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Chapter 5 — The Journey to the Moon
Andsincewedidnotseeitthroughair,itsoutlinewasbrightandsharp,therewasnogloworhaloaboutit,andthestar-dustthatcoveredtheskycamerighttoitsverymargin,andmarkedtheoutlineofitsunilluminatedpart.AndasIstoodandstaredatthemoonbetweenmyfeet,thatperceptionoftheimpossiblethathadbeenwithmeoffandoneversinceourstart,returnedagainwithtenfoldconviction.
“Cavor,”Isaid,“thistakesmequeerly.Thosecompaniesweweregoingtorun,andallthataboutminerals?”
“Well?”
“Idon’tsee‘emhere.”
“No,”saidCavor;“butyou’llgetoverallthat.”
“IsupposeI’mmadetoturnrightsideupagain.Still,this—ForamomentIcouldhalfbelievethereneverwasaworld.”
“ThatcopyofLloyd’sNewsmighthelpyou.”
Istaredatthepaperforamoment,thenhelditabovethelevelofmyface,andfoundIcouldreaditquiteeasily.Istruckacolumnofmeanlittleadvertisements.“Agentlemanofprivatemeansiswillingtolendmoney,”Iread.Iknewthatgentleman.ThensomebodyeccentricwantedtosellaCutawaybicycle,“quitenewandcost£15,”forfivepounds;andaladyindistresswishedtodisposeofsomefishknivesandforks,“aweddingpresent,”atagreatsacrifice.Nodoubtsomesimplesoulwassagelyexaminingtheseknivesandforks,andanothertriumphantlyridingoffonthatbicycle,andathirdtrustfullyconsultingthatbenevolentgentlemanofmeansevenasIread.Ilaughed,andletthepaperdriftfrommyhand.
“Arewevisiblefromtheearth?”Iasked.
