Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 19 — Mr. Bedford Alone
IwasoppressedbytheideathattheSeleniteswouldpresentlyclosetheirlidsandvalves,andshutusoutundertheinexorableonrushofthelunarnight.Itseemedtomehightimethatheabandonedhissearch,andthatwetookcounseltogether.Ifelthowurgentitwasthatweshoulddecidesoonuponourcourse.Wehadfailedtofindthesphere,wenolongerhadtimetoseekit,andoncethesevalveswereclosedwithusoutside,wewerelostmen.Thegreatnightofspacewoulddescenduponus—thatblacknessofthevoidwhichistheonlyabsolutedeath.Allmybeingshrankfromthatapproach.Wemustgetintothemoonagain,thoughwewereslainindoingit.Iwashauntedbyavisionofourfreezingtodeath,ofourhammeringwithourlaststrengthonthevalveofthegreatpit.
Itooknothoughtanymoreofthesphere.IthoughtonlyoffindingCavoragain.Iwashalfinclinedtogobackintothemoonwithouthim,ratherthanseekhimuntilitwastoolate.Iwasalreadyhalf-waybacktowardsourhandkerchief,whensuddenly—
Isawthesphere!
Ididnotfinditsomuchasitfoundme.ItwaslyingmuchfarthertothewestwardthanIhadgone,andtheslopingraysofthesinkingsunreflectedfromitsglasshadsuddenlyproclaimeditspresenceinadazzlingbeam.ForaninstantIthoughtthiswassomenewdeviceoftheSelenitesagainstus,andthenIunderstood.
Ithrewupmyarms,shoutedaghostlyshout,andsetoffinvastleapstowardsit.Imissedoneofmyleapsanddroppedintoadeepravineandtwistedmyankle,andafterthatIstumbledatalmosteveryleap.
