Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 7 — Sunrise on the Moon
Whathadbeensolidairhadsuddenlyatthetouchofthesunbecomeapaste,amud,aslushyliquefaction,thathissedandbubbledintogas.
Therecameastillmoreviolentwhirlofthesphereandwehadclutchedoneanother.Inanothermomentwewerespunaboutagain.Roundwewentandover,andthenIwasonallfours.Thelunardawnhadholdofus.Itmeanttoshowuslittlemenwhatthemooncoulddowithus.
Icaughtasecondglimpseofthingswithout,puffsofvapour,halfliquidslush,excavated,sliding,falling,sliding.Wedroppedintodarkness.IwentdownwithCavor’skneesinmychest.Thenheseemedtoflyawayfromme,andforamomentIlaywithallthebreathoutofmybodystaringupward.Atopplingcragofthemeltingstuffhadsplashedoverus,buriedus,andnowitthinnedandboiledoffus.Isawthebubblesdancingontheglassabove.IheardCavorexclaimingfeebly.
Thensomehugelandslipinthethawingairhadcaughtus,andsplutteringexpostulation,webegantorolldownaslope,rollingfasterandfaster,leapingcrevassesandreboundingfrombanks,fasterandfaster,westwardintothewhite-hotboilingtumultofthelunarday.
Clutchingatoneanotherwespunabout,pitchedthiswayandthat,ourbaleofpackagesleapingatus,poundingatus.Wecollided,wegripped,weweretornasunder—ourheadsmet,andthewholeuniverseburstintofierydartsandstars!Ontheearthweshouldhavesmashedoneanotheradozentimes,butonthemoon,luckilyforus,ourweightwasonlyone-sixthofwhatitisterrestrially,andwefellverymercifully.
