Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 5 — The Journey to the Moon
Thatisthemostprobablething,ifwearetofindlifethereatall.Thinkofthedifferenceinconditions!Lifemustfititselftoadayaslongasfourteenearthlydays,acloudlesssun-blazeoffourteendays,andthenanightofequallength,growingevercolderandcolderunderthesecold,sharpstars.Inthatnighttheremustbecold,theultimatecold,absolutezero,273°C.belowtheearthlyfreezingpoint.Whateverlifethereismusthibernatethroughthat,andriseagaineachday.”
Hemused.“Onecanimaginesomethingworm-like,”hesaid,“takingitsairsolidasanearth-wormswallowsearth,orthick-skinnedmonsters—”
“Bythebye,”Isaid,“whydidn’twebringagun?”
Hedidnotanswerthatquestion.“No,”heconcluded,“wejusthavetogo.Weshallseewhenwegetthere.”
Irememberedsomething.“Ofcourse,there’smyminerals,anyhow,”Isaid;“whatevertheconditionsmaybe.”
Presentlyhetoldmehewishedtoalterourcoursealittlebylettingtheearthtugatusforamoment.Hewasgoingtoopenoneearthwardblindforthirtyseconds.Hewarnedmethatitwouldmakemyheadswim,andadvisedmetoextendmyhandsagainsttheglasstobreakmyfall.Ididashedirected,andthrustmyfeetagainstthebalesoffoodcasesandaircylinderstopreventtheirfallinguponme.Thenwithaclickthewindowflewopen.Ifellclumsilyuponhandsandface,andsawforamomentbetweenmyblackextendedfingersourmotherearth—aplanetinadownwardsky.
