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Chapter 10 — Lost Men in the Moon
Thelowerleavesofthebayonetplants,alreadyovershadowedbytheneweronesabove,werebeginningtowiltandshrivelsothatwecouldthrustourwayinamongthethickeningstemswithoutseriousinjury.Astabinthefaceorarmwedidnotheed.AttheheartofthethicketIstopped,andstaredpantingintoCavor’sface.
“Subterranean,”hewhispered.“Below.”
“Theymaycomeout.”
“Wemustfindthesphere!”
“Yes,”Isaid;“buthow?”
“Crawltillwecometoit.”
“Butifwedon’t?”
“Keephidden.Seewhattheyarelike.”
“Wewillkeeptogether,”saidI.
Hethought.“Whichwayshallwego?”
“Wemusttakeourchance.”
Wepeeredthiswayandthat.Thenverycircumspectly,webegantocrawlthroughthelowerjungle,making,sofaraswecouldjudge,acircuit,haltingnowateverywavingfungus,ateverysound,intentonlyonthespherefromwhichwehadsofoolishlyemerged.Everandagainfromoutoftheearthbeneathuscameconcussions,beatings,strange,inexplicable,mechanicalsounds;andonce,andthenagain,wethoughtweheardsomething,afaintrattleandtumult,bornetousthroughtheair.Butfearfulaswewerewedaredessaynovantage-pointtosurveythecrater.Forlongwesawnothingofthebeingswhosesoundsweresoabundantandinsistent.Butforthefaintnessofourhungerandthedryingofourthroatsthatcrawlingwouldhavehadthequalityofaveryvividdream.Itwassoabsolutelyunreal.Theonlyelementwithanytouchofrealitywasthesesounds
