Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 10 — Lost Men in the Moon
Andevenaswestoodthere,confusedandlostamidstunprecedentedthings,webecameawareforthefirsttimeofasounduponthemoonotherthantheairofthegrowingplants,thefaintsighingofthewind,orthosethatweourselveshadmade.
Boom....Boom....Boom.
Itcamefrombeneathourfeet,asoundintheearth.Weseemedtohearitwithourfeetasmuchaswithourears.Itsdullresonancewasmuffledbydistance,thickwiththequalityofinterveningsubstance.NosoundthatIcanimaginecouldhaveastonishedusmore,orhavechangedmorecompletelythequalityofthingsaboutus.Forthissound,rich,slow,anddeliberate,seemedtousasthoughitcouldbenothingbutthestrikingofsomegiganticburiedclock.
Boom....Boom....Boom.
Soundsuggestiveofstillcloisters,ofsleeplessnightsincrowdedcities,ofvigilsandtheawaitedhour,ofallthatisorderlyandmethodicalinlife,boomingoutpregnantandmysteriousinthisfantasticdesert!Totheeyeeverythingwasunchanged:thedesolationofbushesandcactiwavingsilentlyinthewind,stretchedunbrokentothedistantcliffs,thestilldarkskywasemptyoverhead,andthehotsunhungandburned.Andthroughitall,awarning,athreat,throbbedthisenigmaofsound.
Boom....Boom....Boom....
Wequestionedoneanotherinfaintandfadedvoices.
“Aclock?”
“Likeaclock!”
“Whatisit?”
“Whatcanitbe?”
“Count,”wasCavor’sbelatedsuggestion,andatthatwordthestrikingceased.
Thesilence,therhythmicdisappointmentofthesilence,cameasafreshshock.Foramomentonecoulddoubtwhetheronehadeverheardasound.
