Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 21 — Mr. Bedford at Littlestone
WhenindeedItookmyplaceintheworld,howamazedtheworldwouldbe!
Ifithadnotbeenformyinordinatefatigue,thelandlordoftheLittlestonehotelwouldhavebeenamusing,ashehesitatedbetweenmygoldandmyrespectablecompanyontheoneandmyfilthyappearanceontheother.ButatlastIfoundmyselfinaterrestrialbathroomoncemorewithwarmwatertowashmyselfwith,andachangeofraiment,preposterouslysmallindeed,butanyhowclean,thatthegeniallittlemanhadlentme.Helentmearazortoo,butIcouldnotscrewupmyresolutiontoattackeventheoutpostsofthebristlingbeardthatcoveredmyface.
IsatdowntoanEnglishbreakfastandatewithasortoflanguidappetite—anappetitemanyweeksoldandverydecrepit—andstirredmyselftoanswerthequestionsofthefouryoungmen.AndItoldthemthetruth.
“Well,”saidI,“asyoupressme—Igotitinthemoon.”
“Themoon?”
“Yes,themooninthesky.”
“Buthowdoyoumean?”
“WhatIsay,confoundit!”
“Thenyouhavejustcomefromthemoon?”
“Exactly!throughspace—inthatball.”AndItookadeliciousmouthfulofegg.ImadeaprivatenotethatwhenIwentbacktothemoonIwouldtakeaboxofeggs.
IcouldseeclearlythattheydidnotbelieveonewordofwhatItoldthem,butevidentlytheyconsideredmethemostrespectableliartheyhadevermet.Theyglancedatoneanother,andthenconcentratedthefireoftheireyesonme.IfancytheyexpectedacluetomeinthewayIhelpedmyselftosalt.Theyseemedtofindsomethingsignificantinmypepperingmyegg.
