Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 2 — The First Making of Cavorite
Thewaterwasboiling,andeverythingwasprepared,andthesoundofhis“zuzzoo”hadbroughtmeoutupontheverandah.Hisactivelittlefigurewasblackagainsttheautumnalsunset,andtotherightthechimneysofhishousejustroseaboveagloriouslytintedgroupoftrees.RemoterrosetheWealdenHills,faintandblue,whiletotheleftthehazymarshspreadoutspaciousandserene.Andthen—
Thechimneysjerkedheavenward,smashingintoastringofbricksastheyrose,andtheroofandamiscellanyoffurniturefollowed.Thenovertakingthemcameahugewhiteflame.Thetreesaboutthebuildingswayedandwhirledandtorethemselvestopieces,thatsprangtowardstheflare.Myearsweresmittenwithaclapofthunderthatleftmedeafononesideforlife,andallaboutmewindowssmashed,unheeded.
ItookthreestepsfromtheverandahtowardsCavor’shouse,andevenasIdidsocamethewind.
Instantlymycoattailswereovermyhead,andIwasprogressingingreatleapsandbounds,andquiteagainstmywill,towardshim.Inthesamemomentthediscovererwasseized,whirledabout,andflewthroughthescreamingair.Isawoneofmychimneypotshitthegroundwithinsixyardsofme,leapascoreoffeet,andsohurryingreatstridestowardsthefocusofthedisturbance.Cavor,kickingandflapping,camedownagain,rolledoverandoveronthegroundforaspace,struggledupandwasliftedandborneforwardatanenormousvelocity,vanishingatlastamongthelabouring,lashingtreesthatwrithedabouthishouse.
