Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 6 — The Landing on the Moon
Heleaptaboutthespherefrompointtopointwithanagilitythatwouldhavebeenimpossibleonearth.HewasperpetuallyopeningandclosingtheCavoritewindows,makingcalculations,consultinghischronometerbymeansoftheglowlampduringthoselasteventfulhours.Foralongtimewehadallourwindowsclosedandhungsilentlyindarknesshurlingthroughspace.
Thenhewasfeelingfortheshutterstuds,andsuddenlyfourwindowswereopen.Istaggeredandcoveredmyeyes,drenchedandscorchedandblindedbytheunaccustomedsplendourofthesunbeneathmyfeet.Thenagaintheshutterssnapped,leavingmybrainspinninginadarknessthatpressedagainsttheeyes.AndafterthatIfloatedinanothervast,blacksilence.
ThenCavorswitchedontheelectriclight,andtoldmeheproposedtobindallourluggagetogetherwiththeblanketsaboutit,againsttheconcussionofourdescent.Wedidthiswithourwindowsclosed,becauseinthatwayourgoodsarrangedthemselvesnaturallyatthecentreofthesphere.Thattoowasastrangebusiness;wetwomenfloatinglooseinthatsphericalspace,andpackingandpullingropes.Imagineitifyoucan!Noupnordown,andeveryeffortresultinginunexpectedmovements.NowIwouldbepressedagainsttheglasswiththefullforceofCavor’sthrust,nowIwouldbekickinghelplesslyinavoid.Nowthestaroftheelectriclightwouldbeoverhead,nowunderfoot.NowCavor’sfeetwouldfloatupbeforemyeyes,andnowwewouldbecrosswaystoeachother.
