortofcolourlessinterestthattherocksofthebasin,wherehereandtherethecracklingdrylichenshadshrunkawaytoshowthem,wereallveinedandsplatteredwithgold,thathereandtherebossesofroundedandwrinkledgoldprojectedfromamongthelitter.Whatdidthatmatternow?Asortoflanguorhadpossessionofmylimbsandmind,Ididnotbelieveforamomentthatweshouldeverfindthesphereinthatvastdesiccatedwilderness.IseemedtolackamotiveforeffortuntiltheSelenitesshouldcome.ThenIsupposedIshouldexertmyself,obeyingthatunreasonableimperativethaturgesamanbeforeallthingstopreserveanddefendhislife,albeithemaypreserveitonlytodiemorepainfullyinalittlewhile.

           Whyhadwecometothemoon?

           Thethingpresenteditselftomeasaperplexingproblem.