Перші люди на Місяці

           IunderstoodtheGrandLunartoaskwhyhadIcometothemoonseeingwehadscarcelytouchedourownplanetyet,buthedidnottroublemeatthattimetoproceedtoanexplanation,beingtooanxioustopursuethedetailsofthismadinversionofallhisideas.

           “Herevertedtothequestionofweather,andItriedtodescribetheperpetuallychangingsky,andsnow,andfrostandhurricanes.‘Butwhenthenightcomes,’heasked,‘isitnotcold?’

           “Itoldhimitwascolderthanbyday.

           “‘Anddoesnotyouratmospherefreeze?’

           “Itoldhimnot;thatitwasnevercoldenoughforthat,becauseournightsweresoshort.

           “‘Notevenliquefy?’

           “Iwasabouttosay‘No,’butthenitoccurredtomethatonepartatleastofouratmosphere,thewatervapourofit,doessometimesliquefyandformdew,andsometimesfreezeandformfrost—aprocessperfectlyanalogoustothefreezingofalltheexternalatmosphereofthemoonduringitslongernight.Imademyselfclearonthispoint,andfromthattheGrandLunarwentontospeakwithmeofsleep.Fortheneedofsleepthatcomessoregularlyeverytwenty-fourhourstoallthingsispartalsoofourearthlyinheritance.Onthemoontheyrestonlyatrareintervals,andafterexceptionalexertions.ThenItriedtodescribetohimthesoftsplendoursofasummernight,andfromthatIpassedtoadescriptionofthoseanimalsthatprowlbynightandsleepbyday.Itoldhimoflionsandtigers,andhereitseemedasthoughwehadcometoadeadlock.