Перші люди на Місяці

           Irecallasensationofuttersickness,afeelingasifmybrainwereupsidedownwithinmyskull,andthen—

           Somethingwasatworkuponmyface,somethinfeelersworriedmyears.ThenIdiscoveredthebrillianceofthelandscapearoundwasmitigatedbybluespectacles.Cavorbentoverme,andIsawhisfaceupsidedown,hiseyesalsoprotectedbytintedgoggles.Hisbreathcameirregularly,andhislipwasbleedingfromabruise.“Better?”hesaid,wipingthebloodwiththebackofhishand.

           Everythingseemedswayingforaspace,butthatwassimplymygiddiness.Iperceivedthathehadclosedsomeoftheshuttersintheouterspheretosaveme—fromthedirectblazeofthesun.Iwasawarethateverythingaboutuswasverybrilliant.

           “Lord!”Igasped.“Butthis—”

           Icranedmynecktosee.Iperceivedtherewasablindingglareoutside,anutterchangefromthegloomydarknessofourfirstimpressions.“HaveIbeeninsensiblelong?”Iasked.

           “Idon’tknow—thechronometerisbroken.Somelittletime....Mydearchap!Ihavebeenafraid...”

           Ilayforaspacetakingthisin.Isawhisfacestillboreevidencesofemotion.ForawhileIsaidnothing.Ipassedaninquisitivehandovermycontusions,andsurveyedhisfaceforsimilardamages.Thebackofmyrighthandhadsufferedmost,andwasskinlessandraw.Myforeheadwasbruisedandhadbled.Hehandedmealittlemeasurewithsomeoftherestorative—Iforgetthenameofit—hehadbroughtwithus.AfteratimeIfeltalittlebetter.Ibegantostretchmylimbscarefully.SoonIcouldtalk