Перші люди на Місяці

           Iwasassistedfrommylitter,andstoodawkwardlywhileanumberofcuriousandnodoubtdeeplysymbolicalgestureswerevicariouslyperformedformebytwoslenderofficials.Theencyclopaedicgalaxyofthelearnedthathadaccompaniedmetotheentranceofthelasthallappearedtwostepsabovemeandleftandrightofme,inreadinessfortheGrandLunar’sneed,andPhi-oo’spalebrainplaceditselfabouthalf-wayuptothethroneinsuchapositionastocommunicateeasilybetweenuswithoutturninghisbackoneithertheGrandLunarormyself.Tsi-pufftookupapositionbehindhim.Dexteroususherssidledsidewaystowardsme,keepingafullfacetothePresence.IseatedmyselfTurkishfashion,andPhi-ooandTsi-puffalsokneltdownaboveme.Therecameapause.TheeyesofthenearercourtwentfrommetotheGrandLunarandcamebacktome,andahissingandpipingofexpectationpassedacrossthehiddenmultitudesbelowandceased.

           “Thathummingceased.

           “Forthefirstandlasttimeinmyexperiencethemoonwassilent.

           “Ibecameawareofafaintwheezynoise.TheGrandLunarwasaddressingme.Itwasliketherubbingofafingeruponapaneofglass.

           “Iwatchedhimattentivelyforatime,andthenglancedatthealertPhi-oo.Ifeltamidsttheseslenderbeingsridiculouslythickandfleshyandsolid;myheadalljawandblackhair.MyeyeswentbacktotheGrandLunar.Hehadceased;hisattendantswerebusy,andhisshiningsuperficieswasglisteningandrunningwithcoolingspray.

           “Phi-oomeditatedthroughaninterval.HeconsultedTsi-puff.