Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 9 — Prospecting Begins
Itwashorribleanddelightful,andaswildasanightmare,togoflyingoffinthisfashion.Irealisedmyleaphadbeenaltogethertooviolent.IflewcleanoverCavor’sheadandbeheldaspikyconfusioninagullyspreadingtomeetmyfall.Igaveayelpofalarm.Iputoutmyhandsandstraightenedmylegs.
Ihitahugefungoidbulkthatburstallaboutme,scatteringamassoforangesporesineverydirection,andcoveringmewithorangepowder.Irolledoverspluttering,andcametorestconvulsedwithbreathlesslaughter.
IbecameawareofCavor’slittleroundfacepeeringoverabristlinghedge.Heshoutedsomefadedinquiry.“Eh?”Itriedtoshout,butcouldnotdosoforwantofbreath.Hemadehiswaytowardsme,cominggingerlyamongthebushes.
“We’vegottobecareful,”hesaid.“Thismoonhasnodiscipline.She’llletussmashourselves.”
Hehelpedmetomyfeet.“Youexertedyourselftoomuch,”hesaid,dabbingattheyellowstuffwithhishandtoremoveitfrommygarments.
Istoodpassiveandpanting,allowinghimtobeatoffthejellyfrommykneesandelbowsandlecturemeuponmymisfortunes.“Wedon’tquiteallowforthegravitation.Ourmusclesarescarcelyeducatedyet.Wemustpractisealittle,whenyouhavegotyourbreath.”
Ipulledtwoorthreelittlethornsoutofmyhand,andsatforatimeonaboulderofrock.Mymuscleswerequivering,andIhadthatfeelingofpersonaldisillusionmentthatcomesatthefirstfalltothelearnerofcyclingonearth.
