Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 6 — The Landing on the Moon
Wesatgettingourbreathagain,andfeelingthebruisesonourlimbs.Idon’tthinkeitherofushadhadaveryclearexpectationofsuchroughhandlingaswehadreceived.Istruggledpainfullytomyfeet.“Andnow,”saidI,“tolookatthelandscapeofthemoon!But—!It’stremendouslydark,Cavor!”
Theglasswasdewy,andasIspokeIwipedatitwithmyblanket.“We’rehalfanhourorsobeyondtheday,”hesaid.“Wemustwait.”
Itwasimpossibletodistinguishanything.Wemighthavebeeninasphereofsteelforallthatwecouldsee.Myrubbingwiththeblanketsimplysmearedtheglass,andasfastasIwipedit,itbecameopaqueagainwithfreshlycondensedmoisturemixedwithanincreasingquantityofblankethairs.OfcourseIoughtnottohaveusedtheblanket.InmyeffortstocleartheglassIslippeduponthedampsurface,andhurtmyshinagainstoneoftheoxygencylindersthatprotrudedfromourbale.
Thethingwasexasperating—itwasabsurd.Herewewerejustarriveduponthemoon,amidstweknewnotwhatwonders,andallwecouldseewasthegreyandstreamingwallofthebubbleinwhichwehadcome.
“Confoundit!”Isaid,“butatthisratewemighthavestoppedathome;”andIsquattedonthebaleandshivered,anddrewmyblanketcloseraboutme.
Abruptlythemoistureturnedtospanglesandfrondsoffrost.“Canyoureachtheelectricheater,”saidCavor.“Yes—thatblackknob.Orweshallfreeze.”
Ididnotwaittobetoldtwice.“Andnow,”saidI,“whatarewetodo?”
“Wait,”hesaid.
“Wait?”
“Ofcourse
