Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 2 — The First Making of Cavorite
Lateron,whenyouhavecomeinwithyourpracticalmind,andCavoriteisfloated—floatedistheword,isn’tit?—andithasrealisedallyouanticipateforit,wemaysetmattersrightwiththesepersons.Butnotnow—notnow.Ifnootherexplanationisoffered,people,inthepresentunsatisfactorystateofmeteorologicalscience,willascribeallthistoacyclone;theremightbeapublicsubscription,andasmyhousehascollapsedandbeenburnt,Ishouldinthatcasereceiveaconsiderableshareinthecompensation,whichwouldbeextremelyhelpfultotheprosecutionofourresearches.ButifitisknownthatIcausedthis,therewillbenopublicsubscription,andeverybodywillbeputout.PracticallyIshouldnevergetachanceofworkinginpeaceagain.Mythreeassistantsmayormaynothaveperished.Thatisadetail.Iftheyhave,itisnogreatloss;theyweremorezealousthanable,andthisprematureeventmustbelargelyduetotheirjointneglectofthefurnace.Iftheyhavenotperished,Idoubtiftheyhavetheintelligencetoexplaintheaffair.Theywillacceptthecyclonestory.Andifduringthetemporaryunfitnessofmyhouseforoccupation,Imaylodgeinoneoftheuntenantedroomsofthisbungalowofyours—”
Hepausedandregardedme.
Amanofsuchpossibilities,Ireflected,isnoordinaryguesttoentertain.
“Perhaps,”saidI,risingtomyfeet,“wehadbetterbeginbylookingforatrowel,”andIledthewaytothescatteredvestigesofthegreenhouse.
AndwhilehewashavinghisbathIconsideredtheentirequestionalone.ItwasclearthereweredrawbackstoMr.
