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Chapter 24 — The Natural History of the Selenites
Thatwretched-lookinghand-tentaclestickingoutofitsjarseemedtohaveasortoflimpappealforlostpossibilities;ithauntsmestill,although,ofcourseitisreallyintheendafarmorehumaneproceedingthanourearthlymethodofleavingchildrentogrowintohumanbeings,andthenmakingmachinesofthem.
“Quiterecently,too—IthinkitwasontheeleventhortwelfthvisitImadetothisapparatus—Ihadacuriouslightuponthelivesoftheseoperatives.Iwasbeingguidedthroughashortcuthither,insteadofgoingdownthespiral,andbythequaystotheCentralSea.Fromthedeviouswindingsofalong,darkgallery,weemergedintoavast,lowcavern,pervadedbyanearthysmell,andasthingsgointhisdarkness,ratherbrightlylit.Thelightcamefromatumultuousgrowthoflividfungoidshapes—someindeedsingularlylikeourterrestrialmushrooms,butstandingashighorhigherthanaman.
“‘Mooneyseatthese?’saidItoPhi-oo.
“‘Yes,food.’
“‘Goodnessme!’Icried;‘what’sthat?’
“MyeyehadjustcaughtthefigureofanexceptionallybigandungainlySelenitelyingmotionlessamongthestems,facedownward.Westopped.
“‘Dead?’Iasked.(ForasyetIhaveseennodeadinthemoon,andIhavegrowncurious.)
“‘No!’exclaimedPhi-oo.‘Him—worker—noworktodo.Getlittledrinkthen—makesleep—tillwehimwant.Whatgoodhimwake,eh?Nowanthimwalkingabout.’
“‘There’sanother!’criedI.
