Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 9 — Prospecting Begins
PresentlyIexperiencedapeculiarshortnessofbreaththatlastedindeedduringthewholeofthetimeofourexposuretothemoon’sexterioratmosphere,andaratherunpleasantsensationabouttheearsandfinger-nailsandthebackofthethroatgrewuponmyattention,andpresentlypassedoffagain.
Butthencamevertigoandnauseathatabruptlychangedthequalityofmycourage.IgavethelidofthemanholehalfaturnandmadeahastyexplanationtoCavor;butnowhewasthemoresanguine.Heansweredmeinavoicethatseemedextraordinarilysmallandremote,becauseofthethinnessoftheairthatcarriedthesound.Herecommendedanipofbrandy,andsetmetheexample,andpresentlyIfeltbetter.Iturnedthemanholestopperbackagain.Thethrobbinginmyearsgrewlouder,andthenIremarkedthatthepipingnoteoftheoutrushhadceased.ForatimeIcouldnotbesurethatithadceased.
“Well?”saidCavor,intheghostofavoice.
“Well?”saidI.
“Shallwegoon?”
Ithought.“Isthisall?”
“Ifyoucanstandit.”
BywayofanswerIwentonunscrewing.Iliftedthecircularoperculumfromitsplaceandlaiditcarefullyonthebale.Aflakeorsoofsnowwhirledandvanishedasthatthinandunfamiliarairtookpossessionofoursphere.Iknelt,andthenseatedmyselfattheedgeofthemanhole,peeringoverit.Beneath,withinayardofmyface,laytheuntroddensnowofthemoon.
Therecamealittlepause.Oureyesmet.
“Itdoesn’tdistressyourlungstoomuch?”saidCavor.
“No,”Isaid.“Icanstandthis.”
