Chapter 23 — An Abstract of the Six Messages First Received from Mr. Cavor

           ThetwoearliermessagesofMr.Cavormayverywellbereservedforthatlargervolume.Theysimplytell,withgreaterbrevityandwithadifferenceinseveraldetailsthatisinteresting,butnotofanyvitalimportance,thebarefactsofthemakingofthesphereandourdeparturefromtheworld.Throughout,Cavorspeaksofmeasamanwhoisdead,butwithacuriouschangeoftemperasheapproachesourlandingonthemoon.“PoorBedford,”hesaysofme,and“thispooryoungman,”andheblameshimselfforinducingayoungman,“bynomeanswellequippedforsuchadventures,”toleaveaplanet“onwhichhewasindisputablyfittedtosucceed”onsoprecariousamission.Ithinkheunderratesthepartmyenergyandpracticalcapacityplayedinbringingabouttherealisationofhistheoreticalsphere.“Wearrived,”hesays,withnomoreaccountofourpassagethroughspacethanifwehadmadeajourneyofcommonoccurrenceinarailwaytrain.

           Andthenhebecomesincreasinglyunfairtome.Unfair,indeed,toanextentIshouldnothaveexpectedinamantrainedinthesearchfortruth.Lookingbackovermypreviouslywrittenaccountofthesethings,ImustinsistthatIhavebeenaltogetherjustertoCavorthanhehasbeentome.Ihaveextenuatedlittleandsuppressednothing.