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Chapter 3 — The Building of the sphere
Isatatthewindowandstaredattheimmensityofspace.Betweenthestarswasthevoid,theunfathomabledarkness!ItriedtorecallthefragmentaryknowledgeofastronomyIhadgainedinmyirregularreading,butitwasalltoovaguetofurnishanyideaofthethingswemightexpect.AtlastIgotbacktobedandsnatchedsomemomentsofsleep—momentsofnightmarerather—inwhichIfellandfellandfellforevermoreintotheabyssofthesky.
IastonishedCavoratbreakfast.Itoldhimshortly,“I’mnotcomingwithyouinthesphere.”
Imetallhisprotestswithasullenpersistence.“Thething’stoomad,”Isaid,“andIwon’tcome.Thething’stoomad.”
Iwouldnotgowithhimtothelaboratory.Ifrettedaboutmybungalowforatime,andthentookhatandstickandsetoutalone,Iknewnotwhither.Itchancedtobeagloriousmorning:awarmwindanddeepbluesky,thefirstgreenofspringabroad,andmultitudesofbirdssinging.Ilunchedonbeefandbeerinalittlepublic-housenearElham,andstartledthelandlordbyremarkingaproposoftheweather,“Amanwholeavestheworldwhendaysofthissortareaboutisafool!”
“That’swhatIsayswhenIheerdonit!”saidthelandlord,andIfoundthatforonepoorsoulatleastthisworldhadprovedexcessive,andtherehadbeenathroat-cutting.Iwentonwithanewtwisttomythoughts.
IntheafternoonIhadapleasantsleepinasunnyplace,andwentonmywayrefreshed.
Icametoacomfortable-lookinginnnearCanterbury.Itwasbrightwithcreepers,andthelandladywasacleanoldwomanandtookmyeye
