Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 10 — Lost Men in the Moon
Theareaofthecraterhadbecomeenormouslyvasttoourimaginations,thegrowingthicketsalreadyimpenetrablydense.
“Goodheavens!Whatfoolswehavebeen!”
“It’sevidentthatwemustfinditagain,”saidCavor,“andthatsoon.Thesungrowsstronger.Weshouldbefaintingwiththeheatalreadyifitwasn’tsodry.And...I’mhungry.”
Istaredathim.Ihadnotsuspectedthisaspectofthematterbefore.Butitcametomeatonce—apositivecraving.“Yes,”Isaidwithemphasis.“Iamhungrytoo.”
Hestoodupwithalookofactiveresolution.“Certainlywemustfindthesphere.”
Ascalmlyaspossiblewesurveyedtheinterminablereefsandthicketsthatformedthefloorofthecrater,eachofusweighinginsilencethechancesofourfindingthespherebeforewewereovertakenbyheatandhunger.
“Itcan’tbefiftyyardsfromhere,”saidCavor,withindecisivegestures.“Theonlythingistobeatroundaboutuntilwecomeuponit.”
“Thatisallwecando,”Isaid,withoutanyalacritytobeginourhunt.“Iwishthisconfoundedspikebushdidnotgrowsofast!”
“That’sjustit,”saidCavor.“Butitwaslyingonabankofsnow.”
Istaredaboutmeinthevainhopeofrecognisingsomeknollorshrubthathadbeennearthesphere.Buteverywherewasaconfusingsameness,everywheretheaspiringbushes,thedistendingfungi,thedwindlingsnowbanks,steadilyandinevitablychanged.Thesunscorchedandstung,thefaintnessofanunaccountablehungermingledwithourinfiniteperplexity.
