Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 17 — The Fight in the Cave of the Moon Butchers
Wewhisperedaswepointedthisouttooneanother,andbecamemoreandmorecautiousinourascent.Presentlywewerecloseunderthegrating,andbypressingmyfaceagainstitsbarsIcouldseealimitedportionofthecavernbeyond.Itwasclearlyalargespace,andlitnodoubtbysomerivuletofthesamebluelightthatwehadseenflowfromthebeatingmachinery.Anintermittenttrickleofwaterdroppedeverandagainbetweenthebarsnearmyface.
Myfirstendeavourwasnaturallytoseewhatmightbeuponthefloorofthecavern,butourgratinglayinadepressionwhoserimhidallthisfromoureyes.Ourfoiledattentionthenfellbackuponthesuggestionofthevarioussoundsweheard,andpresentlymyeyecaughtanumberoffaintshadowsthatplayedacrossthedimrooffaroverhead.
IndisputablytherewereseveralSelenites,perhapsaconsiderablenumber,inthisspace,forwecouldhearthenoisesoftheirintercourse,andfaintsoundsthatIidentifiedastheirfootfalls.Therewasalsoasuccessionofregularlyrepeatedsounds—chid,chid,chid—whichbeganandceased,suggestiveofaknifeorspadehackingatsomesoftsubstance.Thencameaclankasifofchains,awhistleandarumbleasofatruckrunningoverahollowedplace,andthenagainthatchid,chid,chidresumed.Theshadowstoldofshapesthatmovedquicklyandrhythmically,inagreementwiththatregularsound,andrestedwhenitceased.
Weputourheadsclosetogether,andbegantodiscussthesethingsinnoiselesswhispers.
“Theyareoccupied,”Isaid,“theyareoccupiedinsomeway.”
“Yes.”
