Первые люди на Луне

           Wedidatleastknowwhathadbroughtaboutthismeetingofincompatiblecreatures.ButconceivehowitwouldseemtodecentLondoners,forexample,tocomeuponacoupleoflivingthings,asbigasmenandabsolutelyunlikeanyotherearthlyanimals,careeringaboutamongthesheepinHydePark!Itmusthavetakenhimlikethat.

           Figureus!Wewereboundhandandfoot,faggedandfilthy;ourbeardstwoincheslong,ourfacesscratchedandbloody.Cavoryoumustimagineinhisknickerbockers(torninseveralplacesbythebayonetscrub)hisJaegarshirtandoldcricketcap,hiswiryhairwildlydisordered,atailtoeveryquarteroftheheavens.Inthatbluelighthisfacedidnotlookredbutverydark,hislipsandthedryingblooduponmyhandsseemedblack.IfpossibleIwasinaworseplightthanhe,onaccountoftheyellowfungusintowhichIhadjumped.Ourjacketswereunbuttoned,andourshoeshadbeentakenoffandlayatourfeet.Andweweresittingwithourbackstothisqueerbluishlight,peeringatsuchamonsterasDurermighthaveinvented.

           Cavorbrokethesilence;startedtospeak,wenthoarse,andclearedhisthroat.Outsidebeganaterrificbellowing,asifamooncalfwereintrouble.Itendedinashriek,andeverythingwasstillagain.

           PresentlytheSeleniteturnedabout,flickeredintotheshadow,stoodforamomentretrospectiveatthedoor,andthencloseditonus;andoncemorewewereinthatmurmurousmysteryofdarknessintowhichwehadawakened.