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Chapter 25 — The Grand Lunar
Hewasveryanxioustohavemoredetailedinformationofwhathecalledthisextraordinarystateofaffairs,forfromthesolidityoftheearththerehadalwaysbeenadispositiontoregarditasuninhabitable.Heendeavouredfirsttoascertaintheextremesoftemperaturetowhichweearthbeingswereexposed,andhewasdeeplyinterestedbymydescriptivetreatmentofcloudsandrain.Hisimaginationwasassistedbythefactthatthelunaratmosphereintheoutergalleriesofthenightsideisnotinfrequentlyveryfoggy.Heseemedinclinedtomarvelthatwedidnotfindthesunlighttoointenseforoureyes,andwasinterestedinmyattempttoexplainthattheskywastemperedtoabluishcolourthroughtherefractionoftheair,thoughIdoubtifheclearlyunderstoodthat.Iexplainedhowtheirisofthehumaneyescancontractthepupilandsavethedelicateinternalstructurefromtheexcessofsunlight,andwasallowedtoapproachwithinafewfeetofthePresenceinorderthatthisstructuremightbeseen.Thisledtoacomparisonofthelunarandterrestrialeyes.Theformerisnotonlyexcessivelysensitivetosuchlightasmencansee,butitcanalsoseeheat,andeverydifferenceintemperaturewithinthemoonrendersobjectsvisibletoit.
“TheiriswasquiteaneworgantotheGrandLunar.Foratimeheamusedhimselfbyflashinghisraysintomyfaceandwatchingmypupilscontract.Asaconsequence,Iwasdazzledandblindedforsomelittletime....
“ButinspiteofthatdiscomfortIfoundsomethingreassuringbyinsensibledegreesintherationalityofthisbusinessofquestionandanswer.
