Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 2 — The First Making of Cavorite
Hisfaceworkedwithemotion,littlelumpsofmudkeptfallingfromit.HelookedasdamagedandpitifulasanylivingcreatureIhaveeverseen,andhisremarkthereforeamazedmeexceedingly.
“Gratulateme,”hegasped;“gratulateme!”
“Congratulateyou!”saidI.“Goodheavens!Whatfor?”
“I’vedoneit.”
“Youhave.Whatonearthcausedthatexplosion?”
Agustofwindblewhiswordsaway.Iunderstoodhimtosaythatitwasn’tanexplosionatall.Thewindhurledmeintocollisionwithhim,andwestoodclingingtooneanother.
“Tryandgetback—tomybungalow,”Ibawledinhisear.Hedidnothearme,andshoutedsomethingabout“threemartyrs—science,”andalsosomethingabout“notmuchgood.”Atthetimehelabouredundertheimpressionthathisthreeattendantshadperishedinthewhirlwind.Happilythiswasincorrect.Directlyhehadleftformybungalowtheyhadgoneofftothepublic-houseinLympnetodiscussthequestionofthefurnacesoversometrivialrefreshment.
Irepeatedmysuggestionofgettingbacktomybungalow,andthistimeheunderstood.Weclungarm-in-armandstarted,andmanagedatlasttoreachtheshelterofasmuchroofaswaslefttome.Foraspacewesatinarm-chairsandpanted.Allthewindowswerebroken,andthelighterarticlesoffurniturewereingreatdisorder,butnoirrevocabledamagewasdone.Happilythekitchendoorhadstoodthepressureuponit,sothatallmycrockeryandcookingmaterialshadsurvived.Theoilstovewasstillburning,andIputonthewatertoboilagainfortea.
