Первые люди на Луне

           ThefiguresofCavorandtheguidingSelenitemarchedbeforeme,thesidesoftheirlegsandheadsthatweretowardstherivuletwereclearandbrightblue,theirdarkenedsides,nowthatthereflectionofthetunnelwallnolongerlitthem,mergedindistinguishablyinthedarknessbeyond.

           AndsoonIperceivedthatwewereapproachingadeclivityofsomesort,becausethelittlebluestreamdippedsuddenlyoutofsight.

           Inanothermoment,asitseemed,wehadreachedtheedge.Theshiningstreamgaveonemeanderofhesitationandthenrushedover.Itfelltoadepthatwhichthesoundofitsdescentwasabsolutelylosttous.Farbelowwasabluishglow,asortofbluemist—ataninfinitedistancebelow.Andthedarknessthestreamdroppedoutofbecameutterlyvoidandblack,savethatathinglikeaplankprojectedfromtheedgeofthecliffandstretchedoutandfadedandvanishedaltogether.Therewasawarmairblowingupoutofthegulf.

           ForamomentIandCavorstoodasneartheedgeaswedared,peeringintoablue-tingedprofundity.Andthenourguidewaspullingatmyarm.

           Thenheleftme,andwalkedtotheendofthatplankandsteppeduponit,lookingback.Thenwhenheperceivedwewatchedhim,heturnedaboutandwentonalongit,walkingassurelyasthoughhewasonfirmearth.Foramomenthisformwasdistinct,thenhebecameablueblur,andthenvanishedintotheobscurity.Ibecameawareofsomevagueshapeloomingdarklyoutoftheblack.

           Therewasapause.“Surely!—”saidCavor.

           OneoftheotherSeleniteswalkedafewpacesoutupontheplank,andturnedandlookedbackatusunconcernedly.